With the sweeping legislative reform reshaping Victoria’s environmental law landscape, this practical session will analyse the progressively and now fully implemented Better Decisions Made Faster reforms. A must to attend as our expert panel shares their insights to equip planning and environment practitioners with understanding of what has changed, what is still to come and how the new framework is likely to affect approvals, restrictive covenants, Tribunal processes, third-party rights and client advice in practice. 

Presenters

Emily Marson, Special Counsel, Holding Redlich
Emily Marson is a Special Counsel in Holding Redlich’s Planning, Environment & Sustainability team in Melbourne. With over 10 years’ experience, Emily advises private and public sector clients on planning and environment law, including disputes, enforcement and compliance matters, and compulsory acquisition. Emily has extensive experience in planning matters in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), Planning Panels and Ministerial Advisory Committees and in planning and environment enforcement and compliance proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court and VCAT. Emily assists developers and statutory authorities in respect to residential, industrial, mixed use and commercial developments, subdivisions, planning scheme amendments, precinct structure plans, cultural heritage management plans and existing use rights matters. Emily regularly advises in respect to licences, notices, directions and orders issued under the Environment Protection Act 2017. Emily has a particular interest in complex development projects and land use applications in metropolitan and rural contexts involving environmental and contamination issues. Emily was named by Best Lawyers as ‘One to Watch’ in planning and environmental law in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and was awarded a Rising Star by Doyles Guide in planning and environmental law in 2025.

Jess Kaczmarek, Principal Lawyer, S&K Planning Lawyers
Jess is a lawyer and a qualified urban planner. She is an experienced advocate who routinely represents clients at Planning Panels Victoria and in disputed proceedings at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Jess is valued by her clients for her pragmatic approach to dealing with complex problems. She is clear thinking and direct in the advice she gives and remains focused on the outcomes her client are seeking to achieve. Jess has expertise in strategic planning law (including Precinct Structure Plans, Development Contributions Plans and Infrastructure Contributions Plans), major infrastructure projects approvals, Aboriginal cultural heritage and native vegetation law. Her statutory planning experience includes advising developer clients in relation to major retail and mixed-use commercial developments, site specific controls and other incorporated documents and Ministerial call-ins. Doyle’s Guide recognised Jess as a Planning and Environment Rising Star in 2018 and 2019 and as a recommended Town Planning and Development Lawyer (Victoria) in 2020 and 2021.

Megan Schroor, Principal Lawyer, S&K Planning Lawyers
Megan is an experienced lawyer who advises developers and landowners in a range of planning and environment matters including project approvals, enforcement, restrictive covenants and compulsory land acquisition and compensation. She has particular experience in obtaining approvals for freeway service centres, service stations and residential developments. She also specialises in negotiating and drafting agreements between landowners, developers and statutory authorities. She routinely represents clients at VCAT and coordinates projects involving counsel, designers and experts from a range of fields. Megan is known for her attention to detail and her ability to build rapport with clients. She quickly understands her clients’ key concerns and works hard to help them achieve their commercial objectives. Complex matters which require detailed analysis and clear strategic solutions are Megan’s particular strength. Doyle’s Guide recognised Megan as a Planning and Environment Rising Star in 2017 and 2019 and as a recommended Town Planning and Development Lawyer (Victoria) in 2020 and 2021.

Chris Boocock, Senior Associate, Best Hooper Lawyers
Chris Boocock is a Senior Associate in the Planning Team at Best Hooper Lawyers. Admitted to practice in 2015, he has broad experience advising and advocating for developer clients on planning and environment matters, with particular expertise in planning appeals. His practice includes due diligence and planning application strategy, restrictive covenants and planning and building enforcement. Chris also has significant experience advising local government clients on governance and regulatory matters, bringing a detailed understanding of the local government sector to his development practice. He provides legal advice and advocacy across Victorian courts, tribunals and planning panels. Chris is an active member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association, Urban Development Institute of Australia and Australian Property Developers Association.