Alex joined Chambers having practised in London since 2013. During this time Alex undertook instructions in Crime, Family, and Regulatory Law before specialising in Family Law. Alex remains a Level 2 Prosecutor and has previously undertaken a secondment to the General Pharmaceutical Council. Alex’s approach is to provide realistic advice tailored to the client in an accessible way. This is backed up by strong advocacy skills in court and an in depth knowledge of the law. His experience of a broad range of legal areas makes him well placed to understand the interplay between different proceedings and allow him to provide a holistic view of cases.
Local Authorities
Within the field of Family Law, Alex has gained substantial experience acting for parties, Alex being especially sought after by local authorities for his robust but fair presentation of a case. Alex has particular experience in cases which turn on extensive medical or police disclosure. Alex has gained extensive experience of proceedings which involve DOLs and complex care planning decisions particularly those involving children with additional needs.
Parents
When instructed for parents Alex combines an approachable attitude with through preparation and shrewd advice. Alex is confident and experienced with cases involving complex evidence and substantial contested hearings. Alex has significant experience acting for particularly vulnerable clients.
Private Law
Alex accepts instructions in Private Law children matters. Alex’s knowledge of related areas of law allows him to provide advice to those who instruct him as to the interplay between sets of proceedings. Alex can provide advice at any stage of proceedings and is able to provide early advice as to the likely course of proceedings.
18 St John Street Chambers
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Personal Injury
Andy has practiced exclusively in crime for fifteen years, prosecuting and defending at every level up to the Court of Appeal. He is a CPS Level Three prosecutor.
Criminal Practice
Andy has been briefed on matters indicting:
-Attempted Murder
-Multi-handed and multi-complainant s18
-Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving
-Firearms, including construction of firearms and use of firearms in the course of a robbery
-Child Abduction and Kidnap, including Kidnap incorporating s18
-Aggravated Burglary, including multi-handed offending involving the assault of homeowners with offensive weapons
-Conspiracy to Rob Commercial Premises
-Conspiracies to Supply and Import Class A drugs, also Conspiracy to Convey Drugs into Prison
-Arson, including Arson with Intent to Kill
-Computer Offences, including hacking offences and the downloading of indecent images
Complex Proceeds of Crime Applications
Andy has been instructed to conduct complex POCA for over a decade and has represented NCA, Border Force, Police, Local Authorities, CPS and Respondents both corporate and individual at all levels from the Magistrates Courts and the Tax Tribunal to the Court of Appeal. He accepts briefs post-trial to conduct standalone Confiscation proceedings, often following sentence and transfer of representation order.
He has built solid working relationships with local Financial Investigators and forensic accountants and has a contact list of useful experts built on his years of work in this field.
He has built up a strong practice appearing in applications to re-open Confiscation Proceedings under s22 of POCA, and in representing Third Parties under the s10A procedure. He frequently presents seminars to Prosecutors, Experts and Defence Solicitors on Confiscation law and tactics.
Following completion of the BVC in 2005, Angela commenced her pupillage in London. Upon the successful completion of her pupillage, Angela accepted an offer of tenancy and continued to practise in London until the summer of 2014. During this time, Angela practised in all areas of family law (private law children, public law children and financial relief).
On returning to the North West in the summer of 2014, Angela was employed by a local authority for just over three years, undertaking care proceedings and ancillary applications. For more than a year, Angela had the conduct of cases and latterly practised as the local authority’s in house advocate. Angela is well versed in local authority practices, including the pre-proceedings process, legal planning meetings, the issuing of urgent applications, liaison with partner agencies, as well as the conduct of proceedings.
Angela joined Chambers in November 2017, having accepted an offer of tenancy. Angela specialises in Children Act proceedings, public law and private law, with particular emphasis on public law proceedings. Angela represents all parties in proceedings – local authorities, parents and children, as well as interveners. Angela has considerable experience of many of the issues raised within public law proceedings including, but not limited to, sexual abuse and inflicted injuries.
Anna brings to her practice a wide range of experiences gleaned from undertaking complex family law cases (both in her own right and whilst being led by senior members of the Bar), along with life experience.
In particular, Anna is noted for her meticulous case preparation, her attention to solicitor and client care, and her enthusiastic and no nonsense approach to work. Anna combines such qualities with being a bold yet sensible advocate, with an ability to deliver robust advice whilst not losing sight of the need for sensitivity towards clients, especially when representing vulnerable clients or those with mental health difficulties.
Anna encompasses all aspects of family law in her practice, regularly appearing in the higher courts, including the High Court and has experience of appearing in the Court of Appeal (Family Division). Anna is also available to provide advice and to deliver training/CPD seminars to solicitors and children practitioners.
Anna has particular interest in mental health law and representing vulnerable clients, and is experienced in cases involving capacity issues, the Official Solicitor and representing clients with mental health problems and/or learning difficulties.
Anna is able to accept instructions direct from the public on cases deemed suitable for Direct Access.
Anna joined Chambers in October 2018. Prior to being called to the bar, Anna was the Team Leader in the family department of a large firm of solicitors based in the North-West. Over the last five years, she has acted as the in-house advocate for the same firm.
Ben joined chambers as a pupil in September 2021 supervised by Rehana Begum. Ben has observed and actively assisted junior and leading counsel across a broad and complex mix of public and private law Children Act proceedings involving domestic violence, historical sexual abuse, life threatening non accidental injuries and use of the high court’s inherent jurisdiction to deprive children of their liberty.
Ben is regularly called upon by members of the team to undertake legal research which has helped him develop an evidence based and forensic approach to written advocacy.
He has distinguished himself in a number of cases by reason of his excellent note taking skills attracting compliments from practitioners and clients alike. His legal research has helped him hone the ability to distil complex legal concepts into simple intelligible terms. This experience has given Ben the thorough grounding he needs to effectively advise clients.
Whilst at university, Ben volunteered with legal and non-legal charities, working with vulnerable at-risk asylum seekers and school children across Greater Manchester. This special interest in assisting vulnerable and disadvantaged groups gain access to justice has persisted into his professional life and equipped him with the skills necessary to effectively represent vulnerable parents facing applications by the State to remove their children from their care.
Ben welcomes instructions to represent Local Authorities, guardians, interveners and parents in public and private Children Act proceedings.
Private Law
Beth has represented parents and children at all stages of private law proceedings and applications under the Family Law Act 1996.
She has experience representing clients involving allegations of emotional, physical and sexual abuse as well as complex clients such as those with mental health and cognitive inabilities. She also represents the interests of children in private law matters including Finding of Fact hearings.
Public Law
Beth acts on behalf of parents and children in public law proceedings. She is regularly instructed on case management hearings, issues resolutions hearings and final hearings.
Beth has a practical approach to cases and provides realistic advice to clients in an accessible way. Her attention to detail and client management enable her to tackle cases robustly and effectively in and out of court
Betsy joined chambers in September 2022 after completing her pupillage in October 2020 with another Manchester set.
Betsy has developed a busy criminal practice, both prosecuting and defending and is a Level 2 Crown Prosecutor. Her practice spans all areas and levels of crime including sexual offences, drugs, violence, fraud and firearms.
Betsy has and is currently instructed on several Controlling and Coercive behaviour cases. Her understanding of this complex and still unfamiliar area of law is invaluable and recently led to the offence being withdrawn from a Jury mid-trial, following legal arguments.
Betsy has also recently appeared as defence counsel in a multi-defendant County-lines drug trafficking trial which involved vital DNA evidence being deemed inconclusive following challenges made by Betsy to the forensic experts’ initial evidence and findings.
Betsy has vulnerable witness experience and has been instructed counsel on multiple sex trials requiring s.28 hearings.
Betsy is particularly client-focused and is assisted by her approachable manner and ability to build immediate rapport with whomever she is communicating. Betsy is eager to continue building on her relationships with existing and new instructing solicitors and clients.
Betsy is available to take instructions in all areas of crime.
After undergraduate and graduate legal studies in Oxford and Poland, Christopher taught law at the Universities of Oxford and Cardiff. He came to the Bar in Manchester in 2005, since then he has undertaken a wide range of Chancery and commercial cases. He aims to bring a robust and practical approach to all my clients’ cases, and to make a worthwhile contribution to them. He understands the importance of careful and comprehensive pleadings, and many of my cases are resolved at that early stage. Agriculture: Christopher regularly instructed in agricultural disputes of all kinds, both before the Courts and in arbitrations, including disputes about tenancies, partnerships, land, planning and environmental law. He is also a fellow of the Agricultural Law Association, and gives seminars nationwide on agricultural law. Wills and Contentious Probate: Christopher advises and acts, both for beneficiaries and executors, in claims across the whole range of disputed wills (including fraudulent wills, disputes as to capacity, undue influence, knowledge and approval, and revocation) and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975. Chancery: Christopher advises and acts in the range of matters which belongs to the Chancery Division of the High Court, and Chancery Business in the County Court, and especially disputes involving rights of way and boundaries, tenancies, mortgages, professional negligence (especially solicitors), fraud, and breach of fiduciary duties. He has an interest in intellectual property, and has recently acted in claims and applications for urgent injunctive relief involving domain-name and trademark infringement, and passing-off. Commercial: he advises and acts in commercial disputes such as debt claims, and claims concerning defective goods, performance, or workmanship. Recent cases of this kind have involved groundworks at an onshore gas terminal, and windows in a series of shopping centres. Christopher contributed the chapter on ‘Insolvency’ to the recent book ‘The Impact of the Human Rights Act on Private Law’ (Cambridge, 2011). Mediation: Christopher accepts instructions to act as a mediator. He is an accredited mediator (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) and an associate member of the Association of Northern Mediators. He also has considerable experience of representing clients in mediations.
Claire appears regularly at the Crown Court prosecuting and defending trials involving robbery, aggravated burglary, drugs, GBH, affray and violent disorder, offensive weapons and road traffic offences.
Claire is a Category 3 prosecution advocate.
She is a member of the Crown Prosecution Service Specialist Fraud Panel and would invite instructions in relation to benefit fraud, Fraud Act offences and strict liability tax offences.
Claire appears regularly for HMRC, the Home Office and NCA in forfeiture proceedings and has appeared for the local authority and Trading Standards at the Magistrates and Crown Court. She has also undertaken advisory work for HMRC.
Claire takes a thorough and forward-thinking approach to cases, seeking to identify and resolve issues as early as possible. She prides herself on her thorough legal research and submissions. She is confident and personable.
