Joel Semakula

Joel practises across all three of Chambers’ main practice areas with a focus on planning, infrastructure, environmental and property law. Given his commercial background, he has a particular focus on claims with a commercial element. In appropriate cases, Joel accepts instructions on a direct access and pro bono basis. He is an assistant editor for Garner’s Environmental Law.

He has significant experience in obtaining injunctions and contempt proceedings to protect land and buildings from trespass and nuisance, particularly by protesters. He is very familiar with the intricate procedural and legal issues which arise in relation to claims brought against ‘persons unknown’. In this field he has recently acted for National Highways, Shell and Exolum in response to direct action by groups such as ‘Insulate Britain,’ ‘Extinction Rebellion’ and ‘Just Stop Oil.’

His most recent instructions include:

Shell UK Ltd v Persons Unknown and ors [2023] EWHC 1229 (KB): Acting for Shell in the High Court (led by Myriam Stacey KC) in applications to continue three interim injunctions to restrain unlawful protest activity at a range of its sites. This is leading case on non-party challenges to ‘Persons Unknown’ Injunctions. Acting for National Highways in the examination for the DCO for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project. Acting for the commercial developer (led by James Maurici KC) in a ten-day planning inquiry appealing the decision to refuse planning permission for a mixed-use development in Takeley (APP/C1570/W/22/3291524). Acting for a residents group in the Mole Valley Local Plan examination challenging the soundness of a draft plan on green belt grounds. Acting for the defendant (led by David Holland KC) in a ten-day trial in the High Court where the claimants seek his removal as a trustee and substantial damages for alleged breach of trust. Assisting with Annington Property Limited (and ors) v Secretary of State for Defence (led by Zia Bhaloo KC and James Maurici KC) in high value (approx. £8Bn) leasehold enfranchisement and judicial review proceedings. National Highways Ltd v Heyatawin [2021] EWHC 3093 (QB): Acting for National Highways (led by David Elvin KC and Myriam Stacey KC) in proceedings to prevent trespass and nuisance on the strategic road network in response to significant disruption caused by large-scale protest action by campaign group ‘Insulate Britain.’ Wallpott v Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee [2021] EWHC 3291 (Admin): Acting for NHS Wales (led by David Lock KC) in a judicial review of a decision not to approve NHS funding to meet the costs of the claimant’s treatment for terminal illness where it was determined she did not fall within the policy to permit independent patient funding. Successfully appeared, unled, for a Rule 6 party in a five-day planning inquiry, which was one of the first appeals to challenge a proposal for Discounted Market Sale housing where key issues were Rural Exception Sites and Very Special Circumstances for Green Belt development (APP/D3640/W/20/3248358)

Before commencing legal studies, Joel was an investment banker with Morgan Stanley in New York. Joel, therefore, brings a wealth of commercial experience to his practice at the Bar. Following his legal studies, he was the Judicial Assistant to Lady Justice Gloster (as she then was) and Lord Justice David Richards (as he then was) at the Court of Appeal where he assisted on cases covering commercial, chancery, public and international law.

Away from the law, Joel can be found performing on a comedy stage or volunteering with initiatives that support social mobility.

Qualifications University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – BA Political Science and Economics (First Class) University of Oxford (Mansfield College) – BA Jurisprudence (with Senior Status) BPP University, London – BPTC (Outstanding) Scholarships Gray’s Inn: The Bedingfield Scholarship, the Inn’s most prestigious award for the BPTC Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Morehead-Cain Scholarship, full merit scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Fulbright Scholarshi Publications Property Litigation column: Section 21 or a 2 for 1: Issuing two sets of possession proceedings in a pandemic Res Judicata in Judicial Review