James Findlay KC

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James Findlay KC, called 1984, is and for many years has been recognised in both Legal 500 and Chambers UK as a leading practitioner in the fields of planning and environment, local government, administrative and public, and licensing law. He was a previous Head of Chambers.

Chambers UK 2023 notes that “James is one of the very best planning advocates operating across the UK”. He habitually handles judicial reviews and statutory appeals at many of the highest courts in the UK, including the Supreme Court.

His practice also includes Compulsory Purchase, Commercial & Regulatory and Property work.

His client base is broad, including private developers, planning consultants, local authorities as well as individuals via direct access. He continues to be retained by Guildford BC, leading a team from Cornerstone Barristers, following successful adoption of their Local Plan. His practice is varied, from representing the NFU before Select Committees on HS2 to appearing at licensing hearings.

James was called as an Advocate in Scotland in 2008 and took silk there in 2017. He is Vice-Chair of Terra Firma Chambers and is Chair of the Scottish Planning, Local Government and Environmental Bar Group, and is recognised as a leading practitioner in Scotland in the Guides for similar areas of law as in England, Chambers UK 2023 identifying him as the leading counsel at the Scottish Bar on planning and Legal 500 2023 as the “top planning silk in Scotland”.

Supreme Court appearances include:

• Trump v Scottish Ministers [2015] UKSC 74
• Uprichard v Scottish Ministers [2013] UKSC 21
• Tesco Stores Ltd v Dundee City Council [2012] UKSC 13
• Welwyn Hatfield v SOSCLG [2011] UKSC 15, [2011] 2 A.C. 304
• Multilink Leisure Developments v North Lanarkshire Council [2010] UKSC 47
• R (Sacker) v West Yorkshire Coroner [2004] UKHL 11
• Al-Ameri v RBKC [2004] UKHL 4
• Birmingham v Oakley [2001] 1 A.C. 617

Expertise

Planning and Environment
James is rated in both Legal 500 and Chambers UK for planning in both England and Scotland. Comments in recent years include: “He can immediately identify the key issue in the case and his judgment on the prospect of succeeding, advancing or resisitng is very, very good”, and “He is a skilful cross-examiner. He doesn’t bang on the table; he just takes witnesses apart piece by piece in a very subtle way”.

James is separately recognised by Legal 500 for his expertise in environmental law. In the recent years, comments include: “very approachable whilst being tactical, assertive and realistic as to outcomes”, “a widely respected silk …held in high regard for his waste expertise” and “he is a strong advocate with good sense, he is quite canny”.

Recently, he has promoted applications relating to retail developments, quarries, wind-turbines and housing. He has a particular expertise in all aspects of wind farms, including noise. He has acted regularly for Café Nero in retail cases and has recently advised Tesco on several retail challenges. He also has recent experience of quarry and incinerator appeals.

He also acts for local planning authorities on a wide variety of matters, currently leading a team for Guildford in its second round of plan making, having successfully assisted its part 1 Plan to adoption.

James has strong expertise in the EIA/SEA regimes, and the Habitats Regulations, for example acting in Morge litigation for Hampshire CC and for the RSPB in a challenge to a large offshore wind farm. He has recently advised Hertfordshire in respect of its phosphate credit scheme. Likewise, the historic environment, including several cases in or adjacent to world heritage sites.

He has considerable experience in High Court (and appellate) planning and environment work, including PCOs.
Public Law and Judicial Review
James is ranked in Legal 500 as a leading Administrative Law and Human Rights silk. he has also been recognised by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as a leading practitioner in local government work for many years, both as a junior and now as a silk. He has been described as “first class” noted for giving “no-nonsense, concise advice”.

As well as planning and environment, local government and licensing work James has been involved in a very wide variety of other areas of public law work covering pharmacies, coroners, pensions, local government re-organisation, Council Tax and elections. He has advised Ofgem on matters relating to the electricity industry and appeared for the NFU before various Parliamentary Committees on the HS2 and its extension.

