Carter Jonas has strengthened its Infrastructure & Energy practice, welcoming several new members.

In London, David Walker has joined as a Partner in the Consents team with nearly 30 years of experience in the consenting and environmental assessment profession. He joins from High Speed 2 Limited where he was based for six years, as lead for environment on the hybrid Bill for Phase 2b. Before this, he held roles as Director of Major Infrastructure and Environment at Stantec UK and Partner in the Consenting and Environment team at Peter Brett Associates. As a specialist in Development Consent Orders (DCO) and major infrastructure, he will focus on growing Carter Jonas’ expertise in this area, working with the national team advising clients seeking support in gaining consents for projects as well as authorities and claimants needing specialist compensation services and support across the life of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).

Nicholas Andrews joins as an Associate Partner, also based in London. With a background in urban and infrastructure planning, he has held roles at Arup, AECOM and Urbis, Australia. Nicholas has worked on many significant schemes in the UK and his native Australia, including HS2 Euston Station and Phase 2a, Southern Water’s Water for Life, and the Heathrow Commercial Revenue Programme. At Carter Jonas, he will support infrastructure planning requirements with a particular focus on renewables and energy. Nicholas also lectures on planning for sustainability and climate change at University College London.

Carter Jonas’ Warrington team has welcomed Andy Gurney as a Senior Surveyor. With nearly 10 years’ experience, he joins from Bruton Knowles, where he worked as a Land Rights Officer. At Carter Jonas, he is supporting the delivery of major infrastructure and utility projects using his expertise and collaborative approach to identify and liaise with landowners and others with interests to negotiate access for various utility and transport clients. 

In Leeds, Carter Jonas recently welcomed Jamie Baxter as an Associate Partner, Phoebe Williams as an Associate, and Ellie Brown as a Senior Surveyor. 

Having qualified as a chartered engineer, Jamie joins from WSP with ten years of consultancy and project management experience specialising in renewable energy and sustainability, including solar PV and EV charging technologies. Jamie will join Carter Jonas’ well-established energy team, advising clients including landlords, asset managers and local authorities on feasibility, specification, technology selection and delivery for behind-the-meter and distributed generation projects.

Phoebe Williams joins from Mint Property Group with eight years of experience as an asset manager. At Carter Jonas, she is supporting the firm’s infrastructure clients providing a complete asset and mixed portfolio management service across a diverse range of property holdings including residential, commercial and agricultural properties.

Ellie Brown joins from the Environment Agency as a Senior Surveyor. With five years’ experience, she has specialised in estate management with a focus on flood defence projects. Carter Jonas has extensive experience advising on flood defence projects plus marine and coastal portfolios, and her expertise in this area will be employed across several client mandates. 

Finally, Carter Jonas welcomes Guy Harmer and Mark Allison who have rejoined the business in Leeds from Dalcour Maclaren and Blackhall and Powis respectively.  Both have considerable experience across the infrastructure sector. They will be supporting the team in the delivery of its specialist easements and wayleaves services and delivering energy and infrastructure valuations, both of which have seen unprecedented demand from the business’s clients in the public and private sectors.

Charles Hardcastle, Partner, Head of Northern Infrastructure and Energy team: 
“As we head towards 2024, it is a pleasure to welcome so many new and returning members to our team. The variety of their experience illustrates the range of skills and capabilities required to create a fully integrated client offer.  Having successfully secured instructions across a number of new critical transport, energy and utility projects, we remain committed to further growing our teams, recruiting dedicated professionals, as we continue to support clients addressing development needs across the country.”