With ‘excellence at all levels’, Brick Court Chambers remains at the forefront of the most complex and prominent EU matters. Jemima Stratford KC appeared before the CJEU in Orion v Commission, a case involving issues about medical regulatory compliance at EU level, and the ’responsive and pragmatic’ Maya Lester KC led for the defendants in Melli Bank Plc v ICBC Ltd, a case which raised high-profile issues concerning the relationship between US sanctions on Iran and the UK/EU Blocking Regulation. Marie Demetriou KC has an established practice acting on behalf of vulnerable persons and groups in cases concerning EU asylum legislation and the application of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, and David Scannell KC achieved success in R(Guilin GFS Monk Fruit Corp) v Food Standards Agency, a case concerning a challenge to British food regulators over the approval of monk fruit (a plant used traditionally in China as an alternative to sugar), with major ramifications on retained EU regulation in this area, also achieving a rare awarding of costs to the applicant on an indemnity basis. At the junior level, the ‘fluent and confident’ Tim Johnston acted alone at a hearing on ClientEarth AISL v European Commission, a judgement with key definitions of the scope of the Commission to define environmental sustainability.
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Profile
Position
Tim is recognised as a leading junior in all his key areas of work. The directories describe him as “a silk in waiting”, “very insightful and knowledgeable”, “an excellent communicator and advocate” with a “vivid turn of phrase” and “an obvious leader… [and] go to junior.”. His practice spans public law, public international law, civil liberties, competition and EU law. He has substantial expertise in business and human rights, international environmental law and ESG standards.
He regularly appears in leading and ground-breaking cases such as the ‘Rwanda’ litigation, Lungowe and Others v Vedanta Resources Plc [2019] UKSC 20, Pfizer Inc and another v Competition and Markets Authority [2022] UKSC 14, and “Miller 1” [2017] UKSC 5, In the past few months he appeared unled in the Court of Appeal in what is now the leading authority on interim relief in judicial review RRR v British Standards Institution [2024] EWCA Civ 530 as well as in the Visa/Interchange litigation.
Tim has particular expertise in climate and environmental matters. He regularly advises and acts for environmental charities, such as ClientEarth, and has advised public authorities in relation to scrappage schemes, low emissions zones, emissions targets and renewable energy.
Career
Called 2011, Lincoln’s Inn; pupillage Brick Court Chambers 2011-12, tenant 2012 to date.
Languages
French, Russian (good).
Education
Keble College, Oxford (1998-2001 BA (Hons) in Modern History (Double First); 2003-07 DPhil Modern History); Graduate Diploma in Law (2009-2010 (Distinction)).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are very responsive and approachable.'
- 'The clerks have always been extremely pleasant to deal with. Ben Rippengale is always friendly and responsive'
- 'The clerks are knowledgeable and helpful.'
- 'The set is in a league of its own. Excellence at all levels. All tenants at the top of their game.'
- 'Still the preeminent EU relations Chambers'
- 'By repute, one of the leading sets in this area.'
- 'Brick Court Chambers is the go-to public law set for UK and EU litigation matters'