Philip Kolvin KC has appeared in the Supreme Court in a taxi licensing case, representing regional private hire operator Delta Merseyside Limited.
The appeal was brought by Uber Britannia Limited against a unanimous Court of Appeal decision in a court which included former 11 KBW member Elizabeth Laing LJ.
Uber are seeking a declaration that a private hire operator, accepting a booking, is obliged to contract as principal with the booker at that point.
Uber, which has been compelled to contract as principal in London following its earlier Supreme Court defeat in Uber v Aslam, brought this case claiming a declaration that a similar rule applies outside London under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976.
The case has importance going beyond licensing, since if the operator is obliged to contract, rather than leaving the driver to contract, the operator will be obliged to charge VAT, which regional operators maintain may have a serious effect, since a high proportion of their customers are lower earners for whom private hire use is a necessity and not a choice.
Philip Kolvin KC is leading Jen Coyne of Monckton Chambers, instructed by Layla Barke-Jones of Aaron and Partners.
