Source: https://www.1cor.com/london/barristers/neil-sheldon/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 14:28:31+00:00

Document:
Neil Sheldon is a new silk with a broad range of practice areas, including public & administrative law, public inquiries & inquests, professional discipline, and clinical negligence.
He has acted in many of the most important public inquiries and inquests of recent years including the Westminster Bridge Inquests, Manchester Bombing Inquests, Victoria Climbie Inquiry, the Zahid Mubarak Inquiry, the Al Swaedy Inquiry, the Iraq Inquiry and the Alexander Litvinenko Inquest. He is currently acting for a number of government departments in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Neil was first appointed by the Attorney General as junior counsel to the crown in 2002, and has been on the A Panel since 2010. He undertakes a range of high profile work for a variety of government departments. He has particular experience of national security work, and holds developed vetted (DV) security clearance.
He has extensive experience of advocacy in the higher courts. He has appeared in over 50 cases in the Court of Appeal, and in a number of the most important recent human rights appeals in the Supreme Court. Neil is currently instructed in a number of forthcoming Supreme Court appeals, and several cases before the European Court of Human Rights.
In 2018 he was named ‘Public Law Barrister of the Year UK’ by The Lawyer Monthly.
Neil has acted in a wide range of high profile public inquiries. He was counsel to the Victoria Climbie and Zahid Mubarak Inquiries. He acted for the military witnesses in the Al Sweady inquiry, and for a number of high profile witnesses in the Iraq (Chilcot) Inquiry. He was counsel to the Chantler review into standardised tobacco packaging, and to the inquiry into Jimmy Savile’s activities at Broadmoor. He is currently instructed by the NCA and the Departments of Health and Justice in the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Victoria Climbie Inquiry: Counsel to Inquiry.
Zahid Mubarak Inquiry: Counsel to Inquiry.
Al Sweady Inquiry: Counsel to the Military Witnesses.
Iraq Inquiry: Counsel to several prominent political and military witnesses.
Alexander Litvinenko Inquiry: Counsel to Foreign and Home Secretaries.
IICSA: Counsel to several government departments.
Chantler Review into Standardised Tobacco Packaging: Counsel to Review.
Investigation of Jimmy Savile at Broadmoor: Counsel to Investigation.
Neil has been heavily involved in national security work since 2003 when he was first appointed as a special advocate to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. He acted as special advocate for, amongst others Abu Hamza and a number of the original Belmarsh detainees.
More recently, Neil has acted exclusively for government departments and agencies in work of this nature and has been involved in some of the most-high profile such cases including the Alexander Litvinenko inquest/inquiry, the Saudi arms trade litigation and a number of applications to European Court of Human Rights concerned with the bulk interception of communications and communications data.
Neil has extensive experience of SIAC and has acted for the Secretary of State in a variety of appeals including deportation with assurances, deprivation of citizenship and naturalization.
Neil has held Developed Vetted (DV) security clearance continuously since 2003.
Al Khayer v Secretary of State for the Home Department (ongoing): refusal of naturalisation for various members of President Assad’s extended family (SIAC).
Bureau of Investigative Journalism v United Kingdom (ongoing): ECHR application concerning bulk interception of communications; Articles 8 and 10.
Saudi Arms Trade Litigation (ongoing): JSA 2013 closed material procedure; international humanitarian law; relationship between national security and international relations.
McGartland v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 686: National Security; JSA 2013 closed material procedure; NCND principle; correct approach to case management under the JSA.
Foreign Secretary v Coroner for Inner North London  ACD 43 PII; Litvinenko Inquest; successful Jr of Coroner’s decision to order disclosure of material.
McGartland v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWHC 2248 (QB): JSA 2013 closed material procedure; s.6 declaration; case management.
LO (Jordan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 164: Appeals against preliminary rulings of SIAC; application of s.7 of the SIAC Act 1997.
E v Secretary of State for the Home Department  HRLR 18.
Neil regularly appears in the higher courts in a wide variety of judicial review cases, with particular emphasis on claims involving the European Convention on Human Rights. A selection of his recent cases in this area is set out below.
Neil is currently instructed in a number of cases before the European Court of Human Rights including AL v United Kingdom (female genital mutilation in Nigeria), Bureau of Investigative Journalism v United Kingdom (bulk interception of communications; protection of journalistic sources), and Nait-Liman v Switzerland (universal jurisdiction for acts of torture; state immunity).
KV (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA 119 (judgement awaited): Asylum; self-infliction of injuries by proxy; correct approach to medical evidence in asylum cases.
R (Kiarie & Byndloss) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (judgment awaited): Article 8; certification; procedural fairness in out of country appeals.
SXH v Crown Prosecution Service  UKSC 30: Article 8; whether decisions to prosecute can engage the right to respect for private/family life.
Agyarko v Secretary of State for Home Department  UKSC 11: Article 8; removal of overstayers; need for 'insurmountable obstacles' to continuation of family life and 'exceptional circumstances'.
MM (Lebanon) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  UKSC 10: Articles 8/14; proportionality of minimum income requirement; discrimination; correct approach to a challenge to the immigration rules.
