Public and Administrative Law News

Nicholas Cotter secures not guilty result for pub landlady prosecution

29th June 2022

3PB's specialist regulatory law barrister Nicholas Cotter (pictured here) with Phil Williams, of Blackfords LLP secured a not guilty result on the eve of the trial for pub landlady Mrs. Kellie McGarry who was facing prosecution by the HSE over the death of a customer. Mrs. Kellie McGarry who ran Rosehill Tavern, where Elaine Horrocks died after falling down the cellar steps more than four years ago, was charged with failing to do business to...

First week of Gaia Pope inquest concludes 

29th April 2022

Gaia Pope went missing on 7th November 2017. Following Gaia being reported missing, searches were undertaken by Dorset Police, Her Majesty’s Coastguard, National Police Air Service, Dorset Search and Rescue and other volunteers. Gaia was found deceased on 18th November. This week the Senior Coroner for Dorset swore in a jury for this Article 2 inquest that is anticipated to last 11 weeks. This inquest will examine numerous issues including Gaia’s medical history including mental...

Matthew Wyard completes Advocates pro-bono 25 for 25 Challenge

30th March 2022

3PB's specialist public and regulatory law barrister, Matthew Wyard, pictured here, has recently completed Advocates pro-bono 25 for 25 challenge. The 25 for 25 challenge encourages barristers to provide 25 hours of free legal advice to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of the pro-bono charity Advocate. Advocate said ‘‘Advocate’s anniversary initiative, 25 for 25: The Pro Bono Challenge, was conceived as a way to promote pro bono and recognise the Bar’s amazing contribution to access...

William Hansen authorised to sit as a High Court Judge in the Chancery Division

10th March 2022

3PB congratulates William Hansen, pictured here, on his recent authorisation to sit as a High Court Judge in the Chancery Division. His appointment will be effective from 7th March 2022 for six years. William Hansen specialises in both public and regulatory law, and property and commercial law. He has recently appeared in a series of important cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and is a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel. ...

Nick Cotter in complex health and safety case : R v Young & Others 2021 (Cardiff)

4th March 2022

3PB criminal and regulatory barrister Nick Cotter, pictured here, represented South Wales Safety Consultancy Ltd which was one of the defendants in a Crown Court trial, after a scaffolder was crushed to death when a church collapsed ahead of its demolition in Cardiff. This was a complex case concerning individual corporate defendants facing a range of offences and four contractors were given suspended prison sentences. Keith Young was the contractor in charge of the demolition,...

Trio of 3PB barristers successful in significant Upper Tribunal ‘Country Guidance’ appeal about Somalia

7th February 2022

Three of 3PB’s specialist public and regulatory law barristers: William Hansen, Matthew Wyard and Naomi Webber, successfully represented the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the decision of OA (Somalia) handed down on 2nd February 2022 following a six-day trial held in June 2021. The appeal was listed to consider whether the country guidance given in MOJ & Ors (Return to Mogadishu) Somalia CG [2014] UKUT 00442 (IAC) continued accurately to summarise the factual...

Matthew Wyard successful in judicial review of school transport decision for disabled child 

2nd February 2022

3PB public law barrister Matthew Wyard, pictured here, recently acted in a judicial review for the claimant in R(on the application of EP, through her litigation friend MAP) v Norfolk County Council  and successfully secured home to school transport for them, as well as an agreed quashing of multiple decisions refusing this support. The claimant, EP, is a disabled child with physical and mental disabilities. At secondary transfer she secured a place at T School....

William Hansen in Supreme Court success in leading case on principles of statutory interpretation

2nd February 2022

The Supreme Court has today, Wednesday 2 February 2022, given judgment refusing the claimants’ appeals in R (O and Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] UKSC 3, the high-profile appeal concerning the fees charged to children applying to register as British citizens. 3PB's public law and regulatory barrister William Hansen, pictured here, represented the Home Secretary. The Appellants, led by the campaigning group...

Specialist education law barristers present SEND mock tribunal

27th January 2022

Five barristers from 3PB’s specialist education law team recently joined forces with Oxfordshire County Council to host a SEND mock tribunal as part of a training session. Barristers Lachlan Wilson, Katherine Anderson, Matthew Wyard, Jennifer Agyekum and Naomi Webber presented the mock tribunal to over 80 attendees. 3PB’s education law team represents parents, pupils, schools, and their governing bodies (both from the maintained and the independent sectors), academies, universities and colleges, NGOs including charities, students,...

3PB’s Gemma White appointed as part-time Deputy District Judge

10th January 2022

3PB are delighted to announce that barrister, Gemma White (pictured here) has been appointed a part-time Deputy District Judge to officiate in the Magistrates Courts. Gemma was called to the bar in 2009. She specialises in crime, sports, and regulatory law, particularly across the Western Circuit. She joins an array of part-time judges and Recorders who also have busy practices at national chambers 3PB alongside their judicial roles. To instruct Gemma or contact her, please...

3PB crime barristers appointed to CPS approved advocates panel

15th December 2021

3PB would like to congratulate specialist crime barristers Tom Horder (pictured right), Berenice Mulvanny (pictured second right), David Jenkins (pictured second left) and Thomas Acworth (pictured left) for recently being appointed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) approved advocates panel. Tom Horder, appointed to Grade 4 of the CPS approved panel of advocates, is frequently instructed in multi-handed murder trials, high value frauds, complex drug importations and cases involving modern slavery, trafficking and allegations of...

Mariya Peykova completes Advocates pro-bono 25 for 25 Challenge

14th December 2021

3PB's specialist commercial and public law barrister, Mariya Peykova, pictured here, has recently completed Advocates pro-bono 25 for 25 challenge. The 25 for 25 challenge encourages barristers to provide 25 hours of free legal advice to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of the pro-bono charity Advocate. Advocate said ‘‘I would like to extend a massive thank you from all of us at Advocate, and on behalf of all those who seek access to justice services,...