Thomas has a particular interest in Public Inquiry work. He is currently instructed as Second Junior Counsel to a major public inquiry, where he acts as a member of the Inquiry’s Senior Counsel Team.

Thomas has been solely responsible for a number of highly sensitive and document-heavy investigations into persons of interest to the Inquiry and has extensive experience of drafting complex written requests for witness statements under r.9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006. Thomas would be delighted to expand his existing Public Inquiry practice. For details of his security clearance, please contact clerks@36public.co.uk.

Outside his Inquiry work, Thomas frequently acts for both landlords and tenants in possession proceedings, including those concerning significant arrears, disrepair, fitness for human habitation and the Equality Act 2010. Thomas also has experience of advising on associated matters, including unlawful eviction and the surrender of tenancies, and actions for specific performance in relation to significant and historic disrepair. Thomas has advised both leaseholders and public authorities in leasehold enfranchisement disputes, including those involving novel issues, such as the right to enfranchisement of religious land.

Thomas has acted for both borrowers and lenders in mortgage possession claims and has advised both landlords and tenants in proceedings concerning the renewal and termination of business tenancies. Thomas has also acted in probate matters concerning estates containing residential property: he recently successfully represented the beneficiaries of one such estate in a two-day trial before the High Court, and the executors of another estate in responding to an emergency application to the High Court for a stay of execution on a possession order. The latter saw Thomas retained to draft written submissions to the Court of Appeal responding to the unsuccessful applicants’ application for permission to appeal.

Thomas holds a M.A. and Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Bristol, where he taught Philosophy to undergraduates for several years and established an access-to-education Philosophy course for adults recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Thomas was awarded both the Harmsworth Scholarship and the Harold G. Fox Scholarship by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. The latter saw him placed with a leading litigation boutique in Toronto, Canada, and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. During that time, Thomas worked on teams acting for civil liberties associations intervening in R. v. Peers 2017 SCC 13 and R. v. Jones 2017 SCC 60, two cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, and on a small team retained to advise the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Fontaine v. Canada (Attorney General) 2016 BCSC 2218, litigation concerning the Court’s power of review over settlements made under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the largest class action settlement in Canadian legal history

Testimonials

Thomas was really excellent. He was very helpful and knowledgeable.Solicitor & Senior Partner
I was Impressed with Tom's work.Solicitor

Further information

“No Fault Possession and Repair Covenants” (with Stour Chambers)

“Mental Capacity, Part 21 and Practice Direction 1A” (with Stour Chambers)

“Unjust Enrichment, Mistake and Doubt” (with Stour Chambers)

“Declaratory Judgments and Injunctions” (with Stour Chambers)

“Update: Housing Act 1988 & Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993” (with Stour Chambers)

Certificate of Honour (Middle Temple)

Harold G. Fox Scholarship (Middle Temple)

Harmsworth Scholarship (Middle Temple)

Bar Professional Training Course, University of the West of England (Oustanding)

Graduate Diploma in Law, University of the West of England (Merit)

PhD Philosophy, University of Bristol

MA Philosophy, University of Bristol (Distinction)

Appointments & Memberships

Administrative Law Bar Association

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