A new team centred on Planning and Environmental law is being established at Beswicks Legal.
The team will include an advisory service for landowners and companies affected by the development of the proposed HS2 rail link.
Iain Johnston, who has an extensive track record in areas including HS2 and nationally significant planning law, will head the team.
Mr Johnston has been appointed as a Partner at Festival Park based Beswicks Legal.
He returns to Stoke-on-Trent following senior roles in heavyweight Manchester and Birmingham practices following an earlier stint at a legal firm in the Potteries.
Iain said: “I am delighted to have been chosen to head Beswicks Legal’s new Planning and Environmental team. It is an exciting time for the firm which is expanding its specialisms to provide a full portfolio of services to business customers.
“I am returning to North Staffordshire at a time when HS2 is set to come to the fore with the announcement of the fixed route for Phase Two towards the end of 2014.
“It is a growing area of work for lawyers with compulsory purchase expertise and I have been responsible for setting up HS2 advisory services in my previous roles as a partner in legal practices in Birmingham and Manchester.
“Once the route through Staffordshire and Cheshire is fixed and safeguarded, landowners will ultimately be able to serve blight notices on Government and take advantage of the compensation packages available. This will cut short the Compulsory Purchase process and help landowners to achieve a faster resolution.”
Graham Neyt, Managing Partner at Beswicks Legal said: “Iain is a well-known and highly respected name in planning law and it is pleasing to have secured his services. He will have responsibility for the development of a Planning and Environmental team at Beswicks Legal.
“Iain’s track record in providing strategic advice to landowners and pursuing successful claims under the Exceptional Hardship Scheme from the Government is second to none. He also brings to Beswicks 20 years experience as a specialist in planning law during which he has acted for large companies and regeneration bodies in nationally significant infrastructure projects.”
ENDS
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