Our People

David joined Aaron and Partners in August 2010 to head up the Planning and Environmental Law Team. David has over 18 years experience advising on all aspects of planning and environmental law in both the public and private sector. Before joining Aaron and Partners he worked for a major international law firm and prior to that had spent over 10 years working in-house with local authorities. His broad range of experience enables him to advise pragmatically and commercially on any potential planning problems or issues which may arise whether the client is a developer, a public authority or a land owner seeking to maximise the development value of their land.

David has particular experience of advising on all aspects of planning law including drafting and negotiating planning and other infrastructure agreements as well as advising on the need for planning permission and the submission of planning applications. He is also an experienced advocate having appeared successfully at numerous Public Inquiries and Court Hearings both on behalf of developers and local authorities. As part of his role David acts for both claimants and defendants on judicial reviews and other legal challenges of planning decisions. He also advises on all aspects of highway law and is regularly instructed on the stopping up and diversion of highways, the extent of highway rights and public rights of way as well as the use of traffic and parking orders.

His current practice also includes advising on major developments with the potential for significant environmental effect. This includes advice on protected species issues and on the potential impact on statutorily designated sites including SSSIs, SACs, SPAs and Ramsar sites. He also advises on contaminated land issues in respect of new development or redevelopment projects.

David is a member of the Compulsory Purchase Association and has acted for both acquiring authorities and objectors in respect of compulsory purchase orders as well as advising on all aspects of compulsory purchase and similar compensation. His advice includes guiding clients on references to the upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), the successor to the Lands Tribunal, where matters are disputed.

David is also a member of the firm’s Renewable Energy Sector group and advises on the planning and environmental issues relating to renewable energy schemes with particular emphasis on wind farm schemes, energy from waste and biomass related projects including CHP, CBM extraction and solar power.