Licensing Tier 1

A go-to set for complex or precedent-setting licensing cases, Cornerstone Barristers' team of clerks is also highlighted for being ‘one of the best’ for client service. The set handles cases nationally from those involving the taxi trade, alcohol and gambling to music and other entertainment venues or festivals. ‘Arguably the country’s leading licensing silk’, Philip Kolvin QC's cases include success on behalf of Uber London Ltd in its well-publicised licensing appeal. James Findlay QC and Ranjit Bhose QC each have wide-ranging experience of licensing issues in the private hire/ taxi services and night club sectors. Asitha Ranatunga acted for The London Borough of Haringey in defending its decision to refuse a new premises licence for an adult gaming centre, while the 'persuasive' and 'engaging' Josef Cannon frequently deals with cases involving a serious criminal element.

Leading Silks

Ranjit Bhose QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A top performer. One of the very best practitioners in the licensing field.’

Ranked: Tier 1

James Findlay QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Quite simply, a fantastic mind.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Leading Juniors

Josef Cannon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A depth of knowledge in the field of licensing enabling the provision of prompt, detailed and persuasive advice. A very good advocate - obtaining excellent results and with an ability to converse well with clients, putting them at ease.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Richard Hanstock - Cornerstone Barristers ‘I instruct him on matters that are a little different and require human qualities as well as professional capability.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Asitha Ranatunga - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Prepares meticulously and presents his case well. Uses his knowledge of licensing law to complement his environmental law practice.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Local government (including rating law) Tier 1

Cornerstone Barristers is 'a great set to work with and has the range of barristers to cover the whole local government spectrum', with areas of expertise including local governance, public space protection orders and matters at the intersection of local government powers and social housing. Ranjit Bhose QC and Kuljit Bhogal represented the defendant in Dulgheriu v Ealing LBC concerning the council's imposition of a public spaces protection order to mitigate an anti-abortion picket of the Marie Stopes West London Centre; Bhose QC also represented the claimants in RB Kingston upon Thames v Moss, concerning the terms on which local authorities supply water to secure tenants. Robin Green represented Britwell Parish Council in a challenge to Slough Borough Council's decision to abolish it. Matthew Lewin has a niche practice in local government standards work, and also represented the defendant in Panton v Denchworth Parish Trustees, a case over the ownership of a village hall concluded by the Chancery division issuing Extended Civil Restraint Orders against the parish's former chairman and treasurer.

Rising stars

Matthew Lewin - Cornerstone Barristers ‘He has great expertise and knowledge and a broad local government practice.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Ranjit Bhose QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘An excellent and well-respected silk.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Philip Coppel QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Very clever, very good explaining matters to the lay client, masterly overview and command of this many-stranded matter.’

Ranked: Tier 2

James Findlay QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘James' attention to detail is second to none and always responds to queries immediately. He is my go to QC for any local government matter. Quite simply a fantastic legal mind.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Kelvin Rutledge QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Kelvin is the alchemist of legal complexity and dedication - his ability to condense globalised legal complexities into entirely digestible and persuasive nutrition for Judges is exquisite. He is forensic in his approach but entirely approachable, his legal analysis and application is swoon-inducing and his courtroom skills are a masterclass in advocacy. He is that rare blend of orchestra and conductor all at the same time.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Leading Juniors

Kuljit Bhogal - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Very helpful in terms of helping the council to prepare its case. Good at dealing with all the witnesses involved in the case. A fine advocate’

Ranked: Tier 2

Robin Green - Cornerstone Barristers ‘He is professional and supportive with an understanding of the challenges officers face in local government. He is able to grasp the issues of a case quickly and advise accordingly. He inspires confidence in the case and realism where appropriate.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Shomik Datta - Cornerstone Barristers ‘One of his great advantages in the local government sector is his legal common law skills that give him the edge over competitors.He has an incisive approach to case management and identifies the important issues from the outset. He also has an uncanny way of seeing how a case will unfold.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Social housing Tier 1

Cornerstone Barristers has an outstanding track record representing housing associations and local authorities in groundbreaking cases that often involve an interplay between housing law and related areas, such as the Children Act, immigration rights, adult social care, among others. In 2019, Kelvin Rutledge QC and Andrew Lane represented the local authority at the Court of Appeal in R(Gullu) v London Borough of Hillingdon, which was a test case involving a challenge to Hillingdon's ten-year residency requirement in order to join its housing waiting list. Also notable was that Ranjit Bhose QC and Ruchi Parekh represented circa 20 local housing authorities (through the Local Government Association) at the High Court in RB Kingston-upon-Thames v Moss, which was a water re-selling test case the implications of which could mean that many housing associations and local authorities have to reimburse tenants for overcharges for the supply of water; the matter is now pending before the Court of Appeal.