Hesham Ali v Secretary of State for the Home Department  UKSC 60: Article 8; deportation of foreign criminal; principles to apply; function of the Tribunal in human rights appeals.
R (Eastenders) v HMRC)  UKSC 34: Article 6; power to detain goods pending enquiries as to whether duty paid; construction of s.139 of CEMA 1979.
Nguyen v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 258: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; interests of children, including step-children whose biological parents are opposed to relocation.
R (Rights of Women) v Lord Chancellor  1 WLR 2543: Challenge to LASPO regulations concerning victims of domestic violence; Padfield ulra vires; financial abuse as component of domestic abuse.
WW (Jamaica) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 648: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; correct approach to proportionality assessment.
BB (Algeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 25: Immigration; interpretation of long residence rules; transitional provisions; statutory construction.
Danso v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 596: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; correct approach to proportionality assessment.
Ikuga v Secretary of State for the Home Department  1 WLR 390: Article 8; removal of overstayers; need for 'insurmountable obstacles' to continuation of family life and 'exceptional circumstances'.
FZ (China) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  3 CMLR 12: EU law; Article 20, TFEU; deportation; Zambrano principle.
CG (Jamaica) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 194: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; young offenders; correct approach to application of immigration rules.
AJ (Angola) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 1636: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; correct approach to application of immigration rules.
LC (China) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  INLR 302: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; best interest of children in foreign criminal cases.
HA (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 1304: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation); correct approach to the public interest in the deportation of serious offenders.
SJ (Pakistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  1 WLR 1073: Articles 8/14; proportionality of minimum income requirement; discrimination; correct approach to a challenge to the immigration rules.
SXH v Crown Prosecution Service  EWCA Civ 90: Article 8; whether decisions to prosecute can engage the right to respect for private/family life.
AA (Iran) v Upper Tribunal  EWCA Civ 1523: Asylum; unaccompanied minors; duty to trace; imputed political opinion.
MF (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for Home Department  1 WLR 544: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; correct approach to new immigration rules.
CW (Jamaica) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 915: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; public interest in deportation of serious drugs offender.
MB (Bangladesh) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 220: Right of Abode; presumption of legitimacy under s.1(4) of Legitimacy Act 1976.
Hayat & Treebhowan v Secretary of State for the Home Department  INLR 17: Article 8; requirement to apply from abroad; interpretation and application of Chikwamba.
R (Eastenders) v HMRC  1 WLR 2067: Article 6; power to detain goods pending enquiries as to whether duty paid; construction of s.139 of CEMA 1979.
RS (Uganda) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 1749: Article 8; deportation of young offenders; application of Maslov v Austria.
Quila v Secretary of State for the Home Department  3 All ER 81: Articles 8 & 12; proportionality of raising age limit to combat forced marriages; paragraph 277 of Immigration Rules.
R (Britcits) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWHC 956: Article 8; Padfield ultra vires; challenge to immigration rules restricting rights of entry for adult dependant relatives.
R (Rights of Women) v Lord Chancellor  2 FLR 823: Challenge to LASPO regulations concerning victims of domestic violence; Padfield ulra vires; financial abuse as component of domestic abuse.
R (Litvinenko) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  HRLR 6: Challenge to Home Secretary's decision not to order a statutory inquiry; Article 2; public interest considerations in investigation of high profile deaths.
Foreign Secretary v Coroner for Inner North London  ACD 43: PII; Litvinenko Inquest; successful Jr of Coroner's decision to order disclosure of material.
R (Majid) & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department  1 WLR 2306: Articles 8/14; proportionality of minimum income requirement; discrimination; correct approach to a challenge to the immigration rules.
SXH v Crown Prosecution Service  EWHC 71 (QB): Article 8; whether decisions to prosecute can engage the right to respect for private/family life.
R (Wilmot) v Secretary of State for Justice  EWHC 3139 (Admin): Life prisoners; transfer to open conditions; principles to be applied by parole board.
Raed Mahajna v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWHC 2481: Article 5; detention pending deportation; requirement to give accurate reasons for deportation.
R (Bonhoeffer) v General Medical Council  IRLR 37: Hearsay evidence in professional disciplinary proceedings; Article 6; compelling reasons required to justify absence of witness.
R (MA) v National Probation Service  ACD 86: Article 6; challenge to conditions imposed after release on licence; sufficiency of judicial review.
R (English) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWHC 1726: Foreign students; minimum educational requirement; ultra vires; application of Pankina.
Neil undertakes a wide range of costs work, and has particular experience of cases concerning the costs consequences of Part 36 offers. He appeared for the successful claimant in the recent Court of Appeal of Webb which set out the principles to be applied when a claimant beats a Part 36 offer but does not succeed on all issues in the case.
Neil has acted in a number of judicial review cases involving protective costs orders, and he has regularly acts for the Lord Chancellor in cases concerning criminal defending funding.
Webb v Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust  1 WLR 3899: Part 36; principles to apply if claimant beats Part 36 offer but only succeeds on some issues in the case.
