Aaron Gadiel will join Gadens on 31 October as the firm's director of planning, environment and government, leaving the Urban Taskforce after four years as its head.

Previously, Gadiel was a New South Wales ministerial chief of staff from 1999 to 2007 and a senior political adviser on infrastructure and development.

Gadiel will work alongside partner Anthony Whealy, providing legal and strategic advice to developers, builders, landowners, property investors, hoteliers and consultants in relation to all aspects of land use and property development.