Rising stars

Riccardo Calzavara - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Riccardo has boundless enthusiasm and a real capacity for hard work. He is 100% reliable and has a real understanding of social housing law.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Ranjit Bhose QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘His quality of legal advice is allied to pragmatism and good people skills.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Kelvin Rutledge QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Kelvin has an encyclopaedic and enviable knowledge of housing law and its inter-relation with other areas of law, including community care and the Court of Protection. These qualities make him an excellent housing lawyer. He is equally an experienced, authoritative and persuasive advocate.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Leading Juniors

Andrew Lane - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Fiercely intelligent, a formidable opponent, yet friendly, down to earth and approachable.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Dean Underwood - Cornerstone Barristers ‘An excellent barrister - very calm, possibly as a result of his preparation, which is always second to none. Knows his onions and never lets you down.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Ryan Kohli - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Ryan is meticulous in his preparation and has a tremendous confidence, which he brings across in both his written work and advocacy.’

Ranked: Tier 2

David Lintott - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Very astute, knowledgeable and dependable. His level of experience and application of the law is exemplary, as are his customer service skills. His delivery and presentation before the bench on litigation is of the highest quality. His advice is always easy to comprehend and rational.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Kuljit Bhogal - Cornerstone Barristers ‘She is extremely personable and a pleasure to be against. A strong advocate who fights hard for her clients, whilst retaining the integrity that one would expect from a member of the Bar.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Jennifer Oscroft - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Experienced in homelessness cases and social housing litigation involving issues over lawfulness of allocation schemes, applicants' immigration status and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Wayne Beglan - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Always a pleasure to work with - extremely adept in putting the client at ease no matter what the situation. Very knowledgeable with a deep passion for his work.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Catherine Rowlands - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Exceptional advocacy on paper and on her feet.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Agriculture

Leading Juniors

Dr Ashley Bowes - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Ashley has a detailed knowledge of common land law which, combined with his similarly excellent knowledge of property and planning law, leads to the ability to provide excellent holistic advice.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Data protection

Leading Silks

Philip Coppel QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘His knowledge of the area is unrivalled. He is strong on litigation strategy and undaunted by difficult cases.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Leading Juniors

Estelle Dehon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Dogged, hardworking and very good at seeing the bigger picture.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Environment Tier 3

Cornerstone Barristers has 'particular expertise in prosecutions for local authorities of environmental offences and planning prosecutions', and clients remark that it is 'an excellent set with strong and well-established teams in planning and environmental law'. Members have significant expertise in environmental matters, particularly those concerning renewable energy development, strategic environmental assessments, environmental impact assessments, and habitats regulations. Its junior ranks are particularly strong and Estelle Dehon is well known for judicial reviews and inquiries challenging fracking, coal mining, oil drilling and gas acidisation projects. Her recent work includes a challenge to the controversial development of four poultry buildings to house more than 1.5 million chickens per year. Clients also remark on the set's 'helpful and responsive set of clerks'.

Leading Silks

James Findlay QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘An excellent silk whose attention to detail is second to none.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Estelle Dehon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘She is passionate about environmental issues and is without doubt one of the very best juniors and an articulate advocate.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Harriet Townsend - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A very diligent and thoughtful barrister, always with one eye on overall litigation strategy and the client’s commercial objectives.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Clare Parry - Cornerstone Barristers ‘One of the set’s star performers, she is regularly involved in high-profile inquiries and judicial reviews.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Dr Ashley Bowes - Cornerstone Barristers ‘He is one of the best environmental lawyers of his generation - his knowledge of the law and his analytical skills are most impressive.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Jonathan Clay - Cornerstone Barristers ‘He is extremely persuasive, knowledgeable and likeable, and he is able to cut through complex matters and provide clear advice.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Property litigation

