Charles welcomes instructions to advise and represent clients across all of Chambers’ practice areas. He is regularly instructed by local authorities and other public bodies, large and small developers, action groups and similar, and individuals.
He specialises in Planning and Environment; Public and Local Government including judicial review; Rights of Way, Highways and Traffic; Infrastructure; Compulsory Purchase and Compensation; Licensing; and related areas (see section of this profile on ‘Practice Areas and Experience’ for further information)
Charles has appeared as sole counsel before the High Court, planning inquiries, enforcement inquiries, traffic inquiries, DCO issue specific hearings, the Valuation Tribunal, Crown Court, County Court, Magistrates’ Court, and Council sub-committees. Recent/current work includes:
Currently acting for TfL, with Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC, in three High Court claims against hundreds of people protesting under the banner of Insulate Britain, Just Stop Oil, and other groups. This has included obtaining and extending multiple interim injunctions, all initially granted on an urgent without notice basis
Acted, with Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC, in the High Court on behalf of the Claimant in Bouchti v LB of Enfield [2022] EWHC 2744 (KB), having advised as sole counsel in the first instance. This case, which concerned an LTN and the procedural requirements for making and varying/modifying such a scheme, including lawful consultation
Acted for an LPA prosecuting an offence under s.196D TCPA 1990 (demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area) in an 11-day trial at the Old Bailey involving expert structural engineering and brickwork evidence in the context of historic buildings and legal argument on the interpretation of the statutory defence
Acted, with Jeremy Phillips KC, on behalf of a suspended social worker in an appeal in the High Court in the case of PSA v Social Work England and Bennett [2021] EWHC 3593 (Admin)
Currently acting for local authorities being sued in misfeasance in public office and in negligence in connection with different grants of planning permission
Charles is direct and licensed access qualified, which means in appropriate cases he can be instructed by members of the public directly or through a professional other than a solicitor. Charles is also happy to work pro bono in appropriate cases
Charles has appeared as sole counsel before the High Court, planning inquiries, enforcement inquiries, traffic inquiries, DCO issue specific hearings, the Valuation Tribunal, Crown Court, County Court, Magistrates’ Court, and Council sub-committees. He has acted for a number and range of different private and public clients.