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Russell is the head of Minter Ellison’s national Environment and Planning practice. He is an outstanding environment and planning litigator and widely considered a leading individual in the field. Noted for his exceptional knowledge, commercial nous and good communication and negotiation skills, Russell provides advice and advocacy services to diverse clients in the retail, infrastructure, tourism, resources and energy sectors. With more than 20 years experience in litigation and development approvals, Russell’s expertise includes providing strategic advice on the planning and environmental aspects of major projects and acting in planning, environmental and liquor licensing matters. Russell has an enviable record in conducting planning appeals for major projects, including the successful conclusion of the high-profile unimproved land valuation test cases for Westfield and AMP in respect of the Chermside and Pacific Fair Shopping Centres. The landmark decisions in these test cases, together with intensive lobbying between industry bodies and the Queensland Government, led to amendments to the Valuation of Land legislation. As a result of these changes, Russell and his team successfully settled in excess of 200 cases in the Land Court during 2010. Russell and the Queensland team have received extensive industry recognition for their work. Russell is described as “pragmatic and responsive - one of the best environmental lawyers in Queensland” by Chambers Asia Pacific 2011 and “preeminent among planning and environment lawyers in Queensland” by Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession, 2010. Russell has also been named in both Chambers Global and PLC as “a leading individual in the area of environment” every year since 2009 and lauded for his "excellent quality of advice and outstanding service". Russell is a member of the Queensland Environmental Law Association and the National Environmental Law Association, and chaired the Queensland Law Society's Planning and Environment Committee for 20 years.
Areas of expertise include:
Overseeing one of few truly national environmental and planning law practices in Australia, Russell has a sound understanding of the various state and federal regulatory processes and how they impact on development approvals. Russell provides strategic advice on environment, planning, valuation, and other critical issues related to the approval of major projects and in the industry sectors in which he specialises. Russell also negotiates between clients and State and Local Governments in relation to development approvals.
Russell has played a major role in building Minter Ellison’s practice in this increasingly important and high-profile area of law. He directs the conduct of planning, environmental and liquor licensing litigation and regularly appears as Counsel in major litigation in the Planning and Environment Court. In Brisbane Lawyer's recent Planning and Environment Legal Market Review, Russell was recognised as the "go to" man and best P&E litigator in town.