Jackson Sirica joined Cornerstone Barristers in September 2023 and accepts instructions across all of Chambers’ practice areas. Jackson is also a member of the Attorney General’s “Junior Junior” scheme.
Jackson is developing a strong practice across Chambers’ core practice areas, with a particular emphasis on planning, property, and information law.
Jackson holds 1st class degrees in law from the University of Edinburgh (LLB) and the University of Cambridge (LLM). He was awarded the Lillian Knowles Prize and Mary Higgins Scholarship from Girton College in recognition of outstanding performance in law. He was called to the bar in 2021 by Lincoln’s Inn as a Lord Denning scholar. He was graded “Outstanding” in his bar course and received the Buchanan Prize from Lincoln’s Inn.
Expertise
- Public Law and Judicial Review
Jackson Sirica has appeared for the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD) defending applications for permission to bring judicial review claims in the Upper Tribunal.
These include:
- A permission application challenging a decision by the SSHD to certify an asylum claim as clearly unfounded under s.94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002;
- A permission application challenging an entry clearance decision on Article 8 ECHR and procedural fairness grounds.
- Planning, Environment and Compulsory Purchase
Jackson welcomes instructions from developers, local authorities, and central government across the spectrum of planning, environment, and compulsory purchase law.
He has been instructed – both led and unled – on significant public inquiries in relation to both development proposals and enforcement matters.
He combines his inquiry and litigation practice with a strong advisory practice on planning law and related issues. His advisory practice, by way of example, has included advice to a local authority on the lawful uses of funds derived from financial contributions made pursuant to an agreement under section 106 of the TCPA 1990.
Jackson also has a particular interest in compulsory purchase law. He has recently been instructed by a local authority (led by Harriet Townsend KC) in a complex, long-running, and high value dispute on land valuation in the Upper Tribunal.
- Property
Jackson has a strong practice in property law encompassing both litigation and advisory work. He has represented (led by Philip Coppel KC and instructed by Thomson Snell & Passmore) a commercial housebuilder in high-value proceedings in the High Court. The case raised complex issues of contractual interpretation; misrepresentation; breach of trust; and interpretation of planning legislation (including section 106 of the TCPA 1990). Jackson’s client was successful (in significant part) on an application for summary judgment in those proceedings.
Jackson also regularly appears unled in the First-tier Tribunal on property matters. His recent instructions have included a complex application for a determination of breach of a long residential lease under section 168 of the CLRA 2002. His client was successful in that application. He has also appeared in right to manage (RTM) proceedings and in a service charge dispute, the latter resolving successfully through the FTT’s mediation scheme.
Jackson also regularly advises clients on thorny issues of property law relating to rights of way; land ownership; debt enforcement against real property; and various other issues. He appears frequently in the County Court in housing and property matters. In housing law, he recently helped a housing association client secure possession and an unlawful profit order of more than £40,000 following proved allegations of housing fraud.
- Licensing
Jackson Sirica welcomes instructions across all areas of licensing law, and acts for both licensees and local authorities. He recently appeared for a local authority in the Magistrates’ Court, where, following witness evidence, the Court upheld the LA’s decision to revoke a license on “fit and proper” grounds. He also assisted a major private-hire business in obtaining a license to continue operating.
- Commercial and Regulatory
Jackson has a strong interest in commercial law. He has a 1st class LLM in commercial law from the University of Cambridge and is developing a practice in this area. During his time at the Department for International Trade (as it then was) and the Department for Business and Trade, Jackson gained expertise in various aspects of international trade, insolvency, and corporate law.
At Cornerstone, he acted (led by Philip Coppel KC) for a commercial developer in long-running High Court litigation relating to the interpretation of clauses in a s.106 agreement.
- Housing
Jackson has a strong practice in both property and housing law. He regularly advises local authorities on complex issues of property law relating to rights of way; land ownership; debt enforcement against real property; and various other issues. He appears regularly in the County Court in housing and property matters.
- Information Law
Jackson has acted for both private and public sector clients in information law matters relating to data protection and freedom of information. He has acted for a local council in proceedings challenging a decision of the Information Commissioner in the FTT. He has also represented a company in a claim for alleged breach of data protection legislation.
While Jackson acts for both private and public sector clients, he has a strong understanding of freedom of information issues from the perspective of public bodies, having assisted, during his time at the Government Legal Department, in advising on these issues.
Jackson also spearheads Chambers’ popular “Building Blocks of Data Protection” webinar series, which provides training on the fundamental aspects of data protection.
- Inquests and Inquiries
Jackson welcomes instructions to represent clients at coroners’ inquests. He recently appeared in a 4-day jury inquest following the tragic death of a care home patient. The case concerned difficult issues of causation, unlawful killing, and the appropriateness of a report to prevent future deaths. Jackson represented the local authority. Following the inquest, the jury returned a narrative verdict of (to summarise) accidental death. No report to prevent future deaths was made.