39 Essex Chambers is thought of by one client as a ’leading chambers for health and social care cases, including judicial reviews.’ The set is known best for its government work, including instructions on closed material proceedings, but is not exclusively focussed on GLD instructions. ‘Fair and considered’ barrister Rory Dunlop KC acted for the Secretary of State in R (Challis) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a challenge to the government’s decision to operate a cut-off date to the Skipton Fund, a scheme of ex-gratia payments to those affected by the contaminated blood scandal. Katherine Apps KC, an ‘incredibly bright’ barrister with ‘an exceptional breadth of legal knowledge’, is regularly involved in high-profile public law litigation, such as that relating to COVID-19. Steve Broach is an expert on the law regarding children with special educational needs. He was recently involved in two judicial reviews for Article 39, a group which campaigns for children in institutionalized settings, the latter in 2022 concerning placements of children by councils in unregulated settings. Crossing over with the set’s expertise in health care law and Court of Protection work, members of chambers often represent clients in complex medical treatment and right to die cases.
Administrative law and human rights in
London Bar39 Essex Chambers
Testimonials
Set
’39 Essex is the ‘go to’ set for public law issues. They have a solid team of skilled counsel at all levels.’
‘The barrister team is strong across all the practice areas covered in chambers, and at all levels of seniority. They regularly go the extra mile to deliver excellent work under considerable pressure of time.’
‘Huge strength in depth, lots of talented juniors. Very strong set.’
‘A leading chambers for health and social care cases, including judicial review and Court of Protection.’
Clerking
‘The clerking team sets them apart from other chambers. If they say they will call you back then they do – later that same day.’
‘Excellent. Peter Campbell deserves special mention – he is incredibly hard working, responsible and reliable.’
Blackstone Chambers
With strength in depth across the board in civil liberties, human rights, administrative law and public law, Blackstone Chambers is a ‘go-to set for work with an administrative law-human rights-commercial cross-over,’ and the work is often extremely high profile. Providing public law advice in a commercial context is a real strength of the set. Standout silks include ‘first class barrister and advocate’ Lord Pannick KC, and Sir James Eadie KC who as the Treasury Devil is the government’s first-choice external barrister. Sir James recently led Celia Rooney in P v The Crown Court at Woolwich, Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales, and the Lord Chancellor, acting for the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales and others in an administrative court challenge concerning the extension of custody time limits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Absolute star junior in the public law space’ Daniel Cashman is regularly instructed in litigation in other areas for his public law expertise on top of his judicial review practice, at times operating as sole counsel.
Testimonials
Set
‘The go-to set for work with an administrative/human rights/commercial cross-over. Phenomenal bench of highly talented juniors and junior silks supporting some of the big names in the area.’
‘Blackstone Chambers is a superb set – which is probably the best in the business for public law cases. There is great strength in depth, from leaders in their field to more junior barristers.’
‘Blackstone is a top public law set with exceptional barristers who work on high profile cases.’
‘Blackstone is the go-to set for public work, with significant strength in depth. Counsel and clerks are available whenever required.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are extremely attentive and easy to work with.’
‘The clerks are efficient and friendly.’
11KBW
11KBW is described as a ‘very good public law chambers, with great understanding of health law issues’. ‘Clear-eyed and calm’ advocate Jason Coppel KC is representing the claimants in R (Gardner) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a challenge the Government’s policies regarding protection of care homes during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the absence of recommendations about generalized use of PPE and the discharge of patients in to care homes without mandatory testing or isolation. On the junior side, Christopher Knight recently acted for the Home Secretary in R (Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, utilising his ‘insight into how public authorities operate’ in an extremely high-profile claim concerning Prince Harry's protection arrangements when he is in the United Kingdom as a non-working royal who is resident abroad.
Testimonials
Set
‘They excel in cases which mix public law with commercial law/considerations.’
