Laura Raffaele

Laura is a dedicated member of our Environment and Planning team and has been since 2014. Prior to joining the team, Laura was a member of our firm’s Insurance practice where she spent over two years assisting with preparation of contested matters.

She is a confident and competent practitioner who regularly appears for her clients in the Land and Environment Court. With a keen awareness of the concerns of local councils, developers and other clients, she is able to protect her client’s interests at all stages of litigation. Laura is often called upon to appear at contested interlocutory applications and is respected by her peers in the planning law jurisdiction.

Laura possesses excellent research skills. Utilising a broad range of resources, including online legal databases, she is able to quickly identify key authorities and legal principles. Laura keeps up to date with developments in the law and can apply this in a practical sense in advising and acting for clients.

Laura is personable and professional. She efficiently manages the progress of her Land and Environment Court matters, including managing large teams of experts, counsel, and (in matters where considerable public interest is involved) resident objectors. She is an effective communicator and keeps her clients up to date and aware of progress being made.

 

Qualifications/Memberships

• Bachelor Business (Accounting) (UTS)

• Bachelor of Laws (UTS)

• Graduate Diploma Legal Training (UTS)

 

Career highlights

• Acting and appearing in person at interlocutory listings on behalf of council clients and private sector clients across Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Land and Environment Court’s jurisdiction.

• Advising and acting on behalf of local council clients with respect to several Class 4 proceedings in the Land and Environment Court seeking declarations and other relief for ongoing breaches of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 and the Local Government Act 1993.

• Advising council and private sector clients in relation to a variety of issues including possible amendments to local environmental plans, use and permissibility, non-compliance and enforcement options for breaches of development consents.

• Advising local councils in relation to enforcement of Orders issued under section 9.35 and 9.36 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979.

• Having day to day carriage of the appeals, assisting with preparation of court documents, appearing at section 34 conferences and preparing for contested hearings.

 

Specific areas of focus

• Environment and Planning legislation

• Local government law