The Legal 500

Chambers of Roger Farley QC

19 QUAY STREET, MANCHESTER, M3 3HN, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 0161 833 6000
Fax:
Fax 0161 833 6001
DX:
14327 MANCHESTER-3
Web:
www.cobden.co.uk
Email:

Cobden House Chambers is one of the leading sets on the Northern Circuit and has strength and depth in personal injury law, criminal law, chancery and commercial law, family law, housing law and employment law.

The set: Cobden House is known for its legal excellence, approachability, cost-effectiveness and high-quality service. As a result of organic growth and quality recruitment, Cobden House has grown rapidly since its establishment. A friendly, approachable clerks’ room with considerable knowledge of all disciplines is able to assist with queries.

Cobden House Chambers is located on Quay Street and occupies the former home of Richard Cobden, a Grade II Georgian building dating back to the 1700s, that was also used as a university and then a County Court. Chambers is a modern, forward-thinking set but retains the traditional focus on client care.

Types of work undertaken: The personal injury department, headed by Richard Hartley QC, undertakes both claimant and defendant work at all levels and has strength and experience in high-value claims within industrial disease, road traffic, employers’ liability, clinical negligence and public liability cases.

The criminal department, headed by Mr Ian Metcalfe, has vast experience of defending and prosecuting cases of the utmost complexity and of a highly sensitive nature. The team covers all aspects of crime, including road traffic offences and regulatory issues, and has the ability to service work from a junior level to Queen’s Counsel.

The chancery and commercial department, headed by Mr Richard Oughton, has expertise in wills, trusts, probate, property law, private client and insolvency. The team has recently recruited two pupils as part of the ongoing expansion as a chambers, and offers strength from junior to senior counsel.

The family department, headed by Mrs Carolyn Johnson, undertakes work in private and public law cases, covering care proceedings, residence, contact and injunctions, and has expertise in ancillary relief, covering the full range of hearings from the Family Proceedings Court to the High Court.

The housing department specialises in all aspects of landlord and tenant, homeless issues, and appeals, and conducts work for local authorities, private bodies, housing associations and other registered social landlords.

The employment department covers all areas such as TUPE, disability and sex discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal, and covers the tribunal courts across the country.

Above material supplied by Cobden House Chambers (Chambers of Roger Farley QC).

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.
    - 11KBW
  • 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: