James Neill

Call: 2006

James' practice spans the full scope of public law, with particular expertise in planning and environmental, public procurement and subsidy control matters.

Contact Practice Managers

Practice summary

Planning

Environment

Public and Administrative

Cross-practice

Practice Summary

James is ranked in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 most recent directory guides as a leading junior in public procurement law.

He joined Landmark Chambers from Allen & Overy, where he spent five years focussing on commercial judicial review, planning and environmental, procurement litigation and international arbitration, particularly in the renewable energy, regulated utilities and infrastructure sectors.

Prior to joining the Bar, James worked in the House of Lords in the Opposition Whips Office as the lead researcher in constitutional and legal affairs, working with the Shadow Front Bench and Shadow Lord Chancellor. He also served with the Coldstream Guards on a number of operational tours, during which time he trained and qualified for the Bar.

Planning

Ranked in the Directories as a leading junior, James is described by Legal 500 as “great to work with and a systematic thinker” (Legal 500, 2023).

He appears regularly in the Planning Court, at public inquiries and local plan examinations on behalf of developers, local planning authorities, major utilities companies, public interest and campaign groups and private parties in planning and environmental matters. He also regularly acts in commercial disputes in the Technology and Construction Court in relation to development projects.

His practice covers all areas of planning and environmental law, with particular specialisms in residential development, employment and office development,  waste, Green Belt, leisure and recreational development, Habitats and EIA, ecology, heritage, flood risk, CIL and section 106 agreements.

He has acted and continued to act and advise local authorities in relation to the preparation and promotion of their local plans, including acting for the South Downs National Park Authority in their successful promotion of their local plan.

Recent case highlights include:

  • Acting for a local authority in relation to a major regional recreational and tourism facility in the south of England (the Bournemouth artificial surf lagoon inquiry) in a local inquiry
  • Acting for a developer in the successful allocation of a mixed-use scheme in Islington as part of the Islington local plan
  • Appearing in the Court of Appeal in a contractual dispute concerning an overage clause as part of a development agreement
  • Acting for a group of Parish Councils in successfully objecting to a major storage and freight facility in the East of England
  • Successfully representing a group of objectors to a garden village proposal in the Green Belt in Kent.
  • Successfully defending a multi-million pound commercial claim in the Technology and Construction Court against a local authority in relation to the residential development of the Old Sarum Airfield.

Before joining Landmark, James was part of the Global Environment Team at Allen & Overy LLP where he worked on various contentious planning and environmental matters in relation to a number of major national infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure

James’ major projects work has included:

  • Bristol Port Company. Junior counsel for BPC in their successful promotion of the Bristol Deep Sea Container Terminal project, consent for which was granted in February 2010.
  • British Airports Authority. Junior counsel to BAA on the Heathrow Airtrack Project, a £500m scheme to provide direct rail access from London Waterloo to Heathrow Airport.
  • London Underground Limited Victoria Station Upgrade. Junior counsel for London Underground Limited in the successful promotion of the £750m Victoria Station Upgrade project, consent for which was granted in 2010 following a public inquiry.
  • Royal Mail Group. Advisory work regarding an extensive planning audit of the Post Office property portfolio.
  • Central Bedfordshire Council. Advice in relation to sustainability appraisal and the draft Luton and South Bedfordshire Core Strategy.
  • Cambridgeshire County Council. Represented Cambridgeshire County Council in its objection to the A14 motorway upgrade scheme from Huntingdon to Cambridge.

Environment

Some of James' specific areas of expertise in the field of planning and environmental include:

  • Waste, pollution and statutory nuisance. He has experience in waste and pollution matters, including private actions for nuisance and negligence in relation to contaminated land. He has regularly appeared for both local authorities and corporate defendants in relation to noise abatement notices, appeals and prosecutions. Clients for whom he has worked in relation to contaminated land and pollution (including remediation notice issues) have included corporate and public sector clients including Tesco Stores Limited, Southern Water, and Thames Water.
  • European environmental legislation. James has particular expertise regarding the respective assessment regimes required under the Habitats, EIA and SEA Directives. He has advised both large scale developers and third party objectors in relation to compliance issues arising from European environmental issues. He has specific expertise in relation to mitigation licences required under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations. He has also advised in relation to professional negligence issues arising from an environmental consultancy and mitigation work.

