Gethin Thomas

Administrative & Public

Gethin specialises in public law. He regularly acts in judicial review proceedings, as both sole and junior counsel, and on behalf of both claimants and defendants. Gethin has a keen interest in all areas of public law, including civil liberties and human rights, healthcare law, electoral law, education law, immigration and asylum, housing, public procurement, EU law, inquiries and social security. He also has a particular interest in data protection and information law.

Gethin is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel, and of the Welsh Government’s B Panel of Junior Counsel. He is vetted, and holds security clearance.

Gethin is currently instructed to assist the Independent Human Rights Act Review Panel, chaired by Sir Peter Gross.

Gethin is also instructed as junior counsel to Charlie Corey-Wright QC by NHSBT, a core participant in the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Gethin’s broad public law practise spans planning, environment and energy cases, as well as commercial judicial review, procurement and matters concerning the regulation of financial services & pensions. He has particular experience of claims involving Article 1 of the First Protocol to the ECHR (A1/P1).

Gethin’s current, and recent, instructions in respect of judicial review claims include:

• As sole counsel, successfully defending judicial review proceedings on behalf of two NHS Trusts concerning alleged data protection breaches, in the Administrative Court (R (on the application of AB) v Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 2287 (Admin)).
• As junior counsel, led by Steve Broach, in a two-day substantive judicial review, challenging Somerset County Council’s restructuring of its schooling system (R (on the application of WC & anor) v Somerset County Council [2021] EWHC 2936 (Admin)). For more information, please see here: https://www.39essex.com/permission-granted-in-challenges-to-somerset-school-restructuring/.
• As junior counsel, led by Katherine Apps and Oliver Segal QC, in R (on the application of Unite the Union) v North Yorkshire Police Constable & anr, acting on behalf of the claimant in a judicial review challenge to the impact of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 on lawful picketing within section 220 and 220A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992. For more information, please see here: https://www.39essex.com/update-on-lockdown-picketing-judicial-review-challenge/
• As junior counsel, led by Parishil Patel QC, in a proposed challenge the lack of a national framework for treatment prioritisation, if demand for life-sustaining treatment outstrips supply during the COVID-19 pandemic (instructed by Bindmans LLP). For more information, please see here: https://www.39essex.com/disabled-people-challenge-lack-of-national-framework-for-treatment-prioritisation-during-covid-19-pandemic/.
• As junior counsel, led by Vikram Sachdeva QC, in respect of a proposed human rights claim in respect of the Government’s delay in instigating a lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, please see here: https://www.39essex.com/legal-action-against-covid-19-lockdown-delay/
• As junior counsel, led by James Eadie QC, Daniel Stilitz QC, Simon Murray and Joanne Clement, in a series of judicial review challenges to the Public Sector Exit Regulations 2020, which included A1/P1 grounds.
• As junior counsel, led by Clive Sheldon QC and Katherine Apps, in a judicial review challenge to the operation of the DWP’s third party deduction scheme.
• As sole counsel, successfully defending a judicial review claim at a renewal of permission hearing, appearing against a QC (Stuart Binns & Associates v Financial Ombudsman Service [2021] EWHC 1620 (Admin)).
• Assisted Parishil Patel QC in respect of a procurement challenge.
• As sole counsel, acting in a procurement challenge to a decision to abandon a tendering exercise.
• As junior counsel, led by Steve Broach, in a judicial review of a local authority’s funding of its short breaks service for disabled children. For more information, please see here: https://www.39essex.com/councils-funding-for-disabled-childrens-short-breaks-challenged/
• As junior counsel, acting on behalf of Welsh Government, in relation to a judicial review brought by the Medical Defence Union, challenging its decision not to introduce an existing liabilities indemnity scheme for NHS GP’s, which include A1/P1 grounds (Medical Defence Union v Welsh Government & ors, led by Rhodri Williams QC and Jo Clement).
• As junior counsel to Steve Broach, in a judicial review claim, intimated by Family Rights Group, challenging the discriminatory impact of the lockdown restrictions on kinship carers. The claim was conceded by the Secretary of State, and changes were consequently made to the relevant regulations. For more information, please see here: https://www.39essex.com/family-rights-group-secures-significant-amendment-to-covid-regulations/.
• As sole counsel, advising as to a judicial review claim challenging a single multi-disciplinary care assessment.
• As junior counsel to Steve Broach, in advising as to the prospects of successfully challenging a Welsh local authority’s SEND school transport policy.
• Assisted Steve Broach in respect of a proposed judicial review claim challenging the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and NHS England’s failure to test suspected cases of COVID-19 in care homes on discrimination grounds.
• Acting on behalf of the Welsh Government, in a proposed challenge to a notice issued pursuant to the Animal Health Act 1981.
• As sole counsel, acting on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority, as an interested party to a judicial review challenge in respect of a certificate of lawful development issued to the operators of Elstree Aerodrome.
• Assisting Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho, in relation to a judicial review claim challenging the outcome of a competition for funding for an energy project.
• As sole counsel, drafting the summary grounds of resistance on behalf of the Financial Ombudsman Service in relation to a judicial review claim.
• Acting as junior counsel to Paul Stinchcombe QC and Richard Wald QC in a judicial review challenging the grant of a development consent order re-opening Manston Airport (R (on the application of Jennifer Dawes) v SST and Anor), on climate change grounds.
• Acting as junior counsel in a judicial review challenging the Road Investment Strategy 2, in respect to the renewal of the application for permission on air quality and SEA grounds before the Administrative Court and Court of Appeal (R (Transport Action Network Ltd) v SST and Anor [2020] EWHC 3235 (Admin), led by David Wolfe QC and Peter Lockley).
• Acting as a junior junior, instructed by the Government Legal Department, in the judicial review challenge to the Heathrow third runway (R (on the application of Spurrier) v Secretary of State for Transport [2019] EWHC 1070 (Admin)).
• As a junior junior, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, assisting in response to proposed judicial review challenges in respect of HM Prison Service’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, led by Catherine Dobson.

Gethin is also regularly instructed to advise on a broad range of public law issues. Recent instructions include:

• Advising the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.
• Advising the Sovereign Borders Programme.
• Advising the FCDO on proposed sanctions designations.
• Assisting Katherine Apps, in advising as to the implications of R (on the application of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Ltd and another) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government[2020] UKSC 16, in respect of pensions regulation.
• Advising a local authority on electoral and information law issues, concerning data held pursuant to the electoral register.
• Advising a local authority as to the lawfulness of a delegation of power.
• Advising in respect of a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
• Advising the Office for Students, as consultant counsel.
• Advising the Financial Ombudsman Service, as consultant counsel.
• Advising the Civil Aviation Authority.

Gethin’s broad experience also includes acting in private law matters, involving a public or regulatory law element. Recent instructions include:

• As sole counsel, successfully resisting an application for an interim injunction, both at first instance, and on appeal in the High Court (Avsar v Wilson James Ltd [2020] EWHC 3412 (QB)).
• As junior counsel to Sadie Crapper and Martin Westgate QC, instructed by the Police Federation, acting in respect of an overtime claim brought by undercover police officers.
• Acting on behalf of a university, in defending a claim brought against it alleging breach of contract and misrepresentation.
• Acting on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority, in the High Court, in a successful strike out application of a claim in relation to a decision to provisionally suspend a pilot’s medical certificate.

Before joining the bar, Gethin worked on public law reform projects in areas such as electoral law, misconduct in public office and wildlife law. He has particular experience of those areas. Gethin also worked on a project that proposed a new system of codification for the law applicable to Wales, and has a particular interest in Welsh law.

Gethin was also an administrative justice intern at JUSTICE.

Environment & Energy

Gethin specialises in environmental law. Gethin is regularly instructed to advise on a broad range of planning and environmental matters. He has experience of acting in inquiries. Gethin has extensive experience of acting in judicial review proceedings, as both sole and junior counsel. Gethin was ranked as one of the ‘Highest Rated Planning Juniors Under 35’ by Planning Magazine (2020).

Gethin is a contributing editor of the Environmental Law Bulletin (published by Sweet & Maxwell). Gethin is also a member of the Environmental Law Foundation, through which he provides pro bono assistance on environmental matters. Gethin has particular experience of environmental judicial review challenges, and climate change litigation.

