Practice Summary

Richard Drabble QC was called to the Bar in 1975 and took silk in 1995. He practices in public law, planning and other local government matters. He has appeared frequently as an advocate at all levels of domestic courts, particularly the Administrative Court as well as the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords. His practice also has a European dimension, with many appearances (in planning, environmental and social security matters) before the ECJ and the European Court of Human Rights and the former Commission. He has appeared for both developers and local authorities in major planning inquiries. He is a former Chairman of the Administrative Law Bar Association and a member of the Planning and Environment Bar Association.

He is recognised as a leader in the fields of administrative law, planning and local government law. Chambers & Partners Directory 2009 and the Legal 500 2008 said of him:

"Entirely lives up to his reputation. A leader in the social welfare and  community law area, he is a fantastic advocate who is really a star, an apellate lawyer par excellence"

"Richard Drabble QC is commended for his extensive and detailed knowledge of human rights and public law. Commentators highlight Drabble’s expertise in social security and planning work in particular."

"Richard Drabble QC’s considerable intellect and intense, quietly authoritative advocacy make his a heavyweight of the appellate courts. Drabble is highly adept at bringing erudite arguments to life and making everything he says appear eminently reasonable. Commentators declare that everything he does is done with consummate skill."

"Bright, inventive and extremely nice with it, he is the star of the chambers when it comes to local government work"

"the number–one choice in the High Court because he is exceptionally clever and never misses a point."

"immensely charming. Sought out for his vastly impressive knowledge of planning law and is also praised for his insight into matters with EU dimensions"

Richard Drabble has acted for a wide range of clients, examples being the Secretary of State in challenges to the Terminal Five planning permission, the Airports and Energy White Papers; and the Olympics CPO; Natural England in the Thames Basin Heath SPA litigation; Amnesty International in the Pinochet medical reports case; the developer in R(Lewis) v Redcar BC and Persimmon and in R(Kides) v South Cambridgeshire DC;  JCWI and the AIRE Centre in the litigation concerning alleged marriages of convenience; Quinn Glass in the Court of Appeal hearing about an IPCC permit; 3C Limited in a Commercial Court case about the Landfill Directive; and Mrs Stec; Ms Tsfayo; Mrs Chapman and Mrs Kehoe in their various cases in the European Court of Human Rights. He appeared for the local authorities in the Dibden Bay Inquiry.