About Breellen

Breellen specialises in all areas of planning and environmental law. She advises local and State Government clients, in addition to a range of private sector clients, including within the development industry and waste and education sectors. As well as working with private practice, she has worked as an inhouse counsel for a number of government agencies in NSW and in the UK. Breellen has particular expertise in providing practical and strategic legal advice on Federal and State planning and environmental approvals processes.

In addition, Breellen advises on waste regulation, contamination, biodiversity conservation, environmental compliance and heritage matters. Breellen also handles litigious matters relating to development appeals, judicial review and enforcement in the Land and Environment Court.

Breellen has been recognised in the Doyle's Guide as a Leading Planning & Development Lawyer – New South Wales since 2020 and in the 2021 and 2022 Editions of Best Lawyers for Planning and Environmental Law. She is recommended by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2023) Guide for her work in Native Title.

Experience

• Voluntary Planning Agreements

  Breellen has acted for the Department and the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and a number of local councils in the drafting and negotiation of a number of complex planning agreements, securing a broad range of development contributions including land dedication and road infrastructure

• Biodiversity Conservation

  Breellen has acted for a NSW Government agency in acquiring biodiversity credits to offset the impact of major roads infrastructure projects, including advising on the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

• Land and Environment Court Proceedings

  Breellen's experience includes acting for a local council in connection with a highly complex set of proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court including enforcement proceedings, Class 1 merits appeals and section 88K proceedings

• Compulsory Acquisition

  Breellen has advised a number of local councils on the compulsory acquisition of land for capital works projects.

• Environmental Compliance

  Breellen has advised a waste operator in relation to the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, including risk mitigation, environmental duties and obligations, licensing and waste regulation.