Apr 02, 2026

Law Commission launches three-year review of current legislation on transport accessibility

The Law Commission has been asked to undertake a review of the legislation on transport accessibility.

Apr 02, 2026

Government launches new hiring round for Best Value inspectors

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a fresh recruitment round for Best Value inspectors, as it continues to oversee multiple council interventions.

Apr 01, 2026

Council and ICB failed to manage funding dispute adequately, causing “avoidable delay” in hospital discharge: Ombudsman

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Hampshire County Council and NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board for failing to manage a funding dispute adequately, causing an “avoidable delay” in a disabled woman’s discharge from hospital.

Apr 01, 2026

County council issues legal notice over unauthorised flag campaign

Oxfordshire County Council has issued a formal legal notice to a group responsible for the continued placing of flags across the county, warning that it “won’t hesitate to take further legal steps where necessary”.

Apr 01, 2026

Ministers vow to “rip up consultation culture”

Ministers have said they want to end what they called Whitehall’s “consultation culture” and speed up decision making by scrapping a range of requirements.

Apr 01, 2026

Government appoints council legal director to Bedford intervention team

The Government has appointed Tasnim Shawkat, who is currently Director of Legal at Bromley Council, to Bedford Borough Council's best value inspection team as an Assistant Inspector.

Apr 01, 2026

Selection commission launched to find next President of UK Supreme Court

A selection commission has been launched to choose a successor to Lord Reed as President of the Supreme Court.

Apr 01, 2026

No evidence of ‘family voting’ at Gorton and Denton by-election, says Greater Manchester Police

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has said an investigation into alleged ‘family voting’ at the Gorton and Denton by-election in February found “no evidence of any intent to influence or refrain any person from voting”.

Apr 01, 2026

Claimant cites will from 1642 in challenge to grant of planning permission for 1,600-homes development

A Thanet resident believes he has found a 384-year-old will whose terms would put in question a 1,600-homes development at Birchington that has outline planning consent.

Apr 01, 2026

Council told to pay £9k after failing to ensure child received all provision set out in EHCP for almost three years

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has been recommended to pay £9,000 to recognise the impact of the loss of Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy provision for a pupil between September 2022 and July 2025, following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Mar 31, 2026

Home Secretary accepts recommended changes from chair of Grooming Gangs Inquiry and publishes final terms of reference

The Home Secretary has “accepted in full” Baroness Longfield’s recommended changes to the terms of reference for the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, and has published the final terms of reference.

Mar 31, 2026

National Housing Bank launches in bid to accelerate delivery of new homes and mixed-use schemes

The National Housing Bank will be launched this week (1 April), supported by Homes England’s new ‘Investment Prospectus’.

Mar 31, 2026

LGA urges “meaningful voice” for councils in spatial development strategies

The Local Government Association (LGA) has said it is key that in the drive to achieve universal coverage of Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) across England, local authorities and communities have "a meaningful voice and role" within regional approaches.

Mar 31, 2026

Judges dismiss appeal by council over making of section 26 order

The Court of Appeal has dismissed a council’s appeal against the making of an order under section 26 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, providing for limited face-to-face parental contact after placement for adoption.

Mar 31, 2026

Law Society commissions practice note on distinct Welsh law and differences in legislation between Wales and England

The Law Society has commissioned a new practice note to help solicitors navigate the growing body of distinct Welsh law and the differences between legislation in Wales and England.

Mar 31, 2026

Mazur overturned at Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal has overturned Mr Justice Sheldon's judgment in Mazur, holding that unauthorised staff may conduct litigation under proper supervision.

Mar 31, 2026

High Court dismisses renewed application for permission for judicial review over day care centre closures

The High Court has dismissed a renewed application for judicial review brought by a man with significant care needs over the discontinuation of provision of adult social care day services across three sites.

Mar 31, 2026

Supreme Court declines to hear housing case over review process and curing of earlier deficiencies in needs assessment

The Supreme Court has refused permission to appeal in a case concerning whether earlier deficiencies in a housing needs assessment were remedied by a subsequent review decision.

