Heathrow Airport Holdings has recruited Stephenson Harwood senior associate Anita Kasseean for the newly created role of head of legal for planning for the airport's new third runway.

Planning specialist Kasseean leaves Stephenson Harwood after more than 12 years at the firm. Her new role, which she officially started last week, will see her provide legal advice relating to the planning and construction of the third runway development.

The appointment comes after the controversial project received government approval last October.

Kasseean joins an in-house team of 10 lawyers, and will work alongside the airport's corporate head of legal Irina Janakievska, head of legal operations Mark Oliver and head of legal for commercial affairs Jason Street.

Stephenson Harwood planning and environment partner Ben Stansfield said: "We will miss Anita but fully understand her decision to take this exciting role. She made many valuable contributions to our team and we wish her every success for the future."

Heathrow also recently completed a tender process for a panel specifically for the planning and construction of the third runway at Heathrow.

Berwin Leighton Paisner and Pinsent Masons won spots on the new panel. Both firms had already been working with the airport's in-house legal team on the initial stages of the third runway, but their positions on the new panel were then formalised.