Jane Collier

Jane has an extensive public law practice specialising in data protection, environment (including environmental information), education, freedom of information, human rights, immigration and asylum, National Health Service, prisons and public procurement and social security. She also has an extensive regulatory/public law practice, including utilities regulation, financial services, health and social services and transport.  Jane regularly appears for the Government and other respondent bodies, as well as for applicant clients.

In the field of environmental law, Jane has appeared in a number of cases concerning environmental protection, as well as advising on various related issues, such as the Habitats and Birds Directives.  She also advises on the application of the Environmental Information Regulations, and has appeared in the Information Tribunal and the High Court in appeals on that issue.  More generally, Jane also advises and represents clients on a number of issues concerning the application of the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act, both in connection with the Information Commissioner and in the Information Tribunal.

In the regulatory field, Jane’s work has involved utilities regulation, electoral law, medical and health care regulation, legal and financial services regulation, including issues concerning the Financial Ombudsman Service, planning issues and transport regulation, and the law on judicial appointments.  In the immigration field, Jane acts for and advises both the Government and applicants/appellants, on issues including asylum and human rights, as well as issues relating to the immigration rules and work permits. 

As a member of the B panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown she has acted and advised in areas including immigration, social security and public procurement on behalf of the Government. 

Jane’s human rights practice spans and complements the whole range of her public law work, including prisons, immigration, environmental law, planning matters and questions arising in regulatory proceedings.

Administrative & public law:

Office of Communications v the Information Commissioner and T-Mobile EA/2006/0078, 4 September 2007, [2008] EWHC 1445
Junior Counsel for Ofcom in appeals to the Information Tribunal and the High Court, concerning the interpretation of the Environmental Information Regulations. The case is to be heard in the Court of Appeal in December 2008.

Boggis v Natural England and Waveney District Council, 17-19 November 2008
Junior Counsel for Defendant in case concerning the Defendant’s powers to notify a site of special interest and the effect of the EU Habitats Directive and the Habitats Regulations.

Williams v Information Commissioner and Cardiff Vale Trust EA/2008/0042
Counsel for NHS Trust defending appeal to the Information Tribunal against decision on disclosure of information.

MA (Palestinian Territories) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWCA Civ 304
Counsel for the Appellant in appeal concerning the relationship between statelessness and asylum.

LJ (Albania) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  [2008] EWCA Civ 127
Counsel for Defendant in appeal concerning asylum and human rights.

Bromley v Information Commissioner and the Environment Agency EA/2006/0072, 31 August 2007
Counsel for the Environment Agency defending an appeal to the Information Tribunal, concerning the Environmental Information Regulations.

AG (Eritrea) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2007] EWCA Civ 801
Counsel for Defendant, concerning Article 3 and Article 8 of the ECHR.

KR (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2007] EWCA Civ 154
Counsel for Defendant, concerning Article 8 of the ECHR.

Sentono v Secretary of State for Home Department Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
Counsel for Appellant in case concerning the interpretation of the Immigration Rules.

R (Western Power Distribution Investments Ltd) v  Countryside Council for Wales [2007] EWHC  50 (Admin)
Junior Counsel for Defendant in case concerning CCW’s powers to notify a site as being of special scientific interest.

R (J) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2006] EWCA Civ 1238
Counsel for Defendant in case concerning the Refugee Convention.

R (K) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2006] EWHC 1208 (Admin)
Counsel for Defendant in case concerning the application of Article 8 ECHR.

R (Iran) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2005] EWCA 982
Junior Counsel for Defendant, in case concerning the powers of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal/

R (Goldance) v Financial Ombudsman Service 2005 [EWHC] 2220 (Admin)
Counsel for Claimant in case concerning the powers of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

R (Tufano) v Chief Constable of Hertfordshire [2005] EWHC 1230 (Admin)
Counsel for Defendant.

