Profile
“Katherine is simply excellent. Brainy, courageous and always up for a challenge, she is my top choice for any complicated judicial review that requires someone with a cross-section of experience.” Chambers and Partners.
Katherine is a public law specialist. She has an exceptionally diverse practice which ranges from commercial regulatory work (including planning, environment and procurement) to public interest and human rights matters. She is recognised by Chambers and Partners and/or Legal 500 in the fields of public law, civil liberties & human rights, planning, education, community care and Court of Protection.
Katherine graduated from Queens’ College, Cambridge with a first class degree in French and Spanish before converting to law. She then obtained an LLM with distinction in public law and human rights from the London School of Economics.
She has appeared as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal, High Court, Upper Tribunal, Court of Protection, County Court, Crown Court and Magistrates Courts.
As former co-chair of Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Katherine is committed to access to justice and legal aid work. She is also a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s panel of counsel.
Highlights from Katherine’s practice to date include: securing planning permission at inquiry for significant residential development within the Detailed Emergency Planning Zone of a nuclear site; acting for the Claimant in one of the first successful challenges to a planning permission on equalities grounds (Buckley); securing changes to a policy which imposed excessive restrictions on visits to ante and post-natal wards during the Covid-19 pandemic (Birthrights); acting for major IT company in a successful challenge to the award of a £138m contract for a major Home Office IT project (Mastek); acting for the Claimants in a successful challenge to the system for providing accommodation to failed asylum seekers (DMA); acting for the successful Defendants in a challenge to the restructuring of air ambulance services in Wales designed to meet a higher degree of need (Evans); acting for the successful Claimants in a judicial review of the decision by a local authority to reduce its special educational needs budget by c.£400m (AB); acting for Ofsted at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (residential schools) and assisting counsel to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Contact Us
Elliott Hurrell
Director of Clerking
Additional Information
In her free time, Katherine enjoys travel, theatre and reading novels. She also sings with Voce Chamber Choir, whose concerts have ranged from Tallis to Poulenc to singing with the Rolling Stones at Glastonbury.
Languages
- French (fluent)
- Spanish (fluent)
Additional Information
In her free time, Katherine enjoys travel, theatre and reading novels. She also sings with Voce Chamber Choir, whose concerts have ranged from Tallis to Poulenc to singing with the Rolling Stones at Glastonbury.
Languages
- French (fluent)
- Spanish (fluent)
Contact Us
Elliott Hurrell
Director of Clerking
Areas Of Expertise
Katherine is recommended for planning by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. Her experience in this field includes:
- Judicial review and statutory appeals
- Planning inquiries and hearings
- Infrastructure
- Strategic planning, including local plan examinations
- Highways
- Rights of way inquiries
- Compulsory Purchase Orders
- Enforcement
- Village greens
- Related information law issues
She is recommended for planning by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Recent inquiry/hearing work of particular interest includes Land West of Kingfisher Grove, Reading APP/X0360/W/22/3304042 – a successful appeal against the non-determination of an application for 49 dwellings in the vicinity of a nuclear site (inside the Detailed Emergency Planning Zone) – and Land East of Ashford Road, Kingsnorth APP/E2205/W/23/332254 – a successful appeal against non-determination in relation to a medical centre and 15 dwellings in the vicinity of the Stodmarsh Lakes SPA, SAC, SSSI and Ramsar sites, thus requiring the demonstration of nutrient neutrality.
In terms of strategic planning, she is currently instructed by Bath & North East Somerset Council to promote its local plan.
Many of Katherine’s planning cases concern infrastructure, including projects authorised via DCOs and TWAOs. For example, she provided advice in relation to the Silvertown Tunnel, Stonehenge tunnel, the Northern Line Extension and the Sphere (a proposed major entertainment venue in London with a capacity for over 21,500 people).
