Department profile
Francis Taylor Building

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)

Share profile

Francis Taylor Building

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Agriculture & Rural Affairs - London (Bar)

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Francis Taylor Building enjoys a strong reputation for rural planning and environmental law, being able to call upon "a wealth of talented barristers" whose "knowledge and commercial awareness is unparalleled." Members are particularly recognised for their strength in town and village green matters, as well as development and rights of way disputes. Barristers at the set are equipped to handle a variety of disputes arising in rural settings, including those concerning the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Highways Act 1980. Members of FTB regularly contribute to leading textbooks. Recent work has included Dartmoor National Park Authority v Darwall and another, in a Supreme Court case regarding wild camping on Dartmoor.

View ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks are quick to get back to us and are always very helpful.

    Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

  • The planning and environment clerks, led by Senior Clerk Paul Coveney, are a pleasure to work with. They are responsive and attentive to demands.

    Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks deserve special mention. The clerking is the best we have known at any chambers. They are determined to make things work for their client.

    Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks with which I have dealt are approachable and helpful.

    Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Ned Westaway
    Ned Westaway

    Ned Westaway

    Ned Westaway is a highways and rights of way specialist who has experience of acting in commons and village green disputes. He frequently appears for local authorities, and also acts for high-profile riding and rambling interest groups. In addition, his caseload encompasses rural flooding matters.

    • Ned Westaway is an excellent advocate. He is very good at putting across arguments in a way that makes them sound really good.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

    • Ned is a highly intelligent junior with an eye for detail and a natural ability to detect the weaknesses in opposing arguments.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Richard Honey
    Richard Honey

    Richard Honey

    Richard Honey KC is well regarded for acting in town or village green registrations. His broad practice also covers local government, environment and general public law matters. He is noted for his in-depth expertise in protected habitats and species preservation issues.

    • Richard Honey is always well prepared and always thinks very carefully about the best points to run. His output is incredible.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

    • Richard Honey is a high-quality general public/planning lawyer.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Douglas Edwards
    Douglas Edwards

    Douglas Edwards

    Douglas Edwards KC is a highly respected local government and planning specialist with a wealth of experience in common land matters. He is well known for acting in prominent Supreme Court cases regarding town or village green designation. In addition, he is regularly instructed by local authorities in rural land right applications.

    • Douglas is a highly reliable barrister whose intelligence and advocacy skills are superb. His client management skills are equally impressive.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

    • Edwards is a fantastic advocate.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

    • He's extremely good, being measured and very well respected by judges and clients.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Emyr Jones
    Emyr Jones

    Emyr Jones

    Emyr Jones has a strong practice in agriculture and rural affairs, based in dual specialisms in planning and chancery law. He has expertise in rural planning affairs including solar farms and village greens, as well as varied experience in estates work such as boundary disputes and succession and proprietary estoppel cases.

    • Emyr is extremely bright, an excellent drafter and a devastating cross-examiner. He is great to work with and a persuasive advocate.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Morag Ellis
    Morag Ellis

    Morag Ellis

    Morag Ellis KC is an experienced practitioner with expertise in a wide array of planning matters. Her rural practice covers cases concerning rights of way, compulsory purchase and development planning. She also has specialist knowledge in mineral, waste and energy schemes.

    • Morag Ellis is quite impressive.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

    • She is sharp and always on point.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

    • Morag offers very strong political and commercial awareness.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

    • Morag provides great leadership.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar
    View profile
  • Philip Petchey
    Philip Petchey

    Philip Petchey

    Philip Petchey is a longstanding member of the bar who is praised for his intellectual approach. His practice involves work on common land and footpath designation, as well as village green disputes.

    • Philip is extremely well regarded. He was very good and thorough, very reliable, conscientious and a diligent specialist in that area.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar

    • Philip Petchey is very solid. There is nothing he doesn't know academically. The extent of his legal knowledge is fantastic.

      Agriculture & Rural Affairs respondentUK Bar
    View profile

Ranked Barristers at Francis Taylor Building (6)

London (Bar)

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership