John Howell KC

Represented the Law Society on the issue of whether a child who has legal aid may be made responsible for an expert’s fees and expenses in private law family proceedings when the other parties cannot afford to pay given the child’s Convention rights, notwithstanding section 30(1) of LASPO 2012.

Represented the City Council in its appeal to the Supreme Court on whether an individual whose mental state was monitored by, and who received general advice and encouragement from, his social worker at weekly meeting at that worker’s office and who also received social support from gay support groups and a befriender was an individual who was “in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to him” so as to be entitled to the provision of residential accommodation under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948.

Represented developers in Hong Kong on their appeal to the Court of Final Appeal about the amount of rent payable to the Government while sites are under development in the light of the rebus sic stantibus principle in rating law. 

Represented the City Council in case concerning awards of costs in cases where a claim is rendered academic by the actions of a third party.

Represented the City Council in resisting claim to quash its budget and council tax for the year, and to quash its subsequent decision to change its Adult Social Care offer, on the ground that it had failed to comply with its obligations under public sector equality duties.

Represented Justice and Liberty in case to determine whether a court has power to order a “closed material” procedure in a claim for damages.

Represented Justice and Liberty in case to determine whether a statutory “closed material” procedure was compatible with article 6 of the ECHR.

Represented the Health Authority in response to a claim that its decision that water should be floridated was unlawful.

Represented the bus companies in judicial review seeking to determine the basis on which, and the method by which, bus companies were to be compensated for having to provide fare concessions to certain passengers.

Represented the Law Society on the issue of whether a child who has legal aid may be made responsible for an expert’s fees and expenses in private law family proceedings when the other parties cannot afford to pay given the child’s Convention rights, notwithstanding section 30(1) of LASPO 2012.

Represented the City Council in its appeal to the Supreme Court on whether an individual whose mental state was monitored by, and who received general advice and encouragement from, his social worker at weekly meeting at that worker’s office and who also received social support from gay support groups and a befriender was an individual who was “in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to him” so as to be entitled to the provision of residential accommodation under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948.

Represented Justice and Liberty in case to determine whether a court has power to order a “closed material” procedure in a claim for damages.

Represented Justice and Liberty in case to determine whether a statutory “closed material” procedure was compatible with article 6 of the ECHR.

Represented the Secretary of State and the Governor of a High Security prison in case to determine whether the isolated conditions in which foreign nationals were detained pending removal or extradition were compatible with their rights under articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR.

Represented Natural England in case in which the Badger Trust alleged that it (and others) had a legitimate expectation that an independent expert panel to review the safety, efficacy and humanness of the controlled shooting of badgers in two pilot areas while there remained any prospect of such shooting being permitted in other areas.

Represented Bourne Leisure in case involving the test to be applied when making a harbour revision order. 

Represented Natural England in case in which it was claimed that there was no power to notify an area as a site of special scientific interest where erosion was required to maintain the feature of interest it contained and whether notification involved a plan which might require appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive. 

Represented RMP in claim whether Brent was able to rely on the "Teckal" exemption in order not to expose the award of a contract of insurance to a mutual insurance company of which it was a member to competition.

Represented the County Council in resisting a claim that its procurement failed to comply with the principle of transparency.

Represented the County Council in resisting a claim that its procurement of bus services did not comply with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006.

Represented Siemens in resisting claim that its contract with Eurostar was ineffective under the Utilities Contracts Regulation 2006. 

Represented Siemens in a claim for injunction to stop the award of a contract for the provision of new trains for Eurostar.

Represented RMP in claim whether Brent was able to rely on the "Teckal" exemption in order not to expose the award of a contract of insurance to a mutual insurance company of which it was a member to competition.

Represented the County Council in resisting a claim that its procurement failed to comply with the principle of transparency.

Represented the County Council in resisting a claim that its procurement of bus services did not comply with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006.

Represented Siemens in resisting claim that its contract with Eurostar was ineffective under the Utilities Contracts Regulation 2006. 

Represented Siemens in a claim for injunction to stop the award of a contract for the provision of new trains for Eurostar.

Represented the bus companies in judicial review seeking to determine the basis on which, and the method by which, bus companies were to be compensated for having to provide fare concessions to certain passengers.

Represented Natural England in case in which it was claimed that there was no power to notify an area as a site of special scientific interest where erosion was required to maintain the feature of interest it contained and whether notification involved a plan which might require appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive. 

Represented the City Council in its appeal to the Supreme Court on whether an individual whose mental state was monitored by, and who received general advice and encouragement from, his social worker at weekly meeting at that worker’s office and who also received social support from gay support groups and a befriender was an individual who was “in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to him” so as to be entitled to the provision of residential accommodation under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948.

Represented the City Council in case concerning awards of costs in cases where a claim is rendered academic by the actions of a third party.

Represented the City Council in resisting claim to quash its budget and council tax for the year, and to quash its subsequent decision to change its Adult Social Care offer, on the ground that it had failed to comply with its obligations under public sector equality duties.

Represented RMP in claim whether Brent was able to rely on the "Teckal" exemption in order not to expose the award of a contract of insurance to a mutual insurance company of which it was a member to competition.

Represented the County Council in resisting a claim that its procurement failed to comply with the principle of transparency.

Represented the County Council in resisting a claim that its procurement of bus services did not comply with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006.