Cases of Note
- R (Grantchester Parish Council) v Greater Cambridge Partnership [2025] EWHC 923 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a challenge to a transport route; unusually in a claim for judicial review, the court granted the Claimant’s application to cross-examine on a key dispute of fact. Judgment
- R (Faherty) v Bournebouth, Christchurch and Poole Council [2023] EWHC 1395 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a judicial review of a planning permission based on heritage grounds. Judgment
- R (Cathie) v Cheshire West [2022] EWHC 2148 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a judicial review of a decision to approve an odour management plan. The judgment includes a summary of the principles governing the discharge of planning conditions. Judgment
- Bansal v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2021] EWHC 1604 (Admin) – Acted for the Appellant in a s.289 statutory appeal against an enforcement notice, in which the court considered the correct approach to establishing change of use to a dwellinghouse following the subdivision of an existing dwellinghouse for the purposes of s.171B TCPA 1990. Judgment
- R (Stubbs) v Lake District National Park Authority [2020] EWHC 2293 Admin – Acted for the Claimant in a judicial review of the Authority’s refusal to make a traffic regulation order restricting 4x4s on two roads in the Lake District National Park. Judgment
- R (Hemms) v Bath and North East Somerset Council [2020] EWHC 2721 (Admin) – Acted for the Defendant in a challenge to the local authority’s refusal to make an order pursuant to s.102 of the TCPA 1990. The case considers the application of Article 8 to the planning context as well as delegated powers under the local authority’s constitution. Judgment
- R (Risby) v East Hertfordshire DC [2019] EWHC 3474 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a judicial review of the decision to grant planning permission for a multi-storey car park in a Conservation Area. The case considers the consistency principle and the treatment of a previous quashed planning decision. Judgment
- R (Brommell) v Reading District Council [2018] EWHC 3529 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a judicial review of a grant of planning permission for a school on public playing fields.
- R (Buckley) v Bath and North East Somerset District Council [2018] EWHC 1551 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a judicial review of the decision to demolish a major council estate. The decision was quashed on equalities grounds. Judgment
- R (NHS Property Services Limited) v Surrey County Council [2016] EWHC 1715 – Acted for the Defendant in a judicial review concerning the “statutory incompatibility” doctrine in town and village green cases. Judgment
Katherine practises all public law aspects of environmental law and is co-editor of the leading practitioner’s textbook on Environmental Impact Assessment. Her advisory and litigation work in this area includes:
- Energy regulation (including renewables and nuclear)
- Water regulation (including Water Framework Directive)
- Contaminated land
- Environmental permitting
- Strategic Environmental Assessment framework in relation to a variety of plans and strategies in both a development and water context
- Air quality (particularly in the context of aviation, road infrastructure projects and large-scale residential development)
- Tree Protection Orders
- Habitats Directive
- Environmental Impact Assessment
Cases of Note
- R (Grantchester Parish Council) v Greater Cambridge Partnership [2025] EWHC 923 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a challenge to a transport route; unusually in a claim for judicial review, the court granted the Claimant’s application to cross-examine on a key dispute of fact. Judgment
- R (Cathie) v Cheshire West [2022] EWHC 2148 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a judicial review of a decision to approve an odour management plan. Judgment
- R (Stubbs) v Lake District National Park Authority [2020] EWHC 2293 (Admin) – Acted as sole counsel in a judicial review of the authority’s refusal to make a traffic regulation order restricting 4x4s on two roads in the Lake District National Park. Judgment
- R (Wood Boilers) v Gas and Electricity Markets Authority [2020] EWHC 1578 (Admin) – Acted for a renewable energy company in a judicial review of Ofgem’s refusal to continue paying subsidies for one of its schemes. Judgment
- R (Brommell) v Reading District Council [2018] EWHC 3529 (Admin) – Acted as sole counsel for the claimant in a judicial review of a of planning permission for a school on public playing fields.
- R (Dillner) v Sheffield County Council [2016] EWHC 945 (Admin) – Acted for the successful defendant in a challenge to a street maintenance project involving the replacement of street trees. Judgment
Katherine has significant expertise in energy regulation and water, with a particular interest in the nuclear sector. Examples of work in this area include:
- Advising Great British Energy – Nuclear on various issues arising from its advisory function to government
- Advising on licensing options in relation to novel electricity generation projects
- Advising on the subsidy position applicable to a “floating wind farm”
- Advising in respect of applications for planning permission regarding solar energy
- Advising a water company on its water resources management plan (including advice on the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive)
- Advising on environmental permitting obligations in the context of contaminated water emissions from a former tar works
- Acting for a renewable energy company in a judicial review of Ofgem’s refusal to continue paying subsidies for one of its schemes (R (Wood Boilers) v Gas and Electricity Markets Authority [2020] EWHC 1578 (Admin) Judgment)
Katherine has experience of the regulatory frameworks governing a variety of energy and related schemes in the UK having completed a six month secondment with Ofgem’s legal department. These include the Domestic and Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Schemes, the Green Gas Support Scheme, the various Energy Company Obligations Schemes and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Katherine acts for contracting authorities and economic operators. She particularly enjoys cases that overlap with her other areas of practice, such as development of land and NHS contracts. Recent examples of her work in this area include:
- Mastek (IUK) Limited v Secretary of State for the Home Department – acting for the Claimant (led by Deok Joo Rhee KC) in relation to a successful challenge to the award of a £138 million contract for a major Home Office IT project
- Brown Mason Group Ltd v Cardiff Council – acting for the contracting authority (led by Parishil Patel KC) in a challenge to the procurement of a £40 million contract for the demolition of a power station
- Advising a competitor on a potential breach of The Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 in relation to a major new leisure complex
- Advising a contracting authority on the procurement implications of required changes to a contract for the regeneration and redevelopment of a large Council estate
“She is very good for public law challenges.” Legal 500.