Environment

James' expertise in the environment is closely linked to his Planning Law practice.

Some of his specific areas of expertise in the field of planning and environmental include:

  • Waste, pollution and statutory nuisance. He has experience in waste and pollution matters, including private actions for nuisance and negligence in relation to contaminated land. He has regularly appeared for both local authorities and corporate defendants in relation to noise abatement notices, appeals and prosecutions. Clients for whom he has worked in relation to contaminated land and pollution (including remediation notice issues) have included corporate and public sector clients including Tesco Stores Limited, Southern Water, and Thames Water.
  • European environmental legislation. James has particular expertise regarding the respective assessment regimes required under the Habitats, EIA and SEA Directives. He has advised both large scale developers and third party objectors in relation to compliance issues arising from European environmental issues. He has specific expertise in relation to mitigation licences required under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations. He has also advised in relation to professional negligence issues arising from an environmental consultancy and mitigation work.

James has extensive experience of acting for and advising claimants, including significant commercial clients, and defendants in judicial and statutory review claims in the higher courts, both as junior and sole counsel. Significant environmental public law cases that he has been involved in include:

  • Dillner v Sheffield City Council [2016] EWHC 945 (Admin) – environmental judicial review of the Sheffield Highways Streets Ahead PFI contract (acting for Amey Highways Limited).
  • Borealis Polyolefine GmbH v Bundemisiter fur Land-und Forstwirtschaft Case C-191/14 and C-192/14 (April 2016) – preliminary reference in the CJEU regarding the lawfulness of the European Commission’s Cross-Sectoral Correction Factor.
  • R (Smech Properties Limited) v Runnymede Borough Council [2015] EWHC 823 (Admin); and [2016] EWCA Civ 42 – third party challenge to mixed development in the Surrey green belt.
  • R (Total Lindsey Oil Refinery Limited) v DECC CO/279/2014(October 2014). Acting for Total in the EU Emission Trading Scheme judicial review.
  • R (Prideaux) v FCC Environment UK Ltd [2013] EWHC 1054 (Admin) – advising a lender’s consortium regarding a third party challenge to the Buckinghamshire County Council’s grant of planning permission for the Greatmoor Energy from Waste project.
  • Cornwall Waste Forum St Dennis Branch v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2012] EWCA Civ 379 – advising a lender’s consortium regarding a third party challenge to the grant of planning permission for the Cornwall Energy from Waste project.
  • R (Pampisford Estates) v SSCLG [2010] EWHC 131 (Admin). Acted for the Claimant in a judicial review challenge of a screening decision of a renewable energy project.
  • R (Mageean) v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (2010). [2010] EWHC 2652 (Admin). Acted for an interested party in a judicial review challenge with regards to a grant of consent for a wind turbine in an AONB.
  • R (Boggis) v Natural England [2009] EWCA Civ 1061. Represented the claimant in the judicial review of an SSSI designation on the Suffolk coast by Natural England. This Court of Appeal case attracted considerable media attention due to its implications for coastal landowners trying to protect their property from rising sea-levels and increased erosion rates.
  • MA Holdings Limited v George Wimpey UK Limited [2008] EWCA Civ 12. Acted as junior counsel for a third party developer in a successful application for permission to appeal High Court judgment quashing a local plan under section 287 TCPA 1990.
  • Kingsley v Highways Agency (Lands Tribunal) (August 2010). Represented the successful claimant in interlocutory proceedings in the Lands Tribunal concerning the validity of a certificate of appropriate alternative development. The case was one of the first of its kind to consider the circumstances in which an application for permission to apply for a certificate of appropriate alternative development under section 15 LCA 1961 should be granted.
  • R (Grovendale Corporation Inc) v Network Rail Infrastructure Limited. Acted for a major London landowner against Network Rail in a successful judicial review claim against the service of a notice to treat in respect of land compulsorily acquired for the Thameslink development at Blackfriars station.
  • Magalia Investments Ltd v SSCLG and Ealing Borough Council. James acted for a commercial freeholder in a successful s.288 claim concerning an advertisement consent appeal which had significant implications in respect of break clauses in the lease of the upper storeys of the property.

