Alastair accepts instructions in all areas of public & administrative law and human rights, both as sole and junior counsel.

Prior to his career at the bar, Alastair worked as the Political Adviser to a senior parliamentarian. He has a comprehensive understanding of the legislative process, as well as extensive experience of approaching public law issues from a policy perspective. He has drafted bills and amendments which were subsequently enacted into law.

Alastair is a member of the UK Attorney General’s Junior Junior Scheme, the Administrative Law Bar Association and the Human Rights Lawyers Association. He is also a member of the Environmental Rights Recognition Project.

Alastair welcomes instructions from charities and NGOs, including on a pro bono basis.

Cases

Recent instructions include advising a central Government department in relation to a PFI contract.

During pupillage, Alastair assisted on a wide range of public law and human rights cases, including:

• R (Kent County Council) v SSHD, relating to the accommodation of unaccompanied children arriving in the UK on small boats.
• Multiple judicial review claims brought by Afghan nationals who worked alongside the British Army in Afghanistan but were refused relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
• A range of advisory work for government and other public bodies.

Alastair acts across the spectrum of Chambers’ competition litigation and regulatory work, including bringing and defending damages actions and collective proceedings.

Cases

Alastair’s competition instructions include:

• Merricks v Mastercard, instructed by the class representative (on behalf of over 40 million consumers) in respect of the pass-on of unlawful interchange fees by retailers to consumers.
• Asda Stores Limited & Others v Bremnes Seashore AS & Others, acting for the claimant supermarkets in a damages action alleging a cartel relating to farmed Atlantic salmon products.

Alastair’s regulatory instructions have included providing advice on the powers of central Government and regulators under the Water Industry Act 1991 and the merger control regime in the Enterprise Act 2002.

During pupillage, Alastair assisted in the following collective proceedings:

• Roberts v Severn Trent & Others (“Water”), an opt-out claim brought on behalf of the customers of water companies relating to sewage spills.
• Spottiswoode v Nexans & Others (“Power Cables”), defending damages claims brought following the European Commission’s Power Cables cartel decision.

Alastair also assisted in a range of other competition matters, including:

• Allergan & Others v CMA, regarding excessive and unfair pricing of hydrocortisone tablets.
• Global-365 & Another v Paypoint & Others, a claim alleging abuse of dominance in relation to pre-payment services to energy suppliers.
• Phones4U v EE, Vodafone and O2, relating to alleged collusion between mobile network operators.
• Various matters on an advisory basis, for both prospective claimants and defendants in competition law actions.

Alastair has a keen interest in all aspects of housing law. Alongside his legal training, he worked for Safer Renting, a tenant support service. He assisted clients facing illegal eviction, possession hearings, homelessness or pursuing Rent Repayment Orders in the First Tier Tribunal.

During pupillage, Alastair assisted on housing matters, including an appeal under the Housing Act 1996 challenging a local authority’s decision that the claimant had made themselves intentionally homeless.

Alastair accepts instructions across the range of community care and education law issues. He has a personal involvement in education, acting as a school governor for a local state secondary school.

Cases

He has been instructed on behalf of children with special educational needs and disabilities, including advising on judicial review proceedings.

During pupillage, Alastair assisted on the following matters:

• R (SB & Another) v Newham, concerning the interaction of the Care Act 2014 and the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and the provision of accommodation to asylum seekers with eligible care needs.
• Advising a local authority on its duties under the Children Act 1989.
• Challenging the failure by an ICB to deliver an appropriate care package to meet the complex continuing care needs of a child with a life-threatening condition.

Alastair accepts instructions on privacy, information law and data protection matters, whether in the context of private claims, regulatory enforcement, judicial reviews or freedom of information.

Cases

During pupillage, Alastair assisted on the following matters:

• Advising a Government department in relation to its duties under the DPA, UK GDPR and art. 8 ECHR.
• A number of disputes relating to public authorities’ compliance with FOIA.
• Advising a prospective claimant seeking to bring claims against an individual and various web platforms arising out of image-based abuse.

Alastair accepts instructions in all areas of tax law.

Cases

Recent instructions include advising on EU “Own Resources” and the collection of customs duties.

During pupillage, Alastair assisted in a range of tax matters for both claimants and defendants, including:

• Defending challenges to decisions by HMRC concerning VAT, stamp duty and other taxation issues.
• Challenges to VAT tax assessments on behalf of claimants.

Alastair has a keen interest in all areas of sports law.

Cases

During pupillage, Alastair assisted on various procurement matters, including:

• Braceurself v NHS England in the Court of Appeal, concerning the threshold for awarding damages for breaches of the PCR.
• Advising challengers and contracting authorities on scoring challenges to procurement exercises and compliance with the procurement rules.

Alastair accepts instructions for challengers and contracting authorities in procurement litigation and on an advisory basis.

Cases

During pupillage, Alastair assisted on various procurement matters, including:

• Braceurself v NHS England in the Court of Appeal, concerning the threshold for awarding damages for breaches of the PCR.
• Advising challengers and contracting authorities on scoring challenges to procurement exercises and compliance with the procurement rules.

Alastair accepts instructions in all areas of commercial law, including as sole counsel in the County Court.

Cases

During pupillage, Alastair assisted in a range of commercial matters, particularly FRAND proceedings:

• Panasonic v Xiaomi, FRAND proceedings concerning Panasonic’s portfolio of 3G and 4G patents.
• Tesla v InterDigital & Avanci, FRAND proceedings seeking the determination of FRAND licensing terms.
• Optis v Apple, FRAND proceedings concerning Optis’ portfolio of 4G patents.
• Advising private parties on contractual matters.