News

Rebecca Handcock acts for the local authority in an  inquest concerning a man who took his own life in December 2022. At the time of his death, SHL was receiving mental health support from the local authority and an NHS Trust Community Mental Health team.

Jonathan Pennington Legh acted for the successful claimants in a dispute between immediate and adjoining neighbours in terraced housing. The defendant was accused of destroying property and interfering with an easement (a right of way at the back of the properties). The case raised questions about the location of boundaries at the front and the back of the properties as well as the existence and the extent of the easement (right of way) at the rear. On behalf of his clients, Jonathan was successful in getting the defence struck out for the defendant’s numerous procedural failings.

Francis Hoar and Savannah Laurent appeared in the Court of Appeal yesterday. Their client, a colorectal surgeon was appealing his suspension by the General Medical Council after he claimed that COVID-19 is a hoax.

Savannah Laurent represented the local authority in a case concerning  2 children and secured 21 findings against their mother. The judge made a s91(14) order to prevent the mother making further applications to the court without its permission. The judgment is reported as A Local Authority v EF & Ors [2023] EWFC 178

Rebecca Handcock acted as junior counsel to the Home Office in the Brook House Inquiry (into allegations of mistreatment at an immigration removal centre). The chair of the inquiry, Kate Eves published her final report yesterday.

Applications have opened for the 3rd intake of students on the planning, property and public law mentoring scheme for underrepresented groups at the Bar. The scheme aims to encourage undergraduates and postgraduates from groups that are not well represented at the Bar to consider becoming barristers.