Environmental Regulation

Environmental and Regulatory Litigation (Civil and Criminal)

James’ environmental expertise spans both civil and criminal work, for both prosecuting authorities and defendants. Significant environmental litigation and investigations in which he has been involved include:

  • Environment Agency v Magnox Electric Limited. He appeared for the EA in criminal proceedings against the operator of the Bradwell Nuclear Power Station for various breaches of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 resulting in the radioactive contamination of the Bradwell estuary.
  • Environment Agency v Biolabs UK Limited. James assisted leading counsel in the prosecution of a factory operator for major breaches of the 1999 COMAH regulations, following a joint investigation by the HSE and EA into a fire at chemical works which led to a major pollution incident.
  • Environment Agency v Albany Homes Limited/ “Operation Nitrogen”. Advising regarding an investigation into a number of companies regarding the remediation of contaminated land and illegal disposal of waste in North London.
  • Cambridgeshire County Council v Arriva Plc and others (advising in relation to a groundwater contamination claim in the Technology and Construction Court).
  • Southern Water v BP Oil UK Limited. Advising Southern Water in respect of a groundwater contamination claim in the Technology and Construction Court.
  • Chichester District Council v Kier Services Limited. Acting for a major national property services contractor in a prosecution brought under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 arising out of an illegal waste dumping operation carried out by a sub-contractor.
  • East Devon DC v Dunkerswell Race Track. Representing a company owned by Nigel Mansell in preliminary proceedings in relation to noise nuisance arising from a go-kart track in East Devon.

James has experience of wider regulatory matters, primarily in health and safety and consumer safety matters (including inquest work). Particular cases include:

  • Dorset Fire Authority v Total Waste Limited. James acted for a director of a large paper recycling facility charged in his personal capacity for various breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 200. The case included legal argument on the power of the courts to award costs from central funds under section 16 POA 1985 in circumstances where a defendant company has been substituted as defendant in place of a director.
  • Health and Safety Executive v Edeco Services Limited. Assisting in the case preparation of a prosecution of an energy company in relation to a fatality at an off-shore gas storage facility.
  • R v Klein (Lewes Crown Court). Junior counsel assisting in gross negligence manslaughter and health safety prosecution arising from a fatality at a warehouse in West Sussex.
  • R v Team Waste Management Ltd and Taylor. Appeared for the Crown in a health and safety prosecution in respect of a fatality during a waste recycling operation.
  • Health and Safety Executive v West Norfolk District Council. Representing the HSE in criminal proceedings of a local authority arising out of a fatal accident on council-owned land in Norfolk.
  • Health and Safety Executive v West End Cold Stores Limited. James acted for a defendant company in relation to an HSE prosecution arising from a serious accident at a packing plant in Lincolnshire.
  • Essex County Council v PMS International UK Limited. Instructed by a local authority in multiple proceedings (criminal and civil) against a major UK importer for breaches of consumer safety legislation.
  • Food Standards Agency v Romford Halal Ltd. Instructed by the FSA in relation to various breaches of food hygiene legislation by a North London abattoir.

