Community Care | UK Bar

11KBW is a top-tier set housing a strong bench of highly sought-after community care specialist barristers. The team is regularly instructed in complex disputes involving procurement issues, cuts to community care services and the rights to access those services, age assessments and data protection matters. The set's barristers are also experienced in the handling of cases related to the impact of Article 8 on community care and frequently appear before the ECtHR. Members recently acted in R (YVR) v Birmingham City Council in a significant case regarding the ability of local authorities to charge for adult social care.

Mark Dann is the senior clerk.

39 Essex Chambers is a go-to set for community care matters with notable depth and breadth of expertise and "detailed specialist knowledge" available at the chambers. Barristers from the set are regularly called on to represent a diverse client base, including the Official Solicitor as well as several local authorities, health authorities and individuals, in a wide range of cases. Areas of expertise for the team include Children Act challenges, matters concerning asylum seekers, age assessments and care home funding disputes. The set is frequently instructed in the most high-profile cases in the area, and its barristers have considerable experience of appearing before the Supreme Court. One interviewee states "39 Essex Chambers has technical expertise and experience in this area of law." Members are involved in cases such as Seabrooke Manor Ltd, R v Care Quality Commission in a judicial review claim around covert medications.

Peter Campbell and Sheraton Doyle are the directors of clerking for public law.

Doughty Street Chambers is a market-leading set for community care matters and houses a strong bench of experienced barristers at both senior and junior levels. The set's community care practice is bolstered by its expertise in complementary areas such as social housing and human rights law, and the barristers are highly regarded for their handling of matters involving both children's services and adult social care. The team is noted for its expert representation of vulnerable individuals, and is regularly instructed in disputes involving asylum seekers and trafficked individuals, homeless children and disabled people. This expertise is reflected in Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Arrbab in a judicial review on behalf of child tax credit recipients who lost right to appeal government decisions.

Sian Wilkins is the senior clerk.

Matrix Chambers is recognised as a leading set for community care and human rights matters. It houses a strong bench of barristers at both the senior and junior levels who are experienced in the handling of complex cases at the intersection of community care, immigration, education and prison law, and are regularly involved in the leading cases in the field. Members act for a diverse client base including local authorities, care providers, charities and central government, as well as individual claimants. Recent work includes R (LXR) v First-tier Tribunal, a case arising from a criminal justice inquiry concerning compensation. The judgment found that key elements of the Compensation Scheme had been misconstrued.

Elizabeth Bousher is the senior practice manager.

The barristers at Garden Court Chambers are experienced in a wide range of community care matters, drawing on the set's recognised strengths in complementary areas such as public law, human rights, immigration and social housing. Members are highly adept at handling cases involving the closure of care homes and hospitals, needs assessments and the funding of community services. Disputes between social services authorities are also a key area of focus for the set. The barristers often appear before the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, as well as the ECtHR. Acting for claimants in judicial reviews has been a particularly fruitful area of work for Garden Court this year. A recent example is CR v Director of Legal Aid, a claim brought on behalf of the mother of a child engaged in an appeal against the contents of her Education, Health and Care Plan.

Colin Cook is the director of clerking.

Cornerstone Barristers is noted for its expert handling of a wide range of social care and health matters, and offers representation to healthcare providers, local authorities and hospitals, as well as individuals and families. The set's barristers are regularly instructed in highly sensitive judicial review challenges relating to the care of both adults and children, and age assessment disputes concerning young asylum seekers. The team is also frequently called on to advise local authorities on strategic matters involving budgets. Members recently acted in R (Simpson) v NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board in a judicial review challenging an NHS assessment and the services offered as a result.

Daryl Hughes is the senior clerk.

Landmark Chambers offers significant expertise in disputes concerning the care of both adults and children. Members are regularly instructed to act on behalf of vulnerable individuals and families, as well as several local authorities, NHS bodies, NGOs and the Department for Health and Social Care. Areas of expertise for the team include challenges arising from the cutting or reorganising of community services, age disputes involving asylum seekers and care planning for individuals in custody. The set's tenants are also frequently called on to advise government bodies on social care funding issues. Ordinary residence disputes form an additional area of strength.

Ben Connor and Mark Ball lead the clerking team.

Monckton Chambers is highly regarded for its representation of charities, public authorities, private companies and individual claimants in a wide range of social care cases. Monckton barristers are sought after for their expertise in judicial review challenges arising from cuts to community services and potentially discriminatory policies, and have experience appearing before the higher courts such as the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Recently, members continued to be involved in R (ECPAT) v Kent County Council and Secretary of State for the Home Department, a case concerned with the duties owed to unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors crossing the Channel.

David Hockney is the senior clerk.