News & Views

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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 | 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 | 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.

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 20 March 2013

Mark Symes acting in removal of asylum seekers test case

Mark Symes is part of the legal team acting for the Appellants in EM (Eritrea) & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 1336, challenging the lawfulness of removing asylum seekers to inadequate reception conditions in another

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 20 March 2013

Employment Law Bulletin – Issue 144 – 20 March 2013

Employment News New timetable for employment law changesA new document from the government, Employment Law 2013: Progress on Reform, sets out, amongst other things, a revised timetable for its proposed changes to employment law. The following measures are still due to be introduced in April 2013: changes to collective redundancy, and cost-of-living increases to statutory […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 18 March 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 316 – 18 March 2013

Immigration Rules HC 1039 was laid before Parliament on 14 March. It comes into force on 6 April 2013. These lengthy rule changes affect the PBS in various ways; and inter alia ‘clarify the current General Visitor rules to guard against abuse by those whose repeat visits amount to de facto residence’; make minor changes […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 11 March 2013

Tom Wainwright secures Not Guilty verdict for student protestor struck by police batons

In 2010 Alfie Meadows and Zac King were both struck on the head by police batons whilst peacefully protesting against the rise in tuition fees. Alfie was nearly killed by the blow. Both then found themselves charged with Violent Disorder.

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 11 March 2013

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 303 – 11 March 2013

Housing Law News Challenge to HB size criteria in social housing: several claimants have launched a judicial review challenge to the introduction of the new criteria from 1 April 2013. Mitting J has directed a response from the DWP within 14 days and a hearing in May 2013 seems likely. For further details, click here. […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 11 March 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 315 – 11 March 2013

News The European Commission announced proposals for new border management tools including an Entry-Exit System that would record the entry of exit of all third country nationals and track the presence of overstayers. The Committee of Ministers supervised the execution of the judgment in MSS v Belgium and Greece, finding that the Greek authorities needed […]

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 8 March 2013

Rebecca Hill secures discharge of defendant facing extradition to Argentina

The Defendant, AM, was wanted in Argentina for trial for drugs trafficking offences.

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 6 March 2013

Employment Law Bulletin – Issue 143 – 5 March 2013

Employment news Amendments to Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill Various government-sponsored amendments have been made to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, which is presently before the House of Lords, including: Disapplying the qualifying period for unfair dismissal where the reason for the dismissal is the employee’s political opinions. The purpose of this amendment is […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 4 March 2013

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 302 – 4 March 2013

Housing Law News Social rented sector size criteria: on 27 February 2013 the minority opposition parties initiated a full debate in the House of Commons on the introduction of the housing benefit size criteria into social housing (the ‘bedroom tax’) from 1 April 2013. For the full debate, click here. Judicial review proceedings designed to […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 4 March 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 314 – 4 March 2013

News Garden Court Chambers’ Stephanie Harrison has been appointed Queen’s Council. Click here for more information. The Garden Court Immigration Team blog on ‘Fairness in the Points Based System: Post Decision Evidence, "Continuing Applications" and Evidential Flexibility’. Click here for more information. The UKBA has renewed the temporary concession for Syrians until February 2014. Click […]

Garden Court Chambers | Friday 1 March 2013

Stephanie Harrison appointed Queen’s Counsel

Garden Court Chambers is delighted to announce that minority rights and civil liberties champion Stephanie Harrison is to be appointed as Queen's Counsel.

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 27 February 2013

Jan Luba QC appointed Chair of Zacchaeus 2000 Trust

Jan Luba QC has this week become Chair of the charity Zacchaeus 2000 Trust which provides free help and advice for vulnerable debtors and low-income households.

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 25 February 2013

European Court of Human Rights split on returning disabled man to Afghanistan

Mark Symes has acted for the Applicant in SHH v United Kingdom 60367/10 - HEJUD [2013] ECHR 102 (29 January 2013), in which the European Court of Human Rights split 4:3, the majority finding that it would not contravene the right to be free from inhuman a

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 25 February 2013

Housing Law Bulletin – Issue 301 – 25 February 2013

Housing Law News Direct payment of housing benefit: Southwark Council is one of those undertaking a demonstration project of the proposed direct payment of housing benefit to social housing tenants. The council identified 2,000 benefits claimants to take part: 1,500 council tenants and 500 tenants of Family Mosaic housing association. Its key findings were that: […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 25 February 2013

Immigration Law Bulletin – Issue 313 – 25 February 2013

News On his trip to India the Prime Minister announced details of a super priority visa service which will allow frequent travellers from India to have their visas processed in just one day. To read further click here. Cases MA, BT, DA v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Case C‑648/11) (Advocate General’s Opinion: […]

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 19 February 2013

Employment Law Bulletin – Issue 142 – 19 February 2013

Employment news Workplace stress affecting home life Nearly nine out of 10 town hall employees are suffering from increased work pressures, a Unison survey reveals. Heather Wakefield, head of local government at Unison, said the impact of spending review cuts and 250,000 subsequent job losses meant ‘impossible demands are being placed on stressed out council […]