Leading Silks

Ranjit Bhose QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘His ability to articulate arguments in a persuasive and coherent manner is second to none.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Shomik Datta - Cornerstone Barristers ‘His best value is making clients feel at ease and to prepare and present cases in a way in which courts find it easy to understand and to adjudicate upon.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Dean Underwood - Cornerstone Barristers ‘His drafting skills are second to none and the same can be said for his ability to clearly express oral arguments.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Court of Protection and community care

Leading Silks

Kelvin Rutlegde QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Has a good eye for detail.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Leading Juniors

Lee Parkhill - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A persuasive and confident advocate, his knowledge and experience in respect of Court of Protection litigation is outstanding.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Zoë Whittington - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Always approachable, makes contact quickly and keeps you up to date with how things are progressing. Advocacy is excellent and has superb knowledge of the subject matter.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Peggy Etiebet - Cornerstone Barristers ‘An excellent advocate who knows the law inside out and who is a joy to work with.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Planning Tier 3

Cornerstone Barristers has 'a good range of practitioners who are experienced in local authority work', with 'strength and depth at all levels and covering all of the key areas of planning and infrastructure work'. Richard Ground QC represented Tendring District Council in an enforcement case against over 50 inhabitants of chalets, all of whom were litigants in person, who occupied them all year despite a ban on them staying for extended periods in the winter months. Also of note, Ground QC, along with rising star Ben Du Feu, secured an injunction to stop a referendum on a neighbourhood plan in the Mendips. Unled, Robin Green represented the claimant in R (McLennan) v Medway Council, in which the High Court found that the local authority was irrational to have ignored that a development would obstruct a neighbour's solar panels, while Edward Grant successfully represented the London Borough of Hounslow in defeating a proposal by the Duke of Northumberland to build on existing allotments and replace them over a Grade 1-listed Capability Brown landscape in Syon Park.

Rising stars

Ben Du Feu - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Ben put in an impressive performance. He demonstrated a complete mastery of his brief, was extremely thorough, cross-examined with skill and persistence and produced detailed and well argued closing submissions. Ben struck me as a mature performer for one still relatively junior.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Mark Lowe QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘He is a heavyweight practitioner at the planning Bar.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Michael Bedford QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Michael is forensic in his consideration of key risk issues. Expert in consideration of traffic assessments and strategic case making for highways schemes Calm, concise and unflappable in advocacy Written advice is clear, thorough and gets to the nub of the issue with practical advice.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Thomas Cosgrove QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A superb silk for planning matters.’

Ranked: Tier 3

James Findlay QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A high quality silk. Very responsive to queries. He is thoughtful, measured and calm approach.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Richard Ground QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Excellent command of complex detail. Engaged and enthusiast, creating a strong team ethos. Strong sense to commitment to the cases. Respectful and encouraging of expert witnesses. Hard working and able to motivate strong performance from team as a whole. Good humour contributing to high morale. Polite and incisive cross-examination.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Lisa Busch QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A heavyweight QC with a first-class legal brain.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Paul Shadarevian QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A very knowledgeable and approachable professional that works well with his clients. He understands the brief and asks the pertinent questions promptly. His working style is inclusive, taking a forensic approach to tasks, is good at scoping and resolving problems and importantly he delivers results on time.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Wayne Beglan - Cornerstone Barristers ‘He has a robust style, making points clearly and effectively, but lightened by the use of gentle humour, in keeping with the modern approach to advocacy preferred by most planning inspectors.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Jonathan Clay - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Jonathan is able to cut through complex matters to provide clear and understandable advice whilst being extremely client-friendly and always providing excellent client care.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Edward Grant - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Ed is a superb barrister who is one of the strongest juniors practising in the field currently. He is superb cross examiner and also builds excellent relationships with the Judiciary. I would highly recommend him.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Robin Green - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Robin brings a balanced and principled approach to his written and oral advocacy. He is tenacious in his oral submissions but within a presentational style that is both moderate and courteous. He has excellent judgment which enables him to craft cross examination and oral submissions in an attractive and orderly manner that immediately engages the attention and sympathy of the court.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Ashley Bowes - Cornerstone Barristers ‘His technical expertise is really strong and he is one of the few top planning bar specialists. He was formerly a lecturer at the University of Surrey and his book on planning is a key text. Added to this is real practical experience. Ashley was a local councillor for some years. He offers well thought-out advice and is strategically strong. He develops a good rapport with clients.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Josef Cannon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Jo is a first rate member of the planning Bar. He is personally charming, polite and courteous to a fault. However that belies a stunning ability as both an advocate and a lawyer. He combines an ability to get inspectors on side with charm and then receptive to his intellectually superb approach to both court work and inquiries.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Estelle Dehon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Estelle is top-notch. She is a determined and tenacious advocate, whose oral and written advocacy is nuanced, well-reasoned and highly effective and whose grasp of the law consistently impresses. She is good-natured, responsive and easy to work with and quickly builds trust and rapport with clients.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Emmaline Lambert - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Ms Lambert is very knowledgeable, approachable and personable. I look forward to being able to work with Ms Lambert as I know my case will in safe hands and I know how thorough her advice is. I like her fair but firm style of advocacy in court, too.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Jack Parker - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Jack is a very impressive advocate with a clear understanding of his case which comes through expertly in submissions. Thorough understanding of planning law. Very approachable and easy to work with. His calm and confident persona puts clients at ease and manages to produce the results required! Definitely my barrister of choice!’

