Bryan is a partner in the Commercial Property department and is head of the planning unit. He has over 30 years experience of planning law and is conversant with the interaction of environmental law and property transactions.

Prior to joining Watson Burton Bryan worked for various South Eastern local authorities and the City firm Richards Butler.

Bryan acts for a number of established property developers including Silverlink Developments Limited, Stephenson Quarter Developments Limited, Bellway Homes Limited, Rippon Homes Limited, etc. He recently acted in connection with the construction of a new academy school in the Midlands. He has also acted for a number of higher education institutions including Sunderland University, Newcastle College and New College Durham.

Bryan is an established speaker in relation to planning and compulsory purchase and compensation law and is a member of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association.

Chambers 2009 commented on Bryan Riley’s “remarkable ability to get along with anyone.” He is praised for his hard work and dedication, which leads his to be “one of the first names out of the hat for tricky planning issues.”