Public and Administrative

James was the lead public law associate in Allen & Overy’s Corporate and Commercial Litigation Group between 2011 and 2007, where he worked on a number of judicial review and constitutional challenges in both the UK and Commonwealth jurisdictions. Cases and advisory work include:

  • R (Western Sahara Campaign Group) v HMRC and DEFRA [2015] EWHC 2898 (Admin). Acting for the national Moroccan agricultural trade association and the Government of Morocco in relation to an intervention in the challenge to the EU-Moroccan Agricultural Trade Agreement (currently before the CJEU).
  • R (Leyton Orient FC) v London Legacy Development Corporation [2013] UKHC 3653 (Admin). Advising the London Legacy Development in relation to procurement challenge brought by Leyton Orient Football Club to the Olympic Stadium procurement competition.
  • R) Total v DECC CO/279/2014. Acting for Total in the EU Emission Trading Scheme judicial review.
  • British Gas Trading Limited v OFGEM. Acting for Scottish Power in the electricity distribution price control challenge under the Electricity Act 1989 before the Competition and Markets Authority.
  • O v SSHD 2016 [2016] UKSC 19: acting for BID in a Supreme Court intervention regarding the application of policy regarding. detention of the mentally ill in immigration detention.
  • Competition and Markets Authority Energy Market Investigation: advising in relation to the CMA’s 2016 Energy Market Report.
  • R (PMI) v Association for Project Management [2016] EWCA Civ 21: acting for a UK trade association in relation to a judicial review of the Privy Council regarding a contentious application for a Royal Charter.
  • R (May) v Chartered Institute for Management Accountants [2013] EWHC 1574. JR brought by member of CIMA’s Council against a professional conduct decision.
  • Advising regarding classification of pharmaceutical productions under the UK Drug Tariff Classification scheme.
  • Galen v Department of Health. Acting for Galen/Almac Group in a dispute with the NHS over a price control decision under the NHS Pharmaceutical Products Price Regulation Scheme.
  • Advising a telecoms operator regarding the Bahamas Utilities Regulation regarding a mobile network services operator’s licence.
  • British Caribbean Bank v A-G of Belize : challenge to expropriation of a $40m US dollar loan from a Caribbean banking group to the Belize telecoms utility provider, including a major constitutional appeal before the Caribbean Court of Justice.
  • Belize Bank Limited v Central Bank of Belize: multiple judicial review challenges to financial regulatory decisions taken by financial regulator in Belize.
  • Dillner v Sheffield City Council [2016] EWHC 945 (Admin) – environmental judicial review of the Sheffield Highways Streets Ahead PFI contract (acting for Amey Highways Limited).
  • Borealis Polyolefine GmbH v Bundemisiter fur Land-und Forstwirtschaft Case C-191/14 and C-192/14 (April 2016) – preliminary reference in the CJEU regarding the lawfulness of the European Commission’s Cross-Sectoral Correction Factor decision under the ETS Directive.

Procurement and Subsidy Control

James has considerable experience in high value UK procurement litigation in both the Administrative and Technology and Construction Court. In 2022 he was instructed in two of the most significant public procurement cases of the year: Atos v Met Office (a claim challenging the award of the Met Office supercomputer contract) and Camelot UK v Gambling Commission (a challenge to the award of the 4th UK National Lottery). He is ranked in Chambers and Partners 2022 as a leading junior in public procurement law.

He has experience in advising on all aspects of the UK and EU procurement regime covering the Public Contracts, Utilities Contracts, Concession Contracts and Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations. He also regularly advises on health services contracting and commissioning issues for both NHS ICBs, PCTs and providers. He also have extensive experience advising local government on complex and high value procurement exercises. Significant litigation and advisory work includes:

  • R (Leyton Orient FC) v London Legacy Development Corporation. Advising the London Legacy Development in relation to procurement challenge brought by Leyton Orient Football Club to the Olympic Stadium procurement competition.
  • Covanta v Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority MWDA. Acting for SITA UK in this public procurement challenge.
  • Advising in relation to the High Court proceedings challenging the decision by Norfolk County Council to proceed with the Saddlebow Energy from Waste project (R(De Whalley) v Norfolk County Council).
  • Advising a major outdoor advertising agency in a procurement dispute with TfL regarding an advertising agreement covering London’s transport network.
  • Advising several major international pharmaceutical companies in relation to NHS procurement issues.
  • Advising on procurement issues in relation to the following projects/contracts, including:
    • Crossrail 1 Rolling Stock
    • Thames Tideway construction contract
    • Bradford & Calderdale Energy from Waste EPC Contract
  • Kent and Medway NHS Stroke Services Reconfiguration.
  • Surrey Energy from Waste EPC contract.
  • Various microgeneration and renewable energy schemes.
  • Ministry of Justice Rehabilitation Programme: advising in relation to a major procurement competition for out-sourcing of rehabilitation services.

