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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.

Rajeev Thacker

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.

Leslie Thomas KC

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.

Shahida BegumOwen Greenhall

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.

Henry Blaxland KC

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.

Henry Blaxland KC

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 21 February 2014

Maya Sikand joins Archbold Contributing Editors team

Maya Sikand has accepted an invitation to join the eminent team of Contributing Editors to Archbold.

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

Mark Symes

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 21 February 2014

Complaint filed at ICC over NATO allies’ complicity in US drone strikes

Victims of US drone strikes in Pakistan have filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court accusing NATO members of war crimes.

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 19 February 2014

Leslie Thomas and Marc Willers appointed as Queen’s Counsel

Garden Court Chambers is delighted to announce that Dr Leslie Thomas and Marc Willers have been appointed Queen's Counsel.

Marc Willers KCLeslie Thomas KC

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 18 February 2014

High Court rules in favour of former soldier refused British Citizenship because of speeding offence

The High Court today ruled in favour of a former member of the British Armed Forces who had been refused British Citizenship on the basis of a sole speeding offence for which he received 5 points and a £100 fine. Raza Halim was instructed for the claiman

Raza Halim

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 17 February 2014

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 344 – 17 February 2014

Housing Law News Evictions: on 13 February 2014 the UK Government published the latest court statistics on possession claims brought by landlords and mortgage lenders in England and Wales. The figures indicate that 9,607 tenants were actually evicted in only 13 weeks (October to December 2013) by county court bailiffs acting pursuant to social and […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 17 February 2014

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 359 – 17 February 2014

Immigration Law News The Government has renewed the immigration concession for Syrian nationals for another year, until 28 February 2015. This concession gives greater flexibility to Syrian nationals who are in the UK on a visa, by offering them more ways to extend their stay in the UK. To read further, click here. Immigration Law […]

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 14 February 2014

European Court of Human Rights to decide whether conditions for asylum seekers in Italy breach Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights

The Court will decide whether other Member States should take responsibility for asylum claims rather than returning asylum seekers to Italy. Mark Symes has been instructed by the intervenors.

Mark Symes

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 12 February 2014

Immigration Bulletin – Issue 358 – 12 February 2014

Immigration Law News The lessons of Morecambe Bay have not been learned – ten years after the cockle pickers tragedy, we are still focusing on the arrival of migrants, not their rights. To read more, click here. Immigration Minister Mark Harper quits over illegal cleaner. To read more, click here. Gay asylum seekers face humiliation. […]

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