Shoosmiths appoints Sarah Fitzpatrick as Head

Shoosmiths has announced the appointment of Sarah Fitzpatrick as Partner and Head of Planning, signifying a major milestone in the development of the firm’s Planning team. This strategic move follows the promotions of Matt Nixon to Partner in London and the recent addition of Steven Stewart as Partner in Scotland. With over 25 years of experience in planning law, Sarah joins from Norton Rose Fulbright, where she was also a partner and head of planning.

In her new role, Sarah will lead Shoosmiths’ national Planning team, bringing extensive expertise in areas such as London regeneration, redevelopment, compulsory purchase, high-rise development, energy infrastructure, and large-scale multimodal schemes. She is well-connected with a diverse range of clients, including mixed-use and residential developers, housebuilders, industrial operators, hotel and leisure providers, and significant sports organisations. Her proficiency in compulsory purchase law is particularly valuable, as it will help strengthen Shoosmiths’ support for complex development and regeneration projects, especially in vital sectors such as Energy & Infrastructure.

Joe Mazzucca, Partner and Head of Real Estate at Shoosmiths, expressed enthusiasm about Sarah’s arrival: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sarah to Shoosmiths. Her appointment is a significant step forward in the growth of our Planning offering, strengthening our capabilities at a national level and positioning us to support on increasingly complex mandates.” He highlighted that her experience aligns with the firm’s ambitions for growth and exceptional client service.

In addition to the investment in the Planning team, Sarah expressed her excitement for the role: “I’m delighted to be leading Shoosmiths’ Planning offering, working alongside colleagues like Matt and Steven to build on the excellent work the team is undertaking.” She praised the firm's innovative approach to client delivery, stating it aligns closely with her own professional philosophy.

Sarah’s recruitment exemplifies Shoosmiths’ commitment to building a top-tier Planning practice. Following the promotion of Matt Nixon in March 2026 and the addition of Steven Stewart in September 2025, the Planning team has seen strengthened leadership. The Planning and Real Estate teams at Shoosmiths collaborate closely, with Real Estate being one of the firm’s three core practice areas. Recent hires reflect a focused effort to tackle complex real estate client work, reinforcing Shoosmiths’ strategic priority to develop a market-leading practice.