The Legal 500

Chambers of Mary Cook and James Findlay QC

LONDON, WC1R 5JH, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 020 7242 4986
Fax:
Fax 020 7405 1166
DX:
316 LONDON CHANCERY LANE WC2
Web:
www.cornerstonebarristers.com
Email:

This well-established set is a leader in local government law, planning and environmental law, health and safety law, and licensing. Judicial review, human rights, compulsory purchase and compensation, housing, consumer and corporate crime are also among its particular specialisms.

The set: Chambers was founded more than 100 years ago and has widened its original common law base to become prominent in many areas. Former members include Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC, Lord Birkett, Lord Chief Justice Widgery, Lord Bridge of Harris, Mr Justice Hidden and Mr Justice Penry-Davey.

Many current members hold part-time judicial appointments, or sit as legal assessors on various disciplinary boards and tribunals, including the RICS, the Lands Tribunal, the Immigration Tribunal and sporting bodies’ dispute resolution panels. Members also sit as arbitrators and act as treasury counsel.

Members appear in court on behalf of local authorities, central government departments and public bodies, as well as companies and individuals. Their work extends as far as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the West Indies and includes European law and the Convention on Human Rights.

Client attitude surveys show that 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square is perceived as offering first-class representation in all its areas of work. They also show it is approachable, personable, delivering excellent client care and offering first-class value for money.

As a well-regarded set, chambers has been able to recruit new tenants of ability at all levels and has expanded considerably in numbers in recent years. 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square is now one of the foremost local government and planning sets, with strength and depth at all levels. It is well able to deal with multi-party litigation and other lengthy and complicated cases.

Types of work undertaken: Chambers has experience in all areas of public law and judicial review and is recognised as one of the leading sets in planning, environmental and related areas. Recognised as one of the leading local government sets, chambers has particular expertise in housing, scope of local authority powers, highways, education, employment, licensing, health and safety, and consumer law, as well as the regulatory powers of local authorities. 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square acts as a centre of expertise and excellence for local authorities.

Local government organisation and reorganisation and all areas of local authority finance are handled. Expertise is also provided in human rights and consumer and regulatory work, especially health and safety cases. Members were involved in public inquiries into the Paddington, Southall and Watford train crashes.

Civil litigation, including personal injury and professional negligence, is a further specialism, together with sports law. Members also handle serious crime and fraud cases.

Above material supplied by Cornerstone Barristers (Chambers of Mary Cook and James Findlay 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.
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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: