About Georgia

Georgia specialises in planning and environmental law and regularly advises local, state and commonwealth government clients, and private sector clients including in the development sector. Her areas of expertise include development assessment and approval pathways, policy and legislative reform, compliance and enforcement, major projects, infrastructure contributions, heritage, water law, biodiversity, and waste. Georgia has a particular interest in litigation and dispute resolution, and regularly appears in the NSW Land and Environment Court including as an advocate in development appeals and civil enforcement proceedings.

She also has significant experience in matters before the NSW Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Experience

• NSW Land and Environment Court

  Georgia has experience acting for developers and consent authorities in complex proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court, including Class 1 merits appeals, civil enforcement, and judicial review proceedings. She regularly appears as an advocate in appeals, particularly in s34 conciliation conferences.

• State and Commonwealth Government

  Georgia has significant experience advising state and commonwealth government agencies on planning and environmental law, policy and reforms. She also gained experience working in-house at the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in the Policy and Legislation team with responsibilities of implementing key reform agendas.

• Local councils

  Georgia is a specialist in local government law, regularly advising councils in relation to regulatory matters, development assessment, compliance and enforcement, code of conduct, heritage, roads, and crown land.

• Major projects & activities

  Georgia has advised proponents and government agencies in relation to the assessment and approval of major projects including environmental impact assessment obligations. She also advises public authorities in relation to roles, risk, and responsibilities in the assessment of activities under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

• Infrastructure contributions

  Georgia has a particular interest in infrastructure contributions and advises government and private clients regarding liabilities to make contributions, as well as the drafting and negotiation of complex planning agreements. She also advises councils regarding the drafting of contributions plans and the imposition of contributions conditions, including for affordable housing.