Hannah Taylor accepts instructions across all areas of Chambers’ work with a particular interest in environmental, planning, public, and Court of Protection work. She completed her twelve-month pupillage (October 2023 – September 2024) under the supervision of Alexander Campbell, Nina Pindham, Ruchi Parekh and Riccardo Calzavara.
Notable instructions include:
- Munícipio de Mariana and Ors v BHP Group Plc and BHP Group Ltd (awaiting judgment on the first stage trial) – Acted for more than 620,000 Brazilian claimants in proceedings brought against BHP Group relating to the collapse of the Fundão Dam, considered to be the biggest environmental disaster in Brazil’s history. The first stage trial occurred between October 2024 – March 2025 (led by various, including Alain Choo Choy KC and Andrew Fulton KC).
- C.G. Fry & Son Limited v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities & Somerset Council (awaiting judgement) – Led by Estelle Dehon KC and Nina Pindham, Hannah represented Wildlife and Countryside Link, intervening in writing in the Supreme Court. The written submissions argued that the Court of Appeal’s interpretation of the Habitats Regulations was correct, by reference to the architecture of the planning system, the centrality of the precautionary principle to the Habitats regime, and the appropriate use of planning conditions.
- Beacon Cymru Group Limited v Mitchell – Led by Ranjit Bhose KC and Tara O’Leary, Hannah represented the contract – holders (i.e. tenants) in the trial of the counterclaims, consequent on the judgment in Coastal Housing Group v Mitchell [2024] EWHC 2831 (CH) where the Divisional Court confirmed that rent is not payable by contract- holders if and so long as their landlords have failed to provide them with a copy of an electrical condition report (“ECR”) for their home. The contract-holders brought counterclaims for restitution, seeking repayment of rent during the period when they had not received copies of their ECRs, on the basis that they were unaware that rent was not payable.
Hannah holds a 1st class degree in law from the University of Oxford. She was awarded a full scholarship to study the BCL at Oxford where she achieved a Distinction, focusing primarily on Environmental Law and Human Rights Law.
Expertise
- Planning and Environment
Hannah Taylor is keen to build up a planning and environmental practice, with a particular interest in environmental work.
Notable instructions include:
- Munícipio de Mariana and Ors v BHP Group Plc and BHP Group Ltd (awaiting judgment on the first stage trial) – Acted for more than 620,000 Brazilian claimants in proceedings brought against BHP Group relating to the collapse of the Fundão Dam, considered to be the biggest environmental disaster in Brazil’s history. The first stage trial occurred between October 2024 – March 2025 (led by various, including Alain Choo Choy KC and Andrew Fulton KC).
- G. Fry & Son Limited v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities & Somerset Council (awaiting judgment) – Led by Estelle Dehon KC and Nina Pindham, Hannah represented Wildlife and Countryside Link, intervening in writing in the Supreme Court. The written submissions argued that the Court of Appeal’s interpretation of the Habitats Regulations was correct, by reference to the architecture of the planning system, the centrality of the precautionary principle to the Habitats regime, and the appropriate use of planning conditions.
- Luton And District Association For the Control of Aircraft Noise v Secretary of State for Transport (ongoing) – Led by Estelle Dehon KC and Ruchi Parekh, representing a community action group in a challenge to the decision by the Secretary of State to grant a development consent order for the proposed expansion of Luton Airport.
During pupillage, Hannah assisted Nina Pindham with:
- Advising local authorities on planning applications, EIA development, minerals development, and various forms of enforcement action including enforcement appeals.
- Advising statutory water and sewerage undertakers on statutory powers and obligations under the Water Industry Act 1991.
- Research in connection with HS2, including legal issues arising in connection with compulsory purchase powers.
- Drafting the submissions for a successful application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal in R (Pickering Fishery Association by Martin Smith) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, concerning the interpretation of the Water Framework Directive.
- Providing comprehensive advice concerning the Biodiversity Net Gain regime.
- Drafting a Statement of Facts and Grounds and Reply in a judicial review challenge to the grant of planning permission for a large residential development on a number of grounds including heritage, the EIA regime, and the Habitats Regulations 2017.
- Researching and drafting part of an amicus brief submitted to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights relating to the request for an Advisory Opinion by Chile and Colombia about state obligations with regards to climate change and human rights.
