General News

Two of 3PB’s specialist construction barristers have today called for Australia-style legislation for the house and building construction industry after the Grenfell Report. This morning, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, chaired by Rt Hon Sir Martin Moore-Bick, delivered its Phase 1 Report.  The publicity leading to the report foreshadowed conclusions that will make uncomfortable reading for the fire brigade, although reflecting the heroism and devotion of the fire fighters themselves as well as for some in...

3PB specialist commercial and property barrister Neil Fawcett analyses the decision in New Balance Athletics, Inc v Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds Ltd [2019] EWHC 2837 (Comm) regarding the interpretation of an implied term of good faith in a sponsorship agreement between a football club and a manufacturer of sportswear, as well as summarising the familiar principles of construction in relation to contracts of good faith. The article also deals with the court’s decision on...

3PB’s criminal law barrister Nicholas Cotter, acting for the defence, assisted in reducing the life tariff of a son who sadly murdered his father when under the influence of butane gas. Dominic Hodgson, 37, thought his father had "turned evil" when he inflicted multiple head wounds at their shared home in Sherborne, Dorset, in May. Robert Hodgson, 72, had reluctantly let his son stay with him as he had nowhere to go, Winchester Crown Court...

It is with regret and sadness that we announce the passing of Graham Kean. From the day he qualified as a Solicitor in 1976, Graham appeared in court almost every day. Graham initially worked at solicitors firms, in both Oxford and Bristol, practising in criminal and family cases. It was not long before Graham established his own practice as an independent Solicitor Advocate specialising in Criminal work (both prosecuting and defending) and Children Act Family...

Neil Fawcett (2006 call) has joined 3PB‘s leading Commercial and Property teams. Neil  has a broad commercial and chancery practice and will be based in 3PB’s Birmingham Office in the landmark Colmore Building. In the property arena 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 has experience of trials in the property tribunal. In banking and financial services litigation Neil...

Supreme Court: A Judge, even though not a worker, can rely on whistleblowing protection in a boost for the application of EU rights to domestic law Joseph England of 3PB Barristers analyses the Supreme Court's decision - Read the full article here. Gilham v Ministry of Justice [2019] UKSC 44 The Supreme Court handed down its judgment in Gilham on 16 October 2019. The SC considered whether a Judge could rely on whistleblowing protection, holding...

Fraudulent Personal Injury Claims: Tips for Litigating Fundamental Dishonesty - An update by Ikeni Mbako-Allison. Click here to read Ikeni's analysis.  

Seb Oram analyses the Commercial Court’s recent decision in Natixis SA v Marex Financial [2019] EWHC 2549 (Comm), as part of LexisPSL’s Case Analysis Expert Panels. What is the scope for common mistake in commercial contracts? Can a party’s standard terms limit or exclude liability, even where there is no contractual relationship? Seb is a Commercial Law barrister specialising in professional negligence and the construction sector. Click here to view his profile. Click here to...

The 2020 Chambers and Partners legal directory - which ranks and rates barristers and solicitors based on independent research by the publisher and direct feedback from clients - has given 3PB 36 individual rankings in this year's guide, across 14 different practice areas. This includes two new group rankings for our education team in London and our family team in Birmingham. Chambers and Partners’ review of 3PB includes: "The clerks are very efficient, helpful and quick...

Lachlan Wilson and Mathew Gullick edit 3PB's latest Employment & Discrimination newsletter, including contributions from Sarah Clarke. Case summaries cover: L v Q Ltd, [2019] EWCA Civ 1417 - The Court of Appeal affirms the importance of the principle of open justice in the context of Employment Tribunals, doubts whether there would ever be grounds (in a case not involving national security) for withholding publication of an ET judgment altogether, and refuses a disabled litigant’s...

3PB is delighted to be shortlisted as Chambers of the Year at the British  Legal Week Awards 2019. Best of luck to all other sets shortlisted.

3PB construction expert Paul Newman has been appointed to two new UK panels: An accredited construction industry adjudicator (RIBA), Paul has accepted an invitation to join RIBA’s Professional Conduct Panel. The Panel is tasked with hearing and ruling on regulatory complaints against practising architects. Paul has also been appointed a panel member of UK Adjudicators which offers adjudicator services to UK construction industry clients. Paul specialises in construction law, including professional negligence claims against construction professionals, disputes concerning party walls...