Jane practiced at the common law bar for 5 years and spent 14 years in industry before joining Winckworth Sherwood. Since joining the Parliamentary and Infrastructure team in 2006, Jane has gained experience across virtually every aspect of our practice, including hybrid and Private Bills, Development Consent Orders, Transport and Works Act Orders and Harbour Orders. Jane regularly drafts orders and advises on the preparation of plans and sections, environmental statements and other application documents, as well as equality impact assessment and the negotiation of complex agreements, undertakings and protective provisions. Jane also has significant experience of preparing for, and attending, major public inquiries, examination hearings and Select Committee hearings, including drafting instructions for counsel, preparing evidence and witness proofs, and attendance at conferences, hearings and inquiries. Jane advises statutory undertakers, including harbour authorities, in relation to their statutory powers and duties and, in the case of heritage railway bodies, is frequently asked to provide advice as to whether statutory powers are required for specific projects.

Relevant Experience

• Part of the team advising on the promotion and implementation of the High Speed Two and Crossrail hybrid Bills
• Advising, or assisting on, the promotion of numerous Transport and Works Act Orders in England, Scotland and Wales for heavy rail clients including Network Rail, Crossrail Limited, a local authority and heritage railway undertakers
• Advising on the successful promotion of four light rail Transport and Works Act Orders between 2016 and 2020 to authorise extensions to the Midland Metro tramway network
• Securing asset protection agreements for objectors to Transport and Works Act Orders
• Assisting on the promotion of the first Development Consent Order to be made (the Network Rail (Ipswich Chord) Order 2012) and advising objectors to a number of transport and energy Development Consent Orders including drafting representations and other documents and negotiating asset protection agreements on behalf of a variety of statutory undertakers
• Advising on the implementation of legislation including advice to Network Rail on its exercise of highway-related powers and negotiation of an agreement with a local highway authority, and advice to West Midlands Combined Authority and its predecessor bodies on the interpretation and implementation of the Midland Metro legislation, the application of bye-laws, station parking issues and the statutory powers of the West Midlands Combined Authority under the devolution arrangements
• Acting for the Harbour Master Humber in relation to the Able Marine Energy Park Development Consent Order and on behalf of the Newport, Cardiff and Barry Port Security Authority in relation to the proposed extension of the M4 around Newport
• Reviewing ports and harbours byelaws and guidance on behalf of a statutory harbour authority and advising a harbour authority in relation to the re-financing of its statutory undertaking, including a review of relevant legislation and governance requirements
• Advising a heritage railway on the requirements for transferring its statutory undertaking where no further order is required