Leonora is a partner within the planning and environmental team, providing an advisory, litigation and dispute resolution service to both statutory bodies and private clients in relation to planning and development law, environmental law, administrative and public law and statutory interpretation.

Leonora advises public bodies on decision making, the extent of their statutory powers and functions in particular regarding consent processes. She represents and advises public bodies and private clients in litigation in the Irish Superior Courts and in the Court of Justice of Europe and has expertise in planning and environmental law judicial reviews. She advises private clients and public bodies on their obligations arising under EU and national environmental legislation and caselaw, in this rapidly evolving area.

Prior to joining the firm Leonora was legal advisor to Dublin City Council for 10 years where she was responsible for Local Government environmental prosecutions, defence of environmental and social housing judicial reviews, pursuing statutory injunctions and statutory appeals. She advised the Council on a diverse range of regulatory and other issues including on CPOs, arbitration, public liability and occupier liability and a statutory review by the Irish Human Rights Commission.

Leonora has lectured on the Planning and Environmental Law Diploma in the Law Society and presented at conferences of the Irish Planning Institute, Dublin Solicitor Bar Association, Local Authority Solicitor Bar Association and the Europol Conference on Environmental Crime. Leonora was a member of the European “Trans-frontier Shipment of Waste” working group which advised on the enforcement of the Regulation.

Representative Matters

Leonora has acted for clients in significant High Court cases including:

• • • Pembroke Road Residents Association -v- An Bord Pleanála & Or. Successful defence of challenge to SHD development.
    • Hellfire Massey Resident Association -v- An Bord Pleanála & Ors. Local Authority development visitor centre and amenity open space and Habitats Directive.
    • M28 Steering Group -v- An Bord Pleanála and Cork County Council – national road development and EIA.
    • Kim Griffin -v- Dublin City Council & Or. Local authority housing development and EIA.

Leonora advises on planning and environmental issues arising in consent processes:

• • • Commissioner for Irish Lights – audit on impact of Habitats and EIA Directives.
    • Housing Agency – impact of new planning legislation.
    • NTMA – planning advice – Schools PPP bundles.
    • IDA – industrial development of facility requiring EPA licences.
    • Marine Institute – advising on environmental prosecutions.
    • International technology company – transfrontier shipment of waste obligations.
    • Private client due diligence on acquisition of EPA licensed industrial facility.
    • Wind farms – advice to private developers on environmental assessments and foreshore licence requirements.
    • Aqua Comms – subsea fibre optic cables – litigation and advice on environmental assessments.
    • Advice on regulatory regime for construction and operation of an Airport terminal at Dublin.