Field Fisher Waterhouse has won a lead role advising on the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters regeneration project.

In a first-time client instruction, Field Fisher is advising new client Peel Land and Property on all planning aspects of the multibillion-pound scheme, which is one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK.

Field Fisher is fielding a team led by London head of planning and environment Karen Cooksley, alongside Manchester planning partner Colette McCormack and associate Lindsay Garratt. The three-lawyer team joined Field Fisher last year from Bevan Brittan.

Peel submitted its planning application for the scheme last month, with the project set to see the development of 1.3 million sq m of waterfront space across 60 hectares of disused dockland in north Liverpool.

Cooksley said: "This is an instruction we will be working on for some years. It is exactly the kind of project you want to be involved with as a planning lawyer, where you get to see something develop over time."

When completed, the Liverpool Waters scheme will include 9,000 homes, a cruise ship terminal, two clusters of tall buildings, offices, shops and leisure space, although the project has faced major changes to the original outline after meeting resistance from English Heritage.

Northern firm Brabners Chaffe Street is also thought to have gained a role advising on the project, while Liverpool Council relied on its in-house legal team.