Richard Harwood OBE QC is Joint Head of Chambers at 39 Essex Chambers.  He specialises in planning, environment and public law, acting for developers, landowners, central and local government, individuals and interest groups. He appears in the courts, Lands Chamber, inquiries, examinations and hearings, including frequently in the Planning Court and appellate courts. He has appeared in many of the leading cases of recent years. Richard is also a leading commentator, a case editor of the Journal of Planning and Environment Law and the author of books including Planning Enforcement, Historic Environment Law, and Planning Permission and co-author of Planning Policy.

Richard is a member of the Northern Irish Bar and the Bar Library, Belfast.