- Cornerstone Climate Month 2025: Free training webinars exploring climate litigation, net‑zero, ecocide, and much more21 Aug 2025
- Tomorrow: Inter-American Court of Human Rights is releasing its long-awaited Advisory Opinion on the Climate Emergency and Human Rights02 Jul 2025
- Major nature charity intervenes in CG Fry Supreme Court appeal being heard today 17 Feb 2025
- Jeremy Ogilvie-Harris and Hannah Taylor join Cornerstone Barristers as tenants01 Oct 2024
- Cornerstone pupils Jeremy Ogilvie-Harris and Hannah Taylor are now accepting instructions02 Apr 2024
- UKELA seminar series on Water Regulation begins with Nina Pindham and Hannah Taylor09 Feb 2024
- Court of Protection
Hannah has experience acting for Local Authorities in health and welfare matters in the Court of Protection. She has experience both in proceedings challenging a deprivation of liberty under s.21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (‘MCA 2005’), and in proceedings under s.16 of the MCA 2005 involving issues of residence and care.
During her pupillage under the supervision of Alexander Campbell, Hannah gained experience of a wide range of health and welfare cases in the Court of Protection.
For example, during her first six months of pupillage Hannah assisted with, and gained experience of:
- Section 16 proceedings which involved an issue concerning the extent the Court of Protection’s jurisdiction when P is also subject to the regime under the Mental Health Act 1983.
- Section 16 proceedings in a hoarding case, dealing with an issue about when it was in P’s best interests to be informed of the proceedings.
- Various proceedings where there was a dispute about P’s mental capacity.
- Multiple first hearings in s.21A proceedings.
- Assisted with researching the relevant legal framework about whether it was in P’s best interests to be administered a vaccine in s.16 proceedings.
- Housing
Led by Ranjit Bhose KC and Tara O’Leary, Hannah represented the contract-holders (i.e. tenants) in the trial of the counterclaims in Beacon Cymru Group Limited v Mitchell. The counterclaims were consequent on the judgment in Coastal Housing Group v Mitchell [2024] EWHC 2831 (CH) where the Divisional Court confirmed that rent is not payable by contract-holders if and so long as their landlords have failed to obtain an electrical condition report for their home or to provide a copy to them. The contract-holders brought counterclaims for restitution, seeking repayment of rent during the period when they had not received copies of their ECRs, on the basis that they were unaware that rent was not payable.
Hannah has appeared in the High Court acting for a local authority resisting an application for permission to apply for a judicial review in relation to the exercise of the local authority’s discretion under s.188(3) Housing Act 1996. Hannah has also advised a local authority in relation to a proposed judicial review of a banding decision.
Hannah regularly appears in the county courts in various different housing matters. In particular, Hannah has:
- Drafted particulars of claim seeking possession under Ground 7A and Ground 14 of the Housing Act 1988, in a case of serious anti-social behaviour.
- Appeared for housing associations seeking injunctions under s.1 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
- Acted for local authorities and housing associations in a number of cases in which possession was sought on the ground that the tenant had lost security of tenure by unlawfully subletting the property.
- Obtained a closure order for a local authority.
- Acted for a local authority seeking possession under Ground 15A, Housing Act 1985.
- Appeared for local authorities and housing associations in possession proceedings on the ground of rent arrears.
- Obtained a gas access injunction for a housing association.
During her pupillage, Hannah also assisted with drafting a skeleton argument in a s.204 appeal, and assisted with preparing summary grounds of resistance in a challenge to a Housing Needs Assessment.
- Jeremy Ogilvie-Harris and Hannah Taylor join Cornerstone Barristers as tenants01 Oct 2024
- Cornerstone pupils Jeremy Ogilvie-Harris and Hannah Taylor are now accepting instructions02 Apr 2024
- Making conscientious and lawful out of borough offers of accommodation under Part 7 of the Housing Act 199626 Feb 2024
- Licensing
Hannah welcomes instructions in all areas of Licensing Law.
During pupillage, Hannah assisted with the preparation of a sentencing note following a conviction for licensing offences under the Housing Act 2004. Hannah also gained experience of a case seeking an order for judgment on debts claimed for licensing offences under the Housing Act 2004.
- Information Law
Hannah welcomes instructions in all areas of Information Law. During pupillage, Hannah assisted Ruchi Parekh with an advice concerning articles 6(1)(e) and 6(1)(f) of the UK GDPR.
- Property
Hannah welcomes instructions in Property Law. During her pupillage, Hannah assisted with a complex easements case.