Carl has specialised exclusively in planning law since 1988. He has particular expertise in retail and housing development as well as regeneration and centre development. His work includes project co-ordination, inquiry and CPO work, and all ancillary aspects, including Section 106 and other infrastructure agreements.

He also conducts High Court Appeals and Judicial Review proceedings. He is the Secretary of the Law Society's City of London Planning and Environmental Law Sub-Committee, in which role he is responsible for co-ordinating the committee's response to all evolving planning legislation and other proposals.

Carl has considerable experience in acting for retailers and retail developers. He has acted in connection with many supermarket and other retail developments around the country, including the West Quay shopping centre in Southampton; a major redevelopment involving both substantial infrastructure agreements and the use of compulsory purchase powers for site assembly.

He is presently acting on a range of major housing schemes, including a redevelopment scheme in Colchester for up to 750 homes and a brownfield land allocation in Norfolk for 1400 homes. He is also acting on a major leisure scheme at Unstone near Chesterfield for 1,500,000 sq ft of accommodation for Raven Leisure Ltd.

Following a short career in local government, he joined Fitzhugh Gates in 1986, moved to Norton Rose in 1989, Berwin Leighton in 1992 and joined McGuinness Finch as a partner in 1997. In June 2001, Carl joined Osborne Clarke; London office as a partner with the entire McGuinness Finch team.