Call: 1977 Silk: 1996

Timothy Straker KC

Joint Head of Chambers
  • He has superb subject knowledge, gravitas, and an enviable intellect.

    Legal 500 (2019)
  • Extremely responsive and someone who puts forward robust arguments.

    Chambers UK (2019)
  • He provides very pragmatic advice.

    Chambers UK (2019)
  • A sagacious and astute silk.

    Legal 500 (2023) - Elections
  • He is extremely responsive and able to put forward robust arguments. He offers excellent attention to detail, including proposing arguments which may not have been considered previously.

    Chambers UK (2019)
  • He is an experienced and very impressive public law barrister.

    Chambers UK (2019)
  • He possesses a grand and analytical brain.

    Legal 500 (2020)
  • He is simply magisterial; he’s impressive, understated and knows the law like the back of his hand.

    Chambers UK (2015)
  • One of the elite, whom local authorities instruct for definitive answers.

    Legal 500 (2016)
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Practice Summary

Timothy Straker KC has a wide ranging public law practice. He has made many appearances in courts at the highest level in England and Wales and overseas. Timothy has acted in multiple election petitions in England, Wales and Trinidad and Tobago, which operates under a similar regime. He has advised on elections and related matters in multiple jurisdictions including Scotland, Guyana and Asian jurisdictions. He recently led in the Supreme Court when that court (exceptionally) considered the boundary between party and personal expenses.

Timothy Straker KC has appeared in the vast majority of the most important election cases of the last twenty five years starting with successful appearances for the returning officer in the ‘Literal Democrat’ case, which directly led to the creation of the Electoral Commission for which he has acted. Principally he has acted for returning officers throughout the country and been closely involved in elections since 1995. He has acted for the Greater London Authority and Transport for London ever since those bodies were created. He sits as an election commissioner.

Tim also undertakes public and private inquiry work, including issues of abuse.  He has particular experience of chairing, public inquiries, railway arbitrations and electoral commission matters. He believes in close teamwork in major cases and a good working professional relationship with both professional and lay clients.

He has acted for (and against) local authorities on issues ranging from abattoirs to zoos, appeared in inquiries in Scotland and undertaken, drawing on his English experience, work relating to environmental assessment in Greece and the Caribbean. His local authority and public law work includes planning (multiple inquiries and judicial reviews, e.g. The Emirates, Anfield, retail, polytunnels and amalgamations and basements), infrastructure (e.g. Mersey Gateway, Felixstowe and Harwich) and procurement (often confidential).  

Local Government

Timothy Straker KC has acted for most local authorities in England and Wales, he is well known to the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. He is known for his work in across the whole range of local authority life, which is particularly useful in the promotion of schemes by Local Authorities of which many examples can be given.

Planning

Timothy has extensive experience in planning Law, he has been named planning silk of the year. He has promoted and resisted many substantial proposals, involving office, housing, minerals and transport. His wide spread experience of environmental assessment and large infrastructure projects is complementary to his planning work as is his substantial court work which includes the leading cases on environmental assessment.

Planning & Environment

Timothy Straker KC was planning/environmental silk of the year in 2009/10 and again in 2015. He has acted in leading environmental impact assessment cases both in the Courts and at Inquiries. His experience was recognised by engagements in respect of environmental impact assessments in Greece and in Trinidad. He has acted in respect of recycling and waste generally.

Elections

Timothy has appeared in the all important election cases of the last twenty years. He has acted for returning officers throughout the country and has appeared against the Electoral Commission. He has been closely involved in the elections for the Greater London Authority ever since the body was created. He has presented petitions in Trinidad and sat as an election commissioner. He acted for a Greater London Returning Officer and Returning Officers across London Boroughs generally.

Infrastructure

Tim appeared in major infrastructure cases both for promoters and interested parties. He successfully promoted a new bridge over the Mersey, substantial expansion of Felixstowe, the creation of a new container terminal at Harwich, a railway between Felixstowe and Ipswich and a new railway from Oxford to Marylebone. He has promoted urban regeneration in Enfield, West Bromwich and Dartford.

