Set Profile > Cornerstone Barristers > Birmingham, England

Licensing Tier 1

Cornerstone Barristers is considered to be 'home to the leading licensing silk' – Philip Kolvin QC whose work includes a range of cases for Uber. He also acted for Haringey LB in R (Friends of Finsbury Park) v London Borough of Haringey in a case before the Court of Appeal over a challenge to councils allowing major festivals in parks. The set's members act for licensing authorities, national regulators, the police, industry operators, and community groups. James Findlay QC advises on areas including gambling (casinos and betting), taxi and private hire licensing as part of his broad public law practice and has advised a private hire company on a potential judicial review of a decision to refuse to license a base outside of London. Meanwhile, Ranjit Bhose QC is advising the dance music festival, We Are Festvl, on obtaining the grant of a long-term licence to operate an annual event.

Social housing Tier 1

Cornerstone Barristers is particularly well-known for acting for local authorities and housing associations in some of the most complex, groundbreaking cases impacting the social housing sphere. Its 'first-rate' members combine housing law knowledge with extensive expertise in related areas, such as the Children Act, adult social care, and immigration rights. Reflective of the set's involvement in high-profile cases, in 2018, Ranjit Bhose QC represented the London Borough of Haringey in Peters (on behalf of the ‘Stop the HDV Campaign Group’) v London Borough of Haringey & Lendlease Europe Holdings Limited, a judicial review claim challenging the lawfulness of the local authority entering into the proposed Haringey Development Vehicle; this is a multi-million pound 50-50 public-private partnership vehicle (the biggest local authority housing regeneration vehicle ever in the UK), which was to be used to regenerate Haringey’s housing estates. Also of note, Ryan Kohli acted as sole counsel to the appellant in the landmark Court of Appeal case of Paragon Housing Association v Neville, which concerned the impact of the Equality Act 2010 on warrant suspension applications. Chambers has been strengthened by the arrival of Riccardo Calzavara from Arden Chambers.

Environment Tier 2

Cornerstone Barristers is 'excellent on enforcement issues and has a wide variety of knowledgeable barristers suitable for a range of circumstances', notes one client. Another remarks that the set 'always provides exceptional service and appropriate levels of expertise'. Chambers is also noted for its 'friendly and approachable clerks who are always willing to assist'. Members have significant expertise in environmental law, particularly in the area of renewable energy development and related High Court challenges, often in tandem with their planning and public law practices. James Findlay QC handled a full day objection before the House of Commons Select Committee on behalf of the NFU on compensation and compulsory purchase issues along the line of the HS2a development. Estelle Dehon acted for the applicant in the leading case on the application of environmental impact assessment to fracking, Frackman v SSCLG and Cuadrilla, in the Court of Appeal.

Agriculture Tier 2

Data protection Tier 2

Court of Protection and community care Tier 3

Planning Tier 3

An 'established set with a full range of counsel on planning matters, including some good upcoming juniors', Cornerstone Barristers cover a mix of work across projects, with a large number of instructions coming from local authorities. Mark Lowe QC and Jack Parker represented Hertfordshire County Council in a called-in inquiry over a waste-to-energy plant proposal designed to turn the entire county's waste into 33.5MW of energy. Robin Green represented Welwyn Hatfield District Council in a challenge to its decision to approve the construction of a crematorium, brought by a competitor. In housing, Wayne Beglan, represented Waverley Council in a planning inquiry concerning an application to build 1,800 homes on the former site of RAF Dunsfold, better known as the Top Gear test track.

Administrative and public law (including local government) Tier 4

Cornerstone Barristers has members active in matters concerning local and national democracy. Following the murder of Jo Cox MP, Philip Coppel QC defeated a challenge from the English Democrats over the Electoral Commission's decision to remove "Fighting for England!", one of the fringe right-wing party's registered descriptions. Matthew Lewin acted as an independent investigator for Durham County Council's standards committee after a town mayor was allegedly so inebriated at an event to commemorate the centenary of the conclusion of the First World War that he was stopped from lighting a memorial beacon as a safety risk.

Health and safety Tier 4

Property litigation Tier 4

Commercial litigation Tier 5

Set overviews: England and Wales

The ‘go-to’ set for social housing matters, Cornerstone Barristers is ‘renowned for its breadth of public sector work’; is ‘very strong on homelessness law’; and a leading set for licensing matters. ‘They not only have leading counsel in all areas of public sector, but a good range of senior juniors, junior juniors, and an exceptional group of newly qualified barristers too.’ Solicitors praise the set’s business structure which ‘makes them much more flexible and their approach to collaborative working with solicitors is pioneering’. ‘You always feel as though your instruction is the only one that counts and that your business is the most important, whether it is for a small matter or large.’ The ‘superb’ clerking team is led by Elliot Langdorf, who is ‘excellent at finding solutions’. Alex Hill and Naomi Bridge are ‘always professional and will make you feel like your business is their most valued and most important’; Justin Callaghan is ‘a delight to work with’. In recent chambers news, Steven Gasztowicz QC has been appointed deputy High Court judge in both the Queen's Bench and Chancery Divisions; public law juniors Lee Parkhill and Riccardo Calzavara joined from 7BR and the dissolved Arden Chambers respectively; Clare Bello, formerly of 4 Paper Buildings, is the set’s new CEO. Offices in: London, Birmingham, and Cardiff