Meet the law bloggers

Marc Willers, Simon Ruston and Chris Johnson write a regular law blog for Travellers’ Times. They are delighted to see the planned re-launch of the website and hope that Travellers’ Times goes from strength to strength. Here are brief biographies to tell you a bit about them:

Marc Willers has practised as a barrister since 1987. He was named Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year in 2011 and was appointed as a QC in 2014. Marc specialises in human rights and discrimination law with a particular emphasis on the representation of Gypsies and Travellers. Marc is the co-editor with Chris Johnson of Gypsy and Traveller Law (Legal Action Group, 2007) and the editor of the Council of Europe’s handbook Ensuring access to rights for Roma and Travellers. The role of the European Court of Human Rights. Marc regularly writes for Legal Action and other legal publications and presents seminars on human rights and other issues both in the UK and abroad.

Dr Simon Ruston is a chartered town planner with his own practice working almost exclusively on behalf of Gypsies, Travellers and Showpeople. This work is across England, Wales and now also Scotland. Simon has been involved in this work for the last 8 years, and during this time successfully completed a PhD which focused on statutory definitions of Gypsies and Travellers. In addition to acting as a planning consultant on behalf of clients, he is also involved in supporting community organisations and campaigning on behalf of the Travelling communities.

Chris Johnson heads up the Travellers Advice Team at Community Law Partnership and was a founding partner in 1999. He has acted in some of the leading cases involving Gypsies and Travellers. He travels the country to represent them, as well as lecturing, training, writing and campaigning on issues affecting Gypsies' and Travellers' rights. As mentioned above, he is co-editor with Marc of Gypsy and Traveller Law and he also writes regularly for Legal Action and other publications.

Here is their latest blog: Attack on the rule of law- fighting back!

Here is their last Christmas blog: The case of the moose's ear

Chris Johnson (chrisjohnson@communitylawpartnership.co.uk)

Travellers Advice Team (TAT) at Community Law Partnership (CLP)

TAT operates a national Helpline for Travellers on 0121 685 8677, Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

CLP’s website is at http://www.communitylawpartnership.co.uk/

Marc Willers QC, Garden Court Chambers (marcw@gclaw.co.uk)

Garden Court Chambers has a specialist Romani Gypsy and Traveller Team.  Its website is at www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Simon Ruston, Ruston Planning Limited, Independent Planning Consultant specialising in Gypsy and Traveller work

Simon can be contacted at simon@rustonplanning.co.uk or on 07967 308752/0117 325 0350