R (Litvinenko) v Secretary of State for Home Department  EWHC 3135: protective costs orders in judicial review claims; public interest; claimant’s means.
Wilson v Ministry of Defence  CP Rep 33: Part 36; preliminary issues; meaning of 'trial has started' in CPR 36.9(3)(d).
Eastenders v HMRC  STC 2036: application of s.144(2)(b) of CEMA 1979 to costs recover following successful claim.
Lord Chancellor v McLarty & Co  1 Costs LR 190: interpretation and application of Litigators Graduated Fee Scheme; special preparation fee; audio recordings.
Lord Chancellor v Michael J Reed & Co  1 Cost LR 72: criminal Defence Service (Funding) Order 2007; special preparation fee; DVD footage.
Neil has represented hundreds of doctors, dentists and other health professionals in disciplinary proceedings before the GMC, the GDC, the HCPC and the GOC. He has extensive experience of employment related disputes concerning health professionals, including the application of MHPS, and of judicial review challenges arising out of such cases.
Neil has acted in some of the most important professional disciplinary cases of recent years including the cases of Dr Andrew Wakefield (MMR), Professor Philip Bonhoeffer (the leading case on hearsay), Dr Ruscillo (the first CHRE appeal), and SS & Ghosh (legal representation in Trust disciplinary hearings).
Al-Mishlab v Milton Keynes Hospital Trust  EWHC 3096 (QB): internal disciplinary proceedings; MHPS; injunction; correct approach to defects in investigation.
Al Mishlab v Milton Keynes Hospital Trust  EWHC 91 (QB): claim by doctor for breach of contract; duty to seek alternatives to suspension; breakdown in working relationships.
R (Bonhoeffer) v General Medical Council  IRLR 37: successful challenge to MPTS decision to admit hearsay evidence; only permissible in compelling circumstances.
R (SS) v Knowsley NHS Primary Care Trust  EWHC 26 (Admin): right to legal representation at removal hearings; Article 6; common law fairness.
Ruscillo v CHRE  1 WLR: First appeal by CHRE for undue leniency; applicable principles.
Dr Andrew Wakefield v General Medical Council: MMR; legal aid funding; research ethics; dishonesty.
Neil has extensive experience of immigration law, and regularly appears in the higher courts in a wide range of appeals. He has particular experience of cases concerning the ECHR, and has appeared in many of the most important such cases in recent years including the recent appeals to the Supreme Court in Hesham Ali, MM (Lebanon), Agyarko and Kiarie & Byndloss.
Neil is currently acting in a number of applications to the European Court of Human Rights concerned with immigration.
KV(Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA 119 (judgement awaited): Asylum; self-infliction of injuries by proxy; correct approach to medical evidence in asylum cases.
Agyarko v Secretary of State for Home Department  UKSC 11: Article 8; removal of overstayers; need for ‘insurmountable obstacles’ to continuation of family life and ‘exceptional circumstances’.
R (Kiarie & Byndloss) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Article 8; certification; procedural fairness in out of country appeals.
Ikuga v Secretary of State for the Home Department  1 WLR 390: Article 8; removal of overstayers; need for ‘insurmountable obstacles’ to continuation of family life and ‘exceptional circumstances’.
CG (Jamaica) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 19: Article 8; foreign criminal deportation; young offenders; correct approach to application of immigration rules.
Quila v Secretary of State for the Home Department  3 All ER 8: Articles 8 & 12; proportionality of raising age limit to combat forced marriages; paragraph 277 of Immigration Rules.
SL (Vietnam) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  1NLR 651: Deportation; bests interests of children; Article 8; mistakes of fact.
TF (Angola) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 905: Asylum; Article 8.
MH (Syria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  3 All ER 564: Article 1F of Refugee Convention; involvement in terrorism and crimes against humanity.
VK (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 1435: Detention following failed asylum claim; fresh claims; Hardial Singh principles.
EB (Ethiopia) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  QB 1: Asylum; confiscation of identity documents as persecution; statelessness.
JN (DRC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 320: Asylum; false documentation, procedural irregularity.
RJ (Jamaica) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 93: Deportation of foreign criminal; procedural fairness; absence of representative at appeal; professional conduct.
MT (Zimbabwe) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 455: Asylum; Article 8.
SO (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 76: Asylum; Article 8; best interests of children.
HA (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWCA Civ 1373: Asylum; application of Tanveer Ahmed; standard of proof; documentary evidence in asylum claims.
TZ (Pakistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department : PG (India) v S Secretary of State for the Home Department (2018).
OA (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWHC 681.
R (Britcits) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  EWHC 956: Article 8; Padfield ultra vires; challenge to immigration rules restricting rights of entry for adult dependent relatives.
Dasgupta (error of law-proportionality – correct approach)  UKUT 28: Adult dependent relatives; correct approach to error of law findings; Article 8 proportionality.
Deelah (section 117B – ambit)  UKUT 515: Presidential Panel; challenge to vires of Part 5A of 2002 Act.
R (A) v Secretary of State for the Home Department  ACD 42: Unlawful detention; serious sexual offender; disputed nationality; imminence of return.

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