In brief: Planning specialist achieves a first

A planning specialist at Bristol firm Burges Salmon has become the first private practice lawyer in the city to be admitted to both of the country's professional town planning bodies. Patrick Robinson has been elected Legal Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute and appointed to the Law Society's Planning Panel. This is seen as a recognition of the planning expertise he has built up over four years in private practice and before that as solicitor for Southampton City Council.