FTB is delighted to announce that Daniel Leyva and Kate Tidmarsh have both accepted invitations to join Chambers and become tenants today (1 October 2026) following successful completion of their pupillages.

Daniel Leyva

Daniel is developing a busy practice across Chambers' specialisms, including planning, compulsory purchase, infrastructure, local government and highways. He brings valuable experience from both private practice and the judiciary, enabling him to provide practical and effective advice across a broad range of matters.

Daniel graduated from the University of Oxford with a First Class law degree before remaining there to complete the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), achieving a Distinction. Before joining Chambers, he worked as a paralegal and as Judicial Assistant to Lady Justice Nicola Davies.

Recent highlights include:

• Assisting James Pereira KC and Caroline Daly in relation to a seven-figure compensation claim for flood damage caused by defective Environment Agency flood defence works under the Water Resources Act 1991 (Brookhouse v Environment Agency [2026] UKUT 209 (LC))
• Acting as junior counsel to Meyric Lewis KC at a three-day enforcement inquiry concerning an industrial site alleged to be importing and exporting waste
• Assisting Mark Westmoreland Smith KC at a two-week planning inquiry relating to a solar farm in West Oxfordshire

Daniel was supervised by Isabella Tafur KC, Caroline Daly, and Mark Westmoreland Smith KC, where he gained experience across Chambers' core practice areas, with a particular focus on planning, compulsory purchase and infrastructure matters.

Kate Tidmarsh

Kate is developing a busy practice across Chambers' core areas, with a particular focus on planning, public law, rating and compulsory purchase. She is rapidly building advocacy experience and regularly appears before the Magistrates' Court, while also undertaking a wide range of advisory and inquiry work.

Before coming to the Bar, Kate read English at the University of Oxford. Whilst studying for the GDL and Bar Course, she volunteered with CPRE London as a Policy and Advocacy Volunteer, working on planning proposals and policies relating to development on London's green spaces and grey belt land.

Recent highlights include:

• Appearing as sole counsel for a Rule 6 party at a two-week planning inquiry concerning the redevelopment of a care home, raising issues of heritage, townscape and design
• Assisting with a three-week planning inquiry and a number of judicial review matters during pupillage
• Gaining experience in compulsory purchase, compensation and major infrastructure judicial review work
• Assisting on a range of rating cases during the final seat of pupillage

Kate was supervised by Hugh Flanagan, Rebecca Clutten and Cain Ormondroyd during pupillage, where she gained experience across all of Chambers' core practice areas, with particular experience in planning, public law, rating and compulsory purchase matters.

If you would like to discuss Daniel's or Kate's experience, availability or fees, please contact  Paul Coveney, Senior Clerk, +44 (0)20 7427 1847.