Christopher Moss

Christopher has a particular interest in planning and environmental work. His work in practice includes:

• Being led by Richard Wald KC to advise local authorities on their powers in relation to restricting advertising of ‘high carbon’ products;
• Being led by Richard Wald KC to advise a local authority in relation to proposals to dock an asylum barge in their area;
• A two day judicial review before Mr Justice Eyre, led by Daniel Stedman Jones, acting for the Claimant where the Defendant Local Authority’s Environmental Impact Assessment was found to be unlawful on rationality grounds;
• Being led by Daniel Stedman Jones in a statutory review of a refusal by the Welsh Ministers to grant planning permission for a solar farm on best and most versatile agricultural land;
• Acting as sole counsel for a local authority defending a subsidence claim; and
• Regularly working with a local authority to advise on rights of way related issues.

He is a headnoter for the Property, Planning and Compensation reports, a co-editor of Chambers’ Planning, Environment and Property Newsletter and frequently produces case analysis on planning and environmental matters for LexisNexis.

Christopher is particularly interested in construction and property law and was led by David Sawtell in an adjudication arising from the delivery of ~£10m of defective metalwork. 

During pupillage, Christopher worked on a range of commercial and construction matters including:

• Assisting Paul Darling KC and David Hopkins in the drafting of a skeleton argument seeking permission to appeal against a refusal to award summary judgment on enforcement of adjudication award;
• Conducting research for David Sawtell on the Building Safety Act 2022;
• Advising on the validity of a deed executed by only one party;
• Drafting a skeleton argument opposing an application to set aside a statutory demand.

Christopher has a broad public law practice. He recently worked with Jonathan Seitler KC advising a local authority on potential public law challenges to the tabling of a commercial offer to purchase a significant parcel of land.

• Advised the Department for Environment Farming and Rural Affairs on the implementation of secondary legislation under the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act 2022;
• Assisted in reviewing environmental legislation for a Government agency; and
• Regularly undertaken disclosure and document review exercises for several Government departments.

Christopher appears regularly in the County Court in civil matters, and frequently drafts pleadings and advices. During pupillage, Christopher gained experience of drafting statements of case, schedules, advices and legal research on a variety of matters including:

• Conducting research for Neil Block KC on the legal framework of Fatal Accidents Claims pre-1976;
• Drafting pleadings and schedules/counter-schedules of loss in personal injury, fatal accidents and clinical negligence matters;
• Advising a school on whether they were liable for personal injury suffered by a pupil during a PE lesson;
• Drafting a counter schedule and advising on parameters for settlement in a road traffic accident claim pleaded at over £3 million;
• Assisting in the preparation of a clinical negligence trial, focussing on whether informed consent was obtained from the claimant, including by drafting a supplementary skeleton argument responding to a legal point raised by the claimant.

Christopher has a particular interest in costs and litigation funding. He currently works with the costs team of a London law firm advising on, and drafting pleadings and witness statements in relation to costs and funding disputes. He recently assisted Nicola Greaney KC, acting for the successful Class Representative in Alex Neill Class Representative Limited v Sony [2023] CAT 73, the first decision to address the validity of a PCR’s funding arrangements following the Supreme Court’s judgment in Paccar. Christopher assisted in preparing submissions on the enforceability of the PCR’s revised funding arrangements, and consequential submissions relating to the costs of the proceedings [2024] CAT 13.

Christopher has also been instructed to appear in the Senior Courts Costs Office, and Family Court where he successfully opposed the making of a non-party costs order.

Christopher has appeared in the Court of Protection on the welfare pathway, having been instructed by local authorities, integrated care boards and the Official Solicitor.