Mills Oakley launches planning and environment practice in Brisbane with new partner

National firm Mills Oakley has expanded its planning and environment practice into Brisbane with the addition of Rayne Nelms as partner.

Nelms has a developer-oriented practice, advising on town planning and environmental approvals, planning and environment litigation, land use compliance and enforcement, infrastructure agreements and charges and compulsory land acquisition. His experience is evenly split between DLA Phillips Fox (now DLA Piper) and his most recent firm, Thomson Geer.

Nelms said that he was excited to be part of the “formation of one of the foremost planning practices in Australia.”

“Mills Oakley has a clear vision for providing an integrated suite of legal services for property development and I look forward to delivering on that vision in Brisbane, as well as growing the Brisbane and national practice,” said Nelms.

“For many years, we have observed the synergies between our planning, construction and property teams and watched our Sydney and Melbourne practices flourish through an integrated approach to property development,” said John Nerurker, chief executive officer of Mills Oakley. “Our Brisbane office has been on the same journey, but until now a planning capability has been the missing piece. Rayne, as a seasoned planning lawyer of nearly 20 years’ experience, is the ideal person to bridge that gap.”