Claire was called to the Bar in 2014. Prior to pupillage she worked as a County Court Advocate, representing parties in personal injury and contractual matters including infant settlements, disposal hearings and small claims. Claire completed pupillage in 2016 having been under the supervision of Adam Lodge.
Claire invites instructions in the field of criminal law for both prosecution and defence.
Colin Buckle is a specialist criminal barrister who both prosecutes and defends in cases of the utmost severity.
His practice centres around Bolton and Manchester Crown Courts and recent cases include high profile murders; defences of sexsomnia; organised crime; drug importation; regulatory cases surrounding care home prosecutions; fraud and the full spectrum of sexual offences.
He has experience as a leading junior and regularly appears in heavyweight cases.
Colin is known for his personable and relaxed approach with juries. He is fastidious in his preparation of cases. Feedback from instructing solicitors and Judges repeatedly makes reference to his precise and thorough preparation.
He is repeatedly requested to prosecute cases where family liaison is a key component of the overall case due to his calm and friendly manner. He is regularly called upon to review convictions due to his eye for detail and skills of examination of evidence.
Daniel is an experienced trial advocate and regularly prosecutes and defends serious and complex criminal cases in the Crown Court. His practice covers serious violent and sexual offences, including murder, manslaughter, causing death by dangerous driving, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, rape, sexual assault, armed robbery, firearms, arson, fraud and cases involving the large-scale importation, production and supply of drugs.
Daniel has a particular specialism in criminal appeals, having spent 18 months in employed practice at the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), providing legal support and advice to the Registrar of Criminal Appeals and the senior judiciary. He has worked on high-profile reported criminal conviction and sentence appeals of the utmost seriousness, up to and including murder, invoking highly technical and complex principles of appellate law. He has an insider’s knowledge and experience of the practice of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and has been assigned by the Registrar to appear on behalf of unrepresented litigants at the Court of Appeal.
Daniel is instructed as leading and as led junior counsel in serious cases across the spectrum, including murder, high-value white collar crime and allegations of non-recent sexual offending. He co-defended in the UK’s first prosecution for Film Tax Credit fraud, a complex and high-profile conspiracy attracting international media coverage.
He is appointed as a Level 4 prosecutor on the Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel and has been appointed to the Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel Rape and Serious Sexual Abuse List.
Daniel takes instructions in a wide range of personal injury and civil matters allocated to the multi track or fast track, including trials, stage 3 and disposal hearings, interlocutory hearings and costs and case management conferences.
Daniel joined Chambers in October 2021 following the successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Kane Simons. During his pupillage, Daniel gained experience in the full spectrum of personal injury cases, including road traffic accidents, occupiers’ liability, public liability and employer’s liability. He accepts instructions in all of these areas, acting for both Claimants and Defendants.
He has developed a busy paperwork practice, both advisory and drafting, and he accepts instructions to advise on liability and quantum at all stages of the litigation process.
Daniel accepts instructions on a CFA basis where appropriate.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Daniel worked as a Dispute Resolution Paralegal for a leading commercial law firm based in Manchester. Here, he handled his own caseload and assisted senior practitioners in a range of complex commercial disputes.
Daniel completed his undergraduate education at Newcastle University, graduating with a First Class degree in Law. During his time here, Daniel represented Newcastle University at a national level in mooting and won the English Speaking Union-Essex Court Chambers national mooting competition. He subsequently received two scholarships to study the BPTC as part of a Masters degree in law at BPP University. Daniel was graded Outstanding on the BPTC and received a Distinction in his Masters overall.
Danish’s biggest strength is building an excellent rapport with clients. He promotes an open and frank dialogue regarding all aspects of the case with the client, whether they are a layperson or a professional. Danish can break down legal jargon, offer case analysis and provide forensic scrutiny of evidence to clients so that they can fully understand all aspects of their case.
Danish is acutely aware that a case can have life-changing consequences on a lay party. His empathetic approach to representation has been praised by professional and lay clients who have commented on how he has helped them through the court process when representing them.
Danish delivers clear and robust advice in often difficult circumstances. Equally, Danish is unafraid to fight a difficult case when instructed to do so and enjoys running a bold case against the tide when it is necessary and appropriate to do so.
Danish is equally comfortable in a contested trial as he is in running complex technical arguments.
Danish represents local authorities, lay parties, and guardians in cases brought under the Children Act 1989. His practice of representing parties across the spectrum helps Danish deliver a carefully considered approach in all situations. Danish has extensive experience in all issues that can arise in the context of proceedings brought un the Children Act 1989.
Danish also has a busy practice in proceedings for financial relief under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and has experience in cases dealing with cases involving assets in other jurisdictions. Equally, Danish enjoys a healthy practice in applications brought under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996. Danish accepts instructions for written advice as well as drafting pleadings.
Danish brings a wealth of knowledge to his practice because he lived in two separate jurisdictions before moving to the United Kingdom to study for his undergraduate degree. This background has cultivated a natural interest in cases involving other jurisdictions, including child abduction cases involving Brussels II (Revised) and the Hague Convention.
Danish has a particular interest in applications for Forced Marriage Protection Orders and Female Genital Mutilation Orders, having advised and represented local authorities and police authorities in making applications as well as representing respondents to such applications.
Danish regularly appears at all levels of the Family Court, including the Family Division of the High Court and has experience in the Court of Appeal.
Danish has an entirely paperless practice and requests bundles and papers to be delivered electronically in all cases. He is well-versed in all matters relating to remote working and has written a Guide to Microsoft Teams for Legal Practitioners and the Judiciary.
Danish’s practice is predominantly in the North West, but he also accepts instructions for cases in London.
He is certified to accept instructions through Direct Access.
Danish maintains a Twitter account: @ameenbarrister
He is available to deliver in-house seminars on all areas of law in the Family Court.
Commercial and chancery practitioner covering: arbitration, banking and insurance, chancery (general), construction, contract drafting & litigation, commercial litigation, equity and trusts, housing, human rights, IT and e-commerce, insolvency, intellectual property, landlord and tenant (business and residential) and social housing, partnership, professional negligence, property disputes, succession and inheritance. Also practices at 4-5 GRAY’S INN SQUARE (Chambers of Timothy Straker QC and Robert Griffiths QC), London (020 7404 5252). Also practices at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square.
Ebuwa comes to pupillage with over a decade of experience in both Claimant and Defendant Costs Litigation. She has worked in-house with solicitors, in all aspects of Costs; as an advocate in Detailed Assessments and CCMCs, as well as drafting Bills of Costs, Cost Budgets, Points of Dispute and Replies to Points of Dispute and negotiation. She has extensive experience of costs arising from the whole gamut of Civil Litigation from Personal Injury to actions against the police. She has particular expertise in Defendant Clinical Negligence Costs having worked on behalf of the Medical and Dental Defence Unions and NHS Resolution for a number of years. As both an in-house and freelance advocate she has consistently appeared in high-value, complex matters before the SCCO and Cost and Case Management Conferences in the RCJ.
Ebuwa has additional experience in Professional Discipline; having appeared before the Nursing and Midwifery Council on behalf of registered nurses and of advocacy in the Immigration, and Asylum Tribunal.
Ebuwa spent a brief period working as legal assistant to a Clinical Negligence and Catastrophic Personal Injury silk. This included attending Joint Settlement Meetings and preparing Case Summaries and Valuations in multi-million pound Catastrophic Injury claims. She also did some drafting and conducted legal research.
Ebuwa undertook an internship at the Ministry of Justice, where she led a project with the aim of identifying gaps in compliance with equality legislation, within the Ministry of Justice. She was also a stagiaire in the European Court of Human Rights; reviewing the admissibility of applications against the UK and Irish governments.
She was awarded the Sir Joseph Priestley Scholarship by Inner Temple, won Best Advocate in the Henderson Chambers European Moot and came second in the Cambridge Centre for European Legal Studies/Shearman & Sterling LLP Negotiation Competition.
Ebuwa is currently a visiting lecturer at the University of Law.
Elahe practises exclusively in the fields of personal injury and clinical negligence, acting for both Claimants and Defendants, on claims which include serious injury, complex medical evidence and high injury awards.
She has consistently been recognised as a Tier 1 leading junior in the Legal 500 and is described as “very thorough and she will take the time to review cases properly and discuss them at length” (Legal 500 (2021)). Previous endorsements report that she is “highly skilled when questioning experts” (Legal 500 (2020)) and “she has an in-depth knowledge of personal injury matters” (Legal 500 (2019)).
She is committed to working as part of a legal team together with her instructing solicitors, and aims to deliver high quality service in order to maximise her client’s interests and prospects.
Elahe accepts instructions for trials, all types of applications and interim hearings (including CCMCs). In terms of advisory work, she is dedicated to providing a quick and efficient turnaround on paperwork, providing clear yet thorough, practical and friendly advice.
Elahe is happy to provide CPD-accredited seminars to solicitors and insurers; she has provided in-house seminars on a variety of topics, ranging from updates on civil procedure, case law developments to guidance on assessment of damages.
She is bilingual in English and Farsi. Elahe has a keen interest in many sports, including football (as a Manchester United supporter), tennis, athletics and swimming. She enjoys keeping active, having participated in the Great Manchester Run on 3 occasions as well as having previously completed Born Survivor (for charity) and Rough Runner. She also has an interest in a variety of music, food and cultures.
Elisabeth has developed a wide ranging general chancery and commercial practice during her career which has brought with it the corresponding substantial advocacy and advisory experience. She regularly litigates matters across the country.
In advising and representing clients Elisabeth adopts a pragmatic and considered approach in analysing all options and potential outcomes whilst fostering a strong team ethic with both solicitor and client from the earliest stage.
Elisabeth is an accredited Mediator (CEDR) and an experienced mediation advocate.
Although Elisabeth’s practice encompasses all areas of Chancery and Commercial practice, she has developed a particular interest in the following fields.
Company and Partnership
Instructions usually relate to s994 Companies Act 2006 proceedings, breach of shareholders’ agreements, derivative claims and disputes between partners both before and after the dissolution of the partnership.
Wills and Probate
Contentious and non-contentious probate matters are a regular feature in Elisabeth’s diary. Such matters include challenges to the validity of testamentary documents, claims brought pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and the construction and interpretation of wills and codicils.
