Lauded as ‘persuasive before any forum, whether it is a court or a licensing panel, with a non-confrontational style that gets results’, Cornerstone Barristers has a large public sector client base within licensing, with local authorities featuring as key clients for senior counsel within the set. In this regard, James Findlay KC is adept in all forms of local authority licensing, in addition to a full range of gambling and alcohol licensing expertise, as well as challenging licensing applications with local councils, including city councils. Ranjit Bhose KC has been involved in high-profile licensing cases, precedent setting work for Uber, including representing the claimant in Uber Britannia Limited v Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council. Josef Cannon KC, who was appointed silk in 2024, was also involved this case. Taxi litigation is a strong area of expertise for Asitha Ranatunga, a key junior within the set, and elsewhere sexual entertainment venue licensing, and public entertainment licensing are also cornerstones of the work for barristers.
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Profile
Work Department
Local government; public law; social housing; landlord and tenant; property; property related negligence; licensing; civil litigation; Court of Protection.
Career
Ranjit has a varied practice, with particular specialism in the following: local government; public law; social housing; landlord and tenant; property; property related negligence; licensing; civil litigation; Court of Protection. He has strong links with local authorities, major private sector landlords and developers, and registered providers.
In 2018 he has been successfully representing Uber in its appeal against the refusal of its London PHV licence; acting for Haringey at all stages of the multi-million pound public-private Haringey Development Vehicle LLP partnership, including successfully defeating a judicial review claim in R (Peters) v Haringey LBC [2018] EWHC 192 (Admin); acting for a consortium of local authorities challenging the decision in Jones v LB Southwark on water re-selling.
Other recent cases include: Worthington v Metropolitan Housing Trust Ltd (2018) (CA – harassment by housing associations); Re M (2018) (Court of Protection – alleged forced marriage); R. (Friends of Finsbury Park) v Haringey LBC (2017) (CA – hiring out of public parks, licencing); R (Muir) v Wandsworth BC (2017) (Admin – local authority powers and duties, parks); Fabric Nightclub (2016) (MC – licence revocation); Holley v Hillingdon LBC (2016) (CA – housing, human rights); Re: Pond House, Pond Place, London SW23 (2015) (UT – QLTAs and framework agreements); Sims v Dacorum DC (2014) (SC - housing and property, human rights); Evans v Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (2014) (CA - easements over common land); Thompson v Oxford CC (2014) (CA - lap dancing); Superstrike v Rodriguez (2013) (CA - tenancy deposits); Bean Leisure v Leeds CC (2014) (Admin - lap dancing); Tachie v Welwyn Hatfield DC (2013) (Admin - public procurement, Teckal; contracting-out); Bristol CC Council v Digs (2014) (Admin - HMO licensing).
Called 1989 (Gray's Inn); Silk 2012.
Languages
German
Education
University College, Oxford (BA Hons).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Good advocacy with technical knowledge and drafting skills
- 'Helpful clerks, well run chambers.'
- 'Excellent advocates. Good choice if you want to win a complex licensing matter.'
- 'Excellent clerks. We believe that they have unsurpassed expertise in licensing matters.'
- 'Persuasive before any forum (court or licensing panel) with a non-confrontational style that gets results. Excellent with clients.'