Jennifer Hughes

Jennifer Hughes is a highly accomplished partner at Beatty Hughes & Associates, a distinguished boutique environment and planning practice in Sydney. With over 25 years of experience in environment and planning law, Jennifer is adept at assisting industries, developers, and government bodies in managing environmental incidents, ensuring ongoing compliance, and obtaining essential development consents and environmental licences. Her expertise extends to acquiring and divesting industrial and contaminated land, making her an invaluable resource for complex legal matters in these areas. Jennifer is particularly renowned for her in-depth knowledge of the waste industry, where she provides strategic advice on compliance and environmental incident management. Her guidance covers the planning processes for new facilities, waste contracts, and initiatives such as container deposit schemes and extended producer responsibility programmes. Her reputation as a leading advisor in this sector is well-known and highly respected. Prior to her current role, Jennifer was a partner at Baker McKenzie, where she headed the Australian Environment and Planning team within the Environmental Markets Group. Her leadership spanned across offices in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, advising clients nationwide on intricate environmental and planning issues. Her earlier career includes significant contributions at DLA Phillips Fox, where she advanced from Solicitor to Special Counsel, working on planning, environment, and local government matters, as well as carbon markets and renewable energy. Her academic background is as impressive as her professional journey, with a BSc LLB from the University of Sydney. While at university, Jennifer was actively involved in societies such as the Sydney University Rock Climbing Club and Sydney University Bushwalkers, reflecting her diverse interests and commitment to community engagement.