Celia Reynolds

Celia has a broad planning and environmental law practice, undertaking the full range of work from advisory and pleading to appearing in court. She has a particular interest in housing and development and is a regular contributor to Chambers’ Planning, Environment and Property Newsletter. Celia is also a forthcoming author of a chapter on water law within the upcoming book, ‘Law of Net Zero and Nature Positive.’ Celia is a member of PEBA and UKELA.

Celia’s current and recent work includes:

• Celia was instructed as sole counsel for the Jockey Club in a four-day planning inquiry, resisting an appeal in respect of an application for a lawful development certificate confirming the use of land at the Former Animal Health Trust Research Centre, Kentford, for Class E purposes.
• Celia was led by Daniel Stedman Jones in a two-week planning inquiry, successfully defending a refusal of planning permission by Milton Keynes City Council for the proposed development of an urban extension in Northern Milton Keynes (see here).
• On behalf of the Environmental Law foundation, Celia has advised on JR challenges to development in the greenbelt, the law of rewilding, and species reintroduction in England & Wales.
• Celia has been seconded to Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside and Rights of Way team for a year, advising on a variety of matters in respect of highways, rights of ways, and town and village greens.
• While led by Victoria Hutton, Celia has advised on an emerging local plan for a local authority and the implications of plan developments for strategic environmental assessments and sustainability appraisals.

Celia hopes to develop a broad public law and court of protection practice. She is currently instructed by the Department of Health in the Covid Inquiry. 

During pupillage, Celia gained experience in a variety of public law matters including:

• Assisting in a variety of education and disability matters for members of chambers, including Steve Broach.
• Drafting a skeleton argument in respect of an application for permission to appeal a court’s determination on costs in a matter involving the special educational needs and disability (SEND) tribunal.
• Conducting research on a variety of European Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights and international human rights case law, instruments and procedure.
• Drafting a skeleton argument for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal
• Providing an advice as to which local authority was responsible for the care of a vulnerable individual in an ordinary residence determination
• Drafting a notice of objection in response to an application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in the context of an entry clearance case involving Article 8 issues.

Prior to pupillage, Celia provided free written and telephone legal advice to members of the public at the AIRE Centre, and provided legal assistance in public law matters at the International Refugee Assistance Project and Harvard Crimmigration Clinic. Celia has also worked for a variety of non-governmental organisations, including the Migration Policy Institute, the International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”), and the AIRE Centre.

Celia accepts instructions on a pro bono basis in appropriate public law cases.

Since becoming a tenant, Celia has been instructed as sole counsel in a variety of commercial, construction, and property law matters. They have included: 

• Responding to and making an application to set aside a statutory demand in an ongoing construction dispute. 
• Advising on the acquisition and release of rights of light for large scale developments within central London. 
• Complex possession proceedings involving matters of restitution and family law. 

During pupillage, Celia gained a wide variety of experience in commercial, construction, and property matters including:

• Drafting pleadings, schedules, and counter-schedules in contract, fraud, and construction disputes.
• Assisting David Sawtell in researching and drafting an advice on liability for a remediation contribution order under section 123 of Building Safety Act
• Advising on disclaimer of property and application for vesting orders following bankruptcy proceedings
• Assisting Paul Darling KC in researching and drafting an advice for an international construction arbitration
• Advising on the prospects of a claim for defective works, involving cladding and fire safety.

Celia has a busy court practice and regularly appears in the county count on matters including employer’s liability, public liability, road traffic accidents and credit hire. Most recently she was involved in the following: 

• Successfully advocating at a multitrack CCMC for the refusal of Claimant’s application for permission to increase the value of their claim. 
• Successfully resisting Claimant’s application for an additional expert in a multitrack CCMC. 
• Successfully applying for strike out and an award of indemnity costs on the small claims track under CPR 27.14(g). 

Celia regularly assists with drafting statements of case and schedules on behalf of defendants. She is particularly interested in clinical negligence, sports law, and matters involving inquests and inquiries. As a pupil, Celia gained experienced in the following: 

• Advising in a potential inquest involving a care home
• Advising and drafting pleadings in road traffic accident, employer’s liability and public liability cases.
• Advising on settlement in clinical negligence and personal injury matters.
• Advising on liability, pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA) and quantum in personal injury and clinical negligence matters.
• Drafting schedules and counter-schedules for cases involving fatal accidents, severe injuries, and negligent pre-natal and neo-natal care
• Assisting in research and drafting pleadings in clinical negligence cases involving delayed diagnosis, breach of clinical duty, and complex causation matters