Francis Taylor Building

Chambers is renowned for its expertise in all areas of public law, with extensive experience of judicial review and similar statutory challenges and appeals.

Chambers is renowned for its expertise in all areas of public law, with public law issues arising in nearly all of Chambers’ specialist practice areas. Members have extensive experience advising in relation to public law decisions, as well as challenging or defending those decisions in judicial review and similar statutory challenges and appeals.

Members of the team regularly act both for and against public authorities. Chambers’ broad client base includes government departments, local authorities, individuals, corporations, charitable bodies, and other public and private bodies including NGOs.

Chambers’ public law expertise spans a range of specialist areas, including the following:
•   Commercial regulation
•   Competition
•   Education
•   Equality law
•   EU Law
•   Human rights and civil liberties
•   Immigration
•   Licensing
•   Local authority powers and finance
•   Planning and environment
•   Police and prison law
•   Public procurement
•   Social welfare and community care

The public law and judicial review team prides itself on its ability to field the right barrister or team to bring or defend any public law challenge, if necessary at very short notice.

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Feb' 22

Divisional Court Dismisses Climate Change Challenge to Export Financing Decision for Mozambique LNG facility

Following a three-day substantive hearing which took place in December 2021, the Divisional Court has dismissed a judicial review brought by Friends of the Earth challenging the decision of UK Export Finance (UKEF) to provide up to USD 1.15 billion export credit support in relation to the USD 20 billion Area 1 liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Mozambique (R (Friends of the Earth) v Secretary of State for International Trade & Ors [2022] EWHC 568 (Admin)).

26

Feb' 19

Judicial Review Claim Against Permission for a New Homeless Night Shelter Dismissed

The High Court has dismissed a claim for Judicial Review against the London Borough of Islington which had granted planning permission for a night shelter operated by the charity Shelter From the Storm to alleviate homelessness.

"FTB is an excellent set for planning, environment and local government, and is developing stronger expertise in broader public law work. There are very good barristers at all levels in chambers."

Legal 500, 2022

"The clerks are absolutely superb and very quick to get back to you." "The clerks are very efficient."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"The clerks are good at finding availability quickly in very difficult circumstances." "The clerks are determined to make things work for their clients."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

21

Feb' 22

Divisional Court Dismisses Climate Change Challenge to Export Financing Decision for Mozambique LNG facility

26

Feb' 19

Judicial Review Claim Against Permission for a New Homeless Night Shelter Dismissed

25

Apr' 24

Breakfast Briefing: Climate Change and Human Rights: the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz v Switzerland

Whilst the Court dismissed two of the cases on procedural grounds, it decided in the third Verein KlimaSeniorinnen that Switzerland's climate strategy was flawed and failed to protect the applicant's rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Court found that Article 8 provided a "right for individuals to enjoy effective protection by the State authorities from serious adverse effects on their life, health, well-being and quality of life arising from the harmful effects and risks caused by climate change". This obliges the State to adopt "measures capable of mitigating the existing and potentially irreversible, future effects of climate change". Switzerland’s domestic regulatory framework to reduce emissions was found wanting and the Swiss Government must now adopt domestic measures that put a stop to its violation of Article 8.

This is a very significant decision for climate change and human rights law with potentially far reaching implications.

This Breakfast Briefing will be given by Mark Westmoreland Smith KC and Charles Streeten who will discuss the implications of these judgments and, in particular, their domestic effect.

Mark and Charles are acting on behalf of the Secretary of State in the Friends of the Earth judicial review against the Government’s third National Adaption Programme under the Climate Change Act 2008, in which the Claimant raises human rights grounds.

Practical Information

Venue: Francis Taylor Building, Inner Temple, London, EC4Y 7BY.

Time: Registration over coffee and pastries from 8.00am. Briefing from 8.30-9.15am. Booking: To reserve places, please complete the online booking form.

Booking: There is no charge to attend but places places must be booked in advance and will be offered on a first come first served basis.