James Strachan

Date of call: 1996 Middle Temple

James Strachan has an extensive practice in public and administrative law, planning and environment, local government, commercial law, financial services, media and human rights.

He has wide experience of acting in public law cases covering a large number of areas including planning, mental health, national security and immigration, prisons, financial services regulation, local government, civil liberties and human rights, appearing on behalf of the Government, local authorities and claimants. He is recommended as a leading junior in Administrative & Public Law and Human Rights Law by the current editions of both the UK Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, who describe him as “an unbelievably smooth advocate”.

He also has an extensive practice in the field of planning, environment and compulsory purchase appearing regularly at public inquiries and in the courts in respect of most aspects of planning and environmental control, with particular recent experience in areas of housing, retail, highways, compulsory purchase and urban design. James frequently acts for many of the leading housebuilders and retailers as well as statutory bodies and public authorities.. Recent ongoing or completed inquiries include: RAF Staff Quarters, Bracknell (for Taylor Wimpey), RFU Twickenham, Housing Proposal (for the RFU), Little Linton Windfarm, Cambridgeshire ( for NATS plc), CPO for Thomas Alleyne School, Stevenage (for Herts CC), M1/M6 Junction Improvement (for Highways Agency), Northumberland Windfarms (for NATS), Crystal Palace Park (for Sport England), Oaklands College Housing (for Taylor Wimpey and Oaklands College), Bedlington Housing Proposal (for Millhouse Developments and Dysart), Asda Proposal Amesbury (for Asda), Tesco Proposal Sheringham (for North Norfolk DC). He is currently acting for Cala Homes in its challenge to the decision of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to withdraw Regional Strategies.

James has expertise in all aspects of environmental law, particularly cases with a European dimension. He recently appeared for Carlisle Airport in R(Brown) v Carlisle City Council on EIAs and acted for the local authority in landmark decision in R(Barker) v London Borough of Bromley in the domestic courts to the House of Lords and in the European litigation. He is regarded as a leading junior in Planning and Environmental law by Chambers & Partners (2010), and in Planning by the UK Legal 500 (2009) who say he is " a tenacious, team playing and very intelligent junior ".

He also has wide experience of commercial law, with particular focus on financial services and regulation, has acted for regulators and ombudsman including the Financial Services Authority and Financial Ombudsman Service. He also has particular experience of privacy and media law including acting in cases concerning breach of confidence, privacy, libel and protection from harassment as well as appearing as a witness in 2003 before House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Privacy and Media Intrusion . James is ranked by The Legal 500 (2009) as a leading junior for Defamation and Privacy.

APPOINTMENTS
Attorney General's Counsel to the Crown 'A' Panel - appointed March 2008
Attorney General’s Counsel to the Crown ‘B’ Panel - appointed March 2004
Attorney General’s Counsel to the Crown 'C' Panel - 2001 - 2004
Welsh Assembly Government Panel — appointed 2009

AFFILIATIONS
COMBAR
ALBA
PEBA

EDUCATION
Winchester College
St Peter’s College, Oxford University BA (Hons) (1st Class)
Diploma in Law College of Law (Commendation) (1994-5)
BVC Inns of Court School of Law (Outstanding) (1995-6)

SCHOLARSHIPS & PRIZES
1991-3 Steven Latner Scholarship, St Peter’s College Oxford
1995 Harmsworth Major Entrance Exhibition to Middle Temple
1996 Baron Dr Ver Heyden de Lancey Award for highest Middle Templar BVC Result
1999 Pegasus Scholar to Mallesons Stephen Jacques, Sydney, Australia

PUBLICATIONS
Your Rights (Liberty) — Right to Privacy
Crown Proceedings — Atkins Court Forms (2009)
Contributor to Architect’s Legal Handbook (2010)
Human Rights and Judicial Review (Butterworths) Magistrates

DIRECTORY ENTRIES
Chambers & Partners, 2010:
Recommended junior in Administrative & Public Law: "unbelievably smooth advocate" (2009); Planning Law: "Personable and highly intelligent [he] wins over clients who relish his measured and calm approach" (2009) and "talented junior with a sharp, penetrative style" (2010); Environmental Law: "exuding experience" (2008) and "terrific" (2009); Human Rights/Civil Liberties: “very user-friendly, and really knows his stuff" (2008) and "a lawyer of considerable distinction" (2010); Local Government: "A higher-flyer... one to keep an eye on, he's going to go all the way" (2010).

Legal 500, 2009:
Recommended junior in Administrative & Public Law: “first-class drafting and excellent advocacy” (2009); Defamation/Privacy: "developing an increasingly high-profile privacy practice” (2008) and “very positive” (2009); Human Rights/Civil Liberties; Planning Law: "a tenacious, team playing and very intelligent junior" (2006), "[he] has a very good reputation and is a hard worker and will go a long, long way" (2007), "strong work ethic and a willingness to put his neck on the line for clients" (2008) and “calm and confident” (2009).

Legal Experts, 2010:
Leading expert in Administrative & Public Law (inc Judicial Review), Defamation and Planning Law.

Planning Magazine
Planning Law Survey 2009, ranked junior barrister

CLERKS EMAIL
Daniel Perry and Anthony King