3PB

Property and Estates; Commercial; Sports; Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law

Overview

Property and commercial barrister Jamie Johnston joined 3PB in April 2022, from a chambers in Newcastle. He is based in their Birmingham office but works across all 3PB locations. He practises in all aspects of property law and commercial disputes, as well as having a strong practice at sports disciplinary hearings. He has a busy practice in the High Court, County Court and tribunals. A recent reported case of Jamie’s was Elias v Blemain Finance [2021] EW Misc 15 (CC). 

Before coming to the Bar, Jamie spent ten years' building up and then selling a national franchising company. This gives him a first-hand understanding of commercial realities and helped develop the robust negotiation skills which he brings to his legal practice.

When not working as a barrister, Jamie maintains his love of sport and continues to train and compete in duathlon events at a national and international level and running competitions in the UK for his age-group, and competed in both the World and European Championships in 2022.

Property and Estates

Jamie Johnston is a property barrister who combines real-world experience with deep legal knowledge and a forensic attention to detail. He appears frequently in the Business and Property Court, County Court and in the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Jamie has a strong reputation for acting in cases concerning boundary disputes, restrictive covenant and proprietary estoppel.

Jamie has a strong personal interest in landlord and tenant work as he has managed a portfolio of residential property for several years. This experience informs his property practice in all aspects of commercial and residential landlord and tenant work. He recently delivered LexisNexis’ 2023 webinar on commercial rent arrear recoveries.

In the past few months, Jamie has:

• Represented and advised both commercial and residential clients in several trespass and boundary disputes.
• Advised in a variety of commercial lease issues including breaches of tenancy, forfeiture and service charge liabilities.
• Contested a possession claim defended on grounds of proprietary estoppel.
• Represented and advised in a number of cases concerning rights of way and breaches of restrictive covenants.
• Advised on prospects of appeal to the Lands Tribunal.
• Drafted pleadings in multiple commercial and residential landlords in possession claims.
• Acted for several local authorities in the West Midlands and South West England in a range of property disputes.

Commerical

Jamie has an extensive commercial practice, his experience being forged as a managing director who grew, franchised, and then sold his company before coming to the Bar. Business clients appreciate his instinctive understanding of commercial pressures and realities when providing legal advice.

He is frequently instructed in wide range of contractual disputes across multiple sectors, from shareholders and directors’ duties to unpaid invoices and fees.  Jamie  works as an extension of the clients business to ensure the best outcome within the confines of the case.  Regularly instructed to secure a wide range of injunctions, Jamie works to ensure the clients case is in the strongest position to succeed either through negotiations or the Court process.

Jamie also has a niche specialism in equine matters, specifically misrepresentation including where there are allegations of withholding information on temperament and declarable vices, and where there has been health information potentially missed in pre-sale veterinary inspections.

Recent work includes:

• A five-day trial concerning the mis-selling of a dressage horse, which included allegations of sedation prior to purchase.
• Resolving a claim for unpaid invoices through mediation.
• Drafted pleadings, advised upon and ultimately recovered unpaid fees due to a consultant in a long-running dispute.
• Advised in a case concerning negligent workmanship and unpaid invoices.

Professional Negligence

Jamie has experience of advising in a range of professional negligence claims, especially related to property. He has recently advised in:

• A failure of a conveyancer to investigate the potential presence of a mineshaft in a property purchase.
• Prospects of a claim against solicitors for failing to draft possession pleadings correctly.
• A range of negligence claims concerning conveyancing errors and poor drafting of wills.
• Acting where solicitors have acted in spite of a conflict of interest

Sports

Jamie Johnston brings extensive experience in elite sport to his sports law practice. He is a Disciplinary Chair for British Cycling and sits on the disciplinary panels for both UK Athletics and British Canoeing. He was also a legal adviser to the British Road Cycling Championships in 2018.

As an advocate and disciplinary panelist, Jamie has experience of a wide range of disciplinary matters in sports as diverse as golf, athletics, swimming and cycling. He has worked in cases involving allegations of discrimination & racism, accusations of/purported cheating, violent misconduct and technical code violations.

A former professional coach, Jamie has over 20 years’ experience working with athletes at every level, from grassroots to international and junior international competition. He has trained both able-bodied and para-sport athletes.

Jamie played national league hockey and now competes in duathlon competitions internationally as well as running races throughout the UK for his age-group.

His most sports regulatory work includes:

• Successfully defending a golfer facing a suspension for alleged cheating.
• Acting for a swimming club and its executive in disciplinary hearings alleging breaches of NGB regulations.
• Chairing a disciplinary hearing for a major UK sports body considering alleged discrimination by a member.
• A lengthy local government misconduct matter with consideration of the Localism Act 2011 and Nolan Principles
• Adjudicating breaches of sporting regulations by elite athletes

Professional discipline and regulatory law

Barrister Jamie Johnston represents local councillors in disciplinary procedures concerning serious allegations such as malfeasance, financial mismanagement or discrimination. He is familiar with the interplay and interpretation of the Localism Act 2011, Nolan Principles and principles of natural justice in investigations and hearings.

Jamie provides pragmatic guidance with robust representation at all stages of disciplinary proceedings. He is adept at identifying failings in the investigative process and advises clients how to challenge them. He is a forceful advocate throughout any disciplinary procedure, most notably in any final hearings.

Year of Call: 2016

British Cycling & British Canoeing Disciplinary Panels

BPTC, University of Law - Outstanding GDL, University of Law - Commendation BA Hons English, University of Birmingham - 2.1