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 and Environment
Jackson Sirica has appeared in the County Court prosecuting a breach of planning enforcement. As a member of the AG’s “Junior Junior” Scheme, he has also assisted the Government Legal Department in a disclosure exercise relating to judicial review of decision-making in the environmental law sphere. He has also provided training in planning inquiry procedure to local authorities as part of a larger team from Cornerstone.
During pupillage, Jackson gained significant experience in planning, environmental, and highways law.
This included:
- Assisting Dr Ashley Bowes in R (GOESA Ltd) v Eastleigh Borough Council and Southampton International Airport Ltd [2022] EWHC 1221 (Admin), in which the Claimant challenged the grant of planning permission for a runway extension at Southampton Airport.
- Assisting Dr Ashley Bowes in Muorah v Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government & Anor [2023] EWHC 285 (Admin), in which Neil Cameron KC (sitting as a deputy High Court Judge) held that it is an abuse of process for an appellant to bring or continue proceedings under s.289 of the Town and Country Planning Act where, due to bankruptcy, the cause of action under that section has vested in a trustee in bankruptcy.
- Assisting Ryan Kohli drafting advice on whether a piece of land was a highway, and the legal consequences of such a finding by a court.
- 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
At the Department for Business and Trade, Jackson spent six months advising on corporate and insolvency law. This included providing advice on numerous aspects of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, currently in Parliament. He also helped draft numerous statutory instruments in the commercial sphere. In self-employed practice, Jackson continues to assist the Government in the commercial and regulatory sphere as a member of the Attorney General’s “Junior Junior” Scheme.
- Property and Housing
Jackson Sirica has significant experience appearing in the county court in housing and property matters, and drafting for and advising local authorities and private clients on property issues. For example, he was successful recently in obtaining possession on behalf of the administrators of a deceased’s estate against a family member who alleged that an unexecuted will (naming him as sole beneficiary) provided a defence to possession.
He has advised on issues relating to conveyancing obligations and the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, and is instructed (as a junior) in a high-value property dispute in the High Court.
- Information Law
Jackson welcomes instructions across all areas of information law including the UK GDPR/DPA, Freedom of Information Act 2000, and Environmental Information Regulations.
Jackson has particular interest in civil litigation concerning alleged failures to comply with GDPR obligations, and has experience drafting pleadings in this area of law.
At the Department for Business and Trade, Jackson provided advice concerning the complex interplay between the Freedom of Information Act and the law of international trade.