Property, planning and environmental law advice for corporate and private clients
Property, planning and environmental law advice
Expert legal services from Limestone Law
Limestone Law was founded by Richard Smith to provide fast, lower cost access to legal advice in the non-regulated areas of law in which he has specialised for decades.
Richard provides real estate developers, owners, corporate occupiers, investors and professionals with legal services associated with property development, planning law and environmental law.
Limestone Law is a boutique legal business, offering unrivalled expertise, experience and efficiency for clients who value rapid, commercially astute advice at a fraction of the cost of larger, traditional law firms. Our services include:
Property Development
Property Development
Richard has acted for a multitude of corporate and private clients throughout his career, including multi-nationals, large privately-owned development companies, universities, chemical and other industrial manufacturers, housing associations, and individual entrepreneurs acting as developers and funders.
He understand the interface between property development, environmental law and planning, and the role each plays in building a greener society and carbon neutral economy.
We advise on:
- Development agreements for the construction of residential and/or commercial buildings.
- Development project management and strategic planning from a legal risk perspective.
- Legal structures for development projects.
Planning law and policy
Planning law and policy
Richard has extensive experience of all aspects of planning law, policy and guidance, and has access to an extensive network of technical experts. He advises on:
- Planning agreements and planning obligations, such as Section 106 Agreements, Unilateral Undertakings and the CIL.
- Promotion agreements and joint ventures.
- Advice on planning law and policy to support small, large, and complex development schemes, whether commercial, residential or mixed-use.
- Objecting to planning applications for proposed developments using national and local planning policies.
- Advice on lawful planning uses, changes of use and the meaning of ‘development’.
Environmental law
Environmental law
Richard has advised large businesses and land owners on environmental law since the 1990s and was for many years recognised as a leading individual in the Legal 500 and Chambers Directory of legal experts. He is a member of the Environmental Law Foundation. He advises on:
- All aspects of environmental law and regulatory issues relating to water pollution, waste management, land contamination, and climate change law.
- Agreements for environmental management, permits and licences, waste disposal, landfill tax, recycling, biodiversity, warranties and indemnities.
- Environmental Impact Assessment and European Directives (Habitats, EIA, Water and Waste).
Short leases, licences and property disputes
Short leases, licences and property disputes
For businesses and individuals, property can be a very valuable asset but can also bring problems and liabilities so negotiating effective leases and licences, and resolving disputes quickly, can be crucial.
We advise on:
- Short leases of commercial and residential property.
- Licences and short tenancies of land and buildings.
- Resolving disputes relating to rights of way, covenants, boundaries and ownership issues.
- Party Wall Act queries.