Lois accepts instructions across all areas of chambers work with a particular interest in planning, environmental, and public law. She is a member of the cross-disciplinary Cornerstone Climate team. She has a growing court, inquiry and advisory practice and has appeared in the High Court, the County Court and public inquiries. She completed her twelve-month pupillage (October 2022 – September 2023) under the supervision of Estelle Dehon KC, Andrew Lane and Ryan Kohli.
Before coming to the Bar, Lois obtained a PhD in medieval history from King’s College London and worked as a policy officer at CPRE, the Countryside Charity, and at the National Housing Federation. In these roles, she represented CPRE in local and national media, supported local groups to develop their own campaigns, and provided policy advice for housing association staff on issues including welfare reform, supported housing, and the impact of Covid-19.
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 statutory review challenge against the decision of an Inspector to grant permission for an oil drilling project in the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape.
She has experience of planning proceedings. Recent instructions as junior counsel include:
- 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 Josef Cannon KC, representing the Local Planning Authority in a six-day inquiry into an application for an inflatable sports’ facility in the Green Belt.
- With Michael Bedford KC, representing the Joint Local Authorities in the ongoing examination of Gatwick Airport Ltd’s application for development consent for its Northern Runway Project.
Lois advises clients across a range of planning and environmental matters, including pro bono advice through the Environmental Law Foundation. She also has experience of prosecuting offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on behalf of local authorities.
During pupillage, Lois 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.
- Drafting a skeleton argument for the hearing of a challenge to a new coal mining operation in the Court of Appeal.
- Drafting legal Opinions for the newly established Office for Environmental Protection regarding complaints procedures in analogous regulatory regimes, for a local planning authority on the merits of a statutory planning review challenge against the grant of permission for a large-scale residential development within an AONB, and for a county council seeking to support its constituent local planning authorities to mandate energy efficiency standards for new development above the national Building Regulations baseline.
- Drafting summary grounds of resistance in judicial review proceedings relating to the relationship between the Planning Act 2008 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990 regimes when determining applications for large-scale renewable energy projects.
In her previous career Lois has extensive experience of drafting policy briefings for MPs, civil servants and local campaigning organisations on a range of planning policy topics.
- More flights from London City Airport… but not on Saturday afternoons20 Aug 2024
- Secretary of State accepts legal error and proposes that permission for controversial coal mine be quashed, but developer fights on12 Jul 2024
- Lincolnshire oil drilling permission quashed after Supreme Court judgment in Finch11 Jul 2024
- Lincolnshire oil drilling challenge in the High Court05 Jun 2024
- Estelle Dehon KC and Dr Lois Lane begin planning inquiry into the expansion of London City Airport05 Dec 2023
- Gerard Forlin KC and Lois Lane to speak on ecocide and EIA assessments at the Environmental Law Update Online Conference26 Feb 2025
- Lois Lane to speak at Franco-British Lawyers Society annual colloquium10 Oct 2024
- Tom Cosgrove KC and Lois Lane speaking at PEBA’s student event: “How to Make a Career at the Planning & Environmental Bar”.09 Oct 2024
- Lois Lane appears on Radio 4’s Today programme to discuss impact of Finch judgement on Rosebank Oil Field21 Jun 2024
- Cornerstone Barristers at UKELA Annual Conference 202412 Jun 2024
- Estelle Dehon KC and Dr Lois Lane begin planning inquiry into the expansion of London City Airport05 Dec 2023
- Cornerstone Barristers welcomes Lois Lane as a new tenant of Chambers after completion of a 12-month pupillage02 Oct 2023
- Proposed changes to nutrient neutrality rules create ambiguities that look likely to attract litigation, says Lois Lane27 Aug 2023
- Housing
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 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 a local authority on their powers to evict a tenant from temporary accommodation for anti-social behaviour in circumstances where the main housing duty has been accepted.
During pupillage, Lois also worked on numerous housing matters under the supervision of Andrew Lane and Ryan Kohli, gaining experience of a range of matters relating to housing, homelessness and allocations, and licensing.
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.
- Property
Lois provides advice across a range of property law issues. Recent instructions include 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.
During pupillage, under the supervision of Ryan Kohli, she also assisted with drafting a mediation position statement in relation to the discharge of a restrictive covenant, an Advice for a local authority in respect of an adverse possession claim made against it, and a skeleton argument in a private landlord and tenant dispute.
- Licensing
Lois welcomes instructions in all areas of licensing law. She has appeared in the magistrates’ court in relation to premises and taxi licensing appeals, and an unlicensed HMO prosecution.
During pupillage, Lois also assisted with drafting a statement of case for an HMO licensing appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
- Local Government
Lois accepts instructions across the full range of Cornerstone’s local government work. Her recent instructions include advising local authorities on the following:
- 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.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
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.