National Utilities & Infrastructure Team
Bruton Knowles’ National Utility & Infrastructure (U&I) Team is a trusted partner to leading utilities and infrastructure companies across the UK.
We play an essential role in delivering critical projects in transportation, energy, and essential services – including road, rail, light rail, gas, water, electricity, and renewable energy.
Our team’s single focus is providing exceptional technical and professional support that keeps projects on track in both urban and rural environments. We bring deep expertise in project evaluation and proactive issue resolution, allowing our clients to stay ahead of potential challenges.
In addition to our core services, we support businesses nationwide affected by compulsory purchase projects. Guiding clients through this complex process, we prepare and manage claims for land acquisition and associated losses, ensuring fair compensation and effective resolution.
At the forefront of UK infrastructure development, we are dedicated to driving forward projects that contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous future. From securing land access for construction to advising on complex compulsory purchase cases at the Land Tribunal, solving property and land-related issues is fundamental to our commitment to client success and the successful delivery of nationally significant infrastructure projects.
What we do best …
- Land referencing
- GIS mapping
- Land and property valuation
- Access Survey/notices
- Securing rights
- Stakeholder management
- Reinstatement management
- Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
- Planning
- Part 1 claims
National Team
Our National Team has key experts located throughout England, Wales and Scotland.
Nigel Billingsley
Partner, Head of Skills for Bruton Knowles and National Utilities & Infrastructure Team North
BSc MRICS MCIWM PgDip RICS Registered Valuer
As Partner and Head of the National Utilities & Infrastructure Team North, Nigel specialises in the delivery of property advice to a range of clients across key sectors, including Road, Railway, Light Rail and Utilities, he focuses on delivery of CPO/TWAO and DCO projects and acts as expert witness at public inquiries. In addition to his role developing projects, he leads complex compensation cases including Upper Tribunal work.
With over 35-year experience dealing with complex property development and claims management and since joining Bruton Knowles in 2004, Nigel has utilised his public and private sector experience to provide practical advice in the delivery of major projects across the UK’s transportation sector.
Nigel, based from the Leeds hub, has also participated in episodes of the Bruton Knowles Landmark Podcast and is a key spokesperson for the firm in the Utilities & Infrastructure sector.
Giles Lister
Head of Utilities
MRICS
Giles is the Head of Utilities at Bruton Knowles, having joined the firm in 2025 with over 30 years of experience across the electricity, water, gas and renewables sectors.
Throughout his career, Giles has guided major infrastructure programmes from inception to execution, often working at the intersection of strategic land acquisition, statutory rights, and multi-disciplinary team coordination. He has advised clients such as National Grid, UK Power Networks, Southern Water, RWE, and the Environment Agency on some of their most high-profile projects.
In addition to leading the Utilities team, alongside Nigel Billingsley, Giles plays a central role in shaping the firm’s long-term Utility and Infrastructure strategy for innovation, process efficiency, service delivery across the UK, and the development of more junior team members.
Russell Davies
Partner, Head of the National Utilities & Infrastructure Team Wales
Dip REM
Russell is Partner and Head of the National Utilities & Infrastructure Team Wales and based from the firm’s Cardiff hub. With over two decades of experience, Russell leads a team of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), Utilities and Infrastructure professionals to help deliver on a range of infrastructure projects. With an extensive understanding of the sector in the UK, and particularly in Wales, which includes advising companies, landowners and occupiers on compensation claims, wayleaves and easements, land acquisitions and sales, Russell has additionally led on a number of utilities projects in the water, sewers, electricity, oil, gas and telecoms sectors.
How can we help?
Please use the contact form below or call 0333 772 1235 for help.
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