Memberships & Advisory
- Chancery Bar Association
- Property Bar Association
Publications
- Assets of Community Value (6th Edn) (2018)
- Overage – Pitfalls And Protection (2016)
- Community Infrastructure Guide – 6th Edn for Wales
- Community Infrastructure Guide – 7th Edn for England
- Phased planning permissions and CIL Liability Notices – Local Government Lawyer on 13th March 2020
- Role of judicial review applications in the CIL regime – Local Government Lawyer on 6th March 2020
Case Profile
- Adams v Ashfield DC CR/2017/0010
- Registered proprietors of Uptin House v Newcastle CC CR 2017 0006
- ZB Investments v Croydon LBC (CR/2016/0009)
- King v Chiltern DC (CR/2015/0025)
- R (oao Hourhope Limited) v Shropshire CC [2015] EWHC 518 (Admin)
- University of East London Higher Education Corpn v Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council and others [2004] EWHC 2710 (Ch)
- Lau -v- Redpalm (Groucho Club – rent review)
- Amsprop Trading Limited v Harris Distribution [1997] 1 WLR 1025 .
- Dolgellau Golf Club v Hett (1998) 76 P&CR 526
- University of East London Higher Education Corp v Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council and others (No 2) [2004] EWHC 2908 (Ch)
- St John’s Ambulance v Teignbridge DC CR/2018/0003
Property Law
A significant portion of Christopher's practice has always been focused on property in which subject he is a specialist. He advises on difficult points, the structuring of transactions and preparing drafts. The spectrum of transactions Christopher is instructed on runs from large scale residential and shopping developments to single dwellings or offices. Clients vary from large scale developers, niche builders and local authorities to individual householders. He has a particular expertise in overage and planning promotion agreements. In addition, Christopher acts in contentious property matters including disputes over easements, restrictive covenants, enforcement of charges and guarantees, leases and sales of land.
Community Infrastructure Levy is a particular area in which Christopher has a pre-eminent specialism, fitting in well with his general advisory work on behalf of developers and authorities. He enjoys the application of the legislative regime; planning to tackle CIL issues; and the consideration of general planning policy including section 106 planning obligations. This has led to his undertaking work concerning planning permissions and their enforcement.
As well as advisory work, Christopher appeared in the Planning Court for the successful authority in the first judicial review case on the operation of the CIL regime and has acted on a number of statutory CIL appeals. He is now being asked to consider professional negligence issues arising from CIL.
Assets of Community Value is a second area in which Christopher has a pre-eminent specialism acting for local authorities, owners and community groups. He has appeared in a number of ACV appeals.
Christopher is a passionate contributor to the understanding of the areas in which he practices. His comprehensive guides to CIL and ACV are available free for all on the web. He writes regularly on these topics.
Commercial Law
The nature of the transactions dealt with in his practice is not limited exclusively to property matters but ranges much wider in the commercial field. It includes both drafting and contentious matters. On the contentious side, Christopher's work encompasses matters such as disputes over the sale of companies, bringing in issues such as the enforcement of guarantees.
Privacy Policy
- This is a privacy notice that describes how, why and for how long I will process or keep your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’).
- The GDPR governs how an individual’s personal data is used, and your rights in relation to that data.
- I, Christopher Cant, have been instructed by you or your litigation friend (usually a parent), through your solicitor or agent, or via the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
- It is necessary for me to process your personal data in order for me to provide you with legal services, for example:
- Advise on the prospects of litigation;
- Advise on the value of your claim;
- Representation at a court hearing;
- Representation at trial;
- Advise, review or comment on legal issues or evidence.
- Processing means anything done to data such as: recording, organising, adapting, altering, copying, consulting, transmitting, combining, erasing or storing it.
- The processing for the purposes listed above will take place in accordance with either Article 6(1)(a) GDPR or Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, depending on how you instructed me.
- If you have instructed me on a direct access basis, or engaged a solicitor (or legal agent), to assist you in bringing or defending a claim then the processing is necessary to perform a contract to which you are a party (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR). To give effect to that contract (i.e. to bring a claim) it is necessary for me to process your personal data for litigation purposes.
- If I am assisting you on a pro bono basis, it will be necessary for me to seek your consent to be able to represent you (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). In this scenario, you will be sent a consent form.
- Recipients of your data
- I may also be required to share your data with others, depending on the nature of your case. This may include:
- (i) Courts and other tribunals to whom documents are presented;
- (ii) Your solicitors, or agent representing you, through whom I have been instructed;
- (iii) Potential witnesses, experts and other persons involved in the case;
- (iv) Solicitors, barristers, or other legal representatives;
- (v) Ombudsman and regulatory authorities;
- (vi) Education and examining bodies; and
- (vii) Current, past or prospective employers.
- Special Categories of Data
- In some cases I will have been given your personal data that is within the ‘special categories’ of data described in GDPR Article 9(1). For example, personal data that reveals your race, ethnicity, sexual preferences, political or religious beliefs, trade union membership or health. There are also restrictions for processing information regarding criminal convictions.
