Samantha Urquhart
Samantha advises government and private sector clients on the environmental, planning and land aspects of renewable energy and major infrastructure projects.
Samantha assists clients to navigate complex development approval and regulatory processes, with experience across onshore wind, solar, battery energy storage, transmission and transport infrastructure. Samantha also advises on environmental compliance, voluntary planning agreements, land access and compulsory acquisition. She brings experience from planning and land disputes to provide clear, commercially focused advice throughout project development and contentious regulatory processes.
Samantha has experience advising renewable energy developers, government agencies, infrastructure proponents and landowners on planning and environmental approvals, project development, land access and regulatory strategy, primarily in New South Wales.
Her renewable energy experience spans onshore wind, solar, battery energy storage and transmission projects. She assists clients with approval pathways for State significant development, strategic engagement with regulators and the Independent Planning Commission, environmental compliance, voluntary planning agreements and environmental and planning due diligence.
Samantha also advises on compulsory acquisition and other land issues arising from major transport infrastructure projects, including acquisitions for road and rail projects. Her contentious experience includes two Class 1 planning appeals concerning wind farm developments and Class 3 compulsory acquisition proceedings. Her previous experience in disputes and corporate transactions informs her practical approach to project and regulatory risks.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- renewable energy developers on planning and environmental approval pathways and regulatory strategy for major wind farm developments in New South Wales
- renewable energy developers in two Class 1 planning appeals concerning proposed wind farm developments in New South Wales
- developers on planning and environmental approval requirements for State significant wind, solar, battery energy storage and transmission projects
- a government agency on compulsory acquisitions required for major infrastructure projects in New South Wales
- a landowner in Class 3 compulsory acquisition proceedings arising from the acquisition of land for a major infrastructure project
- proponents of State significant developments on strategic engagement with the Independent Planning Commission and other planning and regulatory authorities
- proponents of major projects on the drafting and negotiation of voluntary planning agreements with planning authorities and local councils
- clients undertaking renewable energy transactions on environmental and planning due diligence, including identifying project approval, compliance and regulatory risks
Background
Samantha joined the firm in 2022 and commenced practising in 2024. She holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business degrees from the University of Technology Sydney and is admitted to practise in New South Wales and in the High Court of Australia.
