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
Planning and environment; licensing; local government law.
Position
Specialist in planning and environment, compulsory purchase, licensing and local government law in both England & Wales and Scotland. Also undertakes a wide range of contract/commercial work.
In last 10 years Supreme Court cases include Multilink Leisure Developments v North Lanarkshire Council (lease interpretation), Morge v Hampshire (resisting interim relief application), Welwyn Hatfield v SOSCLG (deceit and planning), Tesco Stores Ltd v Dundee City Council (interpretation of policy and sequential test), Uprichard v Scottish Ministers (local plan challenge) and Trump v Scottish Ministers (implied conditions). Numerous other related Court cases in both jurisdictions.
Likewise numerous planning inquiries, including recent significant experience in windfarms, waste to energy facilities and acted for Guildford Borough Council promoting its local plan.
Licensing work at all levels in both jurisdictions.
James advises on all aspects of local authority law, including governance, elections, highways and procurement.
Career
Called England and Wales 1984; Queen’s Council (England and Wales) 2008; admitted Scotland 2008; Joint Head of Chambers (Cornerstone Barristers) 2011-14; Standing Junior to Scottish Ministers (2013); Chair of Scottish Planning Local Government and Environmental Bar Group 2015.
Memberships
Planning and Environment Bar Association (PEBA); Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA); National Infrastructure Planning Association (NIPA); UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA).
Education
Magdalene College, Cambridge.
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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.'