Lister sets up planning group at 11 New Sq

The new practice director at 11 New Square John Lister has established a specialist planning and public law group in response to the Administrative Court and the Human Rights Act.

The former director at Clarendon Chambers was prompted to move to 11 New Square last September after the merger of 11 Bolt Court and 7 Stone Buildings. Three planning specialists - Simon Randle, Robert Lewis and Clive Moys - left Clarendon to join him shortly afterwards.

New junior tenant Catherine Finely, who is currently on secondment to the Office of the Rail Regulator, is also set to join the team.

Lister is involved in marketing and took over the duties of former assistant senior clerk Gary Ventura, who left to join Essex Court Chambers in September. But his role is due to expand after senior clerk Michael Gibbs retires at the end of the year.

He says: "This is an exciting development… particularly our work for local authorities where we've always been regarded as strong, especially in property and judicial review. We aim to be regarded as among the premier sets for planning, environmental and local authority work."