He has a particular expertise in Judicial Review, including PCOs, and considerable experience of Human Rights litigation.

Local Authority Governance and Services

James has advised on and/or appeared in a very wide range of matters concerning local authorities, including public procurement, social services, housing, trade descriptions, health and safety at work, local authority powers and duties, local authority constitution and internal government (including elections), transfer of undertakings, highways, rights of way, commons and village greens, local government re-organisation and Councillor conduct.
Licensing
James is recognised in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading licensing silk. Comments in recent years include: “A leader in his field” and “prized … for his wide-ranging and detailed knowledge of licensing law and his ability to tailor his approach to the needs of the client” and “an intelligent and courteous advocate, who is softly spoken but persuasive”.

He has undertaken a significant number of cases for Westminster City Council and he successfully upheld its Stress Area Policies under the Licensing Act 2003. He has acted for a wide range of private clients, other local and police authorities, e.g. Nottingham, Essex and Cambridge Police.

James has expertise in gambling and betting as well as entertainment licensing, including sex licensing.

He has undertaken extensive work involving hackney carriages and private hire vehicles both for the trade and authorities. He was invited as an expert to the Law Commission working party considering the issue of reform of the statutory framework for such vehicles. He appeared in the recent Call a Cab case for the successful appellant.

He recently acted in Waltham Forest v Hussein, a housing licensing case which considered the relevance of previous convictions, and in 2020/2021 has acted for Uber and AirBnB.
Commercial and Regulatory
- Overview
- Cases
James has experience of building disputes, professional negligence claims against solicitors/surveyors, arbitrations and general contract work ranging from disputes about oil wells in Azerbaijan to fake Arsenal football shirts and computer contracts to debt recovery.

Recently he has acted for a Royal College seeking to protect its intellectual property rights and a government organisation in a claim against a multinational computer company.

James has also conducted a number of high-value arbitrations and appeared in several mediations. He has also acted for several claimants in Lands Tribunal cases concerning losses caused by gas and electricity lines crossing private land.

He has undertaken a number of cases concerning pharmaceutical licensing and police pensions and has in the past appeared before a number of professional disciplinary tribunals as well as a number of vehicle licensing matters.
- Scottish Widows Pc & others v Cherwell District Council & others [2013] EWHC 3968 (Admin)01 Jan 2018
- Assura Pharmacy Ltd, R (on the application of) v National Health Services Litigation Authority (Family Health Services Appeal Unit) [2008] EWCA Civ 135601 Jan 2018
Property
- Overview
- Cases
James advises on all aspects of property matters, including tenancies, rights of way, easements, commons and village greens.

He has particular experience in Compulsory Purchase work, including compensation work. He has appeared for the NFU on the HS2 Bill raising a large and varied number of such issues arising out of the compulsory purchase of large areas of farmland and has acted for several landowners seeking compensation for loss of development opportunity by reason of gas pipelines and electricity lines.
- Birmingham CC v. Oakley [2001] 1 A.C. 61701 Jan 2018

James is very client-friendly, commercial and good on his feet.
Chambers UK Bar (2025)

His accessibility, responsiveness and expertise are second to none.
Chambers UK Bar (2024)

James has an unrivalled ability to tackle complex issues and get to the heart of the matter.
Legal 500 (2024)

James is one of the very best planning advocates operating across the UK.
Chambers UK Bar (2023)

Wonderfully persuasive and easy to work with.
Chambers UK Bar (2023)

James is a senior planning barrister that others would rather be with than against.
Legal 500 (2022)

