Birketts boosts planning and environment law team to meet demand

Birketts’ Planning team (left to right): Philip Kratz, Sue Chadwick, Tom Newcombe, Nicola Doole, Stuart Tym, Lisa Walker, Naomi Sunkin

Top 100 law firm, Birketts, has enhanced its planning and environmental law team with the recruitment of two highly-experienced appointments. Sue Chadwick (senior associate) and Stuart Tym (associate) both come with a wealth of knowledge and experience having advised a number of local planning authorities for many years.

Commenting on her appointment, Sue said “I am thrilled to be joining Birketts specialist planning law department which is recognised as a market leader by the legal directories. The team has built a fantastic reputation over the years advising a diverse mix of clients, including local authorities, residential developers, landowners and waste operators. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Stuart added: “I was very keen to join Birketts; the firm is expanding due to increasing activity throughout the region and has seen a growing number of instructions, predominantly from developers and landowners but also from local authorities in recent times. It’s a really exciting time to join.”

Tom Newcombe, partner and head of Birketts’ planning and environment team added: “I’m delighted to welcome Sue and Stuart to Birketts so quickly after the appointment of Nicola Doole. Sue has over 25 years’ experience in both the public and private sector and advises on all aspects of planning law with particular expertise in delivery of large scale projects and corporate governance. Her experience includes acting as deputy monitoring officer at Essex County council, project manager of the Grand Arcade shopping centre in Cambridge city centre and corporate growth manager for the Southern Fringe and other growth sites in Cambridge.”

Tom continued: “Stuart also has great experience, having specialised in planning, environmental and highways law for over a decade. He has particular expertise in contentious planning, including enforcement matters, complex s.106 agreements and renewable energy projects. Both appointments strengthen our team and demonstrate our commitment to meeting our clients’ needs. It was essential that we recruited high calibre personnel to maintain the standards and approach that our clients have come to expect from Birketts.”

Both Sue and Stuart will be based in the Cambridge office but support colleagues across Birketts’ four offices: Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich.