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Local Government (including Rating Law)

11KBW

Cornerstone Barristers

Landmark Chambers

4-5 Gray's Inn Square

Francis Taylor Building

Leading Silks

Richard Glover KC – Francis Taylor Building 'He has a total command of his brief and an authoritative presence in court.'

James Goudie KC – 11KBW

'Very easy to work with.'

Dan Kolinsky KC – Landmark Chambers 'Very effective both as advocate and in consultation.'

Peter Oldham KC – 11KBW

'A formidable brain and pragmatic.'

Andrew Sharland KC – 11KBW

‘Very well-organised and good on his feet.’

Jonathan Auburn KC – 11KBW

Ranjit Bhose KC – Cornerstone Barristers 'Ranjit is very intelligent and able to see all sides of a dispute.'

Tim Buley KC – Landmark Chambers

Richard Drabble KC – Landmark Chambers

David Forsdick KC – Landmark Chambers 'David is excellent.'

Sarah Hannett – Matrix Chambers 'Very knowledgeable and able to deal with work very well.'

Fenella Morris KC – 39 Essex Chambers 'Excellent intellectual rigour.'

Tim Morshead KC – Landmark Chambers 'Tim is excellent.'

Kelvin Rutledge KC – Cornerstone Barristers

Timothy Straker KC – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

David Wolfe KC – Matrix Chambers

Charles Banner KC – Keating Chambers 'He has an incredible skill set and knowledge base, works extremely hard and puts his witnesses at ease.'

David Elvin KC – Landmark Chambers 'An impressive intellect and ability to identify critical issues, both in writing and in court.'

James Findlay KC – Cornerstone Barristers 'Very experienced and level-headed. James knows how to pitch a case at the right level of detail.'

Richard Honey KC – Francis Taylor Building 'Richard is always very clear and helpful in his advice and works very well as part of the client team.'

Jonathan Moffett KC – 11KBW

'Jonathan is extremely thorough. He values the instructing lawyer's expertise but builds on it to take the advice to the next level.'

Tim Mould KC – Landmark Chambers 'A very effective advocate. He is always measured and well-reasoned.'

Jenni Richards KC – 39 Essex Chambers

David Travers KC – Gough Square Chambers ‘David is phenomenal. He’s tenacious, driven and fun to work with. His advocacy is always a masterclass.’

Jenny Wigley KC – Landmark Chambers 'Great attention to detail and ability to methodically argue a case.'

Ian Wise KC - Monckton Chambers

David Blundell KC – Landmark Chambers

Jason Coppel KC – 11KBW

‘He is careful, thoughtful and rarely outmanoeuvered. A skilled and erudite silk.’

Richard Harwood OBE KC – 39 Essex Chambers 'He is excellent at advocacy.'

Matt Hutchings KC – Cornerstone Barristers 'He is a very good advocate. His submissions are clear, succinct and persuasive.'

Gwion Lewis KC – Landmark Chambers 'Gwion is very approachable; he is plain-speaking and gives clear advice to the matter in hand.'

Fiona Scolding KC – Landmark Chambers

Paul Stinchcombe KC – 39 Essex Chambers

2022 Silks

Joanne Clement KC –11KBW

'Her advocacy far exceeds the quality of other counsel.'

Joanne Clement KC – 11KBW

'Joanne's advocacy is very clear, persuasive and robust. She projects gravitas.'

Galina Ward – Landmark Chambers ‘Galina has got great judgement and is brilliant to work with.’

2023 Silks

Kuljit Bhogal KC – Cornerstone Barristers ‘She is first-rate: hardworking, competent and knowledgeable.’

Kuljit Bhogal KC - Cornerstone Barristers

Alex Goodman KC – Landmark Chambers

Meyric Lewis KC – Francis Taylor Building ‘Proactive and responsible.’

Guy Williams KC – Landmark Chambers

2024 Silks

Steve Broach KC – 39 Essex Chambers 'Steve is extremely knowledgeable on the law. His written work and advocacy are both excellent.'

Leading Juniors

Tom Cross – 11KBW

'Tom is incredibly impressive; he can get to the heart of a case at lightning speed and quickly articulate a convincing case theory.'

Hugh Flanagan – Francis Taylor Building 'Hugh is just so bright. He drafts beautifully is an excellent advocate and a great team player.'

Jane Oldham – 11KBW

Cain Ormondroyd – Francis Taylor Building 'Cain has excellent knowledge of the law, precedent and its application to the subject.'

Hannah Slarks – 11KBW

'Hannah's advice is very thorough and to the point. Her performance in court is exceptional; she is a very astute advocate and tactically very aware.'

Zoe Gannon – 11KBW

‘Hugely knowledgeable and skilled in local government matters. She has built up a fantastic reputation as a go-to barrister for the more complex social care and education judicial reviews.’

Robin Green – Cornerstone Barristers

Jacqueline Lean – Landmark Chambers 'Jacqueline has exceptional advocacy skills in court.'

Jonathan Manning – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Sarah Sackman – Matrix Chambers 'Sarah has a very strong knowledge and understanding of local government. She is very practical and sensible in her approach.'

Genevieve Screeche-Powell – Field Court Chambers 'Genevieve is approachable, adopting a down-to-earth yet informed approach towards her clients. Her advocacy is clear, precise and easy to follow.'

Vivienne Sedgley – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

'Vivienne's work to be on a par with more senior counsel including King's Counsel. She is very good and confident in the advice she gives.'

Christopher Baker – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Wayne Beglan – Cornerstone Barristers

Shomik Datta – Cornerstone Barristers 'He is exceptionally good at structuring and presenting complex arguments so that the court gets his key points immediately, and he never loses sight of the bigger strategic picture.'

Matthew Feldman – Cornerstone Barristers

Leon Glenister – Landmark Chambers 'One of the best public lawyers of his generation. Clear thinking, tactical and writes really well.'

Stephen Kosmin – 11KBW

'Very bright, extremely well prepared and the safest pair of hands.'

Andrew Lane – Cornerstone Barristers

Catherine Rowlands – Cornerstone Barristers 'Catherine provides clear and concise advice alongside excellent advocacy skills.'

Luke Wilcox - Landmark Chambers 'Luke is extremely competent and knowledgeable on all matters relating to business rates. He is straightforward and provides clear, cogent advice on the most technical points in conference and on paper.'

Jack Anderson – 39 Essex Chambers

Alexander Campbell – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Alex provides considered and detailed advice in a timely manner.’

Jonathan Darby – 39 Essex Chambers ‘An excellent junior barrister: clever, confident and with sound judgement.’

Michael Fry – Francis Taylor Building

Emma Godfrey – Field Court Chambers

Merrow Golden – Francis Taylor Building 'Hard and conscientious work, high legal acumen and excellent written advocacy skills.'

Matt Lewin – Cornerstone Barristers 'Matt is absolutely marvelous in dealing with a range of instructions from relatively simple conduct matters to highly complex scenarios involving judicial review.'

Anna Medvinskaia – Gough Square 'Anna's advice is pragmatic, concise and easy to understand.'

Rising Stars

Jen Coyne - Monckton Chambers

Nick Grant – Landmark Chambers 'Very strong written and oral advocacy.'

Local government (including rating law) in London Bar

Tier 1 sets

11KBW

11KBW provides silks and juniors of all levels that handle a range of work for and against local authorities as part of its broader presence in public law. Andrew Sharland KC led in R (KG and BG) v Suffolk CC for Suffolk County Council, a Court of Appeal case concerning what powers the council had regarding the funding of support for disabled people under the Care Act 2014. Jonathan Auburn KC acted for the Local Government Association in Hertfordshire CC v SSHCLG where the Divisional Court examined whether local authority meetings could be held remotely.

Testimonials

‘The clerks are brilliantly led by Lucy Barbet.’

‘Efficient and always polite and helpful.’

‘The clerks are always very helpful.’

‘The go-to set for local government law.’

‘An excellent set of chambers.’

’11KBW stands apart as a leading set nationally and internationally.’

Work highlights

Cornerstone Barristers

Featuring members possessing ‘an exceptional understanding of the law’, Cornerstone Barristers is prominent within local government law, with its members instructed by local authorities the length and breadth of the country. Ranjit Bhose KC has advised multiple London local authorities on the new requirements arising from legislation passed in light of the Hackitt Review into building regulations following the Grenfell Fire. Matt Hutchings KC represented a London borough in R (United Trade Action Group Ltd & Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association) v Camden LBC, a judicial review of a transport scheme that would ban cars, including taxis, from Tottenham Court Road during the day. In Thompson v Harlow DC, a claim for damages resulting from a fire at the claimant’s home caused by plumbers contracted by the council, Matthew Feldman acted for the claimant.

Testimonials

‘Daryl Hughes regularly goes above and beyond to find a suitable barrister.’

‘Dan Gatt is a particularly able senior clerk who has been invaluable in resolving any issues which arise very skillfully.’

‘The clerks always offer a professional and timely service.’

‘The clerks are helpful and efficient.’

‘Cornerstone as a whole demonstrates professionalism, expertise, attention to detail and unwavering dedication to its clients.’

‘An excellent set of chambers that is organised and well structured.’

‘First class.’

Work highlights

Landmark Chambers

Landmark Chambers is expert in all matters of local government law, particularly in ratings law. Dan Kolinsky KC, the ‘go-to’ silk on business rates matters, successfully represented Nuffield Health in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in Nuffield Health v London Borough of Merton, a case concerning whether a fitness centre, operated by a charity as a chargeable service, qualified for mandatory charitable rates relief. Jenny Wigley KC represented a museum in Allen (VO) v Tyne and Wear Museums Service, a case examining the valuation of museums and galleries.

Testimonials

‘Clerks are all good and provide an excellent service, particularly Richard Bolton.’

‘Kevin Squires and Jason Allen are unfailingly proactive.’

‘The clerks’ room is excellent.’

‘The first choice for barristers in rating law.’

‘The set has a good range of barristers for this area of work and offers good training programmes.’

‘First-class barristers at all levels.’

Work highlights

Tier 2 sets

4-5 Gray's Inn Square

Members of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square act in a range of local government matters including those relating to care, welfare and housing. Timothy Straker KC represented the City of London Corporation in City of London v Various Leaseholders of Great Arthur House in the Court of Appeal, a case concerning who was to pay for the replacing the cladding of blocks of flats near the Barbican.

Testimonials

‘The clerks are friendly and responsive.’

Work highlights

Francis Taylor Building

Francis Taylor Building contains ‘some of the brightest and best barristers in this field’, routinely acting in local government and ratings matters. Richard Glover KC led Cain Ormondroyd in Church of Scientology Religious Education College Inc v Ricketts (VO), a complex appeal in the Upper Tribunal regarding the application of religious rate-exemptions for the Scientology movement's London sites. Richard Honey KC represented JD Wetherspoon as sole counsel in a settled claim between JD Wetherspoon and Birmingham City Council over compensation for the compulsory acquisition of one of the pub chain's leaseholds. Hugh Flanagan acted in the test case of Vistra International v Bunyan (VO), a dispute regarding whether Covid-19-related factors affected liability for business rates.

Testimonials

‘The clerking at Francis Taylor Building is the best of any chambers.’

‘The clerks are organised and courteous.’

‘The clerks are great – the best around.’

‘One of the leading local government sets with experience across the board in local government law.’

‘Specialists in this area of law, providing useful training courses.’

‘A fantastic set to work with.’

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