‘High quality set for public law matters that has strength in depth and is incredibly user friendly and supportive.’
’11KBW is a ‘go-to’ chambers for public law issues.’
Clerking
‘The clerks room has been highly competent, accessible and quick to assist and advise on suitability and availability of counsel. Chris Smith has been an outstanding individual.’
’11KBW clerks are very responsive.’
‘Very helpful and good communication. Gave clear costs estimates and work was always done on time.’
Brick Court Chambers
‘Stacked full of talented barristers’ one of Brick Court Chambers‘ key strengths is its strength in depth and array of at both silk and junior level. The set is known for public law work in a more commercial context, as well as representation of highly-respected NGOs as claimants. ‘Very strategic’ silk Paul Bowen KC has appeared in the High Court many times and recently represented the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in a challenge to the Home Office’s failure to monitor applications to the EU Settlement Scheme by Equality Act protected characteristics. Another barrister of note with a varied practice is James McClelland KC, a standout mandate of whose in 2021 was R (Donegan) v Financial Services Compensation, a judicial review against the FSCS’s decision to refuse compensation to victims of the collapse of London Capital & Finance – he led Tim Johnston and Charlotte Thomas.
Testimonials
Set
‘Outstanding public law team – stacked full of talented barristers. Would be a go to chambers for commercial judicial review.’
‘Extremely strong on public law.’
‘They are a very well regarded set.’
Clerking
‘They are cooperative and helpful.’
‘Efficient and courteous.’
‘Jo Francis is brilliant and she has been a joy to work.’
Matrix Chambers
Barristers at Matrix Chambers are referred to by instructing solicitors as ‘the premier go-to barristers’ chambers with some of the brightest barristers in human rights’, and the set enjoys a strong reputation in public law generally. Clients for the set include government departments and local authorities, but the set is best known for its claimant work, including for individuals and campaign groups. This is an area of expertise for junior Jessica Jones, whose ‘knowledge of the law is silk-level’. Jesse Nicholls appeared in R (Turner) v Secretary of State for the Work and Pensions in a case concerning the death of Errol Graham, a man suffering from mental health difficulties who starved to death in his flat after his benefit payments ceased because he did not engage with a review of his eligibility for Employment Support Allowance.
Testimonials
Set
‘The premier go-to barristers’ chambers with some of the brightest barristers in human rights.’
‘Matrix is a really tremendous chambers. Hugely hard-working barristers, very user-friendly, a real client-focused approach. This is from the clerks right the way through to the most senior silk.’
‘Matrix are an excellent set with strength at every level of seniority.’
Clerking
‘They are always helpful and efficient.’
‘The clerks are amongst the best in the business.’
‘The clerks provide an excellent service.’
1 Crown Office Row
1 Crown Office Row is a ‘high-quality public law chambers on the government side’ – including a number of Special Advocates – but is also increasing being instructed on the claimant side. ‘Clever and hard-working’ Junior Natasha Barnes has experience of cases involving national security and the intelligence agencies. In 2021 she appeared unled in the Court of Appeal for the Secretary of State for the Home Department in R (Mostafa Shahi) v SSHD, an appeal case examining whether a grant of interim relief should be treated as success for the purposes of granting judicial review claim costs to a claimant where the claim settles before substantive determination by the court.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very high quality public law chambers on the government side.’
‘1 Crown Office Row is a very experienced set and often at the forefront of difficult and ground-breaking litigation.’
‘The Chambers is highly respected as the barristers are very experienced in their individual areas of law.’
Clerking
‘Good and professional.’
Doughty Street Chambers
Doughty Street Chambers is a ‘top-notch’ chambers for claimant lawyers, a set focused on representing individuals and companies in public law cases against the state, particularly cases at the intersection of immigration and public law. This is embodied by Shu Shin Luh , who works on issues relating to nationality including the rights of migrants and victims of trafficking. She recently appeared at the Administrative Court in R (NB and Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, a case concerning the use of the derelict former Napier Barracks site to house vulnerable and destitute asylum seekers. Edward Fitzgerald KC, whose expertise crosses over with criminal matters and is active in human rights matters concerning smaller jurisdictions, appeared before the Privy Council in February 2021 in Day and Bush v The Attorney General of the Cayman Islands , a case concerning the absence of same-sex marriage or civil partnerships in the British Overseas Territory.
Testimonials
Set
‘Doughty Street always remains one of the sets that is claimant focused. They attract many of the brightest and most passionate counsel.’
‘Doughty Street are a top notch chambers filled with stellar brains. They are extremely bright, creative and tenacious.’
‘A fantastic set of barristers.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are approachable, efficient and provide instructing solicitors with everything that one could ask for.’
‘The clerks are very helpful.’
‘The clerks room is efficient and responsive.’
Garden Court Chambers
The claimant-focused team of barristers at Garden Court Chambers is, ‘renowned for civil liberties and human rights’ challenges against all public authorities. Marc Willers KC is leading a team from chambers in Duarte Agostinho v Portugal, a European Court of Human Rights complaint brought by a group of Portuguese children backed by an Irish campaign group alleging that that numerous signatory states are violating various convention rights (including Articles 2, 8, 14 and Article 1 Protocol 1) by not introducing further measures to reduce carbon emissions.
Testimonials
Set
‘Garden Court is at the pinnacle of human rights work. That has not changed this year. The set fights fearlessly to give people a voice.’
‘Garden Court are an excellent set with good availability of high calibre counsel, who they have in abundance.’
‘Garden Court have an incredible strength-in-depth and are able to offer counsel at very short notice.’
Clerking
‘In my experience, Garden Court’s clerks are always reliable, helpful and communicative.’
‘The clerks play an essential cog-in-the-wheel role for the chambers. They understand the importance of the work involved and are able to go above and beyond for the cases.’
‘The clerks are responsive and always respond to queries in a timely manner and ensure appropriate Counsel is identified depending on the nature of the challenge.’
Landmark Chambers
Considered a ‘a strong public law set’, Landmark Chambers often appear in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in an even amount of claimant and defendant work, particularly within civil liberties and human rights. ‘Persuasive and astute’ Samantha Broadfoot KC recently appeared in Savvas Halloumas v Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, a judicial review in the sovereign base areas concerning the British government’s enforcement (or lack thereof) of land ownership rights in the base area asserted by a Greek Cypriot but allegedly occupied by Turkish Cypriots. David Blundell KC appeared in R (Manchester Airports Holdings Ltd) v Secretary of State for Transport in 2021, acting for the Secretary of State in this judicial review challenging the "traffic light" system of travel restrictions imposed by the British government during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a "red list" of countries which persons returning from were detained in quarantine hotels at their own expense.
Testimonials
Set
‘Landmark are an exceptional chambers with enormous strength in public/administrative law. Their strength at the senior end has been reinforced recently.’
‘Excellent. Counsel adopt a very flexible approach which is realistic, timely and considerate of the client’s schedules/pressures.’
‘Landmark is a very strong administrative law set with excellent senior and junior counsel.’
Clerking
‘Ben O’Connor is very good and has a friendly and helpful manner.’
‘The clerks are friendly and responsive and do not overcommit barristers. An absolute pleasure to deal with.’
‘They work extremely hard and come back to us very quickly. They work hard to identify other options if the chosen barrister is not available.’
Monckton Chambers
Monckton Chambers has ‘considerable expertise in admin and human rights law’ especially in commercial regulatory judicial review claims in and high–profile public interest and civil liberties challenges. ‘Bright, strategic, and calm advocate’ Tim Ward KC is joint head of chambers and his practice in this area focuses on public law actions against commercial regulators. In 2021, the set has seen a significant increase in its portfolio of domestic human rights cases. Piers Gardner has vast experience in this area and recently acted in Fixsler v UK, leveraging his ‘comprehensive knowledge of ECHR law’ in an application to ECtHR for interim relief to prevent the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment to a girl who suffered catastrophic brain injuries at birth and was found by medical experts to be in consistent pain; the parents, both Hasidic Jews, proposed to transport her to Israel for care there.
Testimonials
Set
‘Monckton Chambers have considerable expertise in admin and public law.’
‘Monckton are one of the ‘go-to’ chambers for some public law work, particularly in relation to challenges against local authorities and the Home Office. They offer a range of highly experience counsel.’
‘They are a renowned chambers in the public law field, particularly for matters where advice is needed on both administrative law and competition law.’
Clerking
‘Good and personal approach.’
‘Gemma is very good.’
‘The clerks are prompt and responsive.’
4-5 Gray's Inn Square
4-5 Gray’s Inn Square is a noteworthy set in this space, and houses Vivienne Sedgley who has worked extensively for public bodies, including the local government, Government Legal Department, and HMRC. Notable cases for Sedgley include successfully representing the London Borough of Newham in R (Democracy Newham Limited) v LB Newham, a case relating to novel point of law under emergency coronavirus legislation, in which campaigners attempted to unseat the Mayor by forcing a referendum on an alternative governance model without that position.
Testimonials
Set
‘4-5 Grays Inn Square is a solid set who can be relied upon; regardless of the matter one can be guaranteed to receive the same level of excellence across the board.’
‘The set comprises of many counsel (including leading Counsel) in the area of administrative law and human rights practice.’
Clerking
‘The clerks’ room is reflective of the ethos of the chambers; being both skilled and trustworthy.’
‘The clerks are always so helpful and in particular Emily Martin and Stephen Somerville both of whom have gone over and above to assist when we have an urgent case.’
‘The clerks at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square are fantastic. They are very friendly, personable, polite and easy to get along with. They are also very efficient and organised.’
Cornerstone Barristers
Cornerstone Barristers ‘hosts a number of very good barristers in this area’ advising both private and public sector organisations involved in public law cases. Members regularly appear in a variety of courts in high profile cases of strategic importance. Philip Coppel KC acted in Heathrow Airport Limited v Information Commissioner, a case examining whether Heathrow Airport is a “public authority” for the purposes of the environmental information regime.
Testimonials
Set
‘Cornerstone hosts quite a number of very good barristers in this area.’
Clerking
‘Always responsive and easy to work with.’
39 Essex Chambers
Testimonials
Set
’39 Essex is the ‘go to’ set for public law issues. They have a solid team of skilled counsel at all levels.’
‘The barrister team is strong across all the practice areas covered in chambers, and at all levels of seniority. They regularly go the extra mile to deliver excellent work under considerable pressure of time.’
‘Huge strength in depth, lots of talented juniors. Very strong set.’
‘A leading chambers for health and social care cases, including judicial review and Court of Protection.’
Clerking
‘The clerking team sets them apart from other chambers. If they say they will call you back then they do – later that same day.’
‘Excellent. Peter Campbell deserves special mention – he is incredibly hard working, responsible and reliable.’
Blackstone Chambers
With strength in depth across the board in civil liberties, human rights, administrative law and public law, Blackstone Chambers is a ‘go-to set for work with an administrative law-human rights-commercial cross-over,’ and the work is often extremely high profile. Providing public law advice in a commercial context is a real strength of the set. Standout silks include ‘first class barrister and advocate’ Lord Pannick KC, and Sir James Eadie KC who as the Treasury Devil is the government’s first-choice external barrister. Sir James recently led Celia Rooney in P v The Crown Court at Woolwich, Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales, and the Lord Chancellor, acting for the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales and others in an administrative court challenge concerning the extension of custody time limits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Absolute star junior in the public law space’ Daniel Cashman is regularly instructed in litigation in other areas for his public law expertise on top of his judicial review practice, at times operating as sole counsel.
Testimonials
Set
‘The go-to set for work with an administrative/human rights/commercial cross-over. Phenomenal bench of highly talented juniors and junior silks supporting some of the big names in the area.’
‘Blackstone Chambers is a superb set – which is probably the best in the business for public law cases. There is great strength in depth, from leaders in their field to more junior barristers.’
‘Blackstone is a top public law set with exceptional barristers who work on high profile cases.’
‘Blackstone is the go-to set for public work, with significant strength in depth. Counsel and clerks are available whenever required.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are extremely attentive and easy to work with.’
‘The clerks are efficient and friendly.’
11KBW
11KBW is described as a ‘very good public law chambers, with great understanding of health law issues’. ‘Clear-eyed and calm’ advocate Jason Coppel KC is representing the claimants in R (Gardner) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a challenge the Government’s policies regarding protection of care homes during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the absence of recommendations about generalized use of PPE and the discharge of patients in to care homes without mandatory testing or isolation. On the junior side, Christopher Knight recently acted for the Home Secretary in R (Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, utilising his ‘insight into how public authorities operate’ in an extremely high-profile claim concerning Prince Harry's protection arrangements when he is in the United Kingdom as a non-working royal who is resident abroad.
Testimonials
Set
‘They excel in cases which mix public law with commercial law/considerations.’
‘High quality set for public law matters that has strength in depth and is incredibly user friendly and supportive.’
’11KBW is a ‘go-to’ chambers for public law issues.’
Clerking
‘The clerks room has been highly competent, accessible and quick to assist and advise on suitability and availability of counsel. Chris Smith has been an outstanding individual.’
’11KBW clerks are very responsive.’
‘Very helpful and good communication. Gave clear costs estimates and work was always done on time.’
Brick Court Chambers
‘Stacked full of talented barristers’ one of Brick Court Chambers‘ key strengths is its strength in depth and array of at both silk and junior level. The set is known for public law work in a more commercial context, as well as representation of highly-respected NGOs as claimants. ‘Very strategic’ silk Paul Bowen KC has appeared in the High Court many times and recently represented the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in a challenge to the Home Office’s failure to monitor applications to the EU Settlement Scheme by Equality Act protected characteristics. Another barrister of note with a varied practice is James McClelland KC, a standout mandate of whose in 2021 was R (Donegan) v Financial Services Compensation, a judicial review against the FSCS’s decision to refuse compensation to victims of the collapse of London Capital & Finance – he led Tim Johnston and Charlotte Thomas.
Testimonials
Set
‘Outstanding public law team – stacked full of talented barristers. Would be a go to chambers for commercial judicial review.’
‘Extremely strong on public law.’
‘They are a very well regarded set.’
Clerking
‘They are cooperative and helpful.’
‘Efficient and courteous.’
‘Jo Francis is brilliant and she has been a joy to work.’
Matrix Chambers
Barristers at Matrix Chambers are referred to by instructing solicitors as ‘the premier go-to barristers’ chambers with some of the brightest barristers in human rights’, and the set enjoys a strong reputation in public law generally. Clients for the set include government departments and local authorities, but the set is best known for its claimant work, including for individuals and campaign groups. This is an area of expertise for junior Jessica Jones, whose ‘knowledge of the law is silk-level’. Jesse Nicholls appeared in R (Turner) v Secretary of State for the Work and Pensions in a case concerning the death of Errol Graham, a man suffering from mental health difficulties who starved to death in his flat after his benefit payments ceased because he did not engage with a review of his eligibility for Employment Support Allowance.
Testimonials
Set
‘The premier go-to barristers’ chambers with some of the brightest barristers in human rights.’
‘Matrix is a really tremendous chambers. Hugely hard-working barristers, very user-friendly, a real client-focused approach. This is from the clerks right the way through to the most senior silk.’
