Counsel was the advisor for Wiltshire County Council and then trial advocate at a lengthy trial in Bristol High Court at which the Council successfully defended complex claims brought by Fortune & Others.
There is a substantial judgement on BAILLI at [2010] EWHC B33 (Ch).
Mr Burns was also involved as junior in the successful defence against the appeal against this judgment. This case involved alleged public rights over a lane in Chippenham and involved detailed consideration of very extensive historical and cartographical sources going back to the Norman Conquest, and how legally this material should be approached; the principles of common law and statutory dedication of highways; verges and New Streets, and novel issues arising under NERCA 2006.
Taken as a whole was one of the most significant pieces of litigation in the courts in these areas of the law in recent years.