John has been appointed to the Attorney-General’s A Panel of Counsel, and to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Panel of Counsel. He acts in public law challenges before the Administrative Court and tribunals. His public sector clients include central and local government, government agencies, companies and individuals. He has experience of national security work. He has particular knowledge of immigration and asylum law, having acted for the SSHD for over a decade and having been appointed as a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal in 2020. He has extensive knowledge of prison law, having acted for the SSJ in judicial review claims, inquests, parole board hearings, civil claims and other matters. 

Recent cases include:

• Smith v SSJ [2020] EWHC 2712 Admin - (reasons; procedural fairness
• UT (Sri Lanka) v SSHD [2019] EWCA Civ 1091 (error of law)
• Mustafa v Kent CC [2018] EWHC 2021 (statutory housing and support for asylum seekers)
• Pun (Nepal) v SSHD [2017] EWCA Civ 2106 (ILR; Gurkhas; Article 8).
   

John Jolliffe is a leading practitioner in inquests and inquiries, and is listed in the Legal 500 for his work. His recent inquiry experience includes acting in the Covid Inquiry and Infected Blood Inquiry, in which he has advised and represented government departments and high profile politicians. 

Recent inquiry experience: 

• Acting for UK Special Forces in the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (chaired by Sir Charles Haddon-Cave). 
• Acting for leading politicians in the Infected Blood Inquiry, including Baroness May of Maidenhead (former prime minister Theresa May), Sir Malcolm Rifkind (former Secretary of State for Health, Defence and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office) and Lord Forsyth (former Secretary State for Scotland Michael Forsyth).
• Acting in the Covid Inquiry for government departments including the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Department for Work and Pensions.
• Acting for the Equality and Human Rights Commission in its inquiry into antisemitism in the Labour Party. The inquiry found that the Labour party was responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination, and therefore the EHRC served the Labour Party served with an unlawful act notice. 

Recent inquest experience:

• Acting for the Medical Protection Society in a 1 week inquest in Hull Coroners Court concerning the death of a 62 year old man following a failure to diagnose a ruptured aortic aneurysm when he presented to A&E. 
• Acting for HM Prison Service in a 2 week Article 2 jury inquest in Bow Coroners Court concerning the suicide of a vulnerable prisoner by overdosing on prescribed and non-prescribed medication. 
• Acting for the Medical Protection Society in a 1 week medically complex inquest with multiple clinical interested parties. concerning the treatment of an elderly man with post-operative infection and co-morbidities. 

John was a council member of the UK Environmental Law Association for 4 years, and is regularly instructed in environmental matters across different sectors. 

His water industry clients include the utility companies, and regulators such as the Drinking Water Inspectorate, and he has a particular interest in water resource management planning. He represents individuals and companies in statutory appeals and prosecutions under the Water Resources Act and other statutes. 

His waste sector clients include regulated businesses such as landfill and recycling operators as well as local authorities. DEFRA and the Environment Agency. He has acted in several group claims alleging nuisance, and has advised on waste charging issues. He acted in the first judicial review concerning the contaminated land regime under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act – see R (ota Crest Nicholson) v DEFRA and others. He has been instructed in complex and high value statutory nuisance cases and civil litigation with environmental law content. 

John was part of the team of counsel acting for HS2 Ltd in promoting the proposed high speed line between London and Birmingham, led by Tim Mould KC, James Strachan KC and Justine Thornton KC. He has appeared for the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in judicial review and statutory challenges.

Recent instructions include: 

• Sokol v (1) Caudwell Properties (2) Cantillon - 6 day statutory nuisance trial concerning the high value redevelopment of a car park in Mayfair (led by James Pereira KC, instructed by Bryan Johnston of Dentons LLP)
• S v M – claim in nuisance and negligence by UK subsidiary of multi-national against former contractor concerning contamination of land (instructed by Andrew Sanderson of Fieldfisher LLP – ongoing)
• B v C – claim against a landfill operator by 168 claimants alleging odour nuisance (instructed by Aidan Thomson of BCLP – settled confidentially) 
• Re M LLP – advising a well-known global professional services firm on its obligation to produce an energy and carbon report 
• LB Tower Hamlets v SSCLG [2019] 2219 Admin (enforcement; conservation areas; materiality; NPPF para 196)

• Inns of Court School of Law (BVC)
• City University (CPE Diploma in Law)
• Trinity College, Dublin (First Class Honours in Classics)

• Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal (IAC)
• Deputy Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (SEC)
• Junior Counsel to the Crown A Panel (2018ff)
• Junior Counsel to the Welsh Government A Panel (2026)
• B Panel (2013-2018)
• C Panel (2010-2013)
• Council member of UKELA (2014-2018)

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