Specialist areas of practice:

• Environment and planning
• Local government strategy and advisory
• Projects

Mike is an environment law specialist and partner in the environment & planning team. He has particular expertise in project consenting and an impressive track record of obtaining resource consents and other approvals for large projects, including retail, commercial and industrial developments, infrastructure projects and comprehensive residential schemes. He is renowned for his aptitude with briefing and working with large teams of technical specialists across a range of disciplines.

He acts for both councils and private clients on complex planning issues, which regularly see him appear before independent hearings panels, the Environment Court and the High Court.

Having acted for a range of private clients on the development of Auckland's Unitary Plan, Mike has a deep understanding of the planning framework in Auckland. His involvement included setting the high-level policy approach in the Regional Policy Statement as well as the detail of particular zones and provisions.

Mike also advises on all aspects of local government law, including bylaws, rating, development contributions and Public Works Act issues.

He is the Chair of the Auckland Branch Committee of the Resource Management Law Association and Co-Convener of the Auckland District Law Society Environment and Resource Management Law Committee.