Central government

Overview

Six Pump Court barristers understand and appreciate the particular nature of challenges to decisions made by central government departments given that they frequently advise and appear on behalf of parties in such disputes. Barristers at Six Pump Court have and continue to be appointed to the Attorney General’s panel of civil counsel acting for and advising central government departments as well as being instructed to challenge decisions of central government by individuals and organisations. Chambers is aware of the high profile of such work, the legal complexities which often arise and the significant economic and political repercussions of such disputes.

Departments which barristers act for and against include, amongst others, the Home Office, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Transport, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Ministry of Justice.

As well as central government departments Six Pump Court barristers have appeared for and against numerous non-ministerial departments such as the Food Standards Agency, the Forestry Commission, HM Revenue & Customs, Office of Rail and Road, Ofgem, and the Water Services Regulation Authority.

Members of chambers are well placed to advise and appear in any forum involving central government from the High Court in judicial reviews to statutory reviews in the High Court and in various specialist tribunals. Six Pump Court members also represent central government departments in inquests and inquiries and given Six Pump Court chambers’ well known expertise in regulatory law, members are particularly well placed to advise and appear in matters which lie at the border of public law and regulatory or criminal law. In light of the high profile and complex legal nature of such matters members are also frequently instructed in cases before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Six Pump Court members have appeared or advised in the following areas of law involving central government:

Civil and commercial
Compulsory purchase
Energy
Financial services
Food
Highways
Inquests & inquiries
Planning & environmental
Regulatory and competition
Water & utilities