- This type of personal data will only be processed where it is necessary in order to represent you in your legal claim, or advise on the prospects of a legal claim.
- Retention
- I will retain your personal data for no longer than is necessary, and where it is possible, I will anonymise your data.
- How long your personal data is kept will depend on a number of factors. The retention period will be reviewed when the service I am providing you with is complete. However in general, I am obliged by the Bar Code of Conduct to retain records of my cases, and by HM Revenue and Customs to retain records for 6 years.
- Once your case has concluded and fees have been paid, I shall retain only the personal data necessary for the following purposes:
- (i) The legal and professional obligation to retain information relating to my cases;
- (ii) To check for any potential conflict of interests that may arise in the future when I am instructed on other cases;
- (iii) For use in the defence of potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes;
- (iv) To refer back to in future cases which raise similar legal, factual, or procedural issues.
- The processing for the purposes listed in paragraph 14 (ii), (iii), and (iv) above, will take place in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. That is, for the purposes of legitimate interests that are not outweighed by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms.
- The processing for the purposes listed in paragraph 14(i) above, will take place in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) GDPR. That is, the processing is necessary for me to comply with a legal obligation.
- Your Rights
- Where processing of your personal data was based on your consent (see paragraphs 6 and 8) you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This does not affect the lawfulness of the processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
- Withdrawal of your consent to process such data will most likely mean that I am no longer able to provide you with the legal services you seek.
- You may request confirmation that your personal data is being processed by me and details about the personal data, the source, the processing, the purposes of the processing, the recipients and the retention period.
- You may request a copy of your personal data that is being processed by me. You may also request rectification (i.e. correction) where there are inaccuracies in the personal data.
- You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time, to processing of your personal data in paragraph 14 of this privacy notice. Should you object, the processing will only continue where there are compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your fundamental rights, freedoms and interests.
- Where the processing or retention of your data is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, it will not be possible to object.
- You have the right to request that your personal data is erased where any of the following apply:
- (i) The personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed;
- (ii) You withdraw your consent where the basis of processing was based on consent and where there is no other ground for the processing;
- (iii) Where your fundamental rights, freedoms and interests override the legitimate interests of processing in paragraph 14;
- (iv) The personal data has been unlawfully processed; or
- (v) The personal data have to be erased to comply with a legal obligation.
- You have the right to request that your personal data is restricted from processing, so that it is simply stored, for the following reasons: as an alternative to deletion; so that it can be corrected; for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims; to verify if a legitimate ground exists (paragraph 14).
- Where it is necessary to correct your personal data, or you have requested the restriction or erasure of your personal data, I shall endeavour to contact the recipients of the personal data, unless this involves disproportionate effort.
- Security
- I take appropriate physical and technical procedures to safeguard your personal data to prevent it from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way.
- Complaints or Queries
- If you have any questions regarding this privacy notice, or how I use your personal data please email me:
- mailto: christopher.cant@tbgbarrister.co.uk,
- or my clerks: clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk telephone 01823 247 247.
- I shall aim to respond as soon as possible, and within 30 days.
- You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe I have not handled your request in an appropriate manner. For information on contacting the ICO please go to:
- https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
Privacy Notice
This privacy notice explains how, why and for how long Christopher Cant will process or retain your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
If Christopher has been instructed by you, your litigation friend, your solicitor or agent, or through a pro bono referral, it is necessary to process your personal data in order to provide legal services. This may include advising on the prospects of litigation, advising on the value of a claim, representation at hearings or trial, and reviewing legal issues or evidence.
Recipients of your data
Depending on the nature of your case, data may be shared with courts and tribunals, your solicitors or agents, witnesses, experts, other legal representatives, ombudsmen or regulators, education and examining bodies, and current, past or prospective employers.
Special categories of data
Some matters require processing special category personal data, including information about health, ethnicity, religion, trade union membership, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal allegations and convictions. Such data will only be processed where necessary to represent you or advise on your claim.
Retention
Your personal data will be retained for no longer than necessary and, where possible, anonymised. In general, records relating to cases are retained for at least six years to comply with professional obligations under the Bar Code of Conduct and tax record-keeping obligations.
Once your case has concluded and any fees have been paid, only the personal data necessary for regulatory compliance, conflict checking, defence of complaints or fee disputes, and reference in future similar cases will be retained.
Your rights
You may request confirmation that your personal data is being processed, request a copy of that data, request rectification of inaccurate data, object to certain processing, request restriction of processing, or request erasure where the GDPR permits it. Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time, although doing so may mean Christopher can no longer provide the legal services requested.
Security
Appropriate physical and technical measures are taken to safeguard your personal data and prevent unauthorised access, accidental loss, misuse or disclosure.
Complaints or queries
If you have any questions about this privacy notice, or how your personal data is used, please email clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk or the clerks at clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk, or call 01823 247 247.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Further information is available at ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/.
Work with Christopher
Send us your details and a member of the clerking team will be in touch. Or call us now on 01823 247 247.