Practice Profile 

Isabella joined Chambers in 2011 following the successful completion of her pupillage, which was undertaken with Hereward Phillpot, Meyric Lewis and James Pereira.

Planning law

Isabella has appeared at planning inquiries and hearings, on behalf of both appellants and local authorities.

She has successfully represented an appellant at a five day enforcement inquiry relating to the use of numerous buildings in the Green Belt. She recently represented a local authority in an appeal against the refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use, in which the appellant relied, in part, on an assertion that a legitimate expectation had arisen.

Isabella has persuaded magistrates' courts to dismiss charges brought in two separate cases, involving failures to comply with the requirements of an enforcement notice and an abatement notice, following her submissions of no case to answer. In both cases she successfully argued that the notices were fundamentally flawed and incapable of founding a conviction.

Isabella has advised widely on matters of planning law, including breach of condition notices, injunctions and enforcement notices. She has acted as junior to Gregory Jones QC in an advertising control case.

During her pupillage, Isabella gained wide experience across the field of planning law, including section 288 and 289 challenges, enabling development, highways, section 215 notices and Green Belt policy. 

Environmental law

In environmental law Isabella's experience extends to Environmental Impact Assessments under the EIA Directive and Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Directive. Within Chambers she is a member of the Environmental Crime Group, with a particular knowledge of waste crimes.

During her pupillage Isabella co-authored (with Rebecca Clutten) the paper ‘Are  Imperative Reasons Imperilling the Habitats Directive?' (to be published as part of a collection, by Hart Publishing).

Education

Isabella has a keen interest in education law. She is currently instructed in judicial review proceedings in the High Court, challenging the decision of an Independent Appeal Panel to uphold the exclusion of a pupil with special educational needs.

She has appeared pro bono before Independent Appeal Panels, and has assisted Gregory Jones QC in advising and drafting pleadings in relation to a contractual claim for damages against a higher education provider.

Licensing

Isabella is developing a busy licensing practice. She regularly acts as legal adviser to the licensing sub-committee of a London local authority. She recently appeared successfully at Southwark Crown Court defending an appeal against the revocation of a street trading licence.

Village Greens

Isabella is currently instructed on a six day village green inquiry, in which almost every aspect of the test in section 15(4) Commons Act 2006 is in dispute between the parties. There is dispute as to whether there is a qualifying locality of neighbourhood and if so, whether a significant number of inhabitants of that locality or neighbourhood have used the land; whether the use was for lawful sports and pastimes; whether the user was as of right and whether it continued for the requisite twenty years.

Isabella began working on this case during her pupillage, and is instructed on a pro bono basis. The project has been short-listed for the LawWorks & Attorney General Student Awards 2012.

Publications

• Reviewing earlier decisions: are public authorities required to reconsider a matter if it has already been determined by another authority? (with Ned Westaway), S.J. 2011, 155(44), 21
• Uncharted territory - the Bar's perspective on the National Planning Policy Framework (with Gregory Jones QC), S.J. 2011. 155(41) Supp (Bar Focus November 2011), 13-15
• Are Imperative Reasons Imperilling the Habitats Directive (with Rebecca Clutten), to be published as part of a collection by Hart Publishing

Associations

• Member of PEBA
• Member of UKELA
• Member of the Denning Society, Lincoln's Inn

Qualifications and achievements

• Buchanan Prize, Lincoln's Inn, 2009
• Bar Vocational Course (Outstanding), The College of Law, 2009
• Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction), The College of Law, 2007
• Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln's Inn, 2007
• Lord Brougham Scholarship, Lincoln's Inn, 2006
• Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincoln's Inn, 2006
• BA(Hons) Modern History (II.I) , St Catherine's College, Oxford University, 2004
• St Catherine's College Scholarship, 2001

Other experience

Prior to coming to the bar Isabella worked as a Programme Officer for an international NGO in Quito, Ecuador. Her role involved monitoring and overseeing 114 projects across South America. She speaks fluent Spanish.