Francis Taylor Building

Chambers is highly ranked by the leading independent legal directories for its work across a broad spectrum of local government work including in particular for planning, licensing, local government finance and compulsory purchase.

The most recent edition of the Legal 500 notes that “Francis Taylor Building has a strong local government law practice which comprises areas such as compulsory purchase and compensation, local government finance, council tax, rating, highways, public health, community care, and standards in local government”. Chambers and Partners 2023 comments that Francis Taylor Building has "very good level of expertise across the board" and "good-quality work".

Chambers' expertise includes all aspects of local government law and procedures:

Local government powers
- Planning
- Licensing
- Local government finance including rating and the Council Tax
- Compulsory purchase
Highways, Commons and Open Spaces
Election law
Education
Assets of Community Value
Public Procurement
Public health and environment
Maladministration
Standards in local government

Members of chambers have been involved in cases involving the Commissioner for Local Administration, the Parliamentary Commissioner and the Standards Board for England. In Hong Kong members have acted for public utilities and developers on major matters.

Junior members of Chambers also attend secondments at local and public authorities where they advise and appear on a variety of different local government issues.

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Jan' 23

Cody Fisher Stab Death Nightclub Loses Licence

A nightclub where a footballer was stabbed to death on the dance floor has lost its licence amid fears it posed "terrifying" risks to public safety. Cody Fisher was killed at the Crane venue in Digbeth, Birmingham, on Boxing Day 2022.

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Jan' 23

O2 Academy Brixton Licence Suspended

On Thursday 15 December 2022, The Brixton 02 Academy hosted a concert by the musical artist known as “Asake”. The ticketed event was sold out in advance. Shortly after 9pm, a large crowd breached the entrance doors and poured into the venue. Many people were crushed. Some were seriously injured: two of them fatally.

"very good level of expertise across the board" and "good-quality work."

Chambers and Partners, 2023

"Areas of particular strength for the set's members include cases relating to local government finances and council tax, as well as complex public health, licensing and highways matters. The team is also regularly called upon to advise on ratings and land valuation matters, and offers considerable expertise in relation to compulsory purchase orders and compensation."

Chambers and Partners, 2022

"The team is highly regarded for its expertise in rating matters, and handles instructions relating to local government finances, council tax, licensing and compulsory purchase orders and compensation."

Legal 500, 2022

"The set as a whole has extremely knowledgeable and hard working barristers with a wealth of experience and offers a good range of barristers within different price ranges."

Legal 500, 2022