Philip is a Partner in Simpson Grierson's Wellington Local Government and Environment work group which is part of our Resources and Infrastructure Department.  Philip specialises in resource management and environmental law and has practised in that area since 1989.

He undertakes Resource Management and Building Act advisory, enforcement litigation and strategy and policy work for infrastructure providers, local authorities, developers, and government departments in all areas of the Resource Management Act.  He has particular experience in water and coastal management, air quality, contaminated sites, resource allocation and the preparation of District and Regional Plans.

Philip also has particular expertise in project managing and where required, litigating Resource Management Act and other approvals for major infrastructure projects.

Philip frequently appears at Environment Court hearings.  He also appears in the District Court on resource management prosecutions, and in the High Court and Court of Appeal on Resource Management Act appeals and at judicial reviews.  He has expertise in alternative dispute resolution and has been involved in many environmental mediations. He is a certified independent commissioner and has chaired a number of significant hearings.

• Resource management strategic advice and RMA project management and litigation for the Department of Corrections' four new prison facilities (Environment Court and appeals)
• Rangitata and Buller River Conservation Order litigation
• Consents for Timberlands Beech Management Project
• Transit's appeals on the Southern Link arterial road designation in Nelson
• Palmerston North, Hutt City, Kapiti, Porirua Masterton and other wastewater projects
• Aoraki Water Trust's irrigation project
• Pohokura and Kupe (Origin) Gas Field development in Taranaki, for Taranaki Regional Council
• Due diligence for the Crown on Resource Management Act issues relating to the Contact Energy sale and IPO
• Contact Energy's transfer of Resource Management Act consents
• Contact Energy's review of Resource Management Act approvals
• Nelson's new secondary school
• Primary legal adviser and advocate for three Regional Councils
• Numerous Environment Court hearings and mediations for a range of clients

• Commissioner (Chair) on Kate Valley landfill proposal, Akaroa marine farms, Port Lyttelton occupation issues, Ngai Tahu water take applications, Selwyn Rakaia groundwater hearings and Christchurch Airport stormwater discharges
• Brookers Resource Management chapter on water law and enforcement - Author and Updating Author
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's paper on sustainable water allocation - Author
• 2005 Salmon Lecture to RMLA on water allocation issues (three published papers on this topic) - Presenter
• Water 2006 Conference - Keynote Speaker