Dr Lois Lane

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Lois Lane accepts instructions across most areas of chambers work, with a particular interest in environmental, planning, and public law. She is a member of the cross-disciplinary Cornerstone Climate team. Since completing her pupillage at Cornerstone Barristers in September 2023, she has appeared in the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and public inquiries and examinations for major infrastructure projects, residential and commercial developments. Her clients include local authorities, regulators, NGOs and think tanks, community groups, individuals, and private companies.

Before coming to the Bar, Lois obtained a PhD in medieval history from King’s College London and worked as a housing and planning policy officer at CPRE, the Countryside Charity, and at the National Housing Federation.

Expertise

Planning, Environment, and Climate
Lois has a growing planning and environmental practice, with a particular interest in claimant environmental work.

She was instructed (led by Estelle Dehon KC) by the Claimant in SOS Biscathorpe v Secretary of State for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities and Egdon Resources Ltd, a successful statutory review challenge against the decision of an Inspector to grant permission for an oil drilling project in the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape. During pupillage, she assisted with research and drafting on portions of the written case for the Appellant in the hearing of R (on the application of Finch) v Surrey County Council and others in the Supreme Court and with drafting a skeleton argument for the hearing of a challenge to a new coal mining operation in the Court of Appeal.

Lois’ experience in planning proceedings includes:
- With Estelle Dehon KC, representing a Rule 6 party in a three-week inquiry into the proposed expansion of London City Airport, including cross-examination of expert witnesses and delivering closing submissions.
- With Michael Bedford KC, representing the Joint Local Authorities in the examination of Gatwick Airport Ltd’s application for development consent for its Northern Runway Project.
- With Robert Williams, representing two local planning authorities in an inquiry into an application for a 660-home cross-boundary scheme in Ipswich.
- With Josef Cannon KC, representing the Local Planning Authority in a six-day call-in inquiry into an application for the redevelopment of a commercial site in Cambridge.
Lois advises clients across a range of planning and environmental matters, including pro bono advice through the Environmental Law Foundation. She has particular expertise in relation to climate change legislation, Environmental Impact Assessment and issues under the Habitats Regulations. She also has experience of prosecuting offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on behalf of local authorities.

Lois is the co-author of “UK-EU Relations Law and Environmental Law” (Chapter 16A) in Garner’s Environmental Law (issues 138 and 139, 2024). She regularly speaks at conferences and seminar and has experience of appearing in local and national media. In the last year, this has included presenting a paper on current trends in international climate litigation at the Franco-British Lawyers Society’s annual colloquium in October 2024, speaking at a UKELA panel on current issues in civil nuclear law in March 2025, providing a caselaw update at the National Infrastructure Planning Association annual conference in July 2025 and two appearances on BBC Radio 4 to discuss the future of applications for offshore oil production in the North Sea.
Housing and Property
Lois has a busy housing practice, regularly appearing in possession proceedings, disrepair hearings and section 204 homelessness appeals in the county courts; HMO licensing prosecutions and statutory nuisance hearings in the magistrates’ courts; and housing-related anti-social behaviour proceedings under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. She accepts instructions from landlords and tenants, including legal aid funded instructions.

She also has experience of:
- Drafting statements of case in possession claims where discrimination defences have been raised under the Equality Act 2010.
- Drafting skeleton arguments in section 204 homelessness appeals on decisions around intentionality, suitability, and priority need.
- Advising a registered provider of social housing seeking to deliver a programme of energy-efficiency improvement works to general needs tenants and leaseholders.
- Advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants over land and the scope of the resident landlord exemptions to the Right of First Refusal procedure under part 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.
Lois worked in the housing sector before undertaking her Graduate Diploma in Law, as a policy officer for the National Housing Federation. She worked especially closely with housing associations specialising in supported housing and extra care accommodation. She also has experience of working with rough sleepers and liaising with local authorities and other support services as a case support volunteer for St Mungo’s No Second Night Out project.
- What’s new? Court of Appeal considers ‘new facts’ in repeat homelessness applications17 Jan 2025
Local Government
- Overview
Lois accepts instructions across the full range of Cornerstone’s local government work. Her recent instructions include advising local authorities on:
- Merits and quantum in relation to a potential claim for damages under Part 3 of the Equality Act 2010.
- Merits and quantum in relation to a potential claim for damages in respect of an inadvertent data breach.
- The proper interpretation of section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the maintenance of disused cemeteries.
She has also represented local authorities in licensing proceedings including taxi licensing appeals and HMO licensing prosecutions in the magistrates court.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Overview
Lois has an interest in the role that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) can play in planning and public law proceedings. During pupillage, she assisted with drafting a position statement ahead of mediation proceedings relating to the discharge of a restrictive covenant over land owned by a parish council.