Reading: Shoosmiths hires leading planning partner
UK law firm Shoosmiths – based at Forbury Road, Reading and 12 other locations – has recruited a leading planning and development partner to boost its real estate team.
Karen Howard has more than 30 years of experience in resolving complex planning law issues including large mixed use schemes, infrastructure development – such as a gas pipeline and motorway schemes – and compulsory purchase orders including acting for objectors on the Olympics and Emirates Stadium developments.
Howard has a reputation in strategic planning on large regeneration schemes advises across sectors including residential, offices, industrial, retail, hotels and leisure. She handles development consent orders matters as well as judicial review and High Court challenges. She moves to Shoosmiths from DLA Piper.
Howard said: “I joined Shoosmiths because what motivates me is the ethos of teamwork here and pulling together with my colleagues across the UK. The people here are super-friendly and it’s inspiring to join Shoosmiths at a time when the firm is growing.”
Lisa Tye, joint head of planning said: “Karen Howard’s track record is second to none, with being responsible for the planning permission from major projects such as the Millennium Dome and Silvertown Quays to strategic housing of 1000 units and matches our ability at Shoosmiths to combine top technical legal advice with commercial thinking.”
Shoosmiths’ national planning team advises clients in the private and public sector on all aspects of planning, highways and compulsory purchase law. The team has worked on some of the UK's most complex and challenging urban regeneration schemes, along with mixed use, residential, retail and private rented sector developments.
