Gabriel’s practise covers all areas of planning law, including judicial and statutory reviews, as well as planning appeals.

Some of Gabriel’s recent planning work includes:

• Appearing as sole counsel for the Claimant in R(Lifford Gardens) v Wychavon District Council [2024] EWHC 2943 (Admin). This was a significant case in which the High Court clarified the relationship between the GPDO and the Electronic Communications Code.
• Successfully represented a Rule 6 Party at a three-day enforcement inquiry.
• Appearing as junior counsel at a two-week planning inquiry concerning a tower in Stratford.
• Advising on and drafting a representation to a planning committee meeting in relation to a housing scheme, in which the scheme was eventually refused. The issues concerned biodiversity net gain, the duty to give reasons, the tiled balance and five-year housing land supply.

Gabriel has also advised on a range of planning-related matters, including:

• A representation for a local plan examination. The issues concerned the legal requirements for an HRA, sustainability appraisals, fairness in public consultations and the relationship between neighbourhood plans and development plans.
• Permitted development rights and temporary installations.
• The prospects of a judicial review involving the meaning of “development,” legitimate expectations and biodiversity net gain.
• The powers of appropriation available to local authorities.
• The severability of planning conditions from a permission.
• Outline planning permissions and reserved matter approvals.
• Flood risk and the sequential test.
• A prospective challenge to a local authority’s mineral and waste plan.

Gabriel also has experience of the development consent order process, following completion of pupillage under the supervision of Hugh Flanagan and Isabella Tafur. In particular:

• The statutory review of Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station in the Court of Appeal.
• The statutory review of East Anglia One and Two in the Court of Appeal.
• The statutory review of Net Zero Teesside, a gas-fired power station with carbon capture storage.

Gabriel is currently on a secondment with the Office for Environmental Protection and practises in a wide range of environmental work.

He has advised in several areas of environmental law, including:

• The correct interpretation of legal provisions in the Environment Act 2021.
• The government’s legal powers and duties underlying their Environmental Improvement Plan.
• Nutrient neutrality in depleted special areas of conservation.
• Private nuisance of waterways, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Manchester Ships Canal v United Utilities [2024] UKSC 22.
• Sewage storm overflows.
• Agricultural pollution of water bodies.
• Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations.
• Environment Permitting.
• Carriers, Brokers and Dealers regime under the Waste Regulations 2011.
• Habitats Regulation Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Biodiversity Net Gain.

Gabriel has a broad knowledge of environmental law from his studies and would like to continue to develop his practise in this area. He built on his knowledge while working as a paralegal at Leigh Day in their international department and recently co-wrote a chapter with Greg Jones KC in the upcoming book “The Aarhus Convention: Coming of Age?”

Gabriel has a keen interest in the law relating to highways, commons and open spaces, having covered the area in depth as part of his pupillage under the supervision of Ned Westaway. Gabriel advised and assisted on:

• Criminal liability for development on registered Town and Village Greens.
• Whether Town and Village Greens are a material planning consideration when considering an application for planning permission.
• The powers of improvement of highways available to local authorities under the Highways Act 1980.
• Highways, tortious liability, the building regulations and lawful development certificates.
• Tortious liability, sewage overflows and highways.
• A judicial review challenge to a local authority’s definitive map modification order under Sch 15, para 12 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
• A judicial review challenge concerning the interpretation of “neighbourhood” in the deregistration of Town and Village Greens under s.16 Commons Act 2006.

Gabriel already has experience of rating matters, including recently drafting a skeleton argument and preparing the evidence for a council tax liability appeal. He has also advised on liability for council tax under the Council Tax (Liability for Owners) Regulations 1992.

Further, during pupillage under the supervision of Hugh Flanagan, Gabriel covered several areas of rating law, including:

• Drafting an advice concerning The Valuation for Rating (Plant and Machinery) (England) Regulations 2000.
• The scope of the public religious worship exemption for rating.

Gabriel has a busy licensing practice and is frequently instructed to represent parties at review hearings for a range of premises, including nightclubs, bars and off-licenses. 

Gabriel has already appeared as sole counsel in a significant judicial review which clarified the relationship between the GPDO and the Electronic Communications Code. He regularly advises in conference and in writing on judicial review prospects as well as broader public law issues.

In addition to statutory and judicial reviews concerning planning and environmental matters, Gabriel also has experience of broader public law issues. This includes:

• Assisting the police in their investigatory powers work under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in both the Crown Court and Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
• An advice on whether a local authority had acted in breach of their constitution.
• An advice on whether the blocking of a member of the public’s email addresses from contacting his elected representatives was a breach of his Article 10 ECHR rights.
• The challenge to the Government’s decision to ban XL Bully dogs.
• A judicial review of the Government’s Cycling and Walking Strategy.
• A challenge concerning the Government’s policy on the insulation of homes.

Gabriel has advised clients regarding blight notices and potential claims for injurious affection, as well as Highway Authorities’ powers of compulsory purchase under the Highways Act 1980.

Gabriel is keen to develop a practise in the field of Compulsory Purchase and Compensation, having had experience of the area during his pupillage.

Gabriel has appeared on behalf of local authorities seeking s.187B injunctions in the High Court. He has experience of interim injunctions and dealing with urgent matters at short notice.

• BPTC – Bar Course (very competent).
• University College London (LLM) – Environmental Law and Policy (Distinction).
• Durham University (LLB) – Law (First Class Honours).

• Reader’s Scholarship awarded by the Honourable Society of Middle Temple.
• The McFarlane’s Award for Trusts and Equity.
• The Lord Hughes of Ombersley Prize.
• School prizes for History and French.

• UKELA
• ALBA
• PEBA
• The Bar European Group
• CPA

Prior to being called to the Bar, Gabriel worked as a paralegal on large, environmental law group claims, including those related to the diesel emissions scandal. He has experience of the full breadth of the litigation process and is therefore comfortable advising on procedural matters. 

He is currently seconded for two days a week to the Office for Environmental Protection.