Ross Crail

Property/Public Law/ TVG’s

Ross is well known for her expertise in the law of highways, common land, town and village greens, and other kinds of public access rights “top of the pile when it comes to rights of way and village greens work” – Chambers UK Bar.

She has acquired an understanding of the issues from all viewpoints, having acted for local authorities, landowners, developers, members of the public, and interested organisations such as The Ramblers’ Association.  Conducting public inquiries into town or village green registration applications as an inspector has given her an additional perspective.

Her litigation experience in these fields has been divided between private law actions commenced in the Chancery Division and public law claims launched in the Administrative Court.  Seminal cases in which she has been involved include Oxfordshire County Council v Oxford City Council and R (Lewis) v Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (on the criteria for registrability as a green) and Paddico (267) Ltd v Kirklees Metropolitan Council and others (on the conditions for deregistration).

More general Property Litigation/Rights of Way

Ross’s practice also encompasses all aspects of real property law, such as restrictive covenants and boundary disputes “She is an extremely intellectually able person, who has a good grasp of the more rarefied aspects of land law and rights of way” Chambers UK Bar.

Ross has appeared in the first cases to reach the courts regarding various legislative innovations:  mass extinguishment of public rights to drive mechanically propelled vehicles on minor highways R Warden and Fellows of Winchester College and another v Hampshire County Council; stopping up highways for crime prevention purposes R Manchester City Council v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and alley gating The Ramblers’ Association v Coventry City Council.

In R Godmanchester Town Council and Drain v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ross assisted The Ramblers’ Association to identify and pursue suitable test cases for challenging a recent line of authority that made it very easy for landowners to rebut the statutory presumption of dedication as a highway.  The challenge ultimately succeeded in the House of Lords, which preferred the approach taken by Denning LJ in a 1956 decision.

• MA (Oxon) Literae Humaniores
• Diploma in Law (City University)

• Chancery Bar Association

“Ross is an intellectual powerhouse. She has the absolute confidence of clients.”

Legal 500 2025 – Agriculture: Tier 3

“She has deep expertise in these matters and can really get to the heart of these issues.”

“Ross is a go-to on public rights of way and common land.”

“Her analytical skills are second to none.”

“She has amazing knowledge and the way she can weave an argument into written form is just very impressive indeed.”

Chambers & Partners 2025 – Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Band 1

“Ross has excellent judgement, and is able to deliver clear, focused and practical opinions.”

“She is very well known and well regarded in the village green space.”

“She is a very safe pair of hands in an area of complexity.”

Chambers & Partners 2024 – Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Band 1

“’Ross is extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.”

Legal 500 2024 – Agriculture: Tier 3

“Her written advice is well considered, clear and easily understood, despite the often complex subject matter.”

Legal 500 2024 – Property Litigation: Tier 4

“Ross is incredibly capable and outstandingly clever. She is undoubtedly an expert in her field, and her ability to deal with extremely complex issues, in what is a very niche area of the law, is second to none.”

“Ross’s intellect is dazzling and she is ferociously knowledgeable. She has an immense ability to assess all the facts of the case in a short time and to work them into a powerfully presented argument.”

“Ross is an exceptional barrister, extremely clever and is really able to cut to the chase of difficult legal issues.”

“She is a very technical and detailed barrister.”

Chambers & Partners 2023 – Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Band 1

“Ross possesses an outstanding level of knowledge and is able to provide clear and concise advice as to why some strands of a case are perhaps unsustainable, whilst also putting forward key points and arguments to improve the likelihood of success.”

Legal 500 2023 – Property: Tier 4

“She is very intellectual and practical and provides high-class advice.”

Legal 500 2022 – Agriculture: Tier 3

“A steely advocate.”