Expertise:

• Statutory assessment of development applications;
• The regulatory framework surrounding water resources, wastewater, and waste management;
• Planning, environment and local government law advice for local governments, companies and individuals;
• Preparation, review and amendment of local government laws and subordinate local laws, as well as local government registers, including delegations of authority, policies and management directives;
• Undertaking prosecutions on behalf of local governments to ensure regulatory compliance;
• Conducting litigation in the Planning and Environment Court for developers and local governments;
• Project management of development projects in conjunction with consultants;
• Environmental compliance audits, due diligence and impact assessment; and
• Compulsory acquisition of land, appeals regarding land valuations and land tax assessments.
  

Languages:

• Dutch
• German
• Conversational French
• Conversational Japanese

Karen van den Brand, Director, is head of the firm's Local Government, Environment and Planning Law department. She has represented and provided advice to a number of local governments, developers, companies and individuals.

Whilst her interests are varied, she is particularly involved in the area of environmental regulatory compliance, and has considerable expertise in the areas of water and wastewater infrastructure, management of waste transfer facilities, and waste infrastructure.

Her interests and experience include:

• Advising local governments in legislative and quasi–legislative areas; drafting local laws, subordinate local laws, amendments to local laws and subordinate local laws, policies, delegations of authority and management directives.
• Conducting litigation on behalf of local governments, both for prosecutorial and defensive purposes. Karen enjoys a high success rate in undertaking prosecutions for local governments for both planning, development and environmental offences, but has also defended local governments in proceedings commenced by other government agencies.
• Karen regularly appears in the Planning and Environment Court in appeals brought by developers, both for developers and local governments. She has acted for decision makers, appellants and submitters. As a consequence, she has a solid understanding of the technical issues that generally arise in such appeals, and has the requisite knowledge in specialist areas of expertise. This allows Karen to manage consultants to achieve the best outcome for her clients.
  

• Queensland Law Society
• Urban Development Institute of Australia
• Queensland Environmental Law Association
• EnviroIndustry Gold Coast, Current Chairperson

What is your favourite movie/book? The Life of Pi by Yann Martel - The book is about an Indian boy who survives 227 days after being shipwrecked with some animals from a zoo, including a Bengal Tiger, a Zebra and a Hyena.

How do you like to spend your weekends? Eating, eating, cooking, eating and catching up with friends.

Favourite food/drink? Caviar, truffles and champagne. Unfortunately, I have to live on simpler tastes.

Who would you like to share a meal with? Kofi Annan (diplomat), Ewan McGregor (actor), Ferran Adria (chef), Peter Hoeg (author), my husband (chocolate maker) - should make for mind blowing food, interesting conversation, and lively discussions.

What sporting team do you support? Dutch National Football Team (Soccer)

What is your favourite holiday destination? Too many to name - the west coast of Sardinia for a relaxing beach holiday, Peru for adventure, Austria for skiing and snow boarding, the Great Barrier Reef for scuba diving.