Gethin also has a keen interest in energy regulation, including nuclear power and renewables.

Recent instructions include:

• Acted as junior counsel to Richard Wald QC, instructed by Natural Resources Wales, in a four-week Inquiry concerning the implementation of byelaws for the conservation of salmon and sea trout stocks in Welsh rivers. For more information, please see here: https://www.39essex.com/welsh-government-announces-confirmation-of-conservation-byelaws//
• Acting as junior counsel to Paul Stinchcombe QC and Richard Wald QC in a successful judicial review challenging the grant of a development consent order re-opening Manston Airport (R (on the application of Jennifer Dawes) v SST and Anor), on climate change grounds. Gethin previously acted on behalf of objectors to the scheme, instructed by the Environmental Law Foundation, in respect to its climate change impacts. For more information, please see here: https://www.39essex.com/manston-airport-dco-quashed/.
• Acting as junior counsel in a judicial review challenging the Road Investment Strategy 2, in respect to the renewal of the application for permission on air quality and SEA grounds before the Administrative Court and Court of Appeal (R (Transport Action Network Ltd) v SST and Anor [2020] EWHC 3235 (Admin), led by David Wolfe QC and Peter Lockley).
• Acting as junior counsel, led by David Wolfe QC, in a judicial review challenging a marine licence issued by the Marine Management Organisation, granting permission to dispose of mud, dredged during the course of the construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, in the Severn Estuary (R (on the application of Tarian Hafren Severn Shield Cyf) v Marine Management Organisation [2022] EWHC 683 (Admin)).
• Advising ClientEarth, as junior counsel to Stephen Tromans QC, in respect of draft clauses of the Environment Bill.
• Assisted Nigel Pleming QC in relation to a matter arising from the scope of the definition of ‘public authority’ pursuant to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
• Assisted Peter Village QC in advising as to climate change’s role in the planning system.
• Acting as junior counsel, in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s decision not to suspend the National Policy Statement for National Networks pending its review (led by David Wolfe QC and Peter Lockley).
• Acting in the appeal against a refusal of permission of a judicial review claim concerning intensive farming practices (R  (on the application of Humane Being) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2022] EWHC 300 (Admin)).
• Advising the Civil Aviation Authority, in respect of the applicability of the SEA and Habitats Directives to the preparation of an Airspace Change Masterplan.
• As junior counsel to Duncan Sinclair, advising as to issues arising under the Renewables Obligation scheme, administered by Ofgem.
• Acting on behalf of the Welsh Government, in a proposed challenge to a notice issued pursuant to the Animal Health Act 1981.
• Advised Natural Resources Wales, as to issues arising in respect of its powers in respect of felling licenses.
• Advising as to liability for remediation of contaminated land.
• Advising as to the prospects of challenging the grant of a planning permission on habitats and ecology grounds by judicial review.
• Acted as a junior junior on the judicial review challenge to the Heathrow third runway, instructed by the Government Legal Department.
• Advising a local authority as to matters arising from its declaration of a climate emergency.
• Advising on Tree Protection Orders and the Hedgerows Regulations.

Gethin also has experience of nuisance claims. As a pupil, Gethin assisted in respect of a private nuisance claim for group litigants concerning odour and noise emissions, and a claim under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 concerning noise, odour and air pollution.

Gethin has written articles, and delivered seminars and lectures on environmental matters, such as climate change, air quality, environmental impact assessments and habitats regulation.

He is also a member of LexisNexis’ Q&A Expert Panel on environmental law.

Planning

Gethin is regularly instructed to advise on a broad range of planning and environmental matters. Gethin has particular experience of acting in judicial review proceedings, as both sole and junior counsel. He has experience of acting on behalf of the successful party in a four-week inquiry, as junior counsel to Richard Wald QC.

Gethin was ranked as one of the ‘Highest Rated Planning Juniors Under 35’ by Planning Magazine (2020).

He advises developers, planning consultants, local authorities, and private clients on all aspects of the planning process, including planning enforcement, and planning appeals.

