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.
Before joining Chambers, Jackson trained at the Government Legal Department. During pupillage he gained significant experience in judicial review; planning; property; and housing law. He then spent a year at the Department for Business and Trade, where he advised on numerous areas of law, including freedom of information; company law and financial transparency; insolvency law; WTO law; and international investment law. He also advised on numerous aspects of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill.
Jackson also has appeared for the government in public and private law proceedings in the Upper Tribunal and Central London County Court.
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 is developing a strong practice in planning and environmental law. He has acted (led by senior members of chambers) for private sector clients including housebuilders and landowners in major planning inquiries involving both enforcement and the refusal of planning permission. He has particular expertise in the interpretation of agreements under s.106 of the TCPA 1990, having acted – led by Philip Coppel KC – in High Court litigation relating to the interpretation of one such agreement. In his own right, he has advised a local council on the lawful uses of funds generated from s.106 agreements. He also regularly appears in planning matters in the Magistrates’ court.
Jackson also has expertise in compulsory purchase. He has spoken on this topic at Chambers’ annual Planning Day in 2024, and is currently instructed by a local council (led by Harriet Townsend KC) in a valuation dispute in the Upper Tribunal.
- 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.
- Property and 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 First-tier Tribunal. 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 in government, 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.