msl's government, planning and environment lawyers are able to assist with advice in the following areas:

• Local government
  
• Environmental compliance, prosecution & enforcement
  
• Due diligence
  
• Risk assessment & management
  
• Development compliance & litigation
  
• Drafting of legislation, including local laws
  
• Policy advice on legislative amendments
  

Planning

• Regulatory compliance & enforcement
  
• Corporate governance
  
• Risk management
  
• Development applications, approvals & appeals
  
• Contract preparation & appraisals
  
• Agreements & sub-contractor contracts
  
• Project management
  
• Dispute resolution
  
• Contractual disputes
  
• Town planning
  
• Compulsory acquisition, valuation & compensation
  
• Appeals on valuation, objections & property resumptions
  

Environment

• Environmental audit & impact assessments
  
• Compliance
  
• Pollution
  
• Contamination & remediation
  
• Flora & fauna protection
  
• Statutory compliance
  
• Native title & cultural heritage

The team also takes a particular interest in local and federal planning and environment laws. These are civil and criminal laws that change rapidly and are subject to increasing focus owing to the scarcity of resources.

For more information on our government, environment and planning law services in Queensland please contact our Brisbane and Gold Coast lawyers.

Being ‘green’ is becoming increasingly important for businesses with great rewards for doing the right thing, and heavy penalties for doing the wrong thing, knowingly or by mistake. When your business is in the public eye, it is even more crucial to make the right decision and be confident that you are receiving the right information. As legislation, environmental policies and planning regulations are constantly changing, it is important for your business to have access to legal advice that is current, accurate and timely.

Too many times, business owners, developers and planners wait until something goes wrong before they seek legal advice. The extension that has been illegally put on a shop front, speeding up the planning process by skipping council regulations, the ‘small’ spill from a building site, or just hoping that the problem will ‘go away’ by itself can end up more costly and time consuming than obtaining incisive legal advice in the beginning.

At msl, our team of planning and environmental specialists have a strong local government focus and are experienced in dealing with statutory bodies, environment and planning clients, local government authorities and councils. msl also has extensive expertise in delivering commercial results to this rapidly growing area across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Our government, environment and planning team represents local government, developers and builders in a range of areas.

Head of our government, environment and planning department, Karen van den Brand, Director, has provided advice to numerous councils, developers, companies and individuals. She has particular expertise in the regulatory framework surrounding water resources and wastewater, as well as conducting litigation on behalf of local government and other government agencies. Supported by a strong team of experienced professional staff, our Gold Coast and Brisbane lawyer's experience with local government provides in-depth knowledge and understanding of the unique workings of the local government decision-making and planning processes. With msl, we can help you get the results you need, when you need them.

See what our clients had to say about our government, environment and planning lawyers.

Queensland Environmental Law Association
Urban Development Institute of Australia
Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand