The Legal 500

Chambers of Christopher Taylor

56 QUEEN SQUARE, BRISTOL, BS1 4PR, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 0117 921 1966
Fax:
Fax 0117 927 6493
DX:
7870 BRISTOL
Web:
www.queensquarechambers.co.uk
Email:

Queen Square is structured with dedicated, specialist teams in several disciplines.

The set: A pragmatic but thorough approach to all areas of work undertaken is reflected in the close, team-working relationship this set enjoys with those instructing. Friendly and reliable, this chambers prides itself on its legal excellence, which it combines with a competitive level of fees and first-rate service standards. Alive to the requirements of modern-day law practices and institutions, chambers aims to achieve the best possible resolution of clients’ problems.

Types of work undertaken: Commercial/Chancery: property-related matters (including all areas of landlord and tenant and trusts of land), commercial disputes, construction, contentious probate and Inheritance Act claims, insolvency, insurance and financial services, judicial review, partnership and professional negligence. Members accept instructions in cases involving arbitration and mediation.

Crime: major fraud, money laundering, drugs importation cases, murder and the full range of indictable offences. Regulatory work (eg health and safety and trading standards); appeals by way of case stated and judicial review.

Employment and education: all areas of discrimination, breach of contract, constructive dismissal, restrictive covenants, TUPE, unfair dismissal, wages claims, whistleblowing, wrongful dismissal, sports-related issues and education law cases. Members are able to undertake cases relating to occupational stress and bullying.

Family law: ancillary relief, including pensions and dissipation of assets, all aspects of care, adoption and supervision work, contact and residence, injunctions and committals, child abduction, inheritance and cohabitees/TOLATA. Chambers also has expertise in cases involving mental health issues and family-related crime (murder/infanticide, rape, sexual and physical abuse and paedophilia). Members of the family team are regularly instructed by several local authorities and are familiar with the demands involved.

Housing: members represent RSLs, local authorities and individuals in matters including possession, homelessness, demoted tenancies, s204 housing appeals and ASBOs, whether as part of possession proceedings or free-standing. Members have also represented the local authority in housing benefit appeals.

Licensing: members of the department are fully conversant with the substantive and procedural issues involved and pride themselves on the practical and effective advice and representation they provide throughout the licensing process.

Personal injury/clinical negligence: medical and dental negligence, catastrophic injury (particularly brain and spinal injuries), multi-party actions, fatal accident claims, asbestos and industrial-related diseases, industrial accidents, occupiers’ liability, product liability, Animals Act claims, claims against the MOD, RTA, CICA and ‘trippers and slippers’.

Above material supplied by Queen Square Chambers (Chambers of Christopher Taylor).

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • HOUSING

    In Nzinga Maswaku v Westminster City Council [2012] EWCA Civ 669 the Court of Appeal clarified that in offering a homeless person with alternative temporary accommodation the local authority is obliged to point that if the offer is refused it has discharged its Part VII duties under the Housing Act 1996.
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  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
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  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
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  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
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  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
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  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
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  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue: