Lionel joined terra firma as equity partner in 1996 from Charles Funke Associates where he was Senior Associate Landscape Architect for over six years. A graduate of Leeds Polytechnic, his experience includes the design and implementation supervision of numerous parks, gardens, leisure, health, education, housing and commercial developments, private estates and urban regeneration projects at all scales. He has worked for private practices and public bodies in the UK, USA and New Zealand (where he was Project Landscape Architect for the 1990 Commonwealth Games Village). He is well versed in Environmental Impact Assessment and has frequently appeared as Expert Witness.

Since arriving at terra firma, Lionel has helped the practice to re-establish itself as a major player in the U.K. Landscape profession and has opened up an increasingly international client base. He set up alshamsi terra firma in Dubai in 2006, tf-LABLondon in 2013 and terrafirmaLT in Lithuania in 2014.

Lionel is an occasional writer and lecturer on landscape issues and has been involved in the wider profession as an external examiner at the University of Greenwich, Member of the Landscape Institute's International working group, Chair of its SW Branch and frequently as an annual LI Awards juror. He is also keenly involved in local community affairs and has been Chair of his local parish council and co-ordinated the production of its Parish Plan; sat on the East Hants District Council’s Architect’s Panel, was a founder member of the South Downs National Park Design Review Panel 2012-2016 and currently sits on the NE Hants Design Panel.

Elected Fellow of the Landscape Institute (2006)
Chartered member of the Landscape Institute (1987)
Associate New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (1989)
Graduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture (with commendation) - Leeds Polytechnic (1984)
BA in Landscape Architecture - Leeds Polytechnic (1982)