Property Law
As part of her practice Elisabeth regularly advises and acts in many and varied property related matters including boundary disputes, applications for injunctions to prevent construction where allegations of trespass and/or breach of covenant and/or obstruction of access of light are involved, interpretation of restrictive covenants, cases involving proprietary estoppel and/or constructive trusts and Landlord and Tenant matters.
Contract
Elisabeth is experienced in the interpretation, enforcement and enforceability of contractual terms and the drafting of contractual documentation.
Professional Negligence
Elisabeth has advised and acted in cases involving allegations of negligence made against most professions but with particular emphasis on claims involving solicitors, surveyors, accountants and engineers.
Emma has represented local authorities, parents and children during her time at Chambers in both public law and private law matters. In addition to conduct of care and section 8 proceedings, Emma has also been instructed on matters involving Deprivation of Liberty, factitious illness, applications for a change of jurisdiction and has had conduct of an arbitration. Emma has also been instructed as Junior Counsel by a local authority on a complicated matter, involving the death of a child, which will be heard over twenty days.
Emma joined Chambers from Manchester City Council where she had been employed as an In House Advocate for twelve years. During this time, she had conduct of both public and private law matters, involving general case management, contested interim and final hearings, finding of fact hearings, Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation applications, appeals and matters invoking the inherent jurisdiction, such as deprivation of liberty, withholding of disclosure, and Wardship matters.
Emma also has experience of representing parents from her time in private practice, where she provided representation within private law, public law and Family Law matters.
Evonnie specialises in all areas of family law: public (care proceedings), private law (contact/ residence disputes, prohibited steps orders, specific issue orders and financial remedy proceedings.) Evonnie represents local authorities, parents, other family members as well as guardians. She is regularly instructed on cases involving domestic violence, drug abuse, neglect and sexual abuse.
Evonnie is thorough in her preparation and is sympathetic in her demeanour. She is conscientious and takes time to understand her client’s needs making her able to represent her clients more effectively.
Evonnie is also fluent in Cantonese.
Farah completed the BVC in 2005 and commenced her pupillage in 2006 in Sheffield. Upon successful completion of her pupillage, Farah accepted an offer of tenancy and continued to practise in Sheffield until 2012, when she moved to London and practised for 2 years. Farah returned to practise in Sheffield in 2015 before joining 18 St John Street in November 2018.
Farah has considerable experience in serious and complex public law cases and has regularly been instructed on behalf of Local Authorities, Parents, Children’s Guardians and the Official Solicitor. She has experience in complex and high profile cases involving sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children. She has regularly dealt with cases involving incest, severe neglect, non-accidental injury including death. Farah frequently handles cases that are subject to concurrent criminal proceedings in the Crown Court.
Additionally, Farah has a wide range of experience in all types of private law proceedings and undertakes work in cases of shared-residence and the validity of marriages that have taken place abroad.
Farah is fluent in Urdu and Punjabi.
Fergal regularly accepts instructions to act in both public law and private law cases, having previously acted at all stages of proceedings for local authorities, parents, extended family members and children’s guardians.
Children and divorce, specialising in care proceedings.
Gemma has had experience of a wide civil practice with an emphasis on personal injury work, including public, occupiers’ and employers’ liability, road traffic litigation and industrial disease. She has also had the benefit of experiencing claims involving issues of probate as well as boundary, business and contract law disputes. Having previously worked as a costs draftsman, Gemma is able to advise on costs matters, and represent parties at various levels of hearing.
Georgia is a family law specialist, called to the Bar in October 2017. Educated at the BPCT Manchester Metropolitan University Georgia took pupillage at a Birmingham set before returning to Manchester where she had previously managed the Manchester Unit of the ‘Personal Support Unit’ (now ‘Support Through Court’). Before deciding to study for the Bar, Georgia worked for the Home Office and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Georgia prides herself on her ability to be very personable and quickly build rapport with her clients. She is a fierce advocate and is sure to leave no stone unturned, particular in cross-examination. She is quick to utilise legal arguments on her feet and where necessary.
Hannah joined Chambers in September 2017 having successfully completed a family law pupillage under the supervision of Rehana Begum. She swiftly built a thriving practice in Public and Private Law. In 2018 Hannah took a sabbatical from Chambers to work as a Judicial Assistant in the Court of Appeal for 10 months.
Public Law
Hannah has a busy Public Law practice. She has represented parents, Local Authorities and children at all stages of public law proceedings. She has become accustomed to advising Local Authorities from the pre-proceedings stage through to the issuing of proceedings, including drafting threshold documents and case summaries. She has been instructed to act in multi-day hearings for parents and Local Authorities, including those involving non-accidental injury, domestic violence, substance misuse, and those in which both interpreters and intermediaries are required.
Private Law
Hannah has also gained experience in Private Law proceedings and applications under the Family Law Act 1996. She has represented both Applicants and Respondents in such proceedings, as well as the children, including those in which there are serious allegations made against one or more parties.
Background and other experience
Prior to joining Chambers, Hannah worked at a magic circle law firm as a paralegal. She worked on a number of large commercial transactions undertaking tasks such as due diligence and document review. In particular she became experienced in the drafting and reviewing of non-disclosure agreements and undertook a client secondment. Further to this, Hannah gained family law experience and through her time spent outdoor clerking for a firm of Lancashire solicitors.
More recently Hannah has taken a sabbatical from Chambers to spend 10 months working in the Court of Appeal as a Judicial Assistant. During this time she was stationed at the Royal Courts of Justice and assigned to the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane and Lord Justice Peter Jackson. Her role involved assisting with the preparation of cases both in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, through analysis of case papers, conducting legal research and drafting case summaries. She has also had the opportunity of observing appeals and hearings, thus gaining experience of high quality advocacy, as well as an in depth knowledge of the appellate system. Further to this, Hannah also provided some secretariat assistance to the Private Law Working Group chaired by Mr Justice Cobb.
Family: children and domestic violence
All areas of personal injury litigation including high value claims, road traffic and industrial accidents and industrial disease claims. Child abuse claims, negligence claims against social services and education authorities and civil actions against the police. Administrative law including judicial review and tribunal work. Areas of practice include human rights, immigration, planning and education law. Ian has wide experience in personal injury, negligence and public law areas appearing in courts and tribunals at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal. Notable cases: Taylor v Rochdale MBC [2001] EWCA Civ 1057; IA & others CG [2003] UKIAT0034; SM & others [2005] UKIAT00100.
Before being called to the Bar, James spent time developing his experience in preparation for pupillage. He has worked as an appropriate adult (supporting young/vulnerable people detained at police stations) and as an A level Law teacher.
James was called to the Bar in 2016. He undertook his pupillage under the supervision of Colin Buckle became a tenant in September 2017 and is available to take instructions in all areas of Criminal Law.
During pupillage, James observed/assisted with many of his pupil supervisor’s serious criminal cases in the Crown Court. James assisted another member of Chambers in responding to an Attorney General’s reference and attended at the Court of Appeal for the hearing.
James has appeared in cases in the Youth Court, the Magistrates’ Court, and the Crown Court. This work has included various types of hearings including: first appearance/ plea and trial preparation; Magistrates’ trial; bail; application to dismiss/ no case to answer/ abuse of process; sentence; contempt of court proceedings; appeals against conviction/ sentence to the Crown Court; confiscation and forfeiture.
James prosecutes and defends. James has already started to develop a specialist interest in the area of bad character evidence and has been commended on his very detailed knowledge of the area. James increasingly works on cases relating to confiscation and forfeiture under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
James works hard and prides himself on a thorough and careful approach to his cases. His preparation of cases is meticulous.
When he is not in court, James enjoys running and travelling. His greatest achievement in running is completion of the Edinburgh Marathon. Before starting pupillage he went backpacking across Thailand and Vietnam.
James is a specialist costs and litigation funding barrister. He is a qualified costs lawyer, registered mediator and can accept instructions from costs professionals under the Public Access scheme.
James now practices exclusively in costs and is co-author of the highly acclaimed, leading textbook on the subject, Friston on Costs (4th Edition, Oxford University Press). The book is frequently cited in court in this jurisdiction and elsewhere.
As a former costs lawyer and solicitor, James understands the needs of practitioners working in this field and is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes.
James regularly undertakes drafting work for clients and advises on difficult and novel points of law. He has become the “go to” counsel for many of the country’s leading solicitors and insurers.
James regularly undertakes high value detailed assessment hearings before Regional Costs Judges and Masters in the Senior Court Costs Office. He is often instructed to deal with appeals and all aspects of Costs and Case Management in multi-million-pound matters.
James has extensive experience in technical Fixed Recoverable Costs cases and applications for relief from sanctions. He regularly deals with disputes relating to misconduct and wasted costs.
Family law: contested divorce; Hague Convention cases; public interest immunity; domestic violence; Children Act 1989; adoption. Janice has represented local authorities, parents, children and the extended family. She undertakes both public and private work. She has particular expertise in representing those individuals or children who have mental health issues or a degenerative illness.
Jennifer Newstead Taylor specialises in Business and Property with a specific emphasis on Insolvency, Tax and Commercial Litigation.
Insolvency
Jennifer has a wide range of advisory and advocacy experience in both personal and corporate insolvency.
Corporate Insolvency setting aside statutory demands, contested winding up petitions, injunctions restraining presentation and/or advertisement of petitions, transaction avoidance, s.216 applications (prohibited names), administration orders and extensions of administration orders and directors disqualifications.
Personal Insolvency bankruptcy orders following failed IVAs, contested bankruptcy petitions, annulment applications, suspensions of discharge, bankruptcy restriction orders, orders for possession and sale and transaction avoidance.
Tax
Jennifer conducts interim and final MTIC tribunal hearings and successfully represented the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in the case of:
H S Tank & Sons Ltd v Revenue & Customs Commissioners (2012) [2013] UKFTT 777 (TC)
She also undertakes VAT tribunal hearings on substantive issues and costs.
Commercial
Jennifer’s commercial practice involves advisory and advocacy work across all aspects of the commercial arena. Jennifer regularly acts in contractual disputes ranging from banking disputes, the sale and supply of goods, construction contracts, debt and consumer credit.
Jocelyn was called to the Bar in 2015. Prior to practising as a barrister, Jocelyn had 5 years of practice as a solicitor, working at leading Legal 100 firms. Jocelyn is ‘direct access’ qualified and can take instructions directly from members of the public. Jocelyn’s commercial practice includes regular instructions in the following areas:
Business and Property Law
Landlord and tenant law;
Possession claims and forfeiture;
Trespass;
Bankruptcy/insolvency;
Social housing;
Wills and contentious probate, including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975;
Professional negligence;
Injunctions and freezing orders;
Contractual disputes and debts;
Partnership and agency law.
