Emily practises in commercial and public law, specialising in the areas of planning and environmental law, land acquisition and valuation, and judicial review.
Emily is experienced in all aspects of the use and development of land. She started her career in building and construction litigation, including a secondment at a major construction company, and has advised or appeared in disputes relating to domestic building contracts, major construction contracts, security of payment and owners corporations.
Emily appears regularly in VCAT, Planning Panels Victoria, the Heritage Council and in the Courts, acting for proponents, local and State government, and statutory authorities. She has particular expertise in the environmental assessment of major infrastructure projects, having appeared in multiple inquiries under the Environment Effects Act 1978, including the inquiries into the environmental effects of the West Gate Tunnel, North East Link and Suburban Rail Link projects, and mineral resources and renewable energy projects. She specialises in leading and testing expert evidence of a complex and technical nature.
Emily has appeared in multiple Advisory Committee hearings, and merits review and declaration hearings in the Major Cases list in VCAT, under the Planning and Environment Act 1987. She regularly appears in precinct structure planning hearings, including in relation to the Suburban Rail Loop and Fisherman’s Bend Precincts. She has appeared in significant judicial review and appellate proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Victorian Court of Appeal.
Emily has acted for acquiring/rating authorities and claimants/land owners in relation to compulsory land acquisition, compensation and land valuation and rating disputes in VCAT and the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Emily has been recognised as “Leading” or “Preeminent” by Doyle’s Guide in the Victorian Planning and Environment Barristers list every year since 2016.
Emily is an Accredited Advocacy Instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne.
*Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation