Sian has a broad public and civil law practice.
In September 2018 Sian was appointed to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel of Counsel, B Panel (London). Sian was previously appointed to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel of Counsel, C Panel (London) from March 2015 to September 2018.
Sian was appointed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s panel of counsel: England and Wales, B list in May 2019.
In December 2018 Sian was admitted to the State Bar of California, and is licensed to practice law in California as an attorney.
Her public law practice is diverse and includes human rights law, immigration, inquests, judicial review, prison law and unlawful detention.
Alongside her public law practice, Sian maintains a busy civil law practice, with a particular focus on costs, contractual and tortious litigation, insurance and personal injury. Sian also has considerable experience of civil claims with a public law element, including negligence, misfeasance in public office and conversion claims.
From August to October 2012, Sian undertook a Pegasus Scholarship to New Zealand where she spent 2 months working at Stout Street Chambers in Wellington (a commercial, civil litigation and public law set of chambers).
Costs
Sian has a diverse costs practice which includes costs issues arising out a wide range of both public and private law cases.
She has experience of acting for both paying and receiving parties at first instance and on appeal in the High Court, the SCCO, the County Court, the First Tier-Tribunal (Tax Chamber) and the Upper Tribunal (IAC). Sian also regularly acts in an advisory capacity across a broad spectrum of areas of costs law. Sian’s clients range from individuals on a direct access basis to Government Departments and HMRC.
Sian’s recent experience includes: detailed assessments (including issues as to the recovery of success fees); assessments of solicitor and client costs under the Solicitors Act 1974; assessments of costs payable by legally aided parties; recoverability of costs in cases involving allegations of professional misconduct by lawyers; costs budgets and costs case management hearings; wasted costs orders; and non-party costs orders against directors.
Recent notable cases include:
Inquests
Sian has significant experience of representing a wide range of interested persons at Pre-Inquest Reviews and Inquests (both with and without a jury). Sian’s inquest experience includes deaths in prison custody, military deaths, deaths on the London Underground, and deaths arising out of road traffic accidents and at work.
Notable recent inquest experience includes:
Sian’s experience in coronial matters includes advising the Coroners, Burials, Cremation and Inquiries Policy Team within the Ministry of Justice.
Public law
Sian’s public law practice encompasses a broad spectrum of public law issues.
Sian is frequently instructed in cases involving human rights law. Sian has particular experience of judicial review and civil damages claim in cases involving Articles 2, 5 8 and 14 ECHR. Sian’s recent human rights experience includes:
– Drafting written submissions in an Inquest as to whether or not Article 2 ECHR was engaged in respect of a death that occurred in the 1970s.
– A proposed judicial review claim by a high profile convicted TACT prisoner in respect of his proposed licence conditions.
– A judicial review claim by a prisoner challenging the Ministry of Justice’s refusal to grant him early release on compassionate grounds.
– A judicial review claim challenging the legality of the newly implemented requirement on defendants in proceedings in a criminal court to state their nationality, pursuant to s. 86A(1) of the Courts Act 2003 (which came into force on 13 November 2017).
– Cases involving allegations of human rights breaches and discrimination (particularly disability discrimination).
– Advising a local authority in respect of a proposed application for judicial review, in which the Claimant challenged the legality of the Local Authority’s placement of her daughter for adoption. It was alleged that the placement process has been procedurally unfair, and thus unlawful.
– Sian is frequently involved in cases challenging the legality of primary and secondary legislation.
Since her appointment to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel of Counsel in March 2015, Sian has developed a busy and diverse immigration practice. Sian regularly appears in the High Court and Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in both oral permission hearings and substantive judicial review hearings. Sian has also appeared in the Court of Appeal. Sian has particular experience in unlawful detention cases and cases involving human trafficking.
Sian also specialises in prison law, and has been involved in both judicial review cases and private law damages claims.
Public International law
Sian is developing a practice in international criminal and international public law. Sian has spoken at numerous events, including at the United Nations, on international human rights law.
Personal injury
Since completion of her pupillage in 2009, Sian has acted for claimants and defendants in the High Court and County Court and in an advisory capacity across all areas of personal injury law. Sian’s personal injury practice also encompasses product liability cases and cases involving the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Insurance
Alongside her personal injury practice, Sian has developed an insurance practice, with particular experience of: Coverage and indemnity disputes; dual insurance; motor insurance fraud; and liability issues arising under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and The European Communities (Rights against Insurers) Regulations 2002.
Sian’s recent experience also includes coverage and indemnity issues in relation to household insurance and issues under the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 1930.
Civil/Commercial
Sian has considerable recent experience of acting for clients across a broad range of civil and commercial law case including:
Professional Negligence
Sian has recent experience of acting for claimants in professional negligence actions involving estate agents, independent financial advisors and solicitors.