He has particular experience of Development Consent Orders under the Planning Act 2008, having acted in one of the first successful judicial review challenges to the grant of a DCO, concerning Manston Airport.

Examples of his recent instructions include:

• Assisting John Steel QC in advising as to a statutory blight compensation claim for HS2 safeguarded land.
• Acted as junior counsel to Brian Ash QC on behalf of the claimant in a judicial review claim against a reserved matters decision of a local authority.
• Acted as junior counsel, assisted in respect of an enforcement appeal to the High Court pursuant to section 289 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
• As sole counsel, acting on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority, as an interested party to a judicial review challenge in respect of a certificate of lawful development issued to the operators of Elstree Aerodrome.
• Assisting Daniel Stedman-Jones in respect of an appeal against a section 215 notice.
• Advising a developer as to prospects of successfully appealing a refusal of planning permission to build within the Green Belt.
• Advising a local authority as to provisions of a section 106 agreement.
• Advising a developer in relation as to an alleged material change of use.
• Advising as to permitted development rights.
• Advising as to an application for a Lawful Development Certificate for existing use.
• Advised a developer as to the prospects of appealing a refusal to grant a certificate of lawful development.
• Advised a developer in relation to issues arising from the removal of permitted development rights by planning conditions.
• Appeared as sole counsel in committal proceedings for breach of an enforcement injunction before the High Court.
• Advised a local authority as to the prospects of being granted an enforcement injunction.
• Drafting a judicial review pre-action protocol letter in respect of an LPA’s decision to decline to determine a planning application.
• Advising as to the prospects of judicially reviewing an LPA’s decision to take direct action pursuant to an enforcement notice.

Gethin is a contributor to the current edition of Shackleton on the Law and Practice of Meetings.

Property

Gethin welcomes instructions in property matters. He has experience of a wide range of property disputes. His recent instructions include, for example, advising as to break and surrender clauses in a commercial lease, and acting in forfeiture proceedings. Gethin also has experience of residential property cases.

Commercial, Construction & International Arbitration

Gethin is regularly instructed in commercial and construction matters. He has a particular interest in procurement, PFI and project financing.

Gethin has appeared as both sole and junior counsel in commercial and construction proceedings in the High Court (in the Technology & Construction Court, Commercial, and Queen’s Bench Division). He also frequently appears in commercial and construction matters in the County Court. He has extensive experience of drafting pleadings, and frequently advises on a broad range of commercial and construction matters, often complex and high-value. He also has adjudication experience. Examples of recent instructions are listed below.

In addition, he has particular experience in financial services, having acted as consultant counsel to the Financial Ombudsman Service. He has advised on a wide range of matters under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. He also regularly advises on complex agency issues.

Gethin is currently instructed as a member of the legal team from 39 Essex Chambers offering legal advice and support to the Foskett Panel. Further information is available online here: www.foskettpanel.com.

Gethin has also been instructed in a number of contractual claims arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, on behalf of both claimants and defendants, in which issues of frustration and force majeure are in dispute.

Gethin also has experience of international arbitration. His recent instructions include acting as sole counsel in a commercial LCIA arbitration in the pharmaceutical sector, in an ad hoc arbitration in the energy sector, and acting in enforcement proceedings in a SIAC arbitration. During pupillage, Gethin assisted on a major ICC arbitration concerning payment disputes, delay and variation claims (whilst supervised by Rachael O’Hagan). He was involved in the matter in the lead-up to, and throughout, the trial.

Gethin’s recent instructions include:

• As sole counsel, successfully resisting an application for an interim injunction, both at first instance, and on appeal in the High Court (Avsar v Wilson James Ltd [2020] EWHC 3412 (QB)).
• As junior counsel, acting in relation to a claim in the High Court for a breach of contract, involving allegations of fraud, on behalf of a multinational company.
• As sole counsel, acting in a commercial LCIA arbitration in the pharmaceutical sector.
• As junior counsel, acting in proceedings to enforce a SIAC arbitration emergency award in the High Court.
• As junior counsel, in an ad hoc arbitration in the energy sector (led by Gordon Nardell QC).

