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Cornerstone Planning

Planning law barristers to the fore in 2018/19 Queen’s Counsel appointments

A number of planning law barristers have been appointed as Queen’s Counsel in the 2018/19 round, which was announced this week.

Barristers taking silk who have a track record of working on cases involving the public sector include:

  • Charles Banner, Landmark Chambers (development and infrastructure, government and regulation)
  • Tim Buley, Landmark Chambers (planning, public and environmental law)
  • Victoria Butler-Cole, 39 Essex Chambers (administrative and public law, Court of Protection and regulatory & discipline)
  • Giles Cannock, Kings Chambers (planning law)
  • Lorraine Cavanagh, St John’s Buildings (children law, Court of Protection)
  • Rory Dunlop, 39 Essex Chambers (administrative and public law, professional discipline)
  • Tom Hickman, Blackstone Chambers (public law)
  • Robert Kellar, 1 Crown Office Row (civil, regulatory and public law)
  • Charlotte Kilroy, Doughty Street Chambers (public law and human rights)
  • Robert Palmer, Monckton Chambers (public, regulatory, EU and competition law)
  • Alan Payne, 5 Essex Court (public law and human rights)
  • Sarah Pritchard, Kings Chambers (personal injury and clinical negligence)
  • Neil Sheldon, 1 Crown Office Row (public and administrative law, public inquiries and inquests)
  • Valentina Sloane, Monckton Chambers (EU, tax and procurement law)
  • James Todd, 39 Essex Chambers (clinical negligence and personal injury law)
  • William Upton, 6 Pump Court (planning, environmental and local government law)
  • Robert Walton, Landmark Chambers (planning, public and environmental law)
  • Damian Woodward-Carlton, 42 Bedford Row (public law children matters)

In all 108 lawyers, including four solicitors, were appointed as QCs. Thirty women out of the 55 who applied were successful. Thirteen applicants who declared an ethnic origin other than white took silk out of the 30 who applied.

Sir Alex Allan, Chair of the Selection Panel, said: “I am delighted at the announcement of the new silks. I congratulate each one of them. The selection process is a rigorous and demanding one.

“We remain concerned that the number of female applicants remains comparatively low, but I am pleased that of those women who did apply, well over 50% were successful. I was also pleased to note that the number of BAME applicants appointed was in proportion to their representation amongst applicants, and amongst the relevant cohort of the profession.    

“Each year, the Panel has the difficult task of identifying the truly excellent advocates. I am confident that those appointed today truly deserve to be Queen’s Counsel.”

The new Queen’s Counsel will formally become silks when they make their declaration before the Lord Chancellor at a ceremony on 11 March 2019.