Harriet Townsend to be appointed King’s Counsel

24 Jan 2025

Planning and Environment

Cornerstone Barristers is immensely proud to announce that Harriet Townsend will be appointed King’s Counsel. She will be sworn in during a ceremony on 24 March 2025.

Called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1992, Harriet is a leading practitioner in planning and environment law, and related public law and property matters (most notably compulsory purchase).

Appointment to silk is a rigorous and demanding selection process. Becoming King’s Counsel is a widely respected mark of excellence in our legal system and reflects the strength and depth of the barrister’s expertise. Harriet has for many years been recognised as a leading junior in planning law by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. She has been noted for her ability to reach the heart of a matter quickly whilst retaining a bird’s eye view of the wider picture. Harriet’s advocacy is noted for being sharp and detailed; and she is able to communicate the most complex ideas to a non-specialist audience.

Harriet has asked us to thank all those who participated in the selection process, as well as her clients and other counsel, who, between them, make her work so fantastically interesting.