About James

Directory Quotes
- Planning – “James is very client-friendly, commercial and good on his feet.” Chambers and Partners 2025
- Licensing – “James is excellent.” Chambers and Partners 2025
- Planning – “Approachable, articulate and in control in court and confidence-inspiring.” Legal 500 2025
- Licensing – “Extremely well-prepared and effective as an advocate. Always calm under pressure and very persuasive.” Legal 500 2025
- Planning – “His accessibility, responsiveness and expertise are second to none.” “He has a very good grasp of planning and compulsory purchase law.” Chambers and Partners 2024
- Local Government – “He is very experienced, very easy to work with and knows how to address his audience really well.” Chambers and Partners 2024
- Planning – “James has an unrivalled ability to tackle complex issues and get to the heart of the matter. In consultation, he asks the right questions, understands his client’s perspective and gives clear and helpful advice. His written advices and pleadings are clear, succinct and persuasive. James is top drawer.” Legal 500 2024
- Local Government – “Very experienced and level-headed. James knows how to pitch a case at the right level of detail.”Legal 500 2024
- Planning – “James is one of the very best planning advocates operating across the UK.” Chambers and Partners 2023
- Licensing – “He is very experienced and can bring perspectives from both England and Scotland, which is useful for international clients.” Chambers and Partners 2023
- Licensing – “His advice and representation are excellent.” Chambers and Partners 2022
- Local Government – “Very easy to work with and helpful.” Chambers and Partners 2022
- Environment – “He is very persuasive in court, always well prepared and calm under pressure, with a very measured and yet warm style.” Legal 500 2022
- Licensing – “He is approachable, his advice is clear and concise, and he works with the client to achieve the desired outcome.” Legal 500 2022
- Planning – “James is a senior planning barrister that others would rather be with than against.” Legal 500 2022
- Local Government – “James’ attention to detail is second to none and always responds to queries immediately. He is my go to QC for any local government matter. Quite simply a fantastic legal mind.” Legal 500 2022
- Planning – “Operates a substantial planning practice in Scotland, as well as in England and Wales. He is particularly adept at dealing with controversial or complex cases with a high profile. His work for local authorities often concerns housing or energy projects. Challenges to local plans form a key area of his work. He also represents developers and other interested parties. Strengths: “He’s very approachable, technically excellent and helpful, and he responds promptly.” “His ability to engage with a range of stakeholders is very important and his presentation is exemplary.” Chambers and Partners 2021
- Licensing – “Brings general public law expertise to bear when representing operators as well as governmental bodies in a range of licensing matters. He is frequently called upon to act in taxi licensing disputes and has further expertise in gambling and wildlife issues. Findlay practises in both England and Scotland. Strengths: “Very accomplished.” Chambers and Partners 2021
- Local Government – Strengths: “He provides sound advice and takes a pragmatic approach to matters.” “A persuasive, experienced and calm advocate who is knowledgeable about local government law and carefully thinks his way through a problem.” Chambers and Partners 2021
- “A high quality silk. Very responsive to queries. He is thoughtful, measured and calm approach.” Legal 500 2021
- “James’ attention to detail is second to none and always responds to queries immediately. He is my go to QC for any local government matter. Quite simply a fantastic legal mind.” Legal 500 2021
- “Quite simply, a fantastic mind.” Legal 500 2021
- “An excellent silk whose attention to detail is second to none.” Legal 500 2021
- “James is very productive, astonishingly so. One gets cogent considered advice very quickly even when I know that he is busy with other things. I have found him good with clients. He is well respected by the courts and very persuasive.” Legal 500 2021
- “A very caring man with a brilliant mind” whose “advice is always targeted and effective.” Chambers and Partners 2020
- “An excellent all-round public law specialist.” “An experienced and committed barrister.” Chambers and Partners 2020
- “Very precise and methodical and gives a good service to his clients.” “He is quietly effective, very charming and very measured.” Chambers and Partners 2020
- “A go-to silk for the public law issues that require that extra bit of thought.” Legal 500 2020
- “An excellent silk.” “Much respected.” Chambers and Partners 2019
- “Extremely approachable, innovative and easy to work with.” Chambers and Partners 2019
Associations
- Planning and Environment Bar Association (PEBA)
- Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
- National Infrastructure Planning Association (NIPA)
- United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA)
Publications
Notable Cases
Events