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Debra Townsend is a partner in the Sydney office of Mallesons Stephen Jaques where she specialises in environment and planning. She has experience in both litigation and commercial property work and has specialised in environmental law, town planning and local government for the last 18 years. She has advised extensively on all aspects of environmental, town planning and local government law, and also provides advice on environmental due diligence audits.

1984: Bachelor of Laws and Science degrees, University of New South Wales
1985 - 1997: Solicitor/Senior Associate, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Sydney
1997 - present: Partner, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Sydney.
Debra has lectured in environmental law at the University of Technology and in planning law for the Faculty of Architecture at the University of New South Wales.

Debra’s practice includes:
Appearing as an advocate in the Land and Environment Court in planning appeals
Acting in relation to the proposed rehabilitation and residential redevelopment of a number of major contaminated sites in the Sydney area
Conducting environmental due diligence processes for the proposed acquisition of a number of businesses carried out throughout Australia and in a number of overseas locations including waste recycling and chemicals manufacturing and property development businesses
Advising Sydney Airports Corporation on environmental and planning matters at the airport and on surrounding land
Acting in Land and Environment Court for the developer of a community title tourist resort in New South Wales
Acting for the prosecutor in a number of Environmental litigation matters in the Land and Environment Court.