Tom Howard has been practising at the NSW Bar for more than 25 years. He is recognised as a leading Senior Counsel in planning and environmental law in the Doyle’s Guide and in the Legal 500. He is acknowledged for his particular expertise in urban planning and development, local government, environmental crime, waste regulation, civil enforcement and judicial review.

Tom has a wealth of experience representing a range of clients in the NSW Land and Environment Court and in the NSW Court of Appeal and Court of Criminal Appeal, having appeared in a number of cases which are now leading authorities. He has also appeared before juries in criminal trials of indictable offences.

Tom also has experience in other Australian States and Territories, having appeared in environmental and planning cases in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Victoria and in the Supreme Court of the ACT and has represented clients in environmental litigation in Queensland and Tasmania.

Tom’s broad-ranging client base consists of various State Government agencies and local councils and a wide range of private and corporate sector clients, including major mining and resource companies as well as non-government organisations conducting public interest litigation.

Tom has also represented clients in statutory inquiries and was appointed by the Minister for Local Government as Commissioner presiding in an inquiry into North Sydney Council in 2016.

Prior to being called to the Bar in 1999, Tom practised as a solicitor at top-tier law firm Allen Allen and Hemsley (now, Allens Linklaters) and later at the NSW Environment Protection Authority, where he received three New South Wales public service outstanding performance awards.