Chambers is highly ranked by the leading independent legal directories for its work across a broad spectrum of local government work including in particular for planning, licensing, local government finance and compulsory purchase.
The Legal 500, 2024 notes that FTB is "one of the leading local government sets with experience across the board in local government law" and a "fantastic set to work with." Chambers and Partners 2023 comments that Francis Taylor Building has "very good level of expertise across the board" and "good-quality work".
Chambers' expertise includes all aspects of local government law and procedures:
- Local government powers
- Planning
- Licensing
- Local government finance including rating and the Council Tax
- Compulsory purchase
- Highways, Commons and Open Spaces
- Election law
- Education
- Assets of Community Value
- Public Procurement
- Public health and environment
- Maladministration
- Standards in local government
Members of chambers have been involved in cases involving the Commissioner for Local Administration, the Parliamentary Commissioner and the Standards Board for England. In Hong Kong members have acted for public utilities and developers on major matters.
Junior members of Chambers also attend secondments at local and public authorities where they advise and appear on a variety of different local government issues.
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Sep' 19East Hertfordshire Success in Little Hadham Committal Application
The High Court has allowed East Herts District Council’s committal application for breaches of an injunction requiring the cessation of use of a site outside the village of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire as an unauthorised residential encampment, see East Hertfordshire District Council v Docherty and Ors [2019] EWHC 2292.
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Dec' 19Important Supreme Court Decision Concerning Land Held by Public Authorities
The Supreme Court has today given judgment in the combined appeals by Lancashire County Council and NHS Property Services Limited. Lord Carnwath, Lord Sales and Lady Black JJSC, who comprised the majority of the constitution, held that land owned by the two public authorities cannot be registered as town or village green (TVG) under the Commons Act 2006 because the land was held by the authorities for defined statutory purposes under general acts of parliament, and registration as TVG would be in conflict with those statutory purposes. This is known as the principle of ‘statutory incompatibility’. The Court of Appeal’s decision on both appeals was overturned.
"One of the leading local government sets with experience across the board in local government law" and a ‘" fantastic set to work with."
Legal 500, 2024"very good level of expertise across the board" and "good-quality work."
Chambers and Partners, 2023"Areas of particular strength for the set's members include cases relating to local government finances and council tax, as well as complex public health, licensing and highways matters. The team is also regularly called upon to advise on ratings and land valuation matters, and offers considerable expertise in relation to compulsory purchase orders and compensation."
Chambers and Partners, 2022"The team is highly regarded for its expertise in rating matters, and handles instructions relating to local government finances, council tax, licensing and compulsory purchase orders and compensation."
Legal 500, 2022"The set as a whole has extremely knowledgeable and hard working barristers with a wealth of experience and offers a good range of barristers within different price ranges."
Legal 500, 2022