Katherine practises all areas of public law and human rights, with a focus on judicial review. She is an exceptionally versatile practitioner, who is just as comfortable acting for her commercial clients (which include major companies and developers) as her legally aided clients (who range from victims of trafficking to disabled prisoners). She increasingly finds herself instructed on high-profile policy and strategic challenges, litigation which she very much enjoys.
She is recognised by Legal 500/Chambers and Partners in public law, human rights, community care and education.
Her work in this field includes:
- Commercial judicial review (including procurement)
- Healthcare
- Community care (including Court of Protection)
- Education
- Asylum support and anti-trafficking (including multiple challenges to trafficking RGs and CGs decisions)
- Prisons
- Social security
- Planning and environment
Cases of Note
- R (Prior and Cooke) v Police Federation of England and Wales [2026] EWHC 124 (Admin) – Acted for the Defendant in a judicial review concerning the compatibility with Article 10 ECHR of social media restrictions imposed on elected representatives. Judgment
- R (Evans) v Aneurin Bevan University Local Health Board and Others [2025] EWHC 1518 – Acted for the successful Defendants in a challenge to the restructuring of air ambulance services in Wales. Judgment
- R (Eveleigh) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2023] EWCA Civ 810 – Challenge to the Government’s National Disability Strategy on the basis it failed to comply with consultation requirements. Judgment
- R (DMA) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWHC 3416 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimants in a successful challenge to the system for providing accommodation to failed asylum seekers pursuant to s4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Judgment
- R (Wood Boilers) v Gas and Electricity Markets Authority [2020] EWHC 1578 (Admin) – Acted for a renewable energy company in a judicial review of Ofgem’s refusal to continue paying subsidies for one of its schemes. Judgment
- In The Matter of P (Discharge of Party) [2021] EWCA Civ 512 – Acted for the First Respondent local authority in an appeal to the Court of Appeal from the Court of Protection on the grounds of procedural unfairness. Judgment
- R (British Medical Association) v Northamptonshire CC [2020] EWHC 1664 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a challenge concerning the failure of Northamptonshire’s safeguarding plan to address remuneration for safeguarding services provided by GPs. Judgment
- R (Simone) v Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Education [2019] EWHC 2609 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimants in a high-profile challenge to the failure to provide adequate funding for the education of children with special educational needs. Judgment
- Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Goulding [2019] EWCA Civ 839 – Acted for the Respondent pensioner in the Court of Appeal in a case concerning the interpretation of the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002. Judgment
Katherine is listed by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners in field of education law. Her work in this area includes advice and litigation relating to:
- Funding decisions
- School closures
- Special educational needs appeals
- School transport policy challenges
- School admissions appeals
- School exclusions appeals
- Disability discrimination claims both in relation to schools and universities
- Student finance
- Regulatory matters
Cases of Note
- R (CU) v Secretary of State for Education [2024] EWHC 638 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimant in a challenge to the consultation on whether the First-Tier Tribunal’s remedies are adequate in relation to discrimination claims against schools. Judgment
- R (Simone) v Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Education [2019] EWHC 2609 (Admin) – Acted for the Claimants in a high-profile challenge to the failure to provide adequate funding for the education of children with special educational needs. Judgment
- R (AB) v Portsmouth City Council [2019] – Acted for the successful Claimants in a judicial review of the decision by Portsmouth City Council to reduce its special educational needs funding by around £400,000.
Katherine practises all areas of community care and mental health with particular expertise in related claims for judicial review, including policy and strategic challenges. Her work in this area includes advice and litigation relating to:
- Care needs assessments under Care Act 2014
- Care packages under the Care Act 2014 and Continuing Healthcare
- Closure of facilities and services for people with disabilities
- Charging policies
- Direct payments
- Disabled Facilities Grants
- After-care under s.117 of the Mental Health Act 1983
- Detention under the Mental Health Act 1983 (including applications for displacement of the nearest relative)
- Challenging and defending provision for vulnerable children under s17/s20 Children Act 1989
- Regulation of care homes by the Care Quality Commission
- Multiple Court of Protection health and welfare matters, including disputes about residence, care and contact
Katherine is ranked by Chambers and Partners in the field of community care: “Katherine is passionate about the subject and goes the extra mile for her clients.” (Chambers and Partners).
