Public Law

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.

26

Feb' 26

ENVA Withdraws Judicial Review Against Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed that judicial review proceedings brought by ENVA Ireland Ltd in relation to the Council’s decision to move from separate household waste collection to a co‑mingled collection system have been withdrawn.

17

Feb' 26

Court of Appeal Refuses Permission to Appeal on Latest Sizewell C JR – Application Certified as Totally Without Merit

The Court of Appeal (Holgate LJ) has refused an application for permission to appeal by Together Against Sizewell C Ltd. (“TASC”) in its latest judicial review of decision-making on Sizewell C and certified the application as totally without merit (“TWM”). A copy of the Court of Appeal’s order including the reasons can be found here.

"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

26

Feb' 26

ENVA Withdraws Judicial Review Against Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

17

Feb' 26

Court of Appeal Refuses Permission to Appeal on Latest Sizewell C JR – Application Certified as Totally Without Merit

13

May' 26

Public Law Webinar: Parliamentary Privilege

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.

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