Speakers

Lawyer at the law commission of England and Wales. Leader of the Commission's project to consolidate and codify the primary legislation relating to planning and related fields in Wales.

Charles was until recently working as a planning barrister with a mainly advisory practice, specialising in planning and environmental law, especially as it relates to historic buildings and areas, trees and forestry, outdoor advertising, town and village greens, churches, and access for disabled people. Also chairing inquiries under the Commons Act, and acting as independent examiner of neighbourhood plans.

Charles is also a well known author of a number of well-regarded specialist books, including:

  • - Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets (fourth edition, 2006)
  • - Changing Churches: a Guide to the Faculty System (2016)
  • - The Law of Trees, Forests and Hedges (second edition, 2011)
  • - The Control of Outdoor Advertising and Graffiti (2009)
  • - Planning Applications and Appeals (1987).

Simon Hickman began a career in heritage as the sole paid employee of a heritage steam railway in North-East Scotland, managing an estate of listed structures while building the number of visitors. Having previously studied for a BSc in Town Planning and MSc in Urban Conservation at the University of Dundee however, Simon felt it necessary to step down as Fat Controller in 2002 in order to concentrate on his chosen specialist subject. He then worked for a number of years as conservation officer for the City of Durham, followed by a short stint as Senior Heritage Advisor to British Waterways Scotland. Simon moved on to join English Heritage's London office in 2007, and acted as EH's lead advisor for a number of high-profile projects including the restoration of St Pancras Chambers and King's Cross Station. He joined Historic England's South West office as Principal Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas for the Dorset, Devon and Cornwall team in 2014.

Head of legal department of Canal and River Trust.

Tom Deards qualified as a Solicitor at City law firm Clifford Chance before deciding to embark on a Legal Masters in Environmental Law at UCL. After completing his masters, Tom joined the Legal team at British Waterways (which became the Canal & River Trust in England and Wales in 2012) advising on a wide range of legal areas, including planning, environment and heritage. Tom has held his current role as Head of Legal since 2016.

Cornerstone Barristers
Called 1992

Harriet specialises in planning and environment law, with a public law practice in local authority powers and duties, and related property matters.

Harriet's clients include individuals, public authorities, planning consultants, developers, and solicitors working throughout England and Wales.

Cornerstone Barristers
Called 2009

Emma is passionate about public and administrative law, and this is the unifying element of the various areas of her practice. She is on the Attorney General's C panel of counsel and is now being regularly instructed in High Court judicial review matters.

Emma's major practice areas are planning, housing and licensing, but she aims to keep her practice broad in recognition of the interrelationships between different areas. She receives instructions in property cases, local authority governance matters and regulatory crime.

Emma acts for local government, central government and private clients and is equally happy defending or advancing a claim. She has understands the pressures facing local authority clients, having worked in a local authority housing benefits department before joining chambers.

Maugers Legal Services

Mauger's Legal Services is based in Cornwall. It is managed and operated by Susan Mauger Solicitor-Advocate (All Higher Courts) as a sole practitioner.

Specialism is in Town & Country Planning Law - major and minor development applications, planning enforcement, 106 agreements, appeals (hearings or inquiries), prosecutions/defence of prosecutions, injunctions and judicial reviews.

Further areas of law are Environmental Health (food safety, health & safety and housing disrepair and noise nuisance), Licensing and Homelessness