DLA loses planning head after Halliwell Landau goes on North West hiring spree

Platt will become joint head of planning with Roger Lancaster at Halliwells.

Without Platt, DLA has only one senior planning employee, Kate Creer, in the North West. Although not a partner, Creer has a background in planning and previously worked at Nabarro Nathanson. DLA has around 15 planning lawyers nationwide.

Halliwells has also recruited Percy Hughes & Roberts' head of property Jane McBurney as a partner. McBurney acts for a raft of well-known housebuilders, including Barratts. She will head Halliwells' residential development team. As Barratts prefers to work with individuals rather than firms, it is likely that the company will move with McBurney to Halliwells.

McBurney said Halliwells was already mounting a cross-departmental sales pitch to her clients. "The firm is putting teams of people together across the board to offer the builders our services," she said.