Alistair Watson

Al is our UK Head of Planning & Environment. He's advised on landmark UK projects including numerous stadia, airports, and real estate developments. Clients describe Al as a commercially minded lawyer with outstanding energy, people skills, and commitment to their businesses. He's recognised as one of the UK's leading planning lawyers.

Al guides clients through a range of development and infrastructure schemes, including complex planning applications, development of environmental and sustainability strategies, as well as supporting appeals and contentious matters arising from the development of sports stadia, airports, skyscrapers, and large residential sites.

He has a Master of Laws in Planning from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and was elected a Legal Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 2003. Al often comments on planning projects of national interest with broadsheet and specialist press outlets, including the Financial Times.

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Carrière

Since 2010	Partner and Head of Planning, Taylor Wessing
1994 - 2010	Associate, CMS Cameron McKenna

Formation

2003	Admitted to the Royal Town Planning Institute, Legal Associate
1999	Admitted to the Bar, England and Wales
1994	Master of Laws in Planning, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

1992

BA Honours Degree

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Groupes & Associations

Legal Associate, Royal Town Planning Institute, 2003

Langues étrangères

English

Expertise

Secteurs Fortune Privée Immobilier Logement étudiants

Experience

Sports stadia	Acting for various English football clubs in the Premier League and the Football League on planning applications for the development of their new sports stadia, training grounds, and associated transport and social infrastructure improvements.
Acquisition and proposed redevelopment of St John's Wood Barracks	A high net worth overseas investor on the acquisition and proposed redevelopment of the St John's Wood Barracks site.
Redevelopment of Brentford Football Club	Brentford Football Club on all legal issues relating to the development of their new stadium covering real estate, planning, construction, corporate finance, IP, media and technology matters. Taylor Wessing advised on the redevelopment plans for the existing ground, Griffin Park, and the development of land for a new stadium together with match day corporate facilities, accommodation for the Sports Trust, and 910 residential units and a hotel.

McLaren Property on the multi-billion pound delivery of development projects since their inception in 2010	McLaren Property on their acquisitions and redevelopments since their inception in 2010. Whilst McLaren are active across multiple sectors, the bulk of the projects undertaken have been in the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and residential sectors. Taylor Wessing has advised on redevelopment projects undertaken both independently and in joint venture partnerships with sector specialists, with a current pipeline of development assets totalling GBP1.5bn.
Airport operating companies	Airport operating companies on airport expansion projects between 1995 and 2009, and 2018/2019; the planning advisory work covered all aspects of the projects, with particular emphasis on planning and economic benefits, inquiry evidence from the airport operating companies and the airlines in support of expansion plans, rebuttal evidence to airlines in opposition to expansion plans, mitigation and compensation measures by way of planning conditions and planning agreements, surface access enhancements, construction impacts, and successful defence of the planning permissions from legal challenge.
One of the UK biggest developers	One of the UK biggest developers on the redevelopment of 22 sites across London and the South East.

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Prix et distinctions

Chambers UK 2020	"very professional but caring at the same time." - Chambers
Chambers UK 2020	Leading individual - Planning (Band 3): Alistair Watson is highly experienced in advising on development and infrastructure schemes, including planning applications and challenges concerning the development of sports stadiums, skyscrapers and large residential sites. One client says: "Alistair Watson is a very experienced planning lawyer and has provided what I can only say is exceptional advice and support." Another adds: "He is very slick, focused and very well respected."
Chambers UK 2019	Leading individual - Planning (Band 4): Alistair Watson focuses his planning practice on development and infrastructure matters, acting for institutional and international clients. One commentator reports: "He is very experienced and offers very clear and considered advice. He is very personable, he explains things well and gives the client real confidence. He focuses on the end game and the objectives of transactions."
Chambers UK 2018	Leading individual - Planning (Band 2): Alistair Watson represents a broad client base, including developers and investors, on high-profile urban redevelopment schemes. He has advised on projects in the residential, retail, mixed-use and student accommodation spaces. Commentators praise him as "very commercially minded with outstanding client skills."
Chambers UK 2016	Leading individual: 'praised for his “drive, energy and commitment” to a project. “He has been one of the success factors in helping us achieve our objective” commented one client.'