Mar 31, 2026

Court of Appeal rejects appeal by council over improvement notice and whether landlord had “reasonable excuse” for failing to comply

A landlord has convinced the Court of Appeal that she should not have to pay a penalty for ignoring an improvement notice she never received.

Mar 30, 2026

Council threatens legal action against housing estate board if it fails to address “serious concerns”

Lambeth Council has said it is preparing to take legal action if Loughborough Estate Management Board (LEMB), a tenant management organisation, fails to address “serious concerns” about how the estate is being managed.

Mar 30, 2026

Social housing system in London is “opaque, confusing and unfair”, say assembly members

Failures in the allocation system are making access to social housing in the capital harder and less fair, the London Assembly Housing Committee has warned.

Mar 30, 2026

Upper Tribunal finds First-tier Tribunal did not make error of law in decision on class size

The Upper Tribunal has rejected an appeal brought by parents who argued that a decision by the First Tier Tribunal that their child should be educated “in a small class” was not sufficiently precise to be enforced.

Mar 30, 2026

Public law specialist joins 1GC Family Law

Yolanda Pemberton, a specialist in complex children (public law) proceedings, has joined 1GC Family Law with immediate effect.

Mar 30, 2026

Court of Appeal issues ruling on planning enforcement notices and reversion to prior use

The Court of Appeal has clarified how s.57(4) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 applies when an enforcement notice is issued but planning permission is not required for some of the land concerned to revert to its lawful use immediately before an alleged breach.

Mar 30, 2026

Council withdraws motorcycle parking charges policy after judicial review challenge

Hackney Council has abandoned plans to adopt a new charging scheme for motorcycle parking after settling a judicial review brought by a campaign group.

Mar 30, 2026

County council defends High Court challenge to road charging scheme

A campaign group that opposes traffic reduction measures in Oxford has failed in a bid to judicially review Oxfordshire County Council’s decision to install charging points for the use of certain roads.

Mar 30, 2026

Councils value Ombudsman recommendations on SEND provision but often lack resources to improve, study finds

A study examining the impact of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) on English local authorities that deliver SEND services has found that although councils value the Ombudsman’s recommendations, they often lack the resources to improve.

Mar 30, 2026

New Permanent Secretary appointed at Government Legal Department

Douglas Wilson KC (Hon), currently Director General at the Attorney General’s Office, has been appointed as Treasury Solicitor, HM Procurator General and Permanent Secretary, Government Legal Department (GLD).

Mar 30, 2026

Government backs proposal for statutory duty on local authorities to prepare cultural strategy

The Government has announced it will “accept or explore” all recommendations made last year by Baroness Hodge in her independent review of Arts Council England, including to create a statutory duty for local government to prepare a cultural strategy every five years.

Mar 27, 2026

Mayor of London sets up £400k fund to help renters defend their rights and councils to strengthen enforcement

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a £400,000 ‘Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund’ designed to help renters “defend their rights” through advice and guidance.

Mar 27, 2026

Government confirms national scheme of delegation, cap on planning committees at 13 members

The Government has confirmed plans to bring forward a national scheme of delegation for planning decisions, in its response to a consultation on the proposals.

Mar 27, 2026

Applications to High Court for deprivation of liberty order for children rose 12.5% in 2025

New data published by the Ministry of Justice has revealed that there were 1,439 applications made to the High Court for deprivation of liberty (DoL) orders for children in 2025 – an increase of 12.5% on the previous 12 months.

Mar 27, 2026

University names nine suppliers to £8m legal services frameworks

Nottingham Trent University has appointed nine providers to two frameworks for legal services worth an estimated £8m over eight years.

Mar 27, 2026

Government to introduce new social value definition in public procurement reforms

A new definition of social value is to be introduced, strengthening the importance of positive community impact in procurement decisions, the Government has said, as part of a wider overhaul of the public procurement system.

