CROSS–PRACTICE EXPERTISE

Public Interest Litigation

Public interest litigation is litigation aimed at bringing about a positive change in law or policy on behalf of a wider class of people than the individual client. Public interest cases can be pro bono, legally aided, crowdfunded and/or at reduced rates.

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Overview

The huge range of expertise and the wide spectrum of legal practice areas covered by Landmark makes us well placed to run litigation which is in the public interest.

Landmark barristers act for claimants in a wide range of public interest challenges across our core practice areas: including in particular public law challenges, environmental challenges and housing law challenges. We are proud to bring public interest cases and act for interveners alongside our commercial work. We act for vulnerable individuals such as disabled persons, homeless persons and asylum seekers. We also act for NGOs, campaign groups and other third sector clients. Our barristers regularly appear in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in public interest cases. Our chambers has a dedicated Public Interest Litigation Group focused on this type of litigation.

Our barristers understand that for many clients in the third sector seeking to bring strategic legal cases, litigation is just one tool in the toolbox to influence decision-making, and must be considered as part of the broader picture of lobbying and media interest. Our cases are frequently featured in the national press and we are often asked to advise on potential legal issues relating to media engagement with our cases. We also regularly provide legal briefings to decision makers on behalf of our clients.

Given our planning and environmental expertise, we have a particular strength in strategic climate litigation and other high profile environmental cases, including those relating to pollution and animal protection. Our barristers have been instructed by most of the major environmental NGOs in the past few years. We are well-placed to advise on related costs matters including crowdfunding and the application of the Aarhus Convention and costs capping regime.

We also have deep expertise in human rights, housing, protest law, social security, immigration, education, retained EU law and public international law. Our barristers regularly appear in public interest cases in these areas at the highest level. Again, we are well-placed to provide assistance with related costs matters such as Legal Aid Agency funding (including Exceptional Case Funding) and crowdfunding.