Ranked: Tier 3

Asitha Ranatunga - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Asitha is a consistently reliable junior, who can be trusted to have complete mastery of the detail in any given case. He has a calm manner in court and in conference, and he was very popular with our clients under what were, for the clients, very difficult circumstances.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Harriet Townsend - Cornerstone Barristers ‘A highly competent barrister and always our first point of call for planning advice. Her honest and clear advice has been invaluable to me and my team. She approaches each matter comprehensively, with an enquiring mind and clear communication at all times. She balances her fierce intelligence with kindness and good humour and is always a pleasure to work with.’

Ranked: Tier 3

David Lintott - Cornerstone Barristers ‘An absolute star. I have never lost a case with David on board. He is calm and unflappable, and kind in his stance whether this be at court or in inquiries and particularly in any cross examination, so he tends to get more out the witness than they might otherwise give, or be more fuller in their answers than is helpful to their own case.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Clare Parry - Cornerstone Barristers ‘She is tireless in her pursuit of results for her clients. In the Higher Courts she is more than a match for any silk, and she has a well established public law practice in planning and local government circles.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Robert Williams - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ery Intelligent, articulate, very good with clients, and ability to focus on points that matter and deal with matters practically. My planning junior of preference. Stands out in a crowded field.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Administrative and public law (including elections) Tier 4

Members of Cornerstone Barristers are 'experts in judicial review because of the broad local government practices that many barristers have', and also handles a broader range of public law work away from its local government connections, such as election law. Philip Coppel QC represented the Electoral Commission in defending judicial reviews concerning alleged breaches of spending rules on the part of Vote Leave and Darren Grimes – the first brought by the Good Law Project (an organisation founded by Jolyon Maugham QC) concerning the commission's decision not to launch an investigation; the second brought by Grimes and Vote Leave, concerning the commission's decision to announce its investigation.

Leading Silks

Philip Coppel QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Very prompt, approachable, succinct and to the point, while thinking ‘out of the box’ - solutions-focused.’

Ranked: Tier 2

James Findlay QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘James is very productive, astonishingly so. One gets cogent considered advice very quickly even when I know that he is busy with other things. I have found him good with clients. He is well respected by the courts and very persuasive.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Kuljit Bhogal - Cornerstone Barristers ‘She brings great personal dedication to her work and really puts her heart and soul into her cases.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Estelle Dehon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Estelle is an excellent barrister with a keen appreciation of the law and a fine attention to detail in all that she does. Estelle always presents her arguments in an articulate and persuasive fashion, whether in court or in conference. She also has the ability to put her professional and lay clients at ease, inspiring confidence in all that work with her.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Aviation

Leading Silks

Gerard Forlin QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Informative and extremely knowledgeable; tenacious but always with the utmost respect. He is approachable both from a solicitor and client point of view. He is good with clients explaining processes and his way of thinking and reasoning for decisions or plans of action.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Commercial litigation

Leading Juniors

Paul Marshall - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Extremely personable and a joy to work with.’

Ranked: Tier 5

Set overviews: England and Wales