About Shirley

Shirley is a Senior Associate in the Public Law team in Sydney. She acts for both public and private sector clients across all areas of environment and planning law including planning law, development compliance, compulsory land acquisitions, strata renewal, easements, and environmental and planning due diligence. 

Shirley has extensive experience managing complex litigation in Classes 1, 3 and 4 of the NSW Land and Environment Court, NSW Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. 

In addition, Shirley offers strategic planning advice to assist her clients in solving legal problems, understanding their legal obligations and navigating complex development appeals.
 

Experience

• Development Appeals

  Shirley has experience advising and acting for local councils in litigation in the Land and Environment Court defending appeals against refusals to grant development applications. 
  
  In addition she has advised commercial developers and individuals on issues associated with the redevelopment of various sites including for commercial and residential uses. This includes advising on planning matters relating to owner's consent, clause 4.6 requests and physical commencement of development consents as well as acting in Land and Environment Court proceedings seeking development consent. 

• Compulsory Acquisition

  Shirley has experience advising and acting for dispossessed owners in Class 3 proceedings in the Land and Environment Court in relation to determination of compensation for compulsory acquisitions. 
  
  She previously worked for a State Owned Corporation and advised on all aspects of the compulsory acquisition process, including questions about land access. 

• Easements

  Shirley has experience advising and acting for private individuals in relation to the protection of their easement rights including litigation on the interpretation of the terms of an easement in the NSW Supreme Court. Additionally, she has acted for commercial developers in negotiations for the granting of an easement for stormwater drainage. 

• Judicial Review

  Shirley has advised and acted for an environmental action group in judicial review proceedings in the Land and Environment Court challenging a Council's decision based on environmental concerns and the lack of a Review of Environmental Factors at the time of the making of the Council's decision and intensification of use.

• Strata Renewal

  Shirley has experience advising and acting for Owners Corporation, developers and dissenting owners in relation to strata renewal plans for the redevelopment and the collective sale of freehold strata schemes.