In 2020 Jocelyn successfully represented a client at the Royal Courts of Justice. She has represented a number of clients at contempt of court hearings, where they faced potential imprisonment. Jocelyn also has experience of assisting clients at successful mediations, in a range of different contexts.
Jocelyn has a successful housing law practice. She regularly deals with anti-social behaviour orders; homelessness; evictions; and complex issues arising from mental health difficulties, including hoarding.
Discrimination and Harassment Discrimination and harassment are two particular areas of Jocelyn’s expertise. Jocelyn has represented claimants in a wide range of successful discrimination and harassment claims in both the County Court and the employment tribunal. This experience includes an 8 day whistleblowing case, and numerous multi-day discrimination/unfair dismissal claims. Jocelyn has appeared at the Employment Appeal Tribunal on two occasions. A particularly notable success came when acting for a claimant in a disability discrimination claim relating to the ‘bedroom tax’, in which Jocelyn appeared opposite Queen’s Counsel.
Inquests This is an area of law which Jocelyn has a particular passion for. Jocelyn has provided representation in multiple inquests, engaging a range of issues, including mental health provision, dual diagnosis and clinical negligence. Jocelyn secured an ‘Article 2’ inquest for one bereaved family. (Article 2 findings are unusual and are heavily contested.)
Court of Protection and Family Law Jocelyn began her practice in 2019, dealing with matters of both welfare, and property & affairs. Jocelyn is a member of ‘CoPPA’. Jocelyn has been instructed in cases involving various capacity issues, and questions of appropriate care, decision making, and deputyship.
In 2020 Jocelyn began practising Family Law, after undertaking a period of training with Chambers’ Family team.
Personal Injury Jocelyn has experience in matters of serious injury, occupational disease, historic sexual abuse, employers/public liability, fraud and RTAs. Jocelyn has been instructed to act in numerous limitation trials. Jocelyn has obtained findings of fundamental dishonesty and has successfully defended ‘FD’ claims.
OUTSIDE OF LAW Jocelyn has a love of the arts, particularly literature. Jocelyn plays the clarinet, saxophone and piano and loves to watch live music, as well as enjoying comedy, theatre and the cinema. Jocelyn volunteers with the ‘Liverpool Cares’ organisation; prior to that, she worked with ‘The Reader’. Jocelyn’s other interests include cycling, travelling and listening to podcasts.
John is a specialist family practitioner with an emphasis in child care work who represents parents and children in all levels of court, including the Court of Appeal. John has extensive experience covering all aspects of proceedings relating to children including public law and private law disputes.
He is experienced in the representation of a wide range of clients, including local authorities, parents, extended family members, intervenors, the official solicitor and children (including separate representation of competent children) in both areas of public and private law.
John has a background of practicing in criminal law which has included cases concerning children relating to allegations of serious neglect and physical / sexual abuse. This background has provided an invaluable basis of knowledge and experience particularly when acting in cases with a concurrent criminal investigation, previous or current criminal proceedings.
He has acted in factually and legally complex cases involving allegations of factitious, induced illnesses and non-accidental injuries to a child / children and infant death.
John’s particular interest and expertise in cases involving complex medical and factual issues in respect of possible fabricated or induced injuries, non-accidental injuries and allegations of serious sexual or physical abuse.
John was originally called to the Bar in 1994 and qualified as a solicitor in 1997. Having spent over 20 years as a solicitor, John returned to practise at the Bar in 2019.
John has a broad business and property practice with a particular focus on corporate and personal insolvency related matters.
Before returning to the Bar, John was most recently a partner in a major UK firm leading the Restructuring and Insolvency Practice in the North West. Prior to that, John was a partner in a major international law firm.
John advised on both contentious and non-contentious matters. He acted for insolvency practitioners, receivers, banks, lenders, creditors, debtors, directors, shareholders and other parties interested in or affected by individual or companies in financial distress, or where financial distress is anticipated.
Notable cases: advising litigant in person and drafting skeleton argument in Keith John Wall v Brian Collins & Another [2007] EWCA Civ 444 : LTL 17/5/2007 : [2007] Ch 390 : [2007] 3 WLR 459 CA : [2008] 1 All ER 122 : [2007] NPC 64 – the effect on easements of the merger of freehold and leasehold estates and s62 of the Law of Property Act 1925.
Family law, ancillary relief, children, divorce, public law, cohabitees – relationship/property disputes. Betting licensing applications and objections. VAT Appellants Tribunal applications and appeals. Notable cases: Vivek Singh KudhailL v Customs and Excise Commissioners (018161) (2003): Document No.: Case Law – AC0105438; Cliff College Outreach v Customs and Excise Commissioners (No.17301) (2001): Document No.: Case Law – AC0700287; Chubb Cabs Ltd v Revenue & Customs Commissioners (VADT20368) (2007): Lawtel: 7/11/2007 Document No.: Case Law – AC0115107; Cheshire Racing Limited v Revenue and Customs Commissioners (20283) (2007): Lawtel: 23/08/2007 Document No.: Case Law – AC0114631.
Jonathan joined the Family Team of 18 St John Street Chambers in January 2017 and since then has developed a busy and varied practice, regularly appearing in the Family Court representing local authorities, parents, children and intervenors in both public and private children matters. Jonathan regularly appears in matters before the High Court. Jonathan has experience of representing clients in appeals and providing advice on appeal.
Jonathan has developed a reputation for meticulous preparation of cases and thorough cross examination. As a result, he is regularly instructed to appear in multi-day hearings in relation to allegations of both physical and sexual abuse, representing local authorities pursuing allegations before the court and representing those facing allegations. He has extensive experience of challenging the evidence of professional and lay witnesses, including medical evidence. Jonathan has experience of cross-examining vulnerable witnesses, including those with mental health difficulties and child witnesses.
Jonathan has also developed a busy practice representing children, through their 16.4 Guardians, at finding of fact and final hearings in private law proceedings, often where both parents are litigants in person. Jonathan is therefore adept at dealing with litigants in person.
Jonathan is public access accredited and accepts instructions from members of the public directly where necessary.
Jonathan is also available to deliver talks/seminars regarding various topics relating to Family Law. Jonathan most recently delivered a talk on secure accommodation orders on behalf of Child Concern.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Jonathan worked within the Family Department of a local law firm, developing a specialism of representing clients in Children Act and Family Law Act proceedings. Jonathan also undertook civil work during this time in the capacity of Solicitor’s Agent.
Away from Chambers, Jonathan has a keen interest in travel. He has recently spent time in various cities in the USA, and visited numerous islands in French Polynesia in October 2018.
Joshua specialises in all areas of criminal law, and accepts instructions for both prosecution and defence in the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court.
Joshua has represented Defendants in the Magistrates’ Court, the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal in relation to offences including violence, drugs, dishonesty and driving.
He has prosecuted offences in the Magistrates’ Court, and an array of appeals against conviction in the Crown Court.
He has experience in Prison Law, having represented a number of individuals seeking release or relocation from prison.
Joshua also has an interest in regulatory work, having successfully prosecuted on behalf of a Local Authority on matters involving environmental breaches and breaches of planning permission.
He was selected to be Junior of the Northern Circuit in 2019.
Joshua joined Chambers in 2018 after successfully completing pupillage under the supervision of Rachel Faux. During pupillage, Joshua observed a number of serious and complex trials in the Crown Court, and assisted with the preparation and research of them.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Joshua worked as a County Court Advocate, representing parties in all manner of civil proceedings, including small claims trials.
Appointed CPS Fraud Panel.
Kane has a broad personal injury practice, acting for both claimants and defendants in cases involving serious and catastrophic injuries. Described in the Legal 500 (2021) as a ‘personal injury junior who is on his way up’, Kane acts in road traffic, employers’ liability and public liability claims. He has particular experience in matters involving injured cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. His cases tend to involve brain injuries, chronic pain or complex orthopaedic injuries. He has built a successful practice by providing practical and clear advice. He is described as ‘down to earth’ and as having ‘an excellent manner with clients’. Kane is happy to advise on a CFA basis. He is also available to deliver CPD-accredited seminars to solicitors on request. Recent seminar titles include ‘Dealing with Allegations of Fundamental Dishonesty’, ‘Introduction to the Intermediate Track’, ‘E-Bikes and E-Scooters’ and ‘Introduction to Pension Loss Claims’. Kane graduated with a first-class degree before completing a master’s degree in law. He has always practised at 18 St John Street and completed pupillage in 2009 under the supervision of Mark Laprell and Simon Kilvington QC. He is head of the Civil and Personal Injury Department at 18 St John Street Chambers.
Re F (children) (DNA evidence) (2007); [2007] EWHC 3235 (fam): [2008] 1FLR 348 : fam div (Anthony Hayden QC) 20/12/2007. Anonymity: child abuse, DNA samples, DNA tests, expert evidence, anonymity of DNA testing company responsible for corrupt data, instruction of accredited DNA testing companies, family law reform act 1969, art.8 European convention on human rights. Where DNA data relating to the inter-relationship and parentage of several children had been corrupted, a judge refused to grant a request for anonymity in respect of the company responsible for that data. The court also outlined the correct method by which accredited DNA specialists should be instructed in child welfare cases.
Kate initially qualified as a solicitor in 2009 specialising in Family Law. She was previously the regional head of the Family Law department in a nationwide law firm. She transferred to the Bar in order to focus on advocacy.
Divorce
Kate acts for clients on Divorce, Judicial Separation and dissolution of Civil Partnerships. She has experience of a variety of scenarios including difficulties with service, tracing missing spouses, defending an application to set aside a Decree Absolute, foreign marriages and foreign divorces.
Matrimonial Finances (Ancillary relief)
Kate regularly works on high net worth ancillary relief claims. Recent experience includes a high net worth case involving a matrimonial pot of £7 million and also acting for a lottery winner with a win of £1.4 million.
She has represented a number of clients with niche business interests requiring complex business valuations as well as high value cases with illiquid assets. She has acted for GPs and doctors who have both a private practice and an NHS practice. She also represented the spouse of a dentist who was also a shareholder in numerous dental practices.
She has acted on numerous cases involving large pensions including, NHS, Royal Mail, Police Service and Prison Service pensions.