• As junior counsel, successfully defending a breach of contract claim in the High Court and Court of Appeal, in which £4.5 million had been claimed against an NHS Trust.
• As sole counsel, successfully resisting an application to enforce an adjudicator’s decision, in the High Court.
• Assisting Adrian Hughes QC to advise as to issues arising pursuant a JCT contract, including the scope of design responsibility, and an extension of time.
• As sole counsel, defending a breach of contract claim to trial in the TCC.
• As sole counsel, acting in enforcement proceedings in respect of a judgment debt, arising from a commercial restitution claim, in the High Court (School Facility Management Ltd v Governing Body of Christ the King College [2021] EWHC 3066 (Comm)).
• As sole counsel, acting on behalf of the Defendant in an alleged breach of agency claim.
• As sole counsel, advising a local authority in respect to a breach of contract claim intimated against it.
• As sole counsel, drafting particulars of claim, contending a breach of a contract on behalf of a construction company (involving issues of delay and defective work).
• As sole counsel, advising and drafting particulars of claim in respect to a private nuisance claim.
• As sole counsel, drafting particulars of claim, on behalf of a local authority, contending breaches of a JCT Contract.

• As sole counsel, successfully resisting an application, to be added as a party to breach of contract proceedings.
• As sole counsel, to draft particulars of claim for breach of contract on behalf of a major retailer.
• As sole counsel, successfully resisting an application to re-instate a struck-out claim concerning a construction dispute.

• Assisted Parishil Patel QC in respect of a procurement challenge.
• Acting on behalf of a university, in defending a claim brought against it alleging breach of contract and misrepresentation.
• Subsidence claims.

Gethin is a contributing editor to Wilmot-Smith on Construction Contracts. He co-edited the chapter on loss and expense with Adrian Hughes QC.

As a pupil, Gethin was a member of the winning team in the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators Mediation Skills Competition 2018.

Before commencing practice, Gethin interned with the Chief Justice of Hong Kong at the Court of Final Appeal.

Gethin is a member of COMBAR.

Regulatory & Disciplinary

Gethin has a keen interest in regulatory and disciplinary law. He regularly acts on behalf of regulatory bodies in judicial review claims. His experience includes:

• Acting in proceedings before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and advising on SRA regulatory issues.
• Acting in proceedings before the Council for Licensed Conveyancers Adjudication Panel.
• Advising the Financial Ombudsman Service as consultant counsel.
• Advising the Office for Students as consultant counsel.
• Acting on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority, in a successful strike out application of a claim in relation to a decision to provisionally suspend a pilot’s medical certificate in the High Court.

Gethin has also gained experience of regulatory law whilst working in electoral law and misconduct in public office at the Law Commission.

Financial Services, Banking & Pensions

Gethin is developing a practice in financial services, banking and pensions law. Gethin has acted as consultant counsel to the Financial Ombudsman Service, where he advised on a wide range of issues under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Gethin has also acted in several judicial review claims, on behalf of the Financial Ombudsman Service, as sole counsel.

Gethin is currently instructed as a member of the legal team from 39 Essex Chambers offering legal advice and support to the Foskett Panel. Further information is available online here: www.foskettpanel.com.

Recent matters include, for example:

• As junior counsel, led by James Eadie QC, Daniel Stilitz QC, Simon Murray, and Joanne Clement in the judicial review challenges to the Public Sector Exit Regulations 2020.
• Assisting Katherine Apps, in advising as to the implications of R (on the application of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Ltd and another) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government[2020] UKSC 16, in respect of pensions regulation.
• Assisting to advise in respect to the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020.
• Acting in PPI claims on behalf of Defendants.
• As sole counsel, successfully defending a judicial review claim (Stuart Binns & Associates v Financial Ombudsman Service [2021] EWHC 1620 (Admin)).
• Advising as to apparent and ostensible agency.
• Advising as to the meaning of ‘credit’ and the scope of ‘financial accommodation’.
• Advising as to issues arising from application of Anderson v Sense Network [2019] EWCA Civ 1395 | [2019] 7 WLUK 533.

Gethin also has a particular interest in the regulation of cryptoassets.