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Background
Joanna Thomson is a partner who qualified as a solicitor in 1992.
Jo was recruited by Pierce Glynn in 2000, having previously been head
of housing law at Steel & Shamash solicitors.
Public law, discrimination and human rights
Jo is regularly instructed in claims for judicial review of local
authority and central government decisions.
She has particular expertise in the law relating to migrants’
rights to accommodation and welfare provision and in the human rights
law implications of decisions in this complex area. The High Court
and Court of Appeal cases in which she has acted (mentioned below)
have played an important part in shaping the law in this area.
Jo also advises on healthcare issues, in particular access to treatment,
as well as unlawful detention cases.
Social welfare law
Jo has nearly two decade’s experience of conducting housing,
community care and social security cases.
She is the firm’s housing supervisor and now concentrates on
more complex housing cases in the County Court, Administrative Court
and Court of Appeal. Jo is a member of the Housing Law Practitioners’
Association. She is particularly skilled at working with clients with
serious mental health problems or other disabilities.
She has extensive experience in acting for those who lack mental capacity.
In particular she is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor
in housing, community care and also acts in 'best interest’
cases. She has experience in complex high value carbon monoxide cases.
Reported decisions
Significant cases in which Jo has represented include:
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| LB Croydon and LB Hackney v AW, A and Y -and-
Secretary of State for the Home Department (Court of Appeal)
– responsibility for supporting destitute asylum seekers
with health problems |
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| R(AW) v LB Croydon; R(A, D & Y) v LB Hackney
& Secretary of State for the Home Department (High Court)
– failure to provide assistance breached Article 3 European
Convention on Human Rights |
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| R (A) v NASS & L B Waltham Forest (Court
of Appeal) – inadequate accommodation for disabled children
of asylum seeker |
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| R (Fetiti) v SSHD & Islington LBC (Court
of Appeal) – Article 3 ECHR breached when asylum support
refused for alleged intentional destitution |
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| L B Merton v Richards (Court of Appeal) - judge
entitled to dismiss possession claim based on false statements |
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