Kate has also worked on cases involving an intervening party where there were substantial disputes as to the ownership of property and whether it should be included as part of a matrimonial settlement.
She has acted in a number of cases with significant liabilities and limited capital available including where a party has been made bankrupt and the Trustee in Bankruptcy was a party to the proceedings.
Kate also acts in enforcement proceedings; previous cases include successfully evicting a party from the Former Matrimonial Home and removing tenants from a property, enforcing Spousal Maintenance Orders and successfully receiving costs in the above matters.
Children
Kate advises and acts on private and public law applications including Care proceedings, Residence, Contact, Prohibited Steps and Specific Issue Orders.
Examples of Kate’s work include:
Acting for parents in relation to Child Arrangement Orders (residence and contact)
Acting for grandparents in applications for Parental Responsibility, Contact and Residence
Specific Issue Orders including orders in relation to a child’s school
Prohibited Steps Order when a parent has tried to remove a child from the jurisdiction
Making a number of emergency applications when children have been retained during Contact
Acting in a number of cases with an international element including countries outside of the Hague Convention such as the United Arab Emirates
Regularly represents parties involved in Care Proceedings
Has had success when acting for parents with children being returned to live with them
Has a great deal of experience acting for parents with significant mental health problems
Domestic Violence
Kate regularly acts for both Applicants and Respondents in applications for Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders.
Family law, civil and personal injury law.
Laura completed her pupillage in October 2021 under the supervision of Rachel Faux. She has assisted on a wide range of criminal matters, including robbery, firearms, drug supply and historic sex cases.
Laura accepts instructions in all areas of crime, both prosecuting and defending.
Prior to starting pupillage, Laura worked as a criminal defence Litigator at Tuckers Solicitors where she successfully managed her own caseload. Laura conducted all aspects of trial preparation: taking instructions, advising clients, obtaining and reviewing disclosure, drafting proofs of evidence, drafting legal arguments, and instructing experts. Laura also attended court regularly to assist Solicitors. She would take instructions and give counsel to clients in respect of hearings such as first appearances, sentences, bail applications and warrants.
Laura also spent some time in the USA, providing assistance to a public defender service on capital murder cases, for which she was awarded the International Intern Award by Middle Temple Young Barristers’ Association in 2018. Laura provided invaluable assistance to attorneys; she drafted legal documents, conducted legal research, reviewed disclosure, interviewed witnesses, attended federal court and met with clients on death row. Laura’s article on intellectual disability as a defence to the death penalty has since been published in Middle Temple literature.
Child concern: prior to transferring to the Bar in 2001 Leonie practiced as a solicitor for 18 years in both Liverpool and Bolton. Following qualification she worked initially in conveyancing and probate before becoming responsible for running branch offices which dealt with the full range of general practice whilst personally practicing exclusively in family law. Leonie is an experienced lecturer and welcomes the opportunity to provide, at solicitors’ request, in-depth and insightful seminars on a wide range of her specialist practice areas.
Lewis commenced pupillage in Manchester in September 2013 and is developing a broad civil and chancery practice. Under the supervision of David Hoffman, Lewis has gained experience of a range of civil matters both in a contentious and advisory context. These have included: civil VAT fraud; breach of database rights/abuse of confidential information; shareholder and partnership disputes; commercial finance litigation; corporate/personal insolvency; claims for breach of contract; landlord and tenant disputes; professional negligence; urgent injunctions; a wide range of property matters including boundary disputes; general civil applications; contested POCA applications; disclosure/document management exercises. Lewis has a particular interest in the law relating to technology and information. Prior to commencing pupillage, Lewis worked as a paralegal in a public-sector specialist firm of solicitors’ commercial dispute resolution department. Whilst there he worked primarily on a complex, data heavy multi-party dispute valued at more than £300m.
Private Law
Lisa is regularly instructed to act on behalf of parents and children at all stages of private law proceedings. She has acted in cases with complex parental disputes such as alleged parental alienation and where there has been a cessation of contact with a parent. Lisa has experience representing parents both alleging and disputing allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Lisa also represents applicants and respondents in applications under the Family Law Act 1996.
Financial Remedy + TOLATA
Lisa represents parties in financial remedy proceedings at FDA, FDR and contested final hearings. She also acts in applications under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.
Public Law
Lisa also acts on behalf of parents and children in public law proceedings. She is regularly instructed to attend advocates meetings and conduct Case Management Hearings, Issues Resolution Hearings and Final Hearings.
Lisa is fluent in Welsh.
Martine started her career far from the field of Law as a Manager within a large retail organisation. She then changed careers and practiced as a Solicitor for 20 years before being called to the Bar.
Family Law has always been Martine’s specialism where she has focused on care proceedings, and all aspects of children work; representing Parents, Children, Grandparents and other family members.
Martine has considerable experience in courts from Magistrates to High Court, and has dealt with cases involving gender issues, non accidental injuries, sexual abuse, fabricated illness by carers, and deprivation of liberty in children.
Her open-minded nature combined with forthright attitude allows for a realistic and sensible approach to problems faced by her clients in an effort to resolve them efficiently and effectively.
Mike is a specialist in business and property law and has built up a successful practice, typically dealing with complex and high value cases, often involving allegations of fraud or difficult legal arguments and regularly crossing swords with more senior opponents.
It is testament to Mike’s growing reputation that he finds himself in high demand, solicitors and clients alike requesting him specifically for their cases and returning time and again with new instructions. Mike’s passion for tackling problematic cases combined with his wealth of legal knowledge and his willingness to make himself available to take “that” call, make him a formidable asset for any legal team. He is an accomplished and effective advocate, highly regarded for his commitment to the cause and for his determination. He takes a pragmatic and hands on role working with those instructing him to form and develop case strategy and tactics to secure the best outcomes possible in every case.
Most of Mike’s work is in the Business and Property Courts of the High Court but he has also appeared in all sorts of other courts and tribunals including and on a number of occasions with success in the Court of Appeal. He acts predominantly as sole counsel but he has collaborated on a number of occasions with Chambers’ silk, and on appropriate cases he is happy to work with others as a part of a team. With his breadth of knowledge and experience he is also well suited to disputes spanning different disciplines.
Mike’s practice encompasses the traditional range of commercial and chancery work including:
-commercial contract disputes,
-shareholder and company disputes (including unfair prejudice petitions, derivative actions, misfeasance claims, claims to enforce directors duties, and actions upon shareholder agreements),
-partnership law (with particular experience of medical and legal practice disputes),
-civil fraud (including cases requiring urgent asset protection or recovery),
-professional negligence (with an emphasis on property and transactional work),
-building disputes and construction law,
-insurance and banking,
-consumer and consumer credit,
-mortgage cases,
-landlord and tenant disputes, and
-real property work.
Mike recognises the importance of Counsel being accessible as cases progress and also for difficult files. His commercial practice includes urgent and time-sensitive work for example acting on applications for injunctive relief (including freezing injunctions, search orders and orders for the preservation and inspection of critical evidence) and advising on completions or exercising termination rights or rescission or other elections. Mike also provides urgent advice and assistance concerning issues arising under the Limitation Act 1980.
In the traditional chancery field, Mike is often instructed to deal with probate and trusts disputes including claims concerning the validity, interpretation and rectification of wills, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 and the administration of estates.
In the area of insolvency, Mike has wide-ranging experience acting for both office-holders and for debtors or creditors. As well as dealing with contested petitions and statutory demands and applications for administration orders and extensions, Mike has developed a particular specialism in antecedent transactions and transaction avoidance. He has been involved in a large number of cases involving challenges to transactions defrauding creditors and he has developed a particular interest in actions by company creditors directly against directors or shareholders of a company typically where that company is insolvent.
Mike also has expertise and experience in international and transactional work, including EU Law, in which he has an LLM, and banking and finance, for which he has been awarded a Phd. Mike has undertaken commercial arbitrations and keeps up to date with European and international law, helping to run the European Circuit of the Bar as a member of the executive committee.
Mike is accredited for direct access from members of the public. He is approved as a pupil supervisor. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Manchester Incorporated Law Library society.
Mike is an accredited mediator and is also available to be booked to mediate disputes.
To book or contact Dr Mike Wilkinson, email his clerks marked for his attention at: [email protected]
General chancery and commercial law including; land law and neighbour disputes, TOLATA, landlord and tenant (residential and business), insolvency, inheritance and wills, contract, torts, building disputes, banking, consumer credit, company, trusts, partnerships and insurance, sale of goods and fraud. Inquests (including treasure trove) and enquiries, actions against the police, sports and disciplinary tribunals. Anti-social behaviour and harassment. Regulatory including licensing, taxis, road transport, trading standards, agricultural, food, fisheries and environmental. Matters involving Australian law (former Australian Barrister). Licensed to accept direct access instructions.
Neil Fawcett practices primarily in the fields of Property, Banking and Financial Services and General Commercial Litigation. He is experienced in representing companies and individuals most often in the High Court and county courts, having appeared and advised in multi-day trials in the High Court and in complex multi-million pound property and commercial litigation and has wide experience of appellate advice and advocacy.
Neil has an excellent grasp of the complexities of property and mortgage/guarantee law in particular, as well as substantial knowledge of civil procedure and is known for thorough preparation, hard work and robust advocacy in the cases he is involved with.
Neil has worked closely with numerous solicitors acting on behalf of SME’s seeking claims for Business Interruption Insurance following COVID-19 and has written “A practical guide to Business Interruption Insurance – Published by Law Brief Publishing”.
He has written for LexisNexis, publishes legal articles at commercial-bar.co.uk and gives seminars/lectures regularly.
Property and Estates
Neil acts for individuals, private companies and public bodies in relation to commercial property disputes, including multi-day High Court and County Court trials and experience of trials in the property tribunal.
He handles litigation relating to securities over real property, in particular, the law relating to mortgages and charges over registered land especially in connection with banking and finance work.
Reported case:
G & A Properties (UK) Ltd v Rolland [2015] EWHC 939 (Ch) (23 January 2015)
Practice areas:
Mortgages and Charges over Land (including charging orders and tracing sale proceeds).
Possession claims.
Landlord and Tenant (including business tenancies).
Land Registration (including litigation relating to notices, restrictions and priorities).
Contracts for sale of land.
Adverse Possession.
Easements and Restrictive Covenants.
Trusts of Land (including claims for beneficial interests, actions by beneficiaries to remove/replace trustees).
Insolvency issues in the real property context.
