News & Views

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News & Views

Garden Court Chambers | Thursday 25 April 2013

Leslie Thomas: The lawyer who speaks for the voiceless

This week's issue of The Voice features an extended article about Garden Court human rights barrister Leslie Thomas

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 23 April 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 321 – 23 April 2013

Immigration News A new UKBA policy on trafficking emerged following successful judicial review proceedings, finding that where the UK Competent Authority has conclusively identified the applicant as a victim of trafficking and the personal circumstances of the case are so compelling that a grant of leave is considered appropriate, or where the individual is cooperating […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 22 April 2013

Court of Appeal grants permission to appeal in a welfare benefits case

The proceedings concerned a decision to remove Ms N's entitlement to Incapacity Benefit after she scored insufficient points under the Personal Capability Assessment (‘PCA’) test. Permission to Appeal was granted.

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 22 April 2013

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 307 – 22 April 2013

Housing Law News Regulating letting agents and managing agents: on 16 April 2013 the House of Commons accepted Government amendments to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill designed to give the Secretary of State power to make an order requiring letting and managing agents, of privately rented and residential leasehold homes in England, to belong […]

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 16 April 2013

Employment Law Bulletin – Issue 146 – 16 April 2013

Employment case law Europe Disability Discrimination | Reasonable Adjustment Ring v Dansk almennyttigt Boligselskab DAB; Skouboe Werge v Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening C-335/11, C-337/11 ECJThe European Court of Justice (ECJ) has confirmed that a reduction in working hours can be regarded as a reasonable adjustment for disabled workers where the reduction makes it possible for the worker […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 15 April 2013

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 306 –15 April 2013

Housing Law News Housing Benefit reductions from today: in four London Boroughs (Bromley, Croydon, Enfield and Haringey) the overall benefit cap will apply from today (15 April 2013) and will be achieved by reducing housing benefit where that is necessary to keep household income within the cap of £500pw (couples and single parents) or £350 […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 15 April 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 320 – 15 April 2013

Immigration News The Ministry of Justice has announced a new consultation regarding further reform to legal aid provision. The proposals include a residence test for civil legal aid claimants; reforms to reduce the use of legal aid to fund ‘weak’ judicial reviews; significant reductions in fee rates for judicial review; amendments to the civil merits […]

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 12 April 2013

Jury delivers a damning narrative verdict into prison failures

Tom Stoate represented the family of Ben Grimes, a vulnerable 18 year-old who was found hanging in his cell on the reception wing at HMPYOI Portland, Dorset, on the morning of 22 November 2009, having spent only four nights in the prison.

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 10 April 2013

Administrative Court considers whether interim relief should be provided to a Zambrano carer

Administrative Court considers whether interim relief should be provided to a Zambrano carer denied any access to mainstream social security benefits pending the outcome of her benefit appeal

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 8 April 2013

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 305 –8 April 2013

Housing Law News Housing Benefit social sector size criteria: the criteria have been applied to council and housing association tenants since 1 April 2013. The National Housing Federation has published The Bedroom Tax: Some Home Truths suggesting that the criteria could have "serious, unintended consequences" for tenants affected. For a copy, click here. Shelter has […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 8 April 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 319 – 8 April 2013

News Syrian refugees were returned to their country of origin from a Turkish refugee camp, due to security concerns according to the Turkish authorities. A report on detention conditions in Poland found that detention centres are modelled on prison facilities which the NGOs have warned enhances a feeling of oppression among the migrants. Personal inspections, […]

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 3 April 2013

Employment Law Bulletin – Issue 145 – 3 April 2013

Employment News Labour considers move to boost workers’ rightsLabour is considering introducing a new fair work commission which will seek to bring together existing enforcement bodies aimed at securing workplace rights, and acting as a champion for vulnerable employees. Click here to read the article. EHRC publishes guidance to businessesThe Equality and Human Rights Commission […]

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 2 April 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 318 – 2 April 2013

News The UKBA is to be scrapped as an agency and instead two separate entities under the Home Office will deal with (1) immigration and visa services and (2) immigration law enforcement. To read further click here. A new Life in the UK test handbook was published on 25 March from which date all tests […]

Garden Court Chambers | Thursday 28 March 2013

Maya Sikand to act on behalf of Southern Cross Media in Jacintha Saldanha inquest

Southern Cross Media, parent company of 2Day FM will be represented by Maya Sikand at the inquest into the death of Nurse Jacintha Saldhana in May this year. The company has been granted properly interested person status.

Garden Court Chambers | Thursday 28 March 2013

Shiraz Aziz and Smita Shah address Algerian Bar Association Conference

Shiraz Aziz and Smita Shah have both returned from participating as experts in a highly successful conference over the weekend of 23-24 March in Algiers at the invitation of the Algerian Bar Association and the Law Society of England and Wales.

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 27 March 2013

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 304 – 27 March 2013

SPECIAL NOTICE: This special, extended issue of the Housing Law Bulletin will be the last to be issued ahead of the massive changes to Legal Aid, to Civil Procedure and to Housing Benefits which all take effect on 1 April 2013. It has been held back to offer maximum coverage of developments prior to these […]

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 27 March 2013

Anti Squatting Law

160 lawyers signed a letter to the Guardian pointing out that the criminal trespass offence (s 144) was introduced on the basis of misinformation. The offence which deals with squatting in a residential building was introduced into the Legal Aid, Sentenci

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 27 March 2013

Judy Khan QC represents TV actor acquitted of sexual assault

Judy Khan QC secured the acquittal of a young TV star charged with sexually assaulting another teenager.

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 25 March 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 317 – 25 March 2013

Legislative Changes Immigration and Nationality (Cost Recovery Fees) Regulations 2013 SI 2013 No. 617, due to come into force on 6 April 2013, changes, for the forthcoming financial year, the fees to be paid for immigration and nationality applications. Immigration Law Cases Negassi & Anor, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for […]

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 20 March 2013

System failure in prison healthcare at HMP Moorland results in death of seriously ill prisoner

A jury sitting at Doncaster Coroners Court has found that defective care and system failure in prison healthcare at HMP Moorlands contributed to the death of Mr Robert Proctor in December 2008.