News

Gareth and Joseph were recently instructed on behalf of a national retail group to submit a written statement to the Court of Appeal arguing that permission should not be provided to the Claimant in an appeal from the EAT. The appeal concerned the correct process to be adopted at a preliminary hearing by an Employment Tribunal when considering striking out part of a claim, in particular the extent to which evidence should be heard and...

Chambers is pleased to announce that William Hansen has been promoted from the B panel to the A panel of the Attorney General’s Panels of Junior Counsel to the Crown, with effect from 1 September 2017. The appointment will last for a period of five years. The Attorney-General’s panels of counsel consists of just over 400 junior counsel who undertake civil and EU work for all government departments. There are three London panels (an A...

Adam Feest QC, prosecuting on behalf of the CPS Wessex Complex Casework Unit, successfully prosecuted the case of Kevin Adams at Bristol Crown Court in a trial lasting 8 days in June 2017. This highly unusual and sensitive case involved an allegation of gross negligence manslaughter in the context of extreme consensual homosexual sexual activity.  In a scenario of two men meeting for sex which involved mutual drug taking, the restraint of the deceased by...

In its latest judgment on contractual interpretation, the Court of Appeal provides further guidance on the interpretation of exclusion and the contra proferentem rule. Graeme Sampson (call 2010) analyses the recent case of (1) PERSIMMON HOMES LTD (2) TAYLOR WIMPEY UK LTD (3) BDW TRADING LTD v (1) OVE ARUP & PARTNERS LTD (2) OVE ARUP & PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL LTD [2017] EWCA Civ 373, which deals with exemption clauses and how they should be construed....

3PB family barrister Rachael Goodall analyses the Court of Appeal's judgement in the appeal of JS v RS [2017] EWCA Civ 408, concerning the division of matrimonial assets following the dissolution of a marriage. Rachael's analysis takes account of the jurisprudential relationship between Miller v Miller and McFarlane v McFarlane. Please click here to read Rachael's article.

Head of 3PB’s Construction and Engineering group Peter Collie has completed a Master of Laws (LLM) at Nottingham Trent University. Peter will formally graduate with Distinction in June 2017. Peter’s new qualification adds further depth and strength to the advice and service he delivers, especially internationally. Peter, who is a dual qualified construction professional and barrister with 38 years’ experience in the construction industry is also a qualified arbitrator (FCIArb), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute...

Jodie Mittell and Gemma White have successfully prosecuted the main class A drug networks discovered during “Operation Shield” in Southampton. Jodie led Gemma in the prosecution of the eight “Scouse” network defendants bringing drugs from Liverpool. In addition, Jodie prosecuted six defendants in the “Beer” network operating from London whilst Gemma dealt with the “Magic” network based in Southampton.

When will settling a claim against one defendant bar a claimant from pursuing a different defendant, who is jointly responsible for the claimant’s loss? Nicole Bollard (call 2012) analyses the recent case of Vanden Recycling Ltd. v Kras Recycling Ltd. [2017] EWCA Civ 354, and its impact for civil disputes. Nicole is a commercial and property law barrister who advises and represents clients in both contentious and non contentious matters. View her profile here. To...

3PB Employment barrister Sarah Clarke provides a case law update covering the past month. Sarah's update includes: Dismissal connected to absence because of cancer treatment was not discrimination arising from disability: Charlesworth v Dransfields Engineering Services Ltd If an employee working night shifts is required to ‘sleep in’ at the premises, are they entitled to NMW for this time? It depends, says the EAT in 3 conjoined appeals: Focus Care Agency Ltd v Roberts UKEAT/0143/16/DM; Frudd v...

Hannah Bush has joined 3PB Barristers’ growing  team in Birmingham. Hannah specialises in financial remedies as well as Children Act work. She has substantial experience of representing individuals, local authorities, parents, children and third parties at all stages of proceedings. She has particularly strong experience of dealing with vulnerable clients and in those cases where domestic violence is alleged. Called to the Bar in 2007, Hannah started her career at St Philips Chambers in Birmingham...

In the wake of the snap general election's result, employment law barrister Thomas O'Donohoe examines how employment cases may be affected. To read Thomas' analysis, click here.

3PB Construction barrister Paul Newman is to give a lecture on "Expert Witness Cases - Forgotten or perhaps not read?" at the Society of Construction Law in Cardiff on 20 July 2017. Paul's talk will consider the trap of the expert getting too close to the paying party, when is an expert actually needed and the challenges of ‘hot tubbing’ – what guidance have the Courts given so far? For more details or to book...