Lois accepts instructions across all areas of chambers work with a particular interest in planning, environmental, public, and licensing law. She is also a member of the cross-disciplinary Cornerstone Climate team. 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. Alongside her research, she taught on the first-year undergraduate Medieval British History module and gave regular presentations to academic and non-academic audiences.
After completing her PhD, Lois worked as a policy officer at CPRE, the Countryside Charity, and at the National Housing Federation. In these roles she helped develop evidence-led policy positions on a range of housing and planning issues, represented CPRE in local and national media, supported CPRE’s network of 43 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 is keen to build up a planning and environmental practice, with a particular interest in claimant environmental work.
She is currently instructed as junior counsel to Estelle Dehon KC, representing a Rule 6 party in an upcoming 12 day inquiry into the proposed expansion of London City Airport.
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, and the application of national guidance on costs awards in called-in planning inquiries.
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.
- 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
During her second six, Lois has built up a busy housing practice, appearing in possession proceedings and disrepair hearings in the county courts and HMO licensing prosecutions and statutory nuisance hearings in the magistrates’ courts.
She has recently been instructed to:
- Draft statements of case in relation to two local authority possession claims, where discrimination defences under the Equality Act 2010 have been raised.
- Advise a local authority on their powers to evict a tenant from temporary accommodation for anti-social behaviour in circumstances where they have accepted that the main housing duty is owed under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996.
- Respond to a pre-action letter in relation to a threatened judicial review regarding the suitability of accommodation provided to a homeless household under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996.
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. Her written work included:
- Drafting a skeleton argument for a homelessness appeal under section 204 of the Housing Act 1996.
- Drafting a Reply and Defence to Counterclaim in a failed succession possession claim with an Equality Act 2010 defence.
- Assisting with a pro bono housing-related anti-social behaviour matter, including advising the local authority in correspondence on the range of powers available to it under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
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
During her second six, Lois was instructed to advise clients (in one case pro bono) on the enforceability of restrictive covenants over land.
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.
- Court of Protection
Lois is interested in gaining experience of Court of Protection work. In her previous roles as a policy officer at the National Housing Federation and a case support volunteer for St Mungo’s No Second Night Out project, she worked with individuals whose mental capacity was disputed and with specialist supported and extra care housing providers in this area.
- Licensing
Lois welcomes instructions in all areas of licensing law. In her second six she appeared in the magistrates’ court in relation to a licensing appeal and an unlicensed HMO prosecution.
During pupillage she also assisted with drafting a statement of case for an HMO licensing appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
- 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.