‘Matrix are an excellent set with strength at every level of seniority.’
Clerking
‘They are always helpful and efficient.’
‘The clerks are amongst the best in the business.’
‘The clerks provide an excellent service.’
1 Crown Office Row
1 Crown Office Row is a ‘high-quality public law chambers on the government side’ – including a number of Special Advocates – but is also increasing being instructed on the claimant side. ‘Clever and hard-working’ Junior Natasha Barnes has experience of cases involving national security and the intelligence agencies. In 2021 she appeared unled in the Court of Appeal for the Secretary of State for the Home Department in R (Mostafa Shahi) v SSHD, an appeal case examining whether a grant of interim relief should be treated as success for the purposes of granting judicial review claim costs to a claimant where the claim settles before substantive determination by the court.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very high quality public law chambers on the government side.’
‘1 Crown Office Row is a very experienced set and often at the forefront of difficult and ground-breaking litigation.’
‘The Chambers is highly respected as the barristers are very experienced in their individual areas of law.’
Clerking
‘Good and professional.’
Doughty Street Chambers
Doughty Street Chambers is a ‘top-notch’ chambers for claimant lawyers, a set focused on representing individuals and companies in public law cases against the state, particularly cases at the intersection of immigration and public law. This is embodied by Shu Shin Luh , who works on issues relating to nationality including the rights of migrants and victims of trafficking. She recently appeared at the Administrative Court in R (NB and Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, a case concerning the use of the derelict former Napier Barracks site to house vulnerable and destitute asylum seekers. Edward Fitzgerald KC, whose expertise crosses over with criminal matters and is active in human rights matters concerning smaller jurisdictions, appeared before the Privy Council in February 2021 in Day and Bush v The Attorney General of the Cayman Islands , a case concerning the absence of same-sex marriage or civil partnerships in the British Overseas Territory.
Testimonials
Set
‘Doughty Street always remains one of the sets that is claimant focused. They attract many of the brightest and most passionate counsel.’
‘Doughty Street are a top notch chambers filled with stellar brains. They are extremely bright, creative and tenacious.’
‘A fantastic set of barristers.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are approachable, efficient and provide instructing solicitors with everything that one could ask for.’
‘The clerks are very helpful.’
‘The clerks room is efficient and responsive.’
Garden Court Chambers
The claimant-focused team of barristers at Garden Court Chambers is, ‘renowned for civil liberties and human rights’ challenges against all public authorities. Marc Willers KC is leading a team from chambers in Duarte Agostinho v Portugal, a European Court of Human Rights complaint brought by a group of Portuguese children backed by an Irish campaign group alleging that that numerous signatory states are violating various convention rights (including Articles 2, 8, 14 and Article 1 Protocol 1) by not introducing further measures to reduce carbon emissions.
Testimonials
Set
‘Garden Court is at the pinnacle of human rights work. That has not changed this year. The set fights fearlessly to give people a voice.’
‘Garden Court are an excellent set with good availability of high calibre counsel, who they have in abundance.’
‘Garden Court have an incredible strength-in-depth and are able to offer counsel at very short notice.’
Clerking
‘In my experience, Garden Court’s clerks are always reliable, helpful and communicative.’
‘The clerks play an essential cog-in-the-wheel role for the chambers. They understand the importance of the work involved and are able to go above and beyond for the cases.’
‘The clerks are responsive and always respond to queries in a timely manner and ensure appropriate Counsel is identified depending on the nature of the challenge.’
Landmark Chambers
Considered a ‘a strong public law set’, Landmark Chambers often appear in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in an even amount of claimant and defendant work, particularly within civil liberties and human rights. ‘Persuasive and astute’ Samantha Broadfoot KC recently appeared in Savvas Halloumas v Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, a judicial review in the sovereign base areas concerning the British government’s enforcement (or lack thereof) of land ownership rights in the base area asserted by a Greek Cypriot but allegedly occupied by Turkish Cypriots. David Blundell KC appeared in R (Manchester Airports Holdings Ltd) v Secretary of State for Transport in 2021, acting for the Secretary of State in this judicial review challenging the "traffic light" system of travel restrictions imposed by the British government during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a "red list" of countries which persons returning from were detained in quarantine hotels at their own expense.
