Sophie Volk
Sophie is a Senior Associate in the Australian Environment, Planning and Communities team.
Sophie advises Government and corporate clients in relation to a wide range of environmental, planning and strategic property issues, including planning and development strategy and pathways, Part 5 assessments, resources, energy and water law, heritage, biodiversity, contaminated land, pollution and licensing, crisis management and compulsory acquisition. Sophie has significant experience conducting litigation in the Land and Environment Court (LEC), particularly in classes 1, 3 and 4.
Sophie is an active member of the Environment and Planning Law Association, Young Lawyers Planning and Environment Law Committee and a volunteer solicitor at the Redfern Legal Centre.
Background
Sophie holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology. She is admitted in the Supreme Court of Queensland (currently holds NSW practicing certificate).
Experience & expertise
Selected matters
- providing on-going strategic planning and compulsory acquisition advice to Health Infrastructure, which involved the compulsory acquisition of 91 properties, whereby she has managed 10 separate Class 3 proceedings in relation to this
- providing advice to Goldwind Australia in relation to the Independent Planning Commission decision for Coppabella Wind Farm, wherein she successfully worked as part of the team defending Class 4 Judicial Review proceedings in the Land and Environment Court
- working with Global Power General Australia in relation to the applications for Paling Yards Wind Farm and Crookwell 3 Wind Farm including presentations to the IPC on merit issues and acting on an urgent application to the Supreme Court for interim relief in relation to lapsing caveat
- advising on various environmental and planning issues associated with the Western Sydney Airport, including site access, utilities, and a proposed licence.
Sectors
