A lunchtime webinar which will be of interest to all solicitors whose work – whether advisory or litigation, public or private sector – involves public law issues and the prospect of judicial review litigation.

Parliamentary privilege supports the separation of powers under the constitution and allows Parliament to perform its legislative and scrutiny functions without external interference, including by the courts.  In practice, Parliamentary privilege limits the extent to which parties in public law litigation can use Parliamentary materials - such as Hansard, Ministerial statements, and various reports - to support their cases in the courts.  This is an issue which affects both claimants and defendants.  

Parliamentary privilege has been an issue in a wide range of recent judicial review cases, including cases in the fields of human rights, immigration, asylum accommodation, leasehold reform, and planning/environment, and high profile cases such as R (ALR) v Chancellor of Exchequer [2025] EWHC 1467 (Admin) about VAT on private school fees.

The webinar will be chaired by Richard Honey KC. The speakers will be: Dr Elizabeth O’Loughlin and Gabriel Nelson.

Gabriel will chart the historical context and development of Parliamentary privilege.  Elizabeth will discuss recent cases, including R (Greyhound Board of Great Britain) v Welsh Ministers [2026] EWHC 670 (Admin) and Charity Commission v Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman [2026] EWHC 486 (Admin).

Practical Information

The webinar will take place from 13.00 - 14.00 and will be hosted on Zoom. Joining instructions will be sent to attendees from Zoom following registration.

We are pleased to invite you to the first in our series of topic focussed seminars.  The theme for this seminar will be water law, and it will be comprised of two focused panels.
The first panel will examine the key issues currently shaping the water sector, including recent legislation, policy developments, regulatory investigations and notable cases. The second panel will explore water infrastructure planning, addressing the challenges facing the sector in an infrastructure context and the strategic needs for the future.

Contributors include Michael Humphries KC, James Pereira KC, Rebecca Clutten, Ned Westaway, David Graham, Charles Streeten, Merrow Golden, Jonathan Welch, Claire Nevin, Tom Carpen, Thames Water, Alice Puritz-Evans, OEP and Simon Tilling, Burges Salmon. 

Practical Information
Date: 4 June 2026
Time: Registration from 1.45pm.  Seminar from 2.00 to 6.00pm followed by a drinks reception until 7.00pm.
Venue: Francis Taylor Building, Inner Temple, London, EC4Y 7BY 
Booking: There is no charge to attend but places must be reserved in advance using the Book Now button below.

LPAs, as statutory consultees, play a vital role in the DCO examination process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects proposed within their areas. NSIPs represent some of the largest and most complex developments in the planning system, and the DCO regime provides a distinct, centralised consenting process for such projects.
Local authorities are key participants throughout this process, contributing local knowledge, shaping project outcomes, and ensuring that the impacts on communities, infrastructure, and the environment are fully considered. The DCO examination process is both demanding and highly rigorous, differing significantly from the determination of conventional planning applications, and requiring early engagement, careful preparation, and sustained input.
Mark O'Brien O'Reilly, a leading planning and infrastructure barrister (Planning Magazine ranks him as one of the top junior planning barristers in the country whilst he is ranked by Chambers and Partners 2026 in Band 5 for planning and the Legal 500 2026 calls him a rising star) will provide expert insight into the DCO examination process from the perspective of LPAs, together with practical guidance on how to navigate its complexities effectively and maximise influence within the examination process. 
This webinar is essential for all LPAs that are, or expect to be, involved in DCO examinations and wish to engage with confidence and authority.

An afternoon seminar followed by a drinks reception.  The full programme and booking information will be available soon.  If you would like to recieve details by email, please sign up to our mailing list here.

Venue: 30 Euston Square, London, NW1 2FB
Time: Registration from 1.30pm.  Seminar from 2.30-5.30pm followed by a drinks party until 8.30pm
Cost: There is no charge to attend but places must be reserved in advance.

An all day seminar to be held in central London.  The full programme and booking inforamation will be available soon.  If you would like to receive details by email, please sign up to our mailing list here.