John Hobson

Profile

John Hobson was called to the Bar in 1999 having previously worked as a lecturer in environmental economics in Higher Education and later within the trade union movement. John is a Manchester-based practitioner who undertakes work nationwide.

Housing and Social Welfare

All aspects of housing law including possession proceedings, public law defences, homelessness appeals, public law challenges under the Housing Act 1996 (including interim relief), unlawful eviction, injunctions/committals, disrepair and claims brought under the Mobile Homes Act 1983. He has extensive experience of matters involving anti-social behaviour including those raising issues under the Equality Act 2010.

John has been recommended in Chambers and Partners 2012 and 2013 Social Housing (Northern) and is ‘...praised for his work acting for tenants. “Exceptionally good, he is very empathetic with clients and very thorough in his preparation”’

~~Notable cases:~~

R (on the application of Anwar) v Manchester City Council ~~[2009]~~ (continuation of interim accommodation pending judicial review, Housing Act 1996).
Manchester City Council v Higgins ~~[2006] 1 All ER 841 [2005] EWCA Civ 1423~~ (Housing Act 1985 s85A as inserted by Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 s16(1), ASBO and nuisance possession, secure tenancy)

Mentor to vulnerably housed young people through involvement with a national charity

Employment Law and Industrial Relations

Undertakes work in all areas including unfair dismissal, redundancy, Working Time Regulations 1998, National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 and all aspects of discrimination pertaining to the workplace. Involved in a number of successful women's part-time pensions claims. Representation in the EAT and in professional discipline proceedings.

Notable cases:

Wray v JW Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd ~~UKEAT/0102/11/CEA~~ (consideration of applicability of r.16 NMWR 1999 within the brewery industry)
Betts and others v The Boots Company Plc ~~[2006] ET/2600121/96~~ & others reported on Employment Tribunals Service Key judicial decisions (part time worker pensions - significance of lengthy delay before opting into pension scheme - evidential problems arising from claimant's assertion that they joined scheme as soon as they became aware of eligibility).

John has been recommended in Legal 500: Regional Bar - Northern Circuit - Employment (2009) "John Hobson has a deserved reputation for fighting hard for the underdog in employment cases, as in his wider public law practice."

Administrative and Public Law

Experience of judicial review relating to housing and social welfare law, including emergency interim relief in the Administrative Court and of arguing public law defences in possession proceedings.

Equality and Discrimination

Experience of claims involving discrimination in the workplace, in relation to goods and services and pertaining to housing. Delivers training on Equality and Diversity for the Legal Action Group (LAG) and related courses for firms of solicitors/barristers’ chambers. Member of the EHRC panel.

Inquiries and Inquests

Representation of the families of those who have died in police and prison custody. Actively interested in developments in the inquest and prison system, particularly the making of rule 43 recommendations under the Coroners Rules 1984, such as at the conclusion of the inquests into the deaths of Kellie Hutchinson at HMP New Hall (Casenote, Inquest Law, April 2009) and ~~Ronnie Richards at HMP Full Sutton~~ and ~~William Shepherd at HMP Manchester~~ where John represented family members. Experience of advising as to the reach of Article 2 post-Rabone. John has delivered training on behalf of the Inquest Lawyers’ Group of which he is a long-standing member.

Prison Law and Criminal Justice

Advice and representation in areas including civil claims arising from prison law, actions involving Article 5(4) and judicial review.

Professional Discipline and Regulation

John Hobson has experience of representing individuals at interim and final professional disciplinary hearings for example before the General Teaching Council and the General Social Care Council before their abolition and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. He also has experience of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003. Whilst employed as a lecturer in Higher Education John acted as a trade union workplace representative and subsequently worked as a regional officer for NATFHE, which became part of the University and College Lecturers’ Union and where he represented individuals in disciplinary proceedings. An experienced trainer, John regularly delivers training on Equality and Diversity within the legal profession, drawing upon his extensive background in employment and discrimination law.