Planning Partner Nicola Gooch Ranked Fourth In Individual Partner Category

Irwin Mitchell’s Planning Team has jumped to fifth place in Planning Magazines’ rankings of highest rating planning law firms 2024. This is a jump from 20^th position in 2023.

The four-partner UK national team, led by partner Claire Petricca -Riding, offers the full range of planning law advice. The team has also boosted its environmental credentials with the arrival of environmental partner Keith Davidson last year.

The commentary in Planning Magazine revealed that last year the team advised on more than 100 planning applications, intended to deliver more than 2,500 new homes, 10,000 square metres of commercial space, two hotels, one football ground and four solar power schemes.

The company’s advice is described by one client as “thought-provoking,” “sound” and “reliable”.

Highlights from the past 12 months include advising property investment and management platform Praxis Capital on the £125 million acquisition of Brindleyplace in Birmingham. The team is also currently advising a local business in Shropshire that is opposing a proposal to build the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road.

In addition, Irwin Mitchell is advising on one of the largest habitat banks on the completion of numerous 106 agreements required as part of biodiversity and nitrate neutrality credit schemes.

In separate tables ranking individual planning lawyers, planning partner Nicola Gooch, is ranked fourth.

One respondent said “I have come up against Nicola a couple of times. She is friendly and fair but is all about detail. You need to be very prepared when going into meetings with her.”

Nicola is a specialist in mixed-use regeneration projects. Among her highlights in the past year are advising – alongside Irwin Mitchell Associate Solicitor Erica Ives – Millwall FC on its plans to build a new 20-hectare training ground in Kent; and advising a consortium of landowners on the sale of a large development site at Ford Airfield in West Sussex.

Expert Opinion

“We are delighted to have ranked so highly in this year’s prestigious Planning Magazines’ top ranking planning law firms, ranking higher than a number of magic circle and other national law firms. We have a great team, great clients and are looking to continue to grow our team in the year ahead.” Claire Petricca-Riding, Irwin Mitchell partner