Francis Taylor Building

Charles' main areas of interest include:

Planning and Environment Public law, Human Rights and EU Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Local Government Licensing and Police

Charles welcomes instructions to advise and represent clients across all of Chambers' practice areas. He is regularly instructed by local authorities and other public bodies, large and small developers, action groups and similar, and individuals.

He specialises in Planning and Environment; Public and Local Government including judicial review; Rights of Way, Highways and Traffic; Infrastructure; Compulsory Purchase and Compensation; Licensing; and related areas (see the section of this profile on ‘Practice Areas and Experience’ for further information)

Charles has appeared as sole counsel before the High Court, planning inquiries, enforcement inquiries, traffic inquiries, DCO issue specific hearings, the Valuation Tribunal, Crown Court, County Court, Magistrates’ Court, and Council sub-committees. Recent/current work includes:

For the last 3 years he has been acting for TfL, with Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC, in three High Court claims against hundreds of people (both named and persons unknown) protesting under the banner of Insulate Britain, Just Stop Oil, and other groups, see TfL v Persons Unknown [2023] EWHC 1201 (KB). TfL v Persons Unknown [2023] EWHC 1038 (KB), TfL v Lee [2023] EWHC 402 (KB), and TfL v Lee [2023] EWHC 3102 (KB), This has included obtaining and extending multiple final and interim injunctions, all initially granted on an urgent without notice basis Currently acting for an appellant in an upcoming 3-day CLEUD inquiry Currently acting a local planning authority in an upcoming 3-day enforcement inquiry Currently representing a local authority being sued in negligence and breach of statutory duty under s.36(6) Highways Act 1980. Charles also recently, in two different multi-track claims, successfully represented local authorities being sued in misfeasance in public office and negligence/negligent misstatement, arising from their interpretation of a planning permission and handling of a planning application respectively.

Charles is direct and licensed access qualified, which means in appropriate cases he can be instructed by members of the public directly or through a professional other than a solicitor. Charles is also happy to work pro bono in appropriate cases and in 2024 he was included in Advocate’s Inaugural Pro Bono Recognition List in recognition of his dedication to providing pro bono services.

Called to the Bar in 2014

Qualifications

University College London, BA (Hons) History (First Class)

BPP University, GDL (Distinction)

BPP University, BPTC (Very Competent)

Scholarships, awards and prizes

Major Scholarship, Inner Temple

Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship, Inner Temple

Internship Award, Inner Temple

GDL Exhibition, Inner Temple

Winner of the Senior UKELA Lord Slynn Mooting Competition (2016) judged by The Hon Mrs Justice Patterson DBE

Other experience

Prior to starting pupillage Charles spent three months at The Advocates for Human Rights in Minnesota, USA where he helped to draft laws for the Somali Constitution. Through Reprieve in Houston, USA he was part of a legal team which secured a life sentence with parole for one of the longest serving death row prisoners in Texas history. He also taught law for the African Prisons Project to inmates in a maximum security prison in Kampala, Uganda as part of their rehabilitation and education.

Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA) United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA) Education Law Association (ELAS)

Qualifications

University College London, BA (Hons) History (First Class) BPP University, GDL (Distinction) BPP University, BPTC (Very Competent)

Scholarships, awards and prizes

Major Scholarship, Inner Temple Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship, Inner Temple Internship Award, Inner Temple GDL Exhibition, Inner Temple Winner of the Senior UKELA Lord Slynn Mooting Competition (2016) judged by The Hon Mrs Justice Patterson DBE