Attorney-General’s Civil Panel of Counsel London, B Panel (September 2018).
Equality and Human Rights Commission’s panel of counsel: England and Wales, B list (May 2019).
Attorney-General’s Civil Panel of Counsel London, C Panel (March 2015).
BVC (Very Competent), BPP Law School (2006).
BCL, University of Oxford, Brasenose College (2005).
MA (Hons) Law (First Class), University of Cambridge, Downing College (2004).
Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA).
London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association (LCLCBA).
Personal Injuries Bar Association (PIBA).
Undertakes Public Access work
Appointed to B panel
Acted for the Ministry of Justice in this 3 day inquest into the death of EH, who had hanged himself at HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
Read more17th May 2018
Please see link below to the latest TGC Costs Newsletter.
16th May 2019
TGC are delighted to announce that Nicholas Chapman, Sian Reeves and Emily Wilsdon have been recommended for appointment to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s panel of Counsel: England and Wales. Nicholas Chapman has been appointed to the A Panel, and Sian Reeves and Emily Wilsdon to the B Panel.
Read more5th October 2018
Following the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi after a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Rhys Davies and Sian Reeves joined other lawyers and human rights activists at a press conference outside the Saudi embassy in London.
Read more12th July 2018
TGC are delighted to announce that Julia Smyth, Emma Price and Sian Reeves’ applications for the Attorney General “B” Panel of counsel have been successful, all three having previously been on the Attorney General “C” panel.
Read more27th June 2018
Sian Reeves, Rhys Davies and Myles Grandison spoke at a side event at the 38th session of the Human Rights Council, in Geneva.
Read more6th June 2018
At a press conference today, Sian Reeves introduced and moderated the launch of an expert report by Professors William Schabas and John Dugard, “The Blockade of Qatar One Year On: Violations of Human Rights and Coercive measures”.
Read more17th May 2018
Please see link below to the latest TGC Costs Newsletter.
29th January 2018
Sian Reeves represented the Defendants (the Ministry of Justice and Care UK) at a detailed assessment of the Claimant’s costs.
Read more15th January 2018
The Court of Appeal has confirmed that, in judicial review claims heard by the Upper Tribunal, and in respect of costs order made during judicial review proceedings, the test to be applied by the Upper Tribunal when considering whether to grant permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal is the first appeals test, and not the second appeals test.
Read more15th January 2018
Sian Reeves represented the Ministry of Justice in a 3 day trial that took place between 8 and 10 January 2018.
Read more20th November 2017
Cathryn McGahey QC and Sian Reeves represented the Home Office in an appeal by the Claimants against the dismissal of their battery claims.
Read more31st October 2017
Sian Reeves represented HMP Pentonville in a 4-day Article 2 inquest into the death of Mr. Vilhemas Borkertas at St. Pancras Coroner’s Court. The inquest concluded on 26 October 2017.
Read more31st October 2017
Sian Reeves represented the Ministry of Justice (and specifically HMP Featherstone and the National Probation Service) in a 6-day Article 2 inquest into the death of David Wilson, which concluded on 23 October 2017 (following an adjourned inquest in April 2017).
Read more4th July 2017
Welcome to the very first edition of TGC’s Costs Newsletter! Costs has been a huge part of our practice at TGC for as long as it has been recognised as a discrete area of law. Whilst the team has naturally changed and evolved over that time, it has retained phenomenal strength and depth from its leadership right through to its most junior members. We pride ourselves on being leaders in the field and being able to offer a client service level second to none. We remain extremely grateful for our Directory recognition, and through 2017 we’ve reinvigorated our energy levels as a team being ever ready to serve!
Read more15th June 2017
Regional Costs Judge Phillips handed down Judgment today in respect of 4 preliminary issues that arose for determination in a solicitor-client costs dispute. Sian Reeves was instructed by the successful firm of solicitors.
Read more15th June 2017
Upper Tribunal Judge Allen handed down judgment today in R (Philip) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, dismissing the Applicant’s claim for judicial review. Sian Reeves acted for the Secretary of State.
Read more13th October 2016
Anthony Johnson (instructed by Richard Foyster of Ashtons) represented the Claimant and Sian Reeves (instructed by Francois Liebenberg of the Government Legal Department) the Defendant in this personal injury claim that arose from injuries sustained by a 35-year-old Traffic Examiner in the course of her employment with the Department for Transport. Liability was admitted soon after the accident and the matter eventually settled in the gross sum of £180,000 at a Joint Settlement Meeting that took place on 11th October 2016.
Read more8th January 2016
Nicholas Moss and William Irwin represent the Ministry of Defence in the inquest into the death of Private Gavin Williams. Sian Reeves represents a significant witness.
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