Landmark Chambers

Dan's practice covers planning, local government, public law and rating. He is an experienced Supreme Court advocate and is noted for his advocacy, teamwork and clarity. Dan sits as a Deputy High Court judge and Recorder. He is a CEDR-accredited mediator.

Dan is an experienced advocate at all levels of the Court system, tribunals, and inquiries. His clients include central government, local government, developers, interest groups, ratepayers, commercial organisations, individuals, and NGOs.

He has appeared in leading cases on affordable housing, planning contributions, green belt and the interpretation of planning policy including two planning Supreme Court cases. He has appeared in six Supreme Court rating cases.

Planning

Dan is an experienced planning inquiry advocate. He has extensive experience in High Court planning cases for claimants, developers, local and central government. He has particular expertise in regeneration projects in London, for example the regeneration of the Elephant and Castle (Southwark) and High Road West Masterplan (Haringey) and affordable housing viability, for example representing LB Islington in the Parkhurst Road case. He accepts instructions on behalf of developers, local planning authorities, statutory bodies, local groups or any other participant in the planning process. He has appeared as advocate in the Supreme Court in two recent cases; Lambeth v Secretary of State, and R (Samuel Smith Old Brewery) v North Yorkshire County Council. He was advocate for the successful local planning authority in the leading case on NHS planning contributions R (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS) v Harborough District Council. He advises planning authorities in respect of local plans and infrastructure projects.

Rating

Dan frequently appears in non-domestic rating cases acting for ratepayer, valuation officers and billing authorities. He has considerable experience in cases relating to whether the rating list entries are correct, exemption issues, completion notices, unoccupied rates disputes, valuation issues and collection/enforcement. He has appeared in six recent Supreme Court cases (Nuffield Health, Cardtronics, Iceland, Monk, Woolway and UKI Kingsway). He was made an honorary member of the Rating Surveyors’ Association in 2017. He has recorded a series of rating podcasts linked below:

• The Supreme Court’s decision in the ATM cases – key points

• Completion Notices

• Using judicial review to bring rating challenges

• Preparing expert evidence in rating cases

�� Collection and enforcement of non-domestic rates

• Home offices and non-domestic rates

• Rating law history.

Environment

Dan has extensive experience of High Court challenges to complex environmental projects (including waste facilities) – acting for and against the decision making bodies.

Public Law (including Local Government)

Dan is a versatile public lawyer who has acted in a wide range of areas across all aspects of judicial review, local government, regulatory law, welfare benefits and funding challenges. He is a suitable choice for a case which needs an experienced advocate who is willing to work as part of a team and bring clarity and focus to the oral presentation of a case. He advised the Airports Commission throughout his process. Before he took silk, he served on the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel (A, B and C panels) for 12 years.

Advocacy before Tribunals

Dan has extensive experience appearing in before the Upper Tribunal and First-tier Tribunals across a full range of areas including education, care standards and all aspects of social security law.

Mediation and Other Projects

Dan is interested in mediation (participating or acting as mediator) and is willing to be considered for specific projects which required an experienced KC with his skill set and experience.

Approach to Work

Dan’s style is collaborative and unstuffy. He wants to understand what his clients are seeking to achieve and establish clear parameters about what is realistic. He manages his time to deliver the best service possible for his clients.

Life outside of Chambers

Dan is a keen cyclist and enjoys walking. He has been involved in school governance for 18 years and was the Chair of the Board of Directors of BMAT Education, an 11 school multi-academy trust based in Essex and East London.

Dan graduated from Wadham College, Oxford with a first class degree in jurisprudence.

Before coming to the Bar, he taught contract law at Queen Mary and Westfield College and Mansfield College, Oxford and completed 2-year training contract at Anthony Gold Solicitors. He has also been a Judicial Assistant to the Court of Appeal.

Awards

Dan was nominated for the Chambers and Partners planning Silk of the Year in 2020.

Publications 

He has written and given lectures on a range of topics in the fields of public law, local government, planning, environmental, special educational needs and non-domestic rates.