James Maurici KC

James practices in planning, environmental law, and public law. His practice regularly encompasses assimilated EU law and international law. James was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1996, and the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2009.

James's planning work includes advisory and advocacy at inquiries, hearings, examinations and in the Higher Courts. James was named ‘Environment/Planning Silk of the Year’ at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022. His practice extends across compulsory purchase and compensation, harbours, highways, rights of way, commons registration and village greens, where he acts in both inquiries and in the Higher Courts. James has authored numerous articles on planning law published in the Journal of Planning & Environment Law (JPL). He also chaired the PEBA working groups responsible for producing Good Practice Memorandum 2 and 3.

James’s environmental law practice is wide-ranging, covering matters such as habitats and species protection, civil sanctions, contaminated land, air quality, waste, access to environmental information and all aspects of environment impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, water-related issues, marine environmental issues and environmental permitting.

His public law practice is very wide-ranging. He has appeared in numerous high-profile public law cases. He was a co-founder and co-editor of Judicial Review for many years and is now a consultant editor.

He is currently acting on one of the challenges to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on Article 1 Protocol 1 ECHR grounds: R. (ARC) v SSHLG.