Testimonials
Set
‘Landmark are an exceptional chambers with enormous strength in public/administrative law. Their strength at the senior end has been reinforced recently.’
‘Excellent. Counsel adopt a very flexible approach which is realistic, timely and considerate of the client’s schedules/pressures.’
‘Landmark is a very strong administrative law set with excellent senior and junior counsel.’
Clerking
‘Ben O’Connor is very good and has a friendly and helpful manner.’
‘The clerks are friendly and responsive and do not overcommit barristers. An absolute pleasure to deal with.’
‘They work extremely hard and come back to us very quickly. They work hard to identify other options if the chosen barrister is not available.’
Monckton Chambers
Monckton Chambers has ‘considerable expertise in admin and human rights law’ especially in commercial regulatory judicial review claims in and high–profile public interest and civil liberties challenges. ‘Bright, strategic, and calm advocate’ Tim Ward KC is joint head of chambers and his practice in this area focuses on public law actions against commercial regulators. In 2021, the set has seen a significant increase in its portfolio of domestic human rights cases. Piers Gardner has vast experience in this area and recently acted in Fixsler v UK, leveraging his ‘comprehensive knowledge of ECHR law’ in an application to ECtHR for interim relief to prevent the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment to a girl who suffered catastrophic brain injuries at birth and was found by medical experts to be in consistent pain; the parents, both Hasidic Jews, proposed to transport her to Israel for care there.
Testimonials
Set
‘Monckton Chambers have considerable expertise in admin and public law.’
‘Monckton are one of the ‘go-to’ chambers for some public law work, particularly in relation to challenges against local authorities and the Home Office. They offer a range of highly experience counsel.’
‘They are a renowned chambers in the public law field, particularly for matters where advice is needed on both administrative law and competition law.’
Clerking
‘Good and personal approach.’
‘Gemma is very good.’
‘The clerks are prompt and responsive.’
4-5 Gray's Inn Square
4-5 Gray’s Inn Square is a noteworthy set in this space, and houses Vivienne Sedgley who has worked extensively for public bodies, including the local government, Government Legal Department, and HMRC. Notable cases for Sedgley include successfully representing the London Borough of Newham in R (Democracy Newham Limited) v LB Newham, a case relating to novel point of law under emergency coronavirus legislation, in which campaigners attempted to unseat the Mayor by forcing a referendum on an alternative governance model without that position.
Testimonials
Set
‘4-5 Grays Inn Square is a solid set who can be relied upon; regardless of the matter one can be guaranteed to receive the same level of excellence across the board.’
‘The set comprises of many counsel (including leading Counsel) in the area of administrative law and human rights practice.’
Clerking
‘The clerks’ room is reflective of the ethos of the chambers; being both skilled and trustworthy.’
‘The clerks are always so helpful and in particular Emily Martin and Stephen Somerville both of whom have gone over and above to assist when we have an urgent case.’
‘The clerks at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square are fantastic. They are very friendly, personable, polite and easy to get along with. They are also very efficient and organised.’
Cornerstone Barristers
Cornerstone Barristers ‘hosts a number of very good barristers in this area’ advising both private and public sector organisations involved in public law cases. Members regularly appear in a variety of courts in high profile cases of strategic importance. Philip Coppel KC acted in Heathrow Airport Limited v Information Commissioner, a case examining whether Heathrow Airport is a “public authority” for the purposes of the environmental information regime.
Testimonials
Set
‘Cornerstone hosts quite a number of very good barristers in this area.’
Clerking
‘Always responsive and easy to work with.’