Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner is geared to handle planning judicial reviews, for which Emma Perring is a key contact. Christian Drage leads the department and is noted for his strength in European urban regeneration projects, while Tim Hellier is proficient in compulsory purchases and environmental law. Tim Smith advises clients on regeneration projects and infrastructure agreements, James Good is skilled at development projects, and Giles Pink is knowledgeable in highway law. Other key members of the team include Sheridan Treger, who is particularly active in the energy sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The firm have provided support on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and multi-million pound redevelopment transactions. They are able to advise on extremely complex areas of planning law. The people are very easy to work with and give good comprehensive commercial advice.’
  • ‘They are excellent collaborators, they consider all issues in the round via consultation with all project team members.’
  • ‘Extremely personable and inclusive, they are easy to gain access to, and are always responsive.’
  • ‘Excellent wide scale knowledge and resources.'
  • ‘The 'blue chip' planning law firm - they have been at the top since planning law was created, with strength in depth and unmatched institutional knowledge.'
  • ‘Sheridan Treger is an amazing lawyer, he is technically excellent with fantastic people skills. He is extremely responsive, always available, and is very thorough with his work. He has good humour and is able to build a strong rapport with clients.'
  • 'Sheridan Treger is able to make some very dry and complex areas of planning law interesting and understandable. He is a pleasure to work with and gives you exactly what an in-house counsel needs. He is open to being challenged and willing to take account of other standpoints and always understands the wider commercial drivers. He is a real stand out lawyer.’
  • ‘Tim Hellier is the godfather of the planning legal profession.'

Key clients

  • Lendlease Euston
  • National Grid
  • Landsec
  • URW
  • Precis
  • Tenacity
  • Crosstree
  • Derwent London
  • Associated British Ports
  • BlackRock
  • Native Land

Work highlights

  • Advising Lendlease on a major, 60-acre public transformation project.
  • Advising Associated British Ports (ABP) on critical, first-in-kind port developments in the UK.
  • Advising Tenacity regarding two landmark tower developments in the City.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Tim Smith
Hall of fameBryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Christian Drage

Other key lawyers

Tim Hellier, Tim Smith, James Good, Giles Pink, Sheridan Treger, Emma Perring, James Parker