Judicial Review

Tim has appeared in multiple Judicial Review cases. He is authorised to sit as a deputy High Court judge across the whole Queen’s Bench Division including the Administrative Court and the Planning Court.

Recent work includes:

Major Infrastructure and other Proposals:
London Cycle Super Highway, HS2, Crossrail, use of Battersea Park for Formula E Racing, New Railway from Oxford to Marylebone

Housing:
Recent work includes proposals at Stevenage for up to 10,000 houses; intervention in Cala litigation in Court of Appeal; Milton Keynes, Kensington and Chelsea.

Minerals:
Ardean Quarry, Stirling, Scotland; Fuller’s Earth, Bath, old mineral permissions.

Retail:
Morbaine, Kendal; White City, Dartford, West Bromwich

Enforcement:
Polytunnels, Travellers, Aircraft Testing Noise, Dance Studios, Basements, Garden Squares

Chambers & Partners, 2014:

Recommended leader in
Administrative and Public Law: “a polished and persuasive advocate, who is a good team player and a pleasure to work with” (2011 ),”clear and pragmatic advice” and “calm and productive approach” (2013);
Planning Law: “He is a thorough and excellent tactician, and an excellent advocate” (2014 ) “very clever High Court advocate who has enormous authority” (2008) and “Known for his intellectual acuity and commands real respect in the court room” (2009), “exceptional intellect and highly effective advocate [he] hits the mark every single time” (2010) and “a pleasure to work with, [he] shines when a case requires someone with a colossal intellect and urbane advocacy style” (2011); “a smooth advocate” who “commands respect due to his impressive level of expertise.” “Highly intellectual,” (2012), “judges the court and the judge very well and adjusts his submission accordingly.” “always been very approachable, responsive, easy to deal with and accessible.” (2013)
Environmental Law: “ He is very good on strategic issues in a case and can give you a very good steer about the best way of dealings with things” (2014) “He is lovely to work with, affable, has a lot of time for you, is patient and shows attention to detail. He’s a superb practitioner” (2014) ”…it is a joy to watch him take and develop an argument. His measure tone and immense brain serve him well in the complex cases he takes on” (2008) and “man of many and varied talents is most appreciated for his magnificent courtroom skills” (2011 ); ”a very charming and persuasive advocate,” who “maintains excellent relationships with local authorities.”
Local Government: “Has an enviable local government practice and has widely recognised strength in electoral law and vires disputes. He is particularly strong on procurement, funding and community care matters” (2014) “He is described as a formidable player who cuts straight to the point and gives clear advice to clients” (2014) “an outstanding silk who reputation permeates local government circles across the UK” and “praised for his expertise in election law where he is many people’s number-one choice, he offers speedy turnaround of papers and polished persuasive advocacy” (2011); “A good team player who is a pleasure to work with,” (2012). “the local authority powers man.” (2013)

Legal 500, 2012:

Recommended leader in
Administrative & Public Law: “an impressive local government and election law practice” (2008), “produces knowledgeable advice with sensitivity” (2009) and “immensely easy to deal with” (2010); ”Timothy Straker QC has the ‘ear of the court‘” (2011)
Environmental Law: “rated very highly” (2008) and “excellent in-depth knowledge” (2009), “At the top of his profession, Timothy Straker QC is unfailingly courteous both with clients and opponents, but also a formidable cross-examiner” (2011); ‘a thorough and excellent tactician’ (2012).
Planning Law: “very highly regarded” (2007), “undertakes the client’s commercial imperatives” (2008) and “really understands how to win a case in court” (2010).

Legal Experts, 2012:

Recommended expert in Administrative & Public Law, Environmental Law and Planning Law.

Planning Magazine

Planning Law Survey 2012, top rated silk.

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Instruct Timothy

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