Francis Hoar

Practice Areas

Francis is a top-rated junior in public and election law and also practises in employment and commercial law.

Recently, Francis has acted in Covid-related judicial reviews, including challenging the first lockdown (Dolan v Secretary of State, 2020, CA), the International Travel Regulations and vaccine mandates; and in public and election law cases relating to the EU referendum. He has advised the Home Secretary about the Metropolitan Police and the Communities Secretary about a local government matter; and acts for local authorities in community care, mental health and capacity (in the High Court and Court of Protection) and planning cases.

Francis acts in election petitions and prosecutions for election offences; and advises candidates, political parties, corporations and third-sector organisations on compliance with election law. Recent clients include Facebook, Zach Goldsmith, Sean Bailey, Sam Tarry MP, Craig Mackinlay MP and ‘Mainstream’. Francis acted for the successful petitioners in the landmark Tower Hamlets election petition in 2015 (Erlam v Rahman, ‘a tour de force’: Commissioner Mawrey QC).

Francis acts for employers and employees before the employment tribunal and in professional discipline cases. He has a particular focus on freedom of speech and philosophical belief discrimination cases. Recent reported cases include White v GMC (2021) and Adil v GMC (2023).

‘Lawyer of the Week’, Times, 2015

Nominated as ‘barrister of the year’ Lawyer Magazine awards, 2016.

Professional Memberships

ALBA

ELBA

Publications

In Protection of Freedom of Speech (June 2021, Foreword by Lord Sumption).

Regularly writes as a legal commentator, including for the Daily Telegraph, Times and Independent.