R (Howe) v South Durham Magistrates Court [2004] EWHC 362 (Admin)
Counsel for the Law Society, concerning the scope of legal professional privilege.

R (G) v Legal Services Commission [2004] EWHC 276 (Admin)
Counsel for the Legal Services Commission.

Challender v Legal Services Commission [2004] EWHC 925 (Admin)
Counsel for Legal Services Commission, concerning the scope of Article 2 of the ECHR in relation to funding for coroners’ inquests.

R (The Hon Patrick Fisher) v English Nature [2003] EWHC 1599 (Admin); [2004] EWCA 663
Junior Counsel for English Nature concerning English Nature’s powers to designate sites as sites of special scientific interest.

R (Aventis)  v DEFRA
Junior Counsel for Friends of the Earth.

R (Campbell) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2003] EWHC 2681, [2003] All ER (D) 467 (Oct)

R (ICD Publishing) v Secretarary of State [2003] EWHC 1761 (Admin)
Counsel for the Information Commissioner; concerning the use of the electoral register.

Dr Raji v General Medical Council [2003] UKPC 24, [2003] 1 WLR 1052
Counsel for the GMC; concerning the appropriate procedure on an application for restoration to the register.

R (Green) v Financial Ombudsman Service [2003] EWHC 338 (Admin) [2003] All ER (D) 339
Counsel for the Applicant.

R (M) v  London Borough of Bromley [2002] EWCA 1113, [2002] 2 FLR 802, [2002] FLR 815
Junior Counsel for Bromley.

R (Aggregate Industries) v English Nature [2002] EWHC 908 [2003] Env L R 3
Junior Counsel to English Nature; concerning English Nature’s powers to designate sites as sites of special scientific interest.

R (Cream) v GMC [2002] EWHC 436
Counsel for the GMC; concerning a challenge to a decision by the GMC’s Professional Conduct Committee.

R (Alliss) v Legal Services Commission [2002] EWHC 2079
Counsel for the LSC; concerning a challenge to the Legal Services Commission under Article 6 of the ECHR.

R (S) v Independent Appeal Panel of Liverpool City Council
Counsel for the Interested Party school; concerning a challenge to an exclusion on Article 8 grounds.

Environmental law:

Boggis v Natural England and Waveney District Council, 17-19 November 2008
Junior Counsel for Defendant in case concerning the Defendant’s powers to notify a site of special interest and the effect of the Habitats Directive and the Habitats Regulations.

Office of Communications v the Information Commissioner and T-Mobile EA/2006/0078, 4 September 2007, [2008] EWHC 1445; listed in Court of Appeal on 17-18 December 2008
Junior Counsel for Ofcom in appeals to the Information Tribunal and the High Court, concerning the interpretation of the Environmental Information Regulations.

Bromley v Information Commissioner and the Environment Agency EA/2006/0072, 31 August 2007
Counsel for the Environment Agency in an appeal to the Information Tribunal, concerning the Environmental Information Regulations.

R (Western Power Distribution Investments Ltd) v Countryside Council for Wales [2007] EWHC  50 (Admin)
Junior Counsel for Defendant in case concerning CCW’s powers to notify a site as being of special scientific interest.

R (The Hon Patrick Fisher) v English Nature [2003] EWHC 1599 (Admin); [2004] EWCA 663
Junior Counsel for English Nature; concerning English Nature’s powers to designate sites as sites of special scientific interest.

R (Aventis) v DEFRA
Junior Counsel for Friends of the Earth.

R (Aggregate Industries) v English Nature [2002] EWHC 908 [2003] Env L R 3
Junior Counsel to English Nature; concerning English Nature’s powers to designate sites as sites of special scientific interest.

Human Rights:

Office of Communications v the Information Commissioner and T-Mobile EA/2006/0078, 4 September 2007, [2008] EWHC 1445; listed in Court of Appeal on 17-18 December
Junior Counsel for Ofcom in appeals to the Information Tribunal and the High Court, concerning the interpretation of the Environmental Information Regulations.

Boggis v Natural England and Waveney District Council
Junior Counsel for Defendant in case concerning the Defendant’s powers to notify a site of special interest.

HJ (Iran) v Secretary of State for the Home Department UKAIT 00044
Counsel for the Secretary of State in Asylum and Immigration Tribunal concerning the application of the Refugee Convention.

MA (Palestinian Territories) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWCA Civ 304
Counsel for the Appellant, concerning the relationship between statelessness and asylum.

LJ (Albania) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  [2008] EWCA Civ 127
Counsel for Defendant in appeal concerning asylum. 

AG (Eritrea) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2007] EWCA Civ 801
Counsel for Defendant, concerning Article 3 and Article 8 of the ECHR.

KR (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2007] EWCA Civ 154
Counsel for Defendant, concerning Article 8 of the ECHR.

R (J) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2006] EWCA Civ 1238
Counsel for Defendant in case concerning the Refugee Convention.

R (K) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2006] EWHC 1208 (Admin)
Counsel for Defendant in case concerning the application of Article 8 ECHR.

R (Iran) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2005] EWCA 982
Junior Counsel for Defendant, in case concerning the powers of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.

R (Howe v South Durham Magistrates Court [2004] EWHC 362 (Admin)
Counsel for the Law Society, concerning the scope of legal professional privilege.

R (The Hon Patrick Fisher) v English Nature [2003] EWHC 1599 (Admin); [2004] EWCA 663
Junior Counsel for English Nature; concerning English Nature’s powers to designate sites as sites of special scientific interest

R (Dickson) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2004] EWCA Civ 1477
Concerning prisoners’ rights.

Hallender v Legal Services Commission [2004] EWHC 925 (Admin)
Counsel for Legal Services Commission, concerning the scope of Article 2 of the ECHR in relation to funding for coroners’ inquests.

R (C) v Immigration Appeal Tribunal [2003] EWHC 883 (Admin)
Counsel for the Secretary of State.

R (Sritharan) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2003] EWHC 181
Counsel for the Secretary of State.

R (Alliss) v Legal Services Commission [2002] EWHC 2079
Counsel for the LSC; concerning a challenge to the Legal Services Commission under Article 6 of the ECHR.

R (S) v Independent Appeal Panel of Liverpool City Council
Counsel for the Interested Party school; concerning a challenge to an exclusion on Article 8 grounds.

R (Aggregate Industries) v English Nature [2002] EWHC 908 [2003] Env LR 3
Junior Counsel to English Nature; concerning English Nature’s powers to designate sites as sites of special scientific interest.

R v The Immigration Appeal Tribunal ex parte Home Department [2001] EWHC Admin 1067
Junior Counsel for the IAT; concerning the IAT’s powers to adjourn hearings.

Jane has acted and advised in a number of cases involving contractual disputes and sale and supply of goods and services.  Amongst these she has advised and acted as Junior Counsel to the Government in several major sets of commercial proceedings involving contractual disputes and public procurement issues.

Jane’s interests in this field have led to her instruction in cases dealing with professional negligence; EC law; insurance; computer law; carriage of goods; company law; conflict of laws and public procurement.

Jane’s regulatory practice includes advising and acting both for regulatory -authorities and for other parties.   She has advised the Financial Services Authority on various questions relating to financial services regulation, including the then draft Financial Services and Markets Bill and the regulatory regime, and has also advised and acted in matters concerning the Financial Ombudsman Service.  Cases in this area have included acting as second junior for IMRO in the disciplinary action against individuals arising out of the Peter Young unit trusts affair.

Before coming to the Bar Jane worked at the Bank of England, firstly in the International Division and latterly as a senior manager in the Financial Markets and Institutions Division of the Bank. Her work included developing Bank policy on regulatory and commercial developments in the financial services markets, and advising the Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Investments Board and Inland Revenue on regulation and fiscal policy.