Commercial developments and building disputes.
Agricultural holdings.
Leasehold enfranchisement.
Fraudulent property schemes and “sale-and-rent-back” litigation.
Advice in multi-million pound overage litigation for property developers.
Defending claims against pub landlords under leases with breweries.
Construction contracts (e.g. advice for developers of residential blocks in Birmingham City Centre regarding flood damage).
Commercial
Neil is an experienced commercial litigator, specialising in disputes involving high value contracts, as well as company, partnership and LLP law and claims against professionals.
Freezing Injunctions in the Commercial Court to secure compliance with contractual obligations.
Partnership litigation, including disputes within the financial, legal and construction sector. He has advised on the full panoply of disputes that can arise including dissolution, partitions, buy-outs. Claims under the Partnership Act 1890 and detailed accounts and inquiries.
Agency of all types, but particularly in relation to banking and financial services, the parties Debtor-creditor-supplier Consumer Credit Act agreements and professional agency.
Commercial and business contracts, especially where contentious issues have arisen to do with construction of terms, formation, breach and termination, the adequacy of consideration, the law of compromise, penalty and exclusion clauses, misrepresentation, mistake, fraud, forgery, estoppel arguments, assignment and the imposition of trusts and fiduciary duties.
Contracts for the sale of goods and services, and construction specific contracts with specific experience with in the engineering and technology sectors.
General credit and security matters including commercial asset-finance agreements, consumer-credit agreements, hire-purchase agreements, conditional-sale and credit-sale agreements involving complicated litigation over the construction of such agreements and claims for delivery-up, following and tracing.
Bills of exchange and banking contracts, dealing especially with the relationship between banker and customer, the duties of bankers, bank-mandates and breach-of-mandate claims, overdrafts, interest and charges, the payment of cheques, direct-debits and principles governing countermand, joint accounts and the effect of partnerships and their dissolution on contracts of banking.
Enforcement or challenging contracts of suretyship (guarantee and indemnity clauses), dealing with defences thereto, discharge of sureties and construction of clauses as either guarantees, indemnities or letters of comfort.
Business
Neil has acted on a wide range of litigation for banks/financial institutions as well as for companies and sometimes individuals defending banking and possession claims against them.
His experience covers all aspects of banking litigation in addition to drafting pleadings and attending directions hearings, application hearings, including for summary judgment and strike-out and attending trials and appeals, often where there are complex or highly technical issues of law to be resolved on the multi-track in the High Court or County Court.
Practice areas:
Mortgages and Charges over Land.
Possession claims.
Claims based on undue influence, duress and fraud (especially involving problems with possession orders arising under Albany Homes v Massey).
Land Registration (including detailed advice regarding notices, restrictions and priorities).
Consumer Credit Act claims.
Mis-selling claims and other breaches of MCOBS by mortgage lenders.
Claims under indemnity and guarantee agreements.
Breach of mandate claims.
Defending negligence claims against banks.
Recovery of overdrafts and loans.
Professional negligence actions against conveyancing solicitors in mortgage cases.
Hire-purchase, leasing and conditional-sale agreements.
Neil Fawcett is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public and professional clients under the Direct Access (or Public Access) scheme.
Niamh specialises in all areas of criminal law, welcoming instructions for both prosecution and defence. Niamh completed pupillage in September 2022 under the supervision of Paul Treble. She has assisted on a wide range of cases including murder, drug production/supply and serious sexual and violent offences.
As a Sociology graduate, Niamh endeavoured to obtain legal experience before coming to the Bar. Alongside completing the Graduate Diploma in Law, she worked as a Court Clerk at Minshull Street Crown Court. During Bar school, Niamh was employed as a Serious Injury Paralegal at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors which enabled her to gain experience within civil proceedings and develop crucial transferable skills, such as the forensic analysis of complex evidence. She was instrumental in progressing high value, multi-track cases involving life-changing, catastrophic injuries and fatal accidents.
Niamh has developed a busy criminal practice and has experience of defending and prosecuting in the magistrates’ and Crown Courts. She has gained experience in managing particularly challenging clients with mental health vulnerabilities. Niamh has a client focussed approach and prides herself on her personable nature and attention to detail.
Nicholas Clarke has worked in the law since 1985, qualifying as a solicitor in 1991 before transferring to the Bar in 2001. Nick worked for over ten years in London where his practice was general common law, including family. Since moving to the North West, Nick has developed a practice that deals principally in criminal matters, although he maintains a keen interest in the areas of common law in which he became proficient as a solicitor, particularly social welfare law, mental health, education, consumer, company law, landlord and tenant, general taxation and VAT.Nick is a member of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) and Child Proverty Action Group. Criminal practice: Nick practices in complex white collar fraud and substantial drug offences. He also prosecutes on behalf of the CPS, Customs and Excise, the Inland Revenue and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a Category B member of the A-G’s panel. Criminal work undertaken includes substantial fraud, drugs offences, serious violence, sexual offences and general serious and complex crime. Nicholas was appointed to the Attorney General’s Unified List of Prosecuting Counsel in 2006. Civil practice: Nick also practices in public law. Matters undertaken to date include Trading Standards, Actions against the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), applications before the Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT), advising on welfare benefit entitlement, advising under the Public Access scheme on general taxation and Company Law, Data Protection, Money Laundering and in particular applications before the Crown and High Courts under the Proceeds of Crime legislation.
Nick conducts a mixed practice of Civil and Chancery law with particular focus on Personal Injury litigation.
Experience in personal injury litigation
Prior to transferring to the Bar in 2016, Nick was a solicitor. He trained at Pannone & Partners in Manchester under Deirdre Healy and Carol Brooks-Johnson from 2002 and 2004, assisting in brain injury and fatal accident claims valued at in excess of £1m.
He worked at Aequitas Legal in Manchester between 2011 and 2015 before leaving to set up an advocacy-focused Bar Standards Board entity with a leading personal injury Silk.
During his years practising as a Solicitor, Nick conducted a mixed caseload of fast-track and multi-track cases including claims involving amputation, serious complex fracture and other serious injuries. He has also conducted fatal accident claims up to pleaded value of £2.5m.
In the year prior to transferring to the Bar, Nick handled a caseload of complex and high-value stress at work claims, including drafting pleadings and high-value schedules of loss.
Instructions
Nick has significant trial experience in road traffic accident and credit hire claims (to multi-track value); personal injury fraud; occupiers’ liability and public liability claims.
Nick has also had success in applications arising from interpretation and application of MOJ portal/protocol rules including successful applications for exceptional costs.
Nick is happy to receive instructions from both Claimants and Defendants.
Nick is particularly experienced in dealing with costs budgets and will happily accept instructions for CCMCs and other case management hearings.
Cycling injury claims
Nick is a keen road cyclist and has raced at local road race level. He has significant experience in handling cycle injury claims. He has a deep knowledge of the culture of cycling.
Inquests
Nick is happy to take instructions to attend inquests.
Sports Law
Nick has a developing interest in Sports Law. In 2017, he was appointed by a selection panel to the Sports Resolutions UK Pro Bono Panel to assist athletes in: Anti-doping; Sports Discipline; Athlete Selection; and Player Contracts. Nick is also a member of the Centre for Sports Law Research (Edge Hill University).
Chancery and commercial
Nick’s Chancery and Commercial practice focuses on: Debt matters; insolvency and bankruptcy; and general contractual disputes.
Nicola is an established criminal practitioner with over 16 years’ experience. She is an extremely capable advocate with excellent client care.
She is appointed as a Level 3 Prosecutor on the Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel and has been appointed to the CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Abuse List.
Prior to joining the Independent Bar Nicola spent 14 years as a Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service in the North West where she litigated the most serious and complex cases including Murder, Death by Dangerous Driving, Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, high value Frauds, and lengthy and voluminous Drug conspiracies and operations.
She now regularly instructed by the Prosecution and the Defence in a vast range of serious cases.
Nicola also has expertise in cases involving youths—prosecuting and defending, particularly those charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 where a careful and sensitive approach to both the defendant and the complainant, and their families, is required.
She has attended Ground Rules Hearings in appropriate cases and is fully equipped to accept instructions in cases involving the most vulnerable of our society, including those cases which will fall within S28 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.
Nicola also regularly represents clients with mental health illnesses and has appeared as a court-appointed advocate to represent the interests of clients unable to participate in their criminal proceedings due to their illness.
Training/Other
Nicola has delivered training to GMP, Lancashire Constabulary and the GMC on ABE matters and RASSO topics generally.
In January 2018 Nicola assisted the Crown Prosecution Service during a period of Peer Review of all Rape cases charged in the North West region. This project was necessary and vital following the joint review of the disclosure process in the case of R v Allan and other collapsed rape cases nationally. Nicola reviewed a vast number of cases and provided advice in respect of disclosure where it arose.
Nicola also previously worked with the Inspectorate of the CPS, HMCPSi, and was a contributor to the report “Achieving Best Evidence in Child Sexual Abuse Cases – a Joint Inspection.”
Family Law
In 2020 Nicola also started to accept instructions in Family Law cases and she has spent time shadowing experienced family practitioners both in Court and in a Solicitors practice. She has conducted a number of hearings in her own right including a 2 day finding of fact hearing. She has acted both for parents and local authorities in child care proceedings and has acted for a number of clients in private law proceedings.
Since completing pupillage in 2011 Oliver has forged a broad Business and Property practice and a stellar reputation on and off circuit, regularly receiving national instruction.
Oliver undertakes a wide range of advisory, drafting, mediatory and advocacy works dealing with high-value and complex matters. He has extensive experience in acting for and advising individuals, companies and local authorities and adopts a pragmatic and straightforward approach, tailored to the specific needs of the client. Oliver’s approach to litigation is keenly focused upon the narrowing of issues between parties to ensure the practical and inexpensive resolution of disputes.
Oliver regularly appears in the High Court, County Court and Land Registration and Residential Property Tribunals.
Oliver’s practice is primarily focused upon real property, landlord and tenant, social housing, trusts of land, contract, company, consumer credit, partnerships, personal and corporate insolvency, wills and trusts, contentious probate, court of protection, professional negligence, banking, sale of goods and sports.
Olivia completed a specialist family law pupillage in October 2021 under the supervision of Leonie Caplan. During pupillage Olivia has experienced the full spectrum of family law cases including public law, private children and financial remedy work. Accordingly, Olivia accepts instructions in all of the aforementioned areas of family law.
