Harriet Townsend KC is a leading practitioner in planning and environment, compulsory purchase and compensation, and highways law, acting for a wide range of clients throughout England and Wales. She was appointed King’s Counsel in 2025 and is described by Chambers and Partners 2025 as “a master of communication.”

Harriet represented the principal Respondent in the Supreme Court case Finch v Surrey County Council, now the leading case on the scope of environmental impact assessment of fossil fuel development. She is currently working on two complex compensation claims and promoting a regeneration CPO for a London Borough.

Alongside her work for clients, Harriet is a regular speaker at conferences and training events. She is also responsible for imagining and delivering Cornerstone’s Climate Month, the masterclass of webinars on this important subject which cuts across so many legal disciplines.