Planning & Zoning

Our US Planning and Zoning team, consisting of lawyers, urban planners and a registered architect, provides a full range of legal services in all areas of land use law, including advice on development enhancement strategies. The team has deep roots in New York and our experience there is comprehensive.

In contrast to all other international firms in the Middle East, BCLP’s Middle East team has dedicated resources in the UAE focused on planning and environment. The team is currently advising major governments and quasi government entities on key projects in the region and has drafted planning and environmental regulations for a number of Free Zone entities. Clients include Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and the Sharjah Urban Planning Council. We have an in-depth understanding of the policy framework against which planning proposals are judged both in the UAE and the wider MENA region. We are able to guide clients through often incoherent planning systems which often lack transparency and are therefore difficult to navigate.

Planning of Iconic London Skyscrapers

Location: UK, London

Advising on the planning aspects of some of London’s most iconic skyscrapers, including the Shard, 20 Fenchurch Street and the acquisition of 122 Leadenhall, “the Cheesegrater.”

$4.9 Billion Atlantic Yards Project

Location: US, New York

Representation of Empire State Development Corporation in connection with the environmental review and other public approvals for the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards Project, which will include an 18,000 seat arena (the future home of the New Jersey Nets basketball team) and 16 other residential and commercial buildings, comprising 7 million sq ft of development on a 22-acre site in Brooklyn, New York.

Advising Panattoni on 15+ Logistics Projects Across Germany

Location: Germany

Advised on more than 15 logistics project developments across Germany, in particular regarding funding structures with respect to forward development management agreements, aspects of planning and zoning, permits, property due diligence and lease agreements. Six-digit overall amount of sq m of lettable areas.

Dubai Government Consultation

Location: UAE, Dubai

Providing input on Dubai Government’s consultation on the use of public private partnership arrangements in Dubai, including participation at a series of workshops attended by several Dubai Government bodies including the Legal Affairs Department.

Landmark Farley Post Office Building

Location: US, New York

Represented a state public benefit corporation in connection with the redevelopment of the landmark Farley Post Office Building, in order to create a new Penn Station in Manhattan, New York. Our work included legal counsel related to land use issues and the project environmental review under federal and state law.

Advising on All of Westfield's London Schemes

Location: UK, White City, Stratford, Croydon

Advising a Westfield/Hammerson joint venture on the proposals to redevelop the Whitgift Centre and surrounding area in Croydon Town Centre in a £1.5 billion mixed use scheme. We have advised on all planning matters since 2012. We have also advised on Westfield’s schemes in Stratford and White City.