Prior to commencing pupillage Olivia undertook an internship at the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Olivia was assigned to the family law Conventions and legislative projects, where she worked on international instruments governing divorce, maintenance, child protection and adoption, as well as the Parentage/Surrogacy Project. She also further assisted the Bureau’s expert and working groups.
Olivia holds an undergraduate degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bristol. Olivia completed the BPTC, as well as her Graduate Diploma in Law, at BPP University. She was awarded the Benefactors’ Scholarship by The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
A science graduate, Paul came to the bar via the private sector working with a number of FTSE 100 companies such as British Airways, Glaxo and Nat West. He was called to the bar in 1994 and since then has developed an extensive practise both home and abroad. After a spell as a partner in a local firm of solicitors, he re-joined the bar and picked his practice up where he left off.
Considering his love of travel, he has been fortunate to have practised both home and abroad, doing several high profile cases in the Falkland Islands.
He is efficient and personable and easy to work with, a professional but one who hasn’t forgotten that common touch. He has an eye for detail but knows what the key issue in his case is and what the tribunal wants to hear.
As an experienced and able advocate, Paul has prosecuted and defended some of the most serious cases on circuit. His current practice is detailed below. A trademark of his practice though is his personal touch with his clients (or complainants, if prosecuting). He is well known for his sensitivity, communication skills and clarity with even the most difficult of clients. His policy is that it is important that the advocate doesn’t forget that one is dealing with an individual; an individual with a family and he is at pains to answers concerns and worries of those family members (with client permission).
Recently he has carved a niche in cases involving vulnerable clients and complainants and was the one of the first counsel to conduct a trial under the vulnerable witness procedure (“section 28” cases). He now regularly conducts “section 28” hearings and trials and is well experienced in matters involving an intermediary. Paul is well suited to such cases, due to his understanding and experience of the needs of such individuals.
Paul also practices in the Coroners’ Court. His scientific background has helped enormously with him adapting to the inquisitorial system and in particular with the wealth of scientific evidence in such cases.
He is mindful of the ramifications of a rule 43 order and has been involved in identifying best practice and how procedures can be improved.
Pauline joined Chambers as a tenant following a successful Business & Property pupillage under the supervision of Dr Michael Wilkinson.
Pauline has a broad commercial and chancery practice with an emphasis on litigation. She is especially interested in contractual disputes, contentious wills and probate, property and agricultural matters, and competition/distribution law. Her growing practice involves both court work and paperwork both for claimants and defendants.
Pauline accepts instructions in multi tract and fast track matters, disposals as well as interim applications and will represent clients at mediation. She works with a wide variety of clients including SMEs, landlords and tenants, local authorities, and administrators/liquidators.
Prior to joining Chambers, Pauline worked in the area of competition law at the European Commission and at the US law firm Skadden Arps. Building on her expertise of EU antitrust matters and international merger transactions, she subsequently returned to London to work at the Competition and Markets Authority before moving to Manchester.
All areas of criminal law including murder, serious offences of violence, fraud, other offences of dishonesty, drugs, trading standards and driving offences. Particular specialisation in rape, child abuse (sexual and physical), all sexual offences and historic abuse including instructions to defend in a number of cases of historic child abuse in residential schools and children’s homes as part of police operations in Staffordshire – Operation Thor – and Liverpool – Operation Cure.
An established criminal practice in matters of violence, drugs, dishonesty and sexual assaults. Experience of cases giving rise to mental health issues, forensic accountancy, pathology, abuse of process arguments and applications pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Public Law (Children) – Representation of Local Authorities, Parents, and Children in cases involving complex issues of fact and law in the following areas:
Fractures
Head Injuries
Sexual Abuse (including between children)
Factitious Induced Illness
Death of children
Linked care and criminal proceedings
One spouse accused of killing the other
Chronic neglect
Secure Accomodation
Discharge of Care Orders
Adoption
Wardship
Deprivations of Liberty involving children
Cases involving cross-jurisdictional issues and the application and interpretation of Brussels II.
Private Law (Children) – Represent parents in applications for:
Child Arrangements Orders (residence and contact)
Finding of fact hearings involving serious allegations of domestic violence
Temporary and Permanent removal from the jurisdiction (Hague Convention and Non Hague Convention countries).
Same Sex Parentage disputes arising from Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.
Court of Protection – Representation of local authorities, parents and children in welfare disputes (contact, residence, medical treatment) relating to 16 to 18 year olds who lack mental capacity and who straddle both the Children Act and Court of Protection jurisdictions.
FMPO – Representation of local authorities and children and adults seeking the protection of an order as well as those against whom allegations of forced marriage have been made. Particular interest in cases involving allegations of honour based violence.
General – Rehana has amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise in her 23 years of practice as a Solicitor and Barrister which she is regularly called upon to share in the form of seminars for solicitors, social workers and members of the judiciary. Rehana has particular expertise in acting for Local Authorities and the insight gained as a former local authority solicitor has proved advantageous when acting for and against Local Authorities whenever scrutiny of Local Authority decision making processes is required; including in the context of Human Rights Act (Article 6 & Article 8) violations.
All areas of criminal law with particular experience and expertise in: homicide and serious violence; serious sexual offences (including those of a historic nature); fraud; drug offences; firearms (including registration) cases; confiscation proceedings; civil actions against the police.
Hall of fame
Commercial and chancery Law, including: real property, landlord and tenant, contract, company, trusts, partnership, insolvency, wills, professional negligence, banking, sale of goods.
Rupert obtained a first class degree from the University of Cambridge. He joined Chambers in 2008 following the successful completion of his pupillage under Toby Sasse. In his personal injury practice, represents both claimants and defendants and willingly undertakes work on a conditional fee basis. His experience includes matters involving road traffic accidents (including Credit Hire, Low Velocity Impacts and MIB claims), employers’ liability, occupiers’ liability, and public liability. He has experience in technical costs arguments and detailed assessments. Appears in court at all stages of the litigation process from pre-action applications, interlocutory hearings through to trials and appeals. He also has a paper practice advising on liability and quantum and drafting pleadings and other documents. Undertakes defendant road traffic offence cases including speeding offences, excess alcohol and s.172 offences. Also has extensive experience in HMRC and UKBA cash forfeiture cases acting both for applicants and respondents.
Notable cases: Re: M (contact: supervision) 1998 1FLR 727; Re: P (Section 91 (14) Guidelines (Residence and Religious Heritage) 2FLR 573; Re: H (a child) (adoption: disclosure) 2001 1FCR 726; Re F (Children) (DNA Evidence) [2007] EWHC 3235 (Fam), [2008] 1 FLR 348.
Sarah was called to the Bar in 2017 and joined Chambers as a tenant following a successful completion of pupillage under the supervision of Kane Simons. Prior to coming to the Bar, she enjoyed a successful career in the public and charity sectors.
Sarah recently joined Chambers’ Business & Property team under the mentorship of David Hoffman and is actively developing a broad business and property practice. She has a particular interest in company & insolvency, contract litigation, property, tax, trusts, wills, probate & the administration of estates. Her growing practice encompasses court work and paperwork for both claimants and defendants. Sarah accepts instructions in small claims, fast track and multi-track matters.
Sarah has extensive experience of undertaking document/disclosure review both as independent counsel and acting for interested parties, and will accept instructions on a daily rate basis where appropriate. She is also a member of the Attorney General’s Junior scheme.
Siobhan Grey KC joined 18 St John Street Chambers, Manchester, in January 2023. She is an experienced Silk practising exclusively in crime. She specialises in defending cases of Murder, Organised Crime and Sexual Offences.
Public and private law children for local authorities, parents and guardians; ancillary relief; Hague Convention. Experience: before joining Chambers in Manchester, Soria was an academic lawyer in Manchester and was employed as a research assistant at one of the leading sets of chambers in London.
Family law (matrimonial finance, cohabitee disputes, private law children, applications under the inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, general common law. Notable cases: Hargreaves (Trustee in Bankruptcy of Salt) v Salt; Hill v Hargreaves (Trustee in Bankruptcy of Salt) [2011] EWCA Civ 248; [2011] BPIR 656; Proforce Recruit Ltd v Rugby Group Ltd [2006] All ER (D); Hannigan v Hannigan [2002] 2 FCR 650 (C/A); Re Y (children) (occupation order) [2000] 2 FCR 470 (C/A); Atkin v DPP: The Times [1989] Cr App Rep 199 (Div Court); Known for his robust and thorough approach to cases, Stephen originally pursued a career with the Derbyshire Constabulary. After two years in the police service he left to go to university; graduated with a law degree from Leicester University in 1985 and was called to the Bar in 1986 by Inner Temple having come in the top eight per cent in the Bar Finals and won two separate scholarships. In his early years at the Bar, Stephen had a mixed common law practice. For many years now Stephen has specialised in matrimonial finance (with a particular emphasis on complex ancillary relief cases for high net worth clients involving issues such as trusts and company valuations) and related fields, particularly applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and cohabitation disputes. Stephen enjoys and continues to accept instructions in private law children cases as well as common law/commercial work. Publications: Stephen has published an article entitled “Ancillary Relief Trial Bundles – An Ignored Art” in the April Edition of Family Law. The article examines the reason why trial bundles are important, gives guidance how they should be prepared and warns the profession of the increasing penalties for failure to follow the Practice Direction.
Private law Children Act (residence, contact adoption etc.); public law care proceedings; family injunctions (non-molestation, prohibited steps, occupation orders etc.) Notable cases: underdown: care case where client was accused of killing her baby, Hague convention and non-Hague convention child abduction (representing children and parents). Stern: residence/contact applications with dispute as to jurisdiction.
