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 (ongoing) – acting 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 worst environmental disaster in Brazil’s history. The trial is listed for October 2024 (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 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.
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 (ongoing) – acting 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 worst environmental disaster in Brazil’s history. The trial is listed for October 2024 in the Technology and Construction Court (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.
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.
- 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 is keen to build up a practice in Court of Protection work.
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. Hannah regularly assisted with drafting documents 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, care, and contact arrangements.
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
During her second six months of pupillage, Hannah regularly appeared 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 a housing association seeking a without notice injunction 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.
- 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.
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About Hannah
- Awards
- Red Lion Chambers Conference Prize – The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2023)
- No5 Chambers Professional Ethics Prize – The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2023)
- Maitland Chambers Prize for Civil Litigation – The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2023)
- Lord Denning Bar Course Scholarship – The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn (2022)
- Hackney BCL Scholarship – Wadham College, Oxford (2021)
- Undergraduate Sidgwick Prize – Corpus Christi College, Oxford (2020)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Prize for best overall candidate in the Law Moderation Exams – University of Oxford (2019)
- Memberships
- Planning and Environmental Bar Association
- UK Environmental Law Association
- Court of Protection Bar Association
- Education
- PGDip in Bar Practice (Distinction) – Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2022-2023)
- BCL (Distinction) – University of Oxford (2021-2022)
- BA in Jurisprudence (First Class) – University of Oxford (2018-2021)
- Publications
- Notable Cases