Mar 27, 2026

Judge rejects appeal over refusal of tribunal to certify council was in contempt over response to substituted decision notice

The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) did not err when it refused to certify Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s response to a substituted decision notice as a contempt for the consideration of the Upper Tribunal under section 61 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Mar 26, 2026

Some authorities may not be able to meet legal duties on day one of reorganisation: ADASS

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has warned there is “no clear plan” or funding to ensure new councils are financially sustainable, creating a “real risk” that some authorities will not be able to meet their legal duties as soon as they are created under local…

Mar 26, 2026

High Court issues ruling on burden of proof in disputes over whether permission obtained to place adverts on sites

The burden of proof in establishing whether permission was given to erect temporary advertisements for a travelling circus lies with the company which installed them, the High Court has ruled.

Mar 26, 2026

Union seeks permission to appeal from Supreme Court in dispute over judicial reviews and costs

The Supreme Court has been asked to decide whether the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) should be awarded costs in a judicial review where it succeeded because of a political decision rather than for legal reasons.

Mar 26, 2026

Law Commission review of burial laws calls for greater reuse of graves

Graves that are more than 100 years old should be more widely available for reuse to ease the shortage of cemetery space, the Law Commission has said.

Mar 26, 2026

County council eyes legal challenge over local government reorganisation decision

Essex County Council has said it will look to bring a legal challenge over the Government’s decision to reorganise Greater Essex into five unitary authorities.

Mar 26, 2026

High Court quashes grant of planning permission over ‘apparent bias’

A councillor’s participation in a planning decision has made it tainted by apparent bias, the High Court has found.

Mar 26, 2026

Children and young people in care system across England to gain new legal rights to contact with their siblings

The Government has tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill that would give children in the care system the legal right to “reasonable contact” with their siblings.

Mar 26, 2026

Regulator of Social Housing praises borough council on consumer standards turnaround

Guildford Borough Council has become the first local authority to move from a C3 consumer grade to a C1 since the new consumer standards were introduced in April 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has said.

Mar 26, 2026

Landlords missing “early warning signs” about hazards, Housing Ombudsman warns

The Housing Ombudsman has called for a focus on early warning signs as it publishes its latest hazards report, finding the same issues and the same service failings “reoccurring” in its casework.

Mar 26, 2026

Ministry confirms ‘emergency’ planning changes to fast track housebuilding in London

An ‘emergency package’ of targeted planning changes for London has been launched as part of efforts to kickstart stalled housebuilding in the capital.

Local Government Lawyer Directory

St John’s Chambers

If you have any questions, please get in contact with us.

As a set, we’re relentlessly striving for excellence in the legal services we provide, as part of our three-pillar commitment to being inclusive, commercial and excellent.

As the last of the six founding members of St John’s Chambers, Christopher Sharp KC retires after more than 50 years at the Bar, we take some time to reflect upon on our successes. 47 years on, the business is one of the leading sets in the South West, with over 80 members including 7 silks and recognised as top tier in all major areas of law. With exceptional expertise in all main areas of law, we act for regional and national law firms, local authorities, insurance companies, prominent businesses, private individuals and public sector organisations.

We provide clients with expertise and specialist representation in complex multidisciplinary cases.We focus on growing and promoting our legal expertise and specialisms, so that we mirror our clients’ need for specialist skills and offer leading experts rather than generalists.

We continue to attract and develop the top barristers in the South West, and to train our members and staff, as this is crucial to maintaining our competitive edge and assuring longevity in the legal market. In the last 12-months we have taken on 7 new tenants.

“We have great strength in depth and we’ve added a strong cohort of juniors over the past five years.”

To continue to understand our clients’ needs we are consistency engaging with them, and adapting to changes in the legal services as well as setting new standards in legal advocacy. We aspire to become leaders in all our practice areas by offering outstanding legal representation and unique guidance. Our barristers and clerks are praised in the leading legal directories as “as always very efficient and go over and above to help.”

