Our Barristers

Edwin Simpson

Call: 1990

Deals with both the factual and technical aspects of the case really well and creates a relaxed and confidence-boosting atmosphere for the client.Chambers UK Bar, 2019
A dab hand when it comes to land-related matters.Chambers UK Bar

Overview
Edwin is an expert in Highway Law and Commons and Village Green matters, with more than 20 years experience of Public Inquiries and litigation in Court at all levels. He advises on all aspects of countryside law, including easements and the ownership of hedges, ditches and even reservoir walls:

Edwin frequently appears at heavy-weight Public Inquiries considering detailed documentary and map evidence, and contemporary evidence of user, often involving cross-examination of expert witnesses as well as members of the public. He regularly appears in the higher courts in challenges to decisions of both DEFRA and PINS, and acts for local authorities as a non-statutory ‘Inspector’ in Village Green applications. Recent cases include R (Newhaven) v East Sussex CC [2015] UKSC 7; and R (Andrews) v SS for for Environment [2015] EWCA Civ 669.
Property
Edwin’s expertise extends to all areas of countryside and property law including Highways, Commons and Village Greens, Easements, and the mapping of access land pursuant to Countryside Act 2000; and related issues of Local Government law and Judicial Review. He advises in connection with all aspects of such work, and represents users, landowners and public authorities at Public Inquiries and in Court review proceedings arising out of them.

Recent cases include:
- R (Newhaven Port and Properties Ltd) v East Sussex County Council [2015] UKSC 7 – Supreme Court decision concerning whether a beach can be registered as a Village Green in which Edwin acted for Newhaven Town Council at the original Public Inquiry and all the way to the Supreme Court;
- R (Andrews) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2015] EWCA Civ 669 – test case in the Court of Appeal affecting as many as 1000 claimed rights of way in which Edwin (with George Laurence KC) successfully represented the Ramblers’ Association to establish the proper interpretation of the General Inclosure Act of 1801.
Edwin Simpson has “Key expertise in town and village green matters”
Administrative & Public Law – Legal 500 2014

Edwin is a contributor to The Law of Freedom of Information, (Macdonald et al, 16th ed 2016) and recently published Sham Transactions (ed. Simpson and Stewart, OUP 2014).
Qualifications/education
- M.A. Jurisprudence – Christ Church, Oxford, 1988
- B.C.L. Distinction – Christ Church, Oxford, 1989
Awards
- Academical Clerk – Christ Church, Oxford
- John Radcliffe Exhibition – Christ Church, Oxford
- Lincoln’s Inn Tancred Studentship
Professional appointments
- Tutor in Law, Christ Church, Oxford (1991 to date)
- Barclays Bank Lecturer in Law, Oxford University (1991 to date)
Memberships
- Trusts Law Committee
ADR
Mediation / ADR is now a common part of the litigation process. Recent judicial decisions involve the courts both holding that the refusal of a request for mediation is likely to be treated as being unreasonable and imposing a costs sanction as a result.

Chambers provides a comprehensive mediation offering and, in addition to our extensive experience as advisers and advocates within mediations, some members of Chambers are accredited by CEDR or ADR group and accept appointments as mediators.
What the directories say
“Deals with both the factual and technical aspects of the case really well and creates a relaxed and confidence-boosting atmosphere for the client.”

Chambers UK Bar 2019

“a dab hand when it comes to land-related matters”

Chambers UK Bar

“Key expertise in town and village green matters”

Legal 500