​FTB is delighted to announce that Michael Feeney and Mark O'Brien O'Reilly have both accepted invitations to join Chambers following successful completion of 12 month pupillages.

Michael Feeney

Michael was called to the Bar in 2021 and completed Pupillage under the supervision of Isabella Tafur, Gregory Jones KC and Craig Howell Williams KC.
 
Michael’s recent experience includes appearing as sole counsel on behalf of a local planning authority at an enforcement appeal raising issues relating to the Habitats Regulations; advising on the correct approach to fall-back positions; advising on setting aside liability orders for business rates; appearing in several reviews and summary reviews of premises licences; and assisting Craig Howell Williams KC as junior counsel at a two-week planning inquiry concerning an application for outline permission for up to 2,800 residential units.

Michael assisted at several planning inquiries throughout pupillage, including an inquiry concerning a substantial residential development and the flooding sequential test as well as an inquiry considering the merits of a new Burger King, which raised issues connected to design, highways and public health.
 
Michael is a member of the Attorney General’s 'Junior' Junior Scheme and during pupillage assisted with defending several judicial reviews. Michael also assisted in claims for judicial review, in particular by drafting letters demanding disclosure and conducting research on the precautionary principle.  Along with Jeremy Phillips KC, Michael wrote an article on Sexual Entertainment Venues and the Public Sector Equality Duty, which was published in the Journal of Licensing earlier this year. 

Michael welcomes instructions across all of Chambers' practice areas, with a particular interest in planning, environmental, licensing, and public law.

Mark O'Brien O'Reilly

Mark was called to the Bar in 2021 and completed pupillage under the supervision of Richard Honey KC, Melissa Murphy KC and Hereward Phillpot KC. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and the University of Cambridge. 

Mark’s recent experience includes acting as junior counsel to Douglas Edwards KC in a judicial review concerning the scope and power of a local planning authority to impose conditions under the Wheatcroft and Newbury principles. He also represented a local planning authority as junior to Meyric Lewis at a seven day inquiry defending their refusal of planning permission for 289 residential units. Mark assisted at several planning inquiries throughout his pupillage, including an inquiry concerning inappropriate development (a gypsy/traveller site) in the Green Belt and within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and an inquiry considering the merits of a large residential development in a semi-rural location. He also assisted at a section 247 stopping up and diversion order inquiry. 

Mark acted as sole counsel in the High Court on behalf of the Defendant resisting an application for an interim injunction to restrain a breach of planning control. He was instructed as junior counsel to Morag Ellis KC for the hearing of the substantive application. Mark has also acted as sole counsel in the High Court on behalf of National Highways Limited and successfully obtained a possession order against trespassers. Mark also has extensive experience of appearing as sole counsel before the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court. He is instructed as sole counsel in a forthcoming Definitive Map Modification Order inquiry. 

Mark is a member of the Attorney General’s ‘Junior’ Junior Scheme and has been regularly instructed to advise several government departments. He also assisted with defending several judicial reviews concerning the government’s policies on climate change, including a complex and high profile three day judicial review before the Divisional Court concerning the Paris Agreement. 

During his pupillage, Mark was awarded the Reid Scholarship by Gray's Inn, a Senior Scholarship for Pupillage, which is the Inn's most prestigious scholarship and awarded to a pupil barrister of exceptional merit. 

Mark welcomes instructions across all of Chambers' practice areas, with a particular interest in planning, public and environmental law as well as compulsory purchase and compensation matters.

Michael and Mark welcome instructions to act individually or as a part of a team across all of Chambers’ practice areas.

If you would like to discuss Michael's or Mark's experience, availability or fees, please contact Paul Coveney, Senior Clerk on 020 7427 1847.

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