Oliver joined Stephens Scown in July 2026 as a solicitor in the Planning team.  

He qualified in 2025 but has already built extensive experience in the sector and was named ‘In-House Lawyer of the Year 2025’ by the Cornwall Law Society. His areas of work include: 

• Supporting planning applications: advising on complex planning applications, drafting Section 106 agreements, advising on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) matters, public speaking at planning committee meetings. 

• Supporting planning appeals: advising, drafting submissions, advocacy at hearings and inquiries. 

• Planning enforcement: advising on planning enforcement matters and appeals, including proceedings in magistrates’ court.  

• Public rights of way: creation, diversion, extinguishment, and stopping up of highway, plus proceedings related to obstruction of the highway and advocacy at hearings and inquiries.  

• Common land and town and village greens: advising on such matters from registration to deregistration and everything in between.  

Recent examples of work carried out include: 

• Advising a large unitary authority in the South West on complex planning issues related to a highly controversial development in a popular seaside town. 

• Acting for a range of clients – from individuals to international companies – on matters related to the creation and movement of public rights of way. 

• Providing legal training to planning and public rights of way professionals across the South West. 

• Advocacy at Planning Inspector led hearings and inquiries, and in the magistrates’ court. 

Prior to joining, Oliver worked for Cornwall Council as a Senior Lawyer in its Planning & Highways team. He advised planning committees on their legal responsibilities and on complex planning matters of all types. He was also the dedicated legal advisor for public rights of way and other countryside access matters.  

Additionally, he worked for the Planning Inspectorate, gaining an insight into all aspects of their work; supporting the processing of appeals, the examination of Local Plans, and the determination of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. 

Outside of work, Oliver likes taking his dog to the beach or the moor, reading, tending to his flock of chickens, and cooking.