Katie Kempthorne is an Of Counsel in our Planning team, based in London. She has extensive experience advising on the consenting and delivery of complex real estate development and infrastructure projects across London and the wider UK. Katie joined Simmons & Simmons in 2026, following nine years at a leading Magic Circle law firm.
Katie advises on all aspects of planning and environmental law, including planning applications, development consent orders, environmental impact assessments, judicial review and statutory challenges, planning and highway agreements, environmental permitting, contaminated land liability and enforcement matters. She also supports clients on the planning and environmental elements of corporate, finance and real estate transactions.
Katie enjoys working with clients throughout the full lifecycle of a project — from early strategy and site assembly, through consenting pathways, transaction support and implementation. She is experienced in helping clients streamline and de-risk the consenting process.
She has acted for major property developers, national infrastructure providers, institutional investors and funders on significant office, residential and mixed use schemes as well as nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Katie has been recognised in The Legal 500 UK since 2018, where she is consistently ranked as a Key Lawyer.
Quotes:
- ‘….Katie Kempthorne…[is] excellent’ - Legal 500 2025
- ‘Katie Kempthome is able to digest and analyse complex issues quickly and adapt advice accordingly to a fast-changing project. Very personable and also able to work very effectively across all levels of the business within the wider team.' - Legal 500 2023