Cases of Note
- R (Eveleigh) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2023] EWCA Civ 810 – challenge to the Government’s National Disability Strategy on the basis it failed to comply with consultation requirements. Judgment
- R (KG) v HT Trust Limited [2021] – Acted for the claimant in a successful challenge to a decision by a private care home provider to close her home. The case was concerned with s73 of the Care Act 2014 and the circumstances in which private providers will be subject to human rights obligations.
- R (AP) v Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust [2021] – Acted for a hospital trust in a judicial review of the decision to transfer to another hospital an individual detained under s3 Mental Health Act 1983.
- In The Matter of P (Discharge of Party) [2021] EWCA Civ 512 – Acted for the first respondent local authority in an appeal to the Court of Appeal from the Court of Protection on the grounds of procedural unfairness. Judgment
- Health Service Executive of Ireland v Ellern Mede Moorgate [2020] EWCOP 12 – Successful application for the recognition and enforcement of protective measures imposed abroad in relation to a young woman with severe anorexia. Judgment
- AS v Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2018] – Successful challenge to the decision to introduce a policy of charging blue badge holders for car parking at the hospital.
Katherine is regularly instructed on cases within the healthcare sector, particularly in relation to related claims for judicial review. Her advisory and litigation work in the area includes:
- Procurement
- Continuing Healthcare packages
- Closure of facilities and services for people with disabilities
- Detention under the Mental Health Act 1983
- Regulation of care homes by the Care Quality Commission
- Healthcare restructuring
- Multiple Court of Protection health and welfare matters, including disputes about residence, care and contact
Cases of Note
- R (Birthrights) v Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board [2022] – Advised the NGO Birthrights in respect of a potential challenge to the health board’s policy of restricting visits to all its ante and post-natal wards to only one hour per day due to concerns about the transmission of Covid-19. The health board conceded following the letter before claim.
- R (AP) v Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust [2021] – Acted for a hospital trust in a judicial review of the decision to transfer to another hospital an individual detained under s3 Mental Health Act 1983.
- In The Matter of P (Discharge of Party) [2021] EWCA Civ 512 – Acted for the first respondent local authority in an appeal to the Court of Appeal from the Court of Protection on the grounds of procedural unfairness. Judgment
- Health Service Executive of Ireland v Ellern Mede Moorgate [2020] EWCOP 12 – Acted for the Applicant in a successful application for the recognition and enforcement of protective measures imposed abroad in relation to a young woman with severe anorexia. The judgment considers the correct approach to such applications under Schedule 3 to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Judgment
- AS v Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2018] – Acted for the Claimant in a successful challenge to the trust’s decision to introduce a policy of charging blue badge holders for car parking at its hospital.
Katherine has a wide-ranging regulatory practice which spans health, social care, education, energy and the environment, and she has been appointed to the List of Special Regulatory Advocates. Regulator clients include the Care Quality Commission, Ofsted, Ofgem, Ofwat and the Groceries Code Adjudicator. Katherine also acts for individuals – for example, she recently acted for a care home challenging a de-registration decision by the CQC and for a nursery provider challenging an Ofsted inspection report.
She has also worked on multiple licensing cases, including under the Licensing Act 2003. For example, she has successfully obtained licences and/or prevented the grant of licences in relation to bars and takeaways. She also has experience of taxi licensing.
Cases of Note
- W Clappison Ltd v Aldi Stores Ltd and Groceries Code Adjudicator [2025] EWHC 1459 (Ch) – Acted for the successful regulator, the GCA, in an application to intervene in a contractual dispute. The judgment addresses the principles regarding interventions in private law disputes. Judgment
- R (Jones) v Nottinghamshire County Council – Acted for the successful Claimants in a proposed judicial review of a decision to terminate the Claimants’ approval to work as foster carers.
- Delta v Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council – Successfully defended a judicial review of local authority’s intended use policy for private hire vehicles.
- First-Tier Tribunal appeals – Multiple First-Tier Tribunal appeals (health, education and social care chamber) concerning de-registration decisions and similar by the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted.
Katherine has experience of inquiries and investigations.
Cases of Note
- Infected Bloody Inquiry – Counsel to the inquiry (assisting Jenni Richards KC in particular with the warning letter process).
- Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse – Acted for Ofsted in relation to the module concerning abuse at residential schools.
