4-5 Gray's Inn Square

Joint Head of Chambers 2002-2015, Head of Chambers 2015 to present. Member of Governing Council of Malvern College. Justice of Appeal, Court of Appeal of the Falklands Deputy High Court Judge Election Commissioner Recorder

Timothy Straker KC has a wide ranging public law practice. He has made many appearances in courts at the highest level in England and Wales and overseas. Timothy has acted in multiple election petitions in England, Wales and Trinidad and Tobago, which operates under a similar regime. He has advised on elections and related matters in multiple jurisdictions including Scotland, Guyana and Asian jurisdictions. He recently led in the Supreme Court when that court (exceptionally) considered the boundary between party and personal expenses.

Timothy Straker KC has appeared in the vast majority of the most important election cases of the last twenty five years starting with successful appearances for the returning officer in the ‘Literal Democrat’ case, which directly led to the creation of the Electoral Commission for which he has acted. Principally he has acted for returning officers throughout the country and been closely involved in elections since 1995. He has acted for the Greater London Authority and Transport for London ever since those bodies were created. He sits as an election commissioner.

Tim also undertakes public and private inquiry work, including issues of abuse.  He has particular experience of chairing, public inquiries, railway arbitrations and electoral commission matters. He believes in close teamwork in major cases and a good working professional relationship with both professional and lay clients.

He has acted for (and against) local authorities on issues ranging from abattoirs to zoos, appeared in inquiries in Scotland and undertaken, drawing on his English experience, work relating to environmental assessment in Greece and the Caribbean. His local authority and public law work includes planning (multiple inquiries and judicial reviews, e.g. The Emirates, Anfield, retail, polytunnels and amalgamations and basements), infrastructure (e.g. Mersey Gateway, Felixstowe and Harwich) and procurement (often confidential).

Local Government

Timothy Straker KC has acted for most local authorities in England and Wales, he is well known to the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. He is known for his work in across the whole range of local authority life, which is particularly useful in the promotion of schemes by Local Authorities of which many examples can be given.

Planning

Timothy has extensive experience in planning Law, he has been named planning silk of the year. He has promoted and resisted many substantial proposals, involving office, housing, minerals and transport. His wide spread experience of environmental assessment and large infrastructure projects is complementary to his planning work as is his substantial court work which includes the leading cases on environmental assessment.

Planning & Environment

Timothy Straker KC was planning/environmental silk of the year in 2009/10 and again in 2015. He has acted in leading environmental impact assessment cases both in the Courts and at Inquiries. His experience was recognised by engagements in respect of environmental impact assessments in Greece and in Trinidad. He has acted in respect of recycling and waste generally.

Elections

Timothy has appeared in the all important election cases of the last twenty years. He has acted for returning officers throughout the country and has appeared for the Electoral Commission. He has been closely involved in the elections for the Greater London Authority ever since the body was created. He has presented petitions in Trinidad and sat as an election commissioner. He acted for a Greater London Returning Officer and Returning Officers across London Boroughs generally.

Infrastructure

Tim appeared in major infrastructure cases both for promoters and interested parties. He successfully promoted a new bridge over the Mersey, substantial expansion of Felixstowe, the creation of a new container terminal at Harwich, a railway between Felixstowe and Ipswich and a new railway from Oxford to Marylebone. He has promoted urban regeneration in Enfield, West Bromwich and Dartford.

Judicial Review

Tim has appeared in multiple Judicial Review cases. He is authorised to sit as a deputy High Court judge across the whole Queen’s Bench Division including the Administrative Court and the Planning Court.

Administrative Law Bar Association Planning and Environmental Bar Association Admin Court Users’ Association Parliamentary Bar Mess

Malvern College Downing College, Cambridge University