Practice Summary
Zoë specialises in public law, human rights, planning and environmental law. She regularly appears at all levels of the courts and in a range of tribunals acting for individuals, NGOs, local government and central government bodies.
Zoë was called to the Bar in 2002 and commenced practice in 2003 after a year as a researcher at the Law Commission. She was a member of the Attorney General’s ‘C’ Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown from 2007-2009.
Public Law and Human Rights
Zoë acts for all sides in judicial review and other related proceedings in a wide range of subject matters, particularly those raising issues under the Human Rights Act 1998. She has expertise in social security/child support matters (e.g. RJM v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2008] UKHL 63 on the scope of A1P1 & Art 14 ECHR in relation to welfare benefits), education/care standards issues (e.g. Wright v Secretary of State for Education & Skills [2009] UKHL 3 on the compatibility of the Provisional Listing scheme for those working with children and vulnerable adults with Arts 6/8 ECHR), rating/council tax (e.g. Domblides v Listing Officer [2008] EWHC 3271 (Admin) - principles to be applied by valuation tribunal in council tax band appeals), mental health/community care and a broad range of local government matters (including standards board issues).
For a list of all cases, click the Cases heading above.
Planning
Zoë appears regularly in the courts on statutory planning challenges and judicial reviews, and has broad experience at inquiries acting for local authorities on a range of subject matters including housing and retail. She also has expertise in compulsory purchase matters and rights of way inquiries. In 2008 and 2009, Zoë was rated as one of the top planning barristers under the age of 35 in Planning Magazine’s annual survey. For a list of cases and inquiries, click the relevant headings above.
Environmental Law
Zoë’s developing environmental law practice involves appearing for and advising central government, local planning authorities, developers, individuals and NGOs at inquiries, in High Court challenges, and in the magistrates court on planning and environmental enforcement matters. She has experience of EIA and Habitats Directive matters in the planning process and acted for the Campaign for Better Transport in the judicial review of the proposed emissions-related congestion charge scheme.
Zoë read Classics at Downing College, Cambridge and did her CPE at City University. Zoë is a member of ALBA, the HRLA, PEBA and UKELA.
01 Nov 2008
22 Oct 2008
A case with wide implications for social security rights, homelessness and discrimination under the Convention
01 Jan 2008
29 Jul 2005
