Administrative & Public Law

Members of Old Square Chambers appear in some of the most significant and high-profile public law claims brought against the government, for both Claimants and Defendants. Our barristers are well-represented on Treasury Panels and a number have security clearance up to Developed Vetting level. Ben Collins QC acts a Special Advocate in high-profile national security proceedings.

Members of Old Square Chambers appear regularly in the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights, and have appeared in a wealth of reported cases. They are frequently instructed by individual and institutional claimants including human rights organisations, charities and trade unions; as well as by defendants including government departments, local authorities and other public sector bodies.

Our success in public law claims is often underpinned by expertise in overlapping fields of law. Old Square Chambers has vast experience in equality issues, and our barristers frequently appear in cases dealing with discrimination law, the Public Sector Equality Duty and the ECHR. We frequently provide advice and representation in judicial reviews of professional regulatory decisions, often although by no means exclusively in the health care sector. Members of chambers have considerable experience of inquests and public inquiries, and of public law challenges arising in those fields. In particular in the last decade, Old Square Chambers has had industry-leading involvement in Criminal Injuries Compensation work, with members having appeared in almost every major appeal in this field in recent years.

This area of law overlaps with our practice in Civil Liberties and Human Rights law.

Barristers specialising in Administrative & Public Law

Our expertise includes:

CICA and health & safety prosecutions
Education
Employment
Environment
Immigration
PI-related (inquests)
Professional discipline
Public inquiries
Regulation (NMC, GMC, HPC and police)

Fee charging model

There are various different fee charging models available and these will vary according to each individual case. Wherever possible costs will be agreed in writing prior to commencement of any work by the barrister. In cases that are unusually lengthy or complex, it may not be possible to agree a fixed fee for certain items of work. In those circumstances we will agree an appropriate hourly rate for the item of work.

One of the fee structures commonly used for Administrative and Public Law cases is fixed fee. This means that, wherever possible, we will quote a fee in advance of the work being carried out. For hearings we typically charge a brief fee which includes counsel’s preparation for the hearing and attendance at the first day of the hearing. A refresher fee will be charged for each subsequent sitting day.

Please see below estimates based on the ranges of fixed fees and brief fees for barristers at Old Square Chambers in ordinary Administrative & Pubic Law cases.

Item	Range of fees (estimate)
Hourly rate	£75 to £750 plus VAT
Written advice	£250 to £5,000 plus VAT
Advising in conference	£500 to £5,000 plus VAT
Brief fee for Case Management Hearing in London region	£500 to £5,000 plus VAT
Brief fee for 1 day hearing in London region	£1,000 to £15,000 plus VAT
Brief fee for 2 day hearing in London region	£2,000 to £220,000 plus VAT
Refresher fee	£500 to £6,000 plus VAT

Wherever possible, we will endeavour to achieve the timescales outlined, or any other reasonable timescales agreed at the time of accepting the instructions. Timescales may vary depending on factors such as barristers’ availability, the complexity of your case, the need for additional documents and the other side’s approach. Chambers will, wherever possible, endeavour to provide advice and representation that meets and exceeds the needs of our clients. Unforeseeable factors such as tribunal/court delays, cases overrunning, barrister illness and other factors outside of our control could cause delays. We will always endeavour to work with you to ensure we meet and exceed your expectations wherever possible. Where it is not possible, we will ensure we communicate clearly and regularly with you to guide you through any challenges.