A team of Garden Court barristers has successfully defended eight activists at Hove Crown Court, who broke into an arms factory and caused £180,000 worth of damage. The defendants had been facing charges of conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
On 28 June 2010 the Court of Appeal granted permission to appeal in the case of FA (Iraq), but refused permission in another, linked case. Stephen Knafler QC of Garden Court Chambers appeared for the appellant in FA (Iraq), together with Margaret Phelan o
The Latest Housing Law News New help for homeowners: on 25 June 2010 the Financial Services Authority announced that new rules would apply from 30 June 2010 to (1) mortgage arrears recovery procedures used by mortgage lenders and (2) sale and rent-back schemes. In particular, mortgage lending firms must not apply a monthly arrears charge […]
In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court explained how the "nonsense" of the "tolerated trespasser" was created and applied by the judiciary in Housing possession cases for over 20 years, finally ending it.
The appellant was represent
EMPLOYMENT APPEAL TRIBUNAL Territorial jurisdiction Neary v Ministry of Defence & ors UKEAT/0101/10/DAAlthough the Employment Tribunal had erred in its approach to the question whether at the relevant time the Claimant was "ordinarily resident" in Great Britain for the purposes of Section 68(2A)(c) Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and Regulation 10(2)(c) Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, […]
The Latest Housing Law News Homelessness: the Housing Minister, Grant Shapps MP, announced on 16 June 2010 that the UK Government would undertake an overhaul of the arrangements for measuring the numbers of rough sleepers. For the details, click here. A ministerial inter-departmental committee has also been established, to take forward measures to tackle homelessness. […]
News Refugee and Migrant Justice (formerly the Refugee Legal Centre) went into administration on Wednesday. The Legal Services Commission confirmed that the Minister of Justice’s decision was final and that, despite any short term cost, there would be no change to the current funding arrangements that had led the charity into financial difficulty. Click here […]
The Latest Housing Law News Private Rented Sector Policy: the Housing Minister, Grant Shapps MP, announced on 10 June 2010 that the new UK Government would not be taking forward the previous government’s plans for the private rented sector. So there will now be no National Register of Landlords in England, no further regulation of […]
News The coalition government is proposing to introduce compulsory English language tests from autumn 2010 for non-EU migrants applying to come to the UK to join or marry their settled partner. They will be compulsory for people applying from within the UK as well as visa applicants from overseas.Click here to read more.For criticism of […]
A jury hearing evidence at Chelmsford Coroners Court, Essex, returned a verdict on 1 June 2010 highlighting serious failings by HMP Chelmsford and Essex Social Services which contributed to the death of 18-year-old Abdullah Hagar Idris (also known as Joke
Court of Appeal Breach of contract Edwards v Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2010] EWCA Civ 571A person who suffers damage as a result of findings of personal or professional misconduct leading to dismissal and loss of professional status that were made in disciplinary proceedings conducted in breach of contract, but which would not […]
The Latest Housing Law News New Housing Laws: the Queen’s Speech included the statement that "A Bill will be introduced to devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions." That Bill is the Decentralisation and Localism Bill. It will: (1) lead to abolition of Home Improvement […]
News Refugee and Migrant Justice (formerly the Refugee Legal Centre) faces closure due to a shortfall in payments from the Legal Services Commission, linked to the length of time it takes for payments to be made. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "If RMJ fails, we accept that there will be some disruption while their […]
The Association of Sri Lankan Lawyers in the UK organised a seminar on the topic of "Access to the Legal Profession - The Impact of Paid Pupillage" prior to its annual general meeting at Garden Court Chambers on 22 May 2010.
Garden Court is delighted to welcome Sadat Sayeed back to Chambers after a 12-month sabbatical. Sadat re-joins the Immigration team, and will be returning to his practice in immigration, asylum and nationality law. In addition, Sadat will also be resuming
Court of Appeal National security Home Office v Tariq [2010] EWCA Civ 462The procedure for national security cases prescribed in the Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2004 and the Employment Tribunals (National Security) Rules of Procedure 2004 which allows closed material is not in breach of EU law or Article 6 ECHR. However Secretary of […]
News The new governing Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has published its agreed proposals on immigration and asylum. They include: Annual limit on number of non-EU economic migrants End to detention of children for immigration purposes Create border police force as part of Serious Organised Crime Agency New measures to minimise abuse of student visas Citizens from […]
The Latest Housing Law News Government Housing Policy: last week the new UK Government published its full programme – The coalition: our programme for government. For a copy, click here. Housing measures and legal aid commitments announced include: (1) "we will provide more protection against aggressive bailiffs and unreasonable charging orders, ensure that courts have […]
Maya Sikand, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers acted for the family of the deceased last week at an inquest that has called for a review of safety procedures on the London Underground.
Stephen Cottle is delighted to have been shortlisted for the prestigious Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards.
The annual awards are organised by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG). LAPG director Carol Storer said: "Despite the pressures on the
