Tara O'Leary

Practice Areas

Tara O’Leary specialises in public law, social housing, the Court of Protection, and licensing.

Tara is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s B panel of counsel, and has appeared across all levels of courts and specialist tribunals up to the Court of Appeal. She undertakes a broad range of advocacy, drafting and advisory work for all types of clients.

Tara has experience in complex cases involving public law challenges, human rights, discrimination and mental capacity. She is direct access licensed and undertakes work on a legally-aided and pro bono basis.

Recent work includes:

• Appearing before the Court of Appeal as it considered the use of supported ‘move on’ housing in the exercise of Part VII homelessness duties in Hodge v Folkestone & Hythe DC

• Representing a local authority at the Court of Appeal on the question of whether property guardianship companies must licence premises as HMOs in Global Guardians Management v Hounslow LBC

• Successfully defending a statutory challenge to a PSPO creating a “buffer zone” outside an abortion clinic in Dulgheriu v LB Ealing in the High Court and Court of Appeal

• Advising the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on public law, housing and equalities issues arising from the fire at Grenfell Tower

Professional Memberships

• Administrative Law Bar Association

• Social Housing Law Association

• Court of Protection Bar Association

• Institute of Licensing

Publications

Tara O’Leary is joint editor of Cornerstone’s Housing Newsletter, and contributes articles to Local Government Lawyer.