News & Views

Keep up-to-date with the latest news and insights from Garden Court Chambers.

Filter by:

News & Views

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 14 March 2014

Resounding victory for environmental protesters

After a 13-day trial, six environmental activists protesting against the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road have been acquitted of aggravated trespass.

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 12 March 2014

Tenant’s human rights trump landlord’s possession claim

The Court of Appeal today, in an unprecedented development, upheld the dismissal of a claim for possession against an Introductory Tenant on the basis that an eviction would infringe his human rights. The tenant was represented by Jan Luba QC.

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 11 March 2014

Could the earnings threshold for benefits be in breach of EU law? Desmond Rutledge explains

Desmond Rutledge, in an interview with LexisNexis, analyses the government's new minimum earnings threshold for determining whether EEA nationals who claim out-of-work benefits as a jobseeker have acquired the status of a worker.

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 10 March 2014

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 362 – 10 March 2014

Immigration Law News For the Home Office’s report: “Impacts of migration on UK native employment: An analytical review of the evidence”, click here. From 1 April 2014, the British Refugee Council and Migrant Helpline will provide advice services to asylum seekers and refugees. To read further, click here. For updated register of licensed sponsors: workers […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 10 March 2014

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 347 – 10 March 2014

SPECIAL NOTICE: The Editor of this Bulletin (Jan Luba QC) will be undertaking the London Legal Walk 2014 to raise funds for advice service charities. Please consider making a small donation. Click here to do so. Housing Law News Homelessness: on 6 March 2014 the UK Government published the latest homelessness statistics from local housing […]

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 5 March 2014

Inquest finds army bullying and alleged rape contributed to death of Anne-Marie Ellement

A coroner has found that army bullying and alleged rape contributed to the self-inflicted death of Anne-Marie Ellement, a Royal Military Police soldier. Kirsten Heaven represented Anne-Marie’s sisters.

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 4 March 2014

Kate Aubrey-Johnson appointed as Just for Kids Law Youth Justice and Strategic Litigation Fellow

Garden Court Chambers is pleased to announce that Kate Aubrey-Johnson is taking a year's sabbatical having been appointed Youth Justice and Strategic Litigation Fellow at Just for Kids Law.

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 4 March 2014

Garden Court Chambers supports CBA Day of Action and ‘No Returns’ policy

In protest at the government's swingeing cuts to legal aid the criminal practitioners in chambers will support the day of action on 7 March called by the Criminal Bar Association by not attending court on that day.

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 4 March 2014

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 361 – 4 March 2014

Immigration Law News Net migration increased to 212,000 in the year to September 2013. To read more, click here. Migration advisors say that UK visas should be auctioned to wealthy foreigners. To read more, click here. Changes to how you apply for a visa from outside the UK. To read more, click here. Universities being […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 3 March 2014

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 346 – 3 March 2014

Housing Law News Use of the private rented sector for the homeless: last week the charities Crisis and Shelter published the final report of a study exploring the long-term outcomes for vulnerable homeless households moved into the private rented sector. The report presents findings after the households were in their tenancies for 19 months. It […]

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 28 February 2014

Inquest finds systematic failings in police response to domestic violence

An inquest jury has today found that there were systemic failings in the police response to domestic violence, when returning a verdict of unlawful killing in the inquest into the death of Mavis Clift. Rajeev Thacker was instructed for the family.

Garden Court Chambers | Thursday 27 February 2014

High Court rejects challenge to Azelle Rodney unlawful killing finding

The High Court has today rejected a judicial review challenge to the unlawful killing finding of the Azelle Rodney Inquiry. In its judgement, the court ruled such a challenge as unarguable and without merit.

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 26 February 2014

Students accused of obstructing police officers during peaceful protest acquitted

Three students accused of obstructing police officers during a peaceful protest at the University of Sussex have been acquitted. Shahida Begum and Owen Greenhall represented two of the defendants.

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 25 February 2014

Judge stays indictment in case of man accused of IRA Hyde Park bombing

Henry Blaxland QC acted for John Downey, who was charged with involvement in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing, one of the most notorious incidents of the IRA campaign.

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 25 February 2014

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 345 – 25 February 2014

Housing Law News Housing Benefit (1): on 21 February 2014 the UK Government announced that, from 1 April 2014, European Economic Area (EEA) nationals looking for work in the UK would no longer be able to claim housing benefit before finding a job. For the announcement, click here. Housing Benefit (2): on 12 February 2014 […]

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 25 February 2014

Employment Law Bulletin – Issue 163 – 25 February 2014

Employment News Regulations published, giving effect to ACAS conciliation and financial penalties The Employment Tribunals (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2014, The Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, and the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Commencement No.5, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2014 have all been published. […]

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 25 February 2014

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 360 – 25 February 2014

Immigration Law News The Government announced last week that from March 2014, EU citizens will need to be earning at least £150 per week to qualify as a ‘worker’. To read more, click here. The Home Office has published the fourth in a series of reports that explore migrants’ journeys through the UK’s immigration system. […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 24 February 2014

Judge dismisses charge brought by Serious Fraud Office

A judge has dismissed charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office against a solicitor, two solicitor partners, a senior QC and two company directors. Henry Blaxland QC acted for one of the defendants.

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 21 February 2014

Supreme Court issues landmark judgment regarding the protection of Article 3 rights of asylum seekers within the EU

The Supreme Court has reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal regarding the appropriate test for assessing whether reception conditions for asylum seekers in an EU Member State are so inadequate as to amount to a breach of Article 3. Mark Symes was i