Freeths enhances leading UK planning and environmental offering with partner appointment

National leading law firm Freeths has appointed Alison Ogley as Partner in its prestigious planning and environment team. She joins from Walker Morris LLP.

Alison has over 15 years’ experience spanning all aspects of planning and environment law. She brings with her an established advocacy practice, representing a wide range of developer clients in major planning inquiries, judicial review and high court challenges, tribunal appeals and regulatory cases such as environment permit appeals, planning enforcement and environment agency prosecutions.

Alison has extensive experience of advising on major projects including nationally significant energy infrastructure, housing, retail, minerals and waste schemes. With particular expertise in biodiversity and protected species law, including biodiversity net gain, Alison will lead the development of a planning and environment team at Freeths in Leeds, in collaboration with the wider national planning and environment team.

Commenting on the appointment, Managing Partner of the North at Freeths John May said: “Incredibly well respected in her field, Alison’s hire is fundamental in helping to strengthen our firm-wide offering and will be a game changer for clients in the region.”

Paul Brailsford, National Head of Planning and Environment at Freeths, continued: “This is an exciting time for the Freeths Planning and Environment Group and Alison’s arrival to establish a team in Leeds will further our continued expansion throughout the firm’s network of offices. Alison is a first-class lawyer; she is highly regarded across the industry and brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to strengthen our nationwide practice.”

Alison Ogley added: “Freeths already has a strong reputation in both planning and environment and is significantly investing in growth for this area, making it an excellent time for the team. I’m looking forward to launching the new regional planning and environment team at what is a pivotal point for the development sector with increasing challenges and regulation.”

Voted one of the ‘women of influence’ by The Planner in 2021, and a ‘leading individual’ by Legal 500 Alison is already recognised as an industry leader in both Planning and Environment law.