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Online - Elections Conference 2026

06 February 2026 09:30 - 16:30

Online

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06 February 2026  |  From £230 + VAT

The LLG Elections Conference 2026 is where local government professionals will come together to explore the key challenges, developments, and lessons shaping election law and practice in 2026 and beyond.

While the full agenda is yet to be confirmed, the conference will feature sessions covering a wide range of critical and emerging topics - they will include reflections and lessons learned from recent election cycles and their impact on future practice; abuse of staff and candidate behaviour; and the evolving role and responsibilities of the Returning Officer, with particular focus on the distinctions between Monitoring Officers and Chief Executives acting in this capacity. The programme will also examine voter ID pitfalls and practicalities, polling station safety and accessibility, and risk management for 2026 — including how to anticipate and avoid petitions or judicial review. Sessions will address digital campaigning and social media, tackling misinformation, regulation, and enforcement, as well as the challenges of election technology and data handling, covering cyber security, data protection, and related practical risks. The conference will conclude with a forward-looking discussion on the post-2026 landscape and how legal responsibilities and frameworks may continue to evolve.

The 2026 Conference will deliver a mix of expert sessions, delegate discussion, and practical guidance designed to help local authorities prepare for the next electoral cycle with confidence.

Further details, including confirmed speakers and programme structure will be announced soon.

Rupert Beloff | Joint Head of Chambers | 4-5 Gray's Inn Square

Rupert has a broad public, regulatory and commercial law practice with a particular expertise in all aspects of local government law. He has extensive experience of appearing in courts and tribunals in London and nationwide at first instance and appellate level, including in high value complex claims.

He accepts instructions across a wide range of Chambers’ work in both an advisory and advocacy capacity.

PUBLIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Rupert advises and represents both claimants and defendants in all aspects of public and regulatory law. He has expertise in judicial review proceedings and Equality Act Claims and has represented local authorities, commercial organisations and individual service providers.

He has a particular expertise in a wide range of Local Government matters including:

  • Vires and local government powers.

  • Constitutional issues, powers and duties.

  • State aid, subsidies and public procurement.

  • Discrimination and equality duties.

  • Inquests and inquiries.

  • Planning law.

Rupert is a contributing author to ‘Goudie, Supperstone and Walker: Judicial Review’.

ELECTIONS

Rupert is a specialist in electoral law and is ranked as a leading junior in the field by Legal 500. He advises returning officers, election officials, local authorities and candidates on issues relating the whole spectrum of election law and has appeared in the divisional court on election petitions.

Rupert is frequently retained by returning officers during elections to provide urgent advice on issues that arise. He is a regular writer of articles on election law that have appeared in a variety of publications.

COMMERCIAL AND CHANCERY

Rupert has worked on complex and high value commercial disputes in the Commercial Court, Chancery Division and Court of Appeal including those involving contractual, company, partnership and copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property issues.

He undertakes a significant amount of chancery work including in particular contentious probate, disputed wills, the administration of estates and inheritance act cases.

Rupert also regularly appears in costs-related matters in the Senior Courts Costs Office.

REGULATORY AND DISCIPLINARY

Rupert has a well-established regulatory and disciplinary practice focussed upon professional regulation including that involving solicitors, barristers, medical practitioners, teachers and the police.

In addition, Rupert has substantial and wide ranging experience of sports litigation and advisory work including in particular regulatory and disciplinary proceedings, anti-doping, free movement and right to play cases and safeguarding. He has represented and advised clubs, governing bodies, coaches and individual sports men and women in front of a wide range of tribunals and courts.

Rupert sits as a sports arbitrator, is a member of the editorial board of LawInSport and the International Sports Law Review and the co-author of several leading books in the field.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

Rupert has substantial and wide ranging experience of sports litigation and advisory work including in particular regulatory and disciplinary proceedings, anti-doping, free movement and right to play cases and safeguarding. He has represented and advised clubs, governing bodies, coaches and individual sports men and women in front of a wide range of tribunals and courts.

He sits as a sports arbitrator, is a member of the editorial board of LawInSport and the International Sports Law Review and the co-author of several leading books in the field.

Rupert also advises and represents individuals and organisations in defamation, privacy and malicious falsehood actions.

Selected Reported Cases

Christine Ohuruogu v British Olympic Association I.S.L.R. 2008, 2/3, SLR113

Bell v Governing Body of St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School (2013) ISLR SLR 28

Bruce Baker v British Boxing Board of Control [2014] EWHC 2074 (QB)

UKAD v Darren McCormack, NADP 28 September 2017.

Nobu Su v Clarksons Platou Futures Limited [2017] EWHC 337 (Comm); [2018] EWCA Civ 1115.

Synergy Gas Services Ltd v Northern Gas Heating Ltd [2019] B.L.R. 132

UKAD v Liam Cameron, NADP 19 December 2018.

Mateola v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2019] UKFTT 179 (TC).

RFU v Henry Hadfield, NADP 25 October 2019.

Alsaifi v Npower Ltd [2020] EWHC 480 (QB).

Vimage Products Ltd v Data Candy Ltd [2022] EWHC 606 (IPEC).

Vivienne Sedgley | Barrister | 4-5 Gray's Inn Square

Vivienne sits on the Planning and Environment Law Bar Association (PEBA) Committee and is ranked as a leading junior in planning, local government and public law. Her recent work includes acting for the successful authority in Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20 concerning recreational rights on Dartmoor, R (Waverley BC) v Elstead Parish Council [2024] EWHC 833 (Admin) concerning difficulties with a neighbourhood planning referendum, and R (Newham LBC) v HMRC [2024] EWHC 2321 (Admin) concerning CIL for floating hotels. She is described in Chambers & Partners as “A remarkable junior whose star is in the ascendant”.

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