James is a partner in the firm's local government and environment group. His primary area of practice is advising on resource management and environmental law, with a particular focus on energy, utilities, and infrastructure projects.
He has extensive advocacy experience before local authorities and the Environment Court on resource management and environmental matters, and has successfully appeared in a number of leading environmental and judicial review proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal. James also has expertise in strategic growth planning, environmental due diligence, judicial review, financial contributions, subdivision, roading, historic places, contaminated sites, environmental enforcement, and public works issues.
- Australasian Legal Business Guide: Environmental Law 2009 - Leading Lawyer
Examples of Work
- Transpower North Island Grid Upgrade Project - an $824 million project to obtain approvals for a new 186 km overhead transmission line, underground cables, and substations, following call-in by the Minister for the Environment as a project of national significance
- BP Oil New Zealand - obtaining resource consents for new bulk fuel storage terminals at Lower Hutt and Lyttelton, and for new service station developments around the country
- Canterbury earthquakes - advising on emergency powers and recovery planning under earthquake recovery legislation
- Kapiti Western Link Road and East Taupo Arterial Road - designations for major roading projects, including Environment Court and High Court litigation
- Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy project - implementation of a 35 year plan for managing urban growth, infrastructure, and land use in greater Christchurch
- NZ Transport Agency - a range of resource management and state highway development issues
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) - counsel on various wind farm appeals
- KiwiRail - litigation and environmental consenting issues relating to ferry wash from its Cook Strait ferries
- Masterfoods - development of a greenfields manufacturing facility near Wanganui
- New Plymouth District Council - resource consents for upgrades to New Plymouth wastewater treatment plant and coastal permits for ocean outfalls
Other Credentials
- Brookers Resource Management - Contributing author
- Resource Management Law Association - Member
- Regular conference and seminar presenter on Resource Management Act issues for New Zealand Planning Institute, Ministry for the Environment roadshows, and New Zealand Petroleum Conference
