Peter is a planning and environmental law specialist with over a decade of experience advising on major residential, commercial, industrial and resource projects across New South Wales. His practice spans the full spectrum of development approvals, judicial review, environmental regulatory/criminal risk, hardship and compulsory acquisition and complex easement negotiations and disputes, including drainage infrastructure and rights of carriageway.
Peter began his career in public interest environmental law, working on matters involving ecologically sustainable development, judicial review and community engagement, before transitioning to private practice in 2016. Since then, he has advised some of Australia’s largest property developers, industrial clients and resource companies on contaminated land issues, development restrictions, yields, uplifts, and planning risks across a diverse range of projects.
Peter regularly appears in the Land and Environment Court and the Supreme Court, acting in development application appeals, development control order appeals, judicial review proceedings, civil enforcement matters, compulsory acquisition and tree disputes. His detailed understanding of planning frameworks, combined with strong advocacy capability, allows him to guide clients confidently through complex regulatory and litigation pathways.
Recognised for his professional leadership, Peter is a former NSW Young Lawyer of the Year and has completed a Master of Environmental Law at the University of Sydney, along with further specialised postgraduate studies in environmental and planning law.
Peter’s experience across both public interest and private practice environments enables him to navigate development and planning issues with a holistic understanding of client needs, regulatory expectations and broader environmental considerations.
Peter joined Keypoint Law in 2026 and is based in Sydney.
Expertise
- Planning and Environmental Law, including development approvals, judicial review and regulatory risk assessments.
- Easement creation, negotiation and disputes, including drainage infrastructure and rights of carriageway.
- Major project advisory across residential, commercial, industrial and resource developments.
- Contaminated land and land‑use constraints, including advice on development restrictions, yields and uplifts.
- Litigation and dispute resolution in the Land and Environment Court and the Supreme Court, including DA appeals, DCO appeals, judicial review, civil enforcement and tree disputes.
- Public interest environmental law, including ecologically sustainable development, community engagement and judicial review.
- Strategic regulatory advice for developers, industrial clients and resource companies.
- Hardship acquisition and compulsory acquisition of real property.
- Holistic planning risk assessments for complex development projects.
Experience
- Appearing in the Court of Appeal instructing Senior Counsel in two separate proceedings concerning the proper construction of rights conferred by bespoke easements
- Acting for various 24/7 gym owners in obtaining approvals/variations for 24-hour operation including handling sensitive receivers and significant site constraints
- Acting for local Councils in development application (and development control order) appeals in the Land and Environment Court, access to information appeals to NCAT and minor criminal prosecutions in the Local Court
- Appearing in the Court of Criminal Appeal instructing Senior Counsel in a significant criminal defence appeal concerning the proper construction of conditions of environmental protection licence
- Advising developers on all aspects of property development including site feasibility studies, subdivision, DA/CDC pathways and Land and Environment Court appeals of various classes
- Advising on and running judicial review proceedings, compulsory acquisition proceedings and easement negotiations (including s88K / s40 applications to the Supreme Court / Land and Environment Court)
- Advice on boundary disputes including retaining walls, encroaching structures and dividing fences
Recognition
- Master of Environmental Law, The University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), Business Law, Macquarie University
- Diploma of Law, Law Extension Committee (USYD) / Legal Profession Admissions Board
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
- Former Chair and Member, NSW Young Lawyers Environment and Planning Law Committee
- Former NSW Young Lawyer of the Year
Career
| 2026 | Keypoint Law | Consulting Principal |
| 2018 – 2026 | Hones Lawyers | Partner (final role) |
| 2018 | MinterEllison | Associate |
| 2016 – 2018 | Hones Lawyers | Lawyer |