James is a Member of UK’s Procurement Law Association. He is chair of Landmark Chambers’ Procurement Practice Group.

Cross-practice

Landmark's barristers often work at the intersection of our core practice areas; bringing a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to bear on a particular dispute or issue facing a client.

Our focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome for our client. By viewing the client's objectives in a holistic way - and not purely through the lens of one rigidly-defined legal area - we deliver the best possible advice and representation in complex matters that engage multiple specialist areas of law. 

Whether it's providing support as an individual cross-practice barrister or a cross-disciplinary team of Landmark counsel, we are able to draw on an outstanding array of complementary skillsets and knowledge bases. This often achieves a better result than instructing multiple barristers from different specialist sets. This also improves the quality of client care through increased levels of communication, quicker response times, and a coordinated approach to clerking and fees, made possible by our team-based cross-practice approach.

Please contact our practice management team for more information.

ADR

James represented corporate clients and States in both investment treaty and commercial arbitrations and in related litigation in various Commonwealth jurisdictions.

He has experience of arbitrations conducted under the major arbitration rules (including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, UNCITRAL rules) particularly in the energy, telecoms, infrastructure and construction sectors. He also has experience proceedings related to arbitration-related disputes before English and other Commonwealth courts, including anti-suit injunctions and enforcement of arbitral awards.

Published cases in which he has been involved include:

  • Karkey v Islamic Republic of PakistanKarkey Karadeniz Uretim SA v Islamic Republic of Pakistan (ICSID Case No. ARB/13/1) – US$1bn claim against Pakistan by Turkish energy company arising out of the Pakistan Government’s temporary power procurement programme in 2011/2012.
  • British Caribbean Bank Limited v Government of Belize (PCA Case No. 2010-18) – investment treaty claim and related domestic constitutional and judicial review litigation arising out of the Belize Government’s utilities nationalisation programme between 2009 and 2011.
  • Dunkeld International Investment Ltd v Government of Belize (PCA Case No. 2010 -13) – an arbitration commenced under the UK-Belize BIT relating to the nationalisation of Telemedia, a telecommunication company.
  • Zuniga et al v Attorney General of Belize [2014] 2 CCJ : challenge to constitutionality of anti-arbitration legislation.

Public Works Projects

Specialisms

Infrastructure

Environment

Specialisms

Environmental Regulation

Specialisms

Procurement and Subsidy Control

Specialisms

ADR

Public Works Projects

"
James Neill is very knowledgeable and easy to work with."

Research for Chambers UK Bar

Chambers Top Ranked UK Bar 2024 Uk leading juniors 2024 WWL Government 2022 Rosette

Qualifications and achievements

Qualifications

  • MA (Oxon) Classics Double First (1995 – 1999)
  • Royal Military Academy Sandhurst – 2000
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Law (UWE) (Merit) (2002 – 2004)
  • Bar Vocational Course, BPP London (2004 – 2006)

Scholarships

  • Fitzgerald Scholar (Exeter College, Oxford)
  • Profumo Scholar (Inner Temple)

Memberships

  • Administrative Law Bar Association
  • ICC Young Arbitrators Forum
  • Procurement Law Association
  • United Kingdom Constitutional Law Association
  • United Kingdom Environmental Law Association

Recommendations

Practice Managers

Contact our friendly and helpful Practice Managers for more information about our barristers and services or to make an enquiry.

Michael Gooch new

Michael Gooch

Senior Practice Manager

020 7421 1305

Jonathan Barley new

Jonathan Barley

Practice Manager

020 7421 2480

Noel Pudney new

Noel Pudney

Assistant Practice Manager

020 7421 1398

Download your shortlist

Download All Download icon