The members of Garden Court North Chambers specialise in representing claimants, especially vulnerable individuals and community groups, in a variety of administrative and public law challenges, encompassing cases surrounding human rights, immigration and asylum, discrimination, prison law, and social welfare. Among its silks, Pete Weatherby KC‘s practice predominately focuses on public law, and Anna Morris KC has expertise in claims against public authorities on behalf of children and vulnerable adults. Morris is currently active in a number of inquests and civil claims surrounding the deaths of vulnerable mental health patients who were under the care of Tees, Esk, and Wear Valleys NHS Trust; she has lodged grounds for judicial review following the Secretary of State for Health’s decision not to hold a public inquiry into these deaths. Turning to the set’s strong bench of juniors, Vijay Jagadesham is skilled at representing unaccompanied asylum-seekers, torture-survivors, and those suffering from significant mental and physical health issues. Social security law specialist Tom Royston has a strong track record of being parts of counsel team before the Supreme Court, and he represented the claimant in R (Timson) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in which the Court of Appeal decided that the SSWP’s failure to contact claimants before deducting their benefits to repay their utility bill debts was procedurally unfair. Kate Stone is skilled in cases engaging right to life under 2 of the ECHR.

At Exchange Chambers, members have appeared before all levels of court and tribunals, and the local government and social housing offering in chambers is led by Louis Browne KC. He represented the council in the case of Warrington Borough Council v Y & Ors, which concerned the authorisation of deprivation of liberty arising from the package of care established for a claimant in ongoing personal injury proceedings following a road traffic accident that left her with life-changing injuries. On the junior side, Brynmor Adams is a notable name, and he predominately acts for local authorities across the country.

The members of Kings Chambers are often involved in high-profile judicial reviews, and Sam Karim KC leads the administrative law department. Stephanie Hall is acting for the claimant in Redrow Homes v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, a judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to issue disbursements of approximately £30m to pay for works at a Birmingham-based high-rise building from the Building Safety Fund, which was set up following the Grenfell Tower fire to pay for works to buildings with a fire risk. Richard Borrett acts for both claimants and defendants in claims against local authorities, and he is also active in Human Rights Act cases regarding deprivation of liberty and failure to protect children.

Doughty Street Chambers is home to Nick Stanage, who boasts an extensive international human rights law practice, and he has also assisted governments, judiciaries, and police forces with the implementation of human rights. Paul Draycott is another key name, and he regularly appears in a variety of judicial review claims. Of recent note, Draycott is representing the claimant in R (Ali) v Upper Tribunal and Secretary of State for the Home Department; the claimant lost his UK travel documentation while in Ethiopia, and the case concerns whether the Home Office's subsequent refusal of his entry clearance application engages Article 8.