Andrew Sharland

Date of call: 1996 Gray's Inn

Andrew Sharland has an extensive practice in administrative law (encompassing education law, community care, coroners, prisoners, immigration, mental health and freedom of information), human rights, media, planning, environmental and local government, employment, and commercial law. Andrew also has a developing practice in ecclesiastical law.

Administrative Law and Local Government Law
Andrew’s administrative law and local government law practice is broad and his regularly advises and represents individuals, companies, local authorities, NGO’s and central government in disputes particularly in the field of education, community care, coroners and mental health. Andrew recently successfully resisted, before the Court of Appeal, an Article 2 ECHR challenge to a decision by a Coroner not to hold an inquest. Andrew is recommended as a leading junior in both public and administrative law and local government law in Chambers and Partners 2008.

Education Law
Andrew is recommended as a leading junior in Chambers and Partners 2008 who described him as “determined and effective” and “caring, committed and tactically very good.”, Legal 500 who described him as “pragmatic” and “brilliant” and Legal Experts. Andrew frequently acts for local authorities and individuals before the High Court and the SENDIST on matters relating to, inter alia, admissions, exclusions, school transport, disability discrimination and special educational needs. Andrew has contributed a chapter to McManus QC, Education and the Courts (2nd Edition).

Human Rights
Human rights issues feed into Andrew’s entire practice. He has appeared before the European Court of Human Rights in Appleby v UK , one of the leading cases on positive obligations in relation to freedom of expression. In domestic courts he has appeared before the House of Lords in Campbell v Mirror Group Newspapers (Articles 8 and 10 ECHR) and the Court of Appeal in Smith v First Secretary of State (Article 8 ECHR and the rights of gypsies). He is co-author of Atkins Court Forms: Human Rights and Blackstone’s Guide to Media Law and Human Rights (2nd edition 2009). Andrew has led judicial training on human rights in Russia, Hungary, Turkey, Montenegro and Serbia on behalf of the Council of Europe and the Aire Centre. He also spent 4 months working at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg as a Pegasus Scholar.

Media Law
Andrew has a developing media law practice focussing particularly on freedom of expression and privacy issues (set out in the human rights section above). Andrew often advises local authorities in relation to libel. In his last libel case to go to trial, he obtained £20,000 damages and indemnity costs for a Claimant arising out of a publication to one individual. In doing so he establishing that the publication was made maliciously.

Employment Law
Andrew appears before the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal and High Court on all aspects of employment law including sex, race and disability discrimination, unfair dismissal, contractual claims and whistle blowing. He represented the Claimants in the High Court challenge brought by former employees against BCCI.

Regulatory, disciplinary and commercial law
Andrew has represented the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales in a number of disciplinary hearings relating to misconduct of accountants. He also advises on commercial matters with a public law element.

Planning Law
Andrew has appeared for the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in numerous section 287, 288 and 289 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 challenges. Andrew also appears at planning inquiries.

Direct Access
Andrew is accredited for Public Access which means he can be instructed by anybody, and inquires about this are welcomed. Companies, planning consultants, developers and employment consultants are particularly encouraged to take advantage of this possibility.

APPOINTMENTS
Attorney General's B Panel
Attorney General's Freedom of Information Panel
Pegasus Scholar to the European Court of Human Rights (Strasbourg)
Council of Europe Panel of experts on media law and human rights
Visiting Fellow of Constitutional Law at Brunel University 1996-1998
Tutor in law at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London 1995-1996

AFFILIATIONS
ALBA
PEBA

EDUCATION
Worcester College, Oxford (BCL)
College of William and Mary, Virginia, U.S.A (LLM)
Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London (LLB Hons (London)
Leiden University, Netherlands

SCHOLARSHIPS & PRIZES
Atkin Scholar of Gray's Inn
Bacon Scholar of Gray's Inn
The Drapers' Scholar at William & Mary College, Virginia
Anglo-American Scholar at Leiden University, Netherlands

DIRECTORY ENTRIES
Chambers & Partners, 2010:
Recommended junior in Administrative & Public Law: "bright and imaginative" (2009) and "friendly and approachable manner" (2010); Education Law “caring, committed and tactically very good" (2007), "Combative but not overbearing, he remains calm and is good at predicting what line the judge will take" (2008), "sensitive to the needs of the client [his] positivity, promptness and intellect shine through" (2009) and "always positive and clear in his advice" (2010); Local Government Law: “consummate professional, (he) has a reputation for keeping cool under intense pressure” (2008).

Legal 500, 2009:
Recommended junior in Administrative & Public Law: “demonstrates and empathy with the client that many lawyers would do well to try and replicate”; Education Law: "..sympathetic and helpful approach, excellent strategy and utter commitment go down well with clients" (2007), "approachable and very reliable" (2008) and “[his] approach is practical and he demonstrates client empathy” (2009).

Legal Experts, 2010
Recommended expert in Education Law

CLERKS EMAIL
Mark Regan and Stephen Broom