We strive to ensure that Bristol continues to be recognised nationally asthe major legal hub for the South West through the winning of high-levelcomplex instructions we receive and nominations for national awards.

Our barristers have been involved in a number of landmark decisions in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Matthew White become the leading specialist in cases involving the encroachment of Japanese Knotweed, following his success in the Supreme Court, in the nationally significant case of Davies v Bridgend County Borough Council [2024] UKSC 15. Zoe Saunders was involved in the high-profile ToLATA case of Hudson v Hathway [2022] EWCA Civ 1648.

Our stand-out legal expertise is also evidenced by the number of our barristers who go on to distinguished service in the judiciary. Within the team are five Recorders, one fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, two High Court Judges, three Deputy District Judges, an Assistant Deputy Coroner and three members on the Attorney General’s list.

In the last 12-months we have been nominated for 8 national awards:

‘Regional Set of the Year’ by Chambers UK Bar
‘Set of the Year (Outside London)’ by The Legal 500
‘Personal Injury Set of the Year’ by The Legal 500
‘Personal Injury Junior of the Year’ for Andrew McLaughlin by The Legal 500
‘Court of Protection Set of the Year’ by The Legal 500
‘Regional Family Law Chambers of the Year’ by Family Law Awards
‘Family Law Clerking Team of the Year’ by Family Law Awards
‘Family Law Young Barrister of the Year’ for Vivien Croly by Family Law Awards

In 2022 we were awarded the prestigious Legal 500’s ‘Set outside London of the Year’. We were shortlisted for this award again in 2023 and 2024. We have also been shortlisted for the ‘Regional Set of the Year’ by Chambers UK Guide to the Bar in 2024. In 2023, we were awarded the ‘Regional Family Law Set of the Year’ by the national Family Law Awards. We were nominated for this award again in
2024.

We continue to foster a supportive and inclusive work environment, and our Barristers and clerks are forward thinking and proactive in promoting diversityand mental wellbeing across the Bar.

We’re proud to have supported Bridging the Bar (BTB) in hosting 9 candidates from the BTB Academy as part of their Interview Advocacy Training Programme. We are also part of the Bar’s inaugural programme with 10,000 Black Interns which started in Summer 2022 and we have currently offered pupillage to one of the interns and they will be starting October 2025.

Our barristers are not only praised for their legal expertise but also for their thought leadership in which they offer marketleading analysis and assessment through regular podcasts,seminars, webinars, articles and books.

“They are a very slick outfit in terms of their marketing, training, and thought leadership.” - THE LEGAL 500

Our three podcast channels (Chancery & Commercial, Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence and Family & Divorce) have reached over 15,000 downloads.

We continuously host a full range of CPD accreditedseminars across the South West and Wales on a variety of topics for solicitors to add value for our clients. We also provide speakers and programmes for Law Societies. Several members are asked to speak at national events including STEP, Resolution.

We aim to make a positive impact on the legal profession and the communities we serve through access to justice, community engagement and pro bono activities. Our barristers have been recognised for their dedication in providing pro bono services in the second edition of The Pro Bono Recognition List. Rachel Segal represented the family (pro bono) in the Inquest touching upon the death of baby Eddie Cornish, and Oliver Wooding acted pro-bono on behalf of the three year old daughter and her guardian to obtain the right for her to organise her mother’s funeral.

We enjoy giving back and hosting a range of events to help raise money, these incude:

£3,195 was raised from our various conferences and events for The Child Brain Injury Trust, The Great Western Air Ambulance and Headway Bristol.
Raised £1,120 for Bristol Mind from Summer Olympics challenge.
Raised £250 for Comic Relief.
Raised over £2,200 for The Children’s Society from one of our staff members running The London Marathon.

The wellbeing of our people is vital to our success. We strive to support everyone’s happiness and wellbeing here.

Podcasts - click here.

Articles - click here.

Seminars - click here.