Notable cases: R v Secretary of State for Transport and Others ex p. Go Ahead Group [2010] EWHC 223 (admin); junior counsel in major judicial review proceedings concerning the operation and statutory interpretation of the concessionary bus fare regime; R v Noor Hussain (2010); prosecuting counsel in substantial MOT Fraud trial; James Brown v Traffic Commissioner for Scotland – Transport Tribunal November 2010; Bradley Fold Travel Limited v NW Traffic Commissioner – Transport Tribunal July 2009; Pass v Dyson (2009); RTA Multiple injury brain damage claim – accident reconstruction evidence – multiple experts; Karen Roberts v CICA (2010); major brain injury, appeal to First-Tier Tribunal concerning recoverablity in principle of contested heads of damage; Evelyn Enion v Sefton MBC (1999); Highways – Environment – Local Government – Negligence – Personal Injury CA (Civ Div) (Kennedy LJ, Laws LJ) 9/2/99 References: LTL 9/2/99 EXTEMPORE (Unreported elsewhere) Document No.: Case Law – AC9500141. Lectures presented: Sep 2011 – Regulation 5(1) of the Workplace Health Safety and Welfare Regulations (1992) – ‘When is Strict Liability not Strict Liability?’ – an analysis of recent case law on the restrictive interpretation of Regulation 5 of the Workplace Regulations 1992, including consideration of its inter-relationship with Regulation 12 (which deals specifically with defects in/on floors and traffic routes) and a discussion of the probable and practical limits of Regulation 5 as a general purpose strict liability provision. Jan 2010 – Employers Liability Claims Update, discussing case law developments in the interpretation and application of the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, and the Provision and Use of work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Family law: Children Act section 8 proceedings; care proceedings. Criminal law; prosecuting and defending; motoring offences; local authority regulatory prosecutions.Vanessa accepts instructions relating to Children Act section 8 proceedings and Care proceedings, both in the family proceedings court and at County Court level. Her interest in family law has led her to providing revision seminars for the Ilex Course in Family Practice. Vanessa regularly appears in the Magistrates’ Court for both the prosecution and defence and is increasingly in the Crown Courts. Her experience of the Magistrates’ Courts means that she is often instructed to act in private cases involving motoring offences. In addition to her general criminal practice she also undertakes prosecutions on behalf of local authorities under the Education Act 1996. Prior to her pupillage, Vanessa worked as a legal assistant at a leading Manchester law firm specialising in commercial fraud.
Verity accepts instructions in all areas of crime, both prosecuting and defending.
Verity has represented defendants in the Youth, Magistrates’ and Crown Courts, as well as appearing for prisoners in Parole Board Hearings. She is a Level 2 CPS Panel Advocate and regularly represents HMRC and the Home Office in forfeiture and condemnation proceedings. She has an interest in financial crime and regularly appears in POCA proceedings.
Verity has experience working in-house on secondment to the Ethics & Compliance department of a multi-national corporation, managing and conducting internal investigations into over 40 allegations, including bribery and corruption. Her keen eye for detail, forensic approach, organisation, and diligence mean that she is able to handle paper-heavy briefs with confidence. She has considerable experience, gained whilst a paralegal at Fulcrum Chambers and Slaughter and May of large-scale investigations. She has assisted in the preparation of defences under the Bribery Act for companies facing prosecution by the SFO and has been involved in due diligence and disclosure exercises.
Appointed – Crime Prosecution Service Level 2
Victoria joined Chambers in February 2020 as a member of the Business and Property team. She has wide-ranging expertise in Chancery and Commercial matters, and Insolvency. Given the urgent nature of much of the work undertaken, Victoria offers a quick turnaround on all papers.
Insolvency
Instructed on behalf of companies, liquidators and trustees in bankruptcy and appears regularly in the Chancery Division of the High Court.
Victoria’s cases typically concern transactions at undervalue, wrongful/fraudulent trading, issues as to validity of securities and directors’ disqualifications proceedings. Her caseload includes various hearings such as applications to set aside statutory demands, injunctions to restrain presentation of winding up petitions or advertisement and validation orders.
Litigation
Advises and acts in a range of matters which belong to the Business and Property Court including boundary disputes, mortgages, contentious probate and landlord and tenant matters alongside commercial disputes, including claims relating to breaches of contract for the supply of goods, professional negligence matters and claims brought by commercial lenders.
A recent example includes acting for a debtor in a large insolvency and possession claim involving multiple cases as to whether the creditor could actually show good title to certain alleged debts.
Mis-selling
Victoria has a wide range of experience in mis-selling cases with a particular leaning to consumer loans and car finance up to High Court level. Victoria also accepts instructions against brokers in this area.
Equine
Undertakes Equine cases including cases relating to the sale of horses.
Data Protection
Regularly instructed on GDPR and DPA issues such as subject access requests (including pre-action disclosure applications), data breaches and compensation claims. Also advised various entities, including a major charity on their data protection obligations and policies.
Outside of Chambers, Victoria’s interests include playing polo.
Victoria joined Chambers in September 2017 after successfully completing pupillage under the supervision of Simon Charles. She specialises in all business and property matters, including data protection, and is forging a busy practice as a member of the Business and Property team at 18 St John Street.
Property
Including boundary disputes, easements, restrictive covenants, adverse possession, nuisance, co-ownership, proprietary estoppel, and mortgages.
Recent experience includes:
– Successfully defending a Defendant at trial in a TLATA claim for a beneficial interest in a family property by her daughter’s ex-partner;
– Advising a co-owner of a property as to issuing a possible TLATA claim and prospects for the same, which eventually led to settlement;
– Advising an owner of a commercial property in respect of an easement at the rear of their property and trespass by a neighbour, and a construction of the Land Registry documents/deeds for the respective properties;
– Advising a lender in respect of enforcement action in reliance on second charges and/or equitable charges.
Landlord and Tenant
Including possession claims, disrepair, forfeiture and leasehold enfranchisements
Recent experience includes:
– Regularly appearing on behalf of landlords in contested s.8 possession proceedings;
– Successfully acting for a vulnerable tenant in respect of an application for a stay of possession;
– Pleading a defence and counterclaim to a s.21 possession claim on behalf of tenants, raising complex issues of disrepair, tenancy deposit compensation and statutory compliance.
Trusts, Wills, Probate & the Administration of Estates
Including contentious probate, administration actions, construction of wills and trusts, claims for breach of trust, and Inheritance Act claims.
Recent experience includes:
– Acting on behalf of the Claimants in a three-day trial before His Honour Judge Haliwell QC, in a claim contesting the validity of their father’s will on the grounds of undue influence, testamentary capacity and a lack of knowledge and approval;
– Acting on behalf of an individual, with a power of attorney pursuant to a divorce settlement, seeking to be substituted in the place of a long inactive executor;
– Drafting a claim to in respect of an inter vivos gift of a house, raising issues of mental incapacity and undue influence;
– Advising a Defendant, a close friend of the deceased, in a claim under the Inheritance Act by the deceased’s adult daughter, which eventually led to the matter settling.
Commercial
Including consumer credit actions, claims involving the sale and/or supply of goods, software disputes and partnership disputes.
Recent work includes:
– Acting on behalf of the lender at trial for a PPI claim under ss.140A and 140B of the Consumer Credit Act 1974;
– Acting on behalf of a large music retailer in respect of a claim for the supply of defective/sub-standard sales/stock management software.
Data protection
Including data protection compliance and contentious data protection actions
– Advising a government department in respect of data protection compliance;
– Advising, and acting on behalf of, a government department in respect of a claim for misuse of private information and GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018;
– Acting on behalf of a large outsourcing firm in respect of a claim for misuse of private information and the Data Protection Act 1998.
Professional negligence
Including claims against surveyors, conveyancers, accountants and solicitors
Recent work includes:
– Acting on behalf of a purchaser in a claim against their conveyancing solicitors in respect of negligent advice, ultimately leading to settlement.
Tax
Indirect taxes and business rates
– Acting on behalf of HMRC as part of the Junior Junior scheme
– Acting on behalf of businesses in respect of Magistrates’ summonses for unpaid business rates
Company & Insolvency
Including winding up petitions, bankruptcy petitions, restorations to the register, extensions of the period allowed for delivery of a charge, and applications to set aside statutory demands
– Successfully acting on behalf of a Respondent in an application to set aside a statutory demand, whereby the debt amounted to over £1million;
– Regularly appearing on behalf of petitioners and debtors in the winding up list;
– Advising in respect of the technical requirements for a Part 8 claim for an extension of the period allowed for delivering a charge.
Yasmin is a Family Law specialist, and practices exclusively in all areas of family law including public lawlaw, private law disputes, injunctions and ancillary relief work. She appears at all levels up to and including the High Court. Yasmin has a developing interest in representing clients with learning difficulties and those cases involving cultural issues in relation to dowry, forced marriage and international movement of children.
Yasmin has extensive experience of care proceedings. She regularly represents Local Authorities, parents, relatives and the children at all stages of the proceedings. Her experience includes cases involving chronic neglect, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, non accidental injury, sexual abuse, witchcraft and honour based violence.
Yasmin also has significant experience in private law cases especially those involving protracted contact and residence dispute, removal from jurisdiction, international child movement and prohibited steps. Her experience includes cases involving allegations of domestic violence, honour based violence, substance misuse, sexual and emotional abuse, forced marriage, abduction and international movement. Her family work also includes injunctive proceedings.
In addition Yasmin also has experience in applications for financial remedy, applications pursuant to TOLATA and the Inheritance Act. She has experience of dealing with cases that have modest assets, and has a specialist interest in cases that involve a Dowry and Talak issues.
Yasmin has a developing interest in the matters regarding the Court of Protection acting for the Local Authority, the Official Solicitor and interested parties.
Children [public law], child abduction, ancillary relief, cohabitee disputes. Notable cases: Manchester City Council v Elizabeth Bailey (1995). Whether full care orders in the basis that children would remain in the home would best serve child’s welfare or whether supervision orders were appropriate. Guidelines as to exercise of discretion when deciding order. Family law: Fam Div (Holman J) 1/12/95, References:T: 25/6/96 : (1996) 2 FLR 693, Document No.: Case Law – AC4000146.
Zara joined chambers as a pupil in September 2021, with Fergal Allen as her supervisor. In addition, she has spent time with a number of other experienced family practitioners. She is building experience in public and private family law, in which she already has a strong grounding.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Zara was a paralegal at AFG Law, an award-winning solicitor’s firm based in the North West. In the year that she spent at AFG Law, she gained invaluable and extensive experience in all areas of family law. This included public and private children law, domestic violence/personal protection and divorce. Zara worked closely with clients and solicitors, assisting with all elements of case preparation. In that time, she regularly prepared briefs to counsel and drafted court applications, letters of instruction, part 25 applications and various other legal documents. She is adept at conducting detailed and extensive research.
During her legal studies, Zara volunteered at Support Through Court (formerly Personal Support Unit). She provided practical and emotional support to vulnerable clients involved in family and civil litigation. She is extremely approachable and possesses excellent client care abilities.
Zara welcomes instructions in all family matters, including public, private and financial remedy work. Please contact the clerks for further information.