Planning experience

Power stations and energy

We have extensive experience in the acquisition, development and disposal of power stations for all types of energy. Our specialists have advised on the planning, administrative and environmental consent issues that arise in relation to coal fired, gas fired, combined heat and power, waste to heat and nuclear power stations.

We act for a number of the major national and international energy companies.

Media and telecommunications

Our media and telecommunications work has an excellent reputation and we have been actively involved in telecommunications law matters ever since the first move towards liberalisation of markets. Our client base includes incumbents and new entrants in the domestic and international mobile and fixed network markets, service providers, retailers and resellers, broadcasters, producers and distributors of radio and television programmes, new content providers, internet start-ups, hard and software companies, investors and banks engaged in these industries.

Our advice covers a wide range of licensing issues, including allocation of UMTS and WLL-frequencies, proceedings before the national regulatory authorities against incumbents, particularly on interconnection and rates issues, and contractual issues of our clients' day-to-day business. Our specialists were responsible for instituting landmark proceedings at the national regulators of the different EU members states regarding interconnection tariffs and enforcing unbundled access to the facilities of the incumbents in court.

We have substantial experience in the granting of licences, the supervision of broadcasting events, the introduction of new technologies and the legal problems stemming from the rapidly accelerating convergence of media and network technologies, among other things.

We also represent clients and trade associations on the many planning and environmental challenges presented by network roll-out programmes across Europe.

Specialist office developments

A number of worldwide banks and financial institutions are choosing to re-locate their main operations to Canary Wharf in East London and we have advised some of them on their relocation. In particular, on the special planning regime that applies to many of the developments at Canary Wharf. We have also provided environmental advice.

Industrial development

Advising on industrial developments is one of the mainstays of our practice. We are widely recognised for our expertise in advising on inward investment to many industrial and developing countries for major industrial plants and developments.

Many major plant and infrastructure projects involve complex and inter-related planning and environment issues and our specialists work closely with internal and external transactional team members to provide a seamless service to our clients.

Roads and railways

Our lawyers are specialists in this sector and have advised on acquiring freight train franchises in the UK and railway safety cases, as well as providing daily advice to clients, including LUL, on matters such as the Jubilee Line extension and its public/private partnership.

In relation to roads, we have advised on the design, building, financing and operation of the first major road project financed in the market, and the development of road works in association with land development. We have also assisted our clients with numerous highways matters and advised a number of statutory undertakers on their rights on digging up roads and highways as part of their infrastructure projects.

Institutional investors

We advise institutional investors on the major acquisitions and disposals of parts of their portfolios, which typically include light industrial, mixed retail, offices, city headquarter offices and business parks.

We also advise on the planning and environmental issues that can arise in such transactions.

Public finance initiative projects (PFIs)

We are closely involved in a range of PFI projects, which include the construction of courts, prisons, police stations, hospitals and schools.

Typically we advise on the apportionment and management of the planning and environmental risks and on obtaining a range of development control consents including planning, highways, listed buildings and conservation area consents. We have experience of acting for both concessionaires and funders.

Brownfield sites

Increasingly, land for development projects is becoming scarce. The government is therefore encouraging the use of former industrial land (brownfield sites) for use in office, industrial and retail space. We have extensive experience advising clients in this field.

We have also advised on the redevelopment of military establishments, steel works and chemical plants on derelict land.

Retail

We have advised on a number of retail transactions involving the development of new sites, the redevelopment of old sites and the acquisition and disposal of retail space. We have also advised developers on all aspects of development from carrying out environmental impact assessments to obtaining planning permissions. One of our specialist retail clients required planning, listed building and conservation advice.

Heritage and conservation

Our lawyers provide advice to a wide range of clients on the built environment and the many issues arising from the conservation of designated areas and listed and heritage buildings. We have also advised on World Heritage site issues. Our practice has helped clients who wish to develop land and are confronted with listed building consents, conservation area issues or a tree preservation orders etc.

Our planning practice is widely recognised for its expertise in planning issues arising out of protected land such as greenbelts, metropolitan open land and areas classified as areas of outstanding natural beauty and special areas of conservation. We also have experience in developing major projects in a variety of habitats ranging from grasslands to those of newts and badgers.

High-growth markets

Reducing the risk of investing in high-growth markets.

Our low carbon energy team

Read about our low carbon energy team.

News

Freshfields elects seventeen to counsel role View

G20 anti-bribery inconsistencies raise challenges and costs for international businesses View

Briefings

Neues Genehmigungsregime für Offshore-Windparks  View

EU-Staatsschuldenkrise  View

A double whammy for petrochemical firms: the impact of the 2013 emissions trading rules

Paul Bowden, partner responsible for the carbon economy team, sets out what companies can do now, and how to make sure they are ready for 2013. Watch

A summary of what the proposals for the third phase of the EU emissions trading scheme will mean for EU petrochemical companies. View

Awards

Regulatory team of the year - JUVE Awards (2009)

Dispute resolution law firm of the year - JUVE Awards (2008)

View all awards