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Summary Of Practice

Education

LL.B Law (1st Class Hons) Leeds University.
Major Scholar
 
Career History & appointments

Called to the Bar 1985
Megarry Scholar
Hardwicke Scholar
Lincolnís Inn student award

Appointed Queen Counsel 2000
Appointed Assistant Recorder 2000
Appointed Recorder 2001

Founder Member and Committee of the Northern Circuit Commercial Bar Association
Member of the Technology and Construction Bar Association
Member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association
Member of the Personal Injury Bar Association
Co-opted legal adviser to Manchester Childrenís Hospital Ethics Committee.
 
 
Areas of Practice

I have 18 years experience in advisory and advocacy across a broad range of company and commercial litigation including:

Sale of goods
Insurance
Share sale disputes
Directorsí disqualification
Insurance
Construction disputes including Arbitrations
Employment contracts
Business tenancies
Commercial franchising.

Recent reported commercial cases in the Court of Appeal include

Tameside MBC v Barlow Securities 2001 (estoppel and the effect of Architect Final certificate)
Huktra UK v Huktra NV (a company incorporated in Belgium)

I have particular experience in multi-party actions and have been instructed (as Queen Counsel) in the following group actions.

Nuisance arising from the construction of the Manchester Velodrome and related infrastructure (Counsel for Claimants).
Nuisance arising from large urban redevelopment (Counsel for Defendant Insurer).
Contractual dispute arising from the construction of houses on site said to be unsuitable by reason of ground conditions (Counsel for house-owner).

Contractual dispute arising from the construction of a housing estate on land said to be unsuitable by reason of flooding and inadequate drainage (Counsel for Local Authority and Insurers).
Mining operations in South Africa and Namibia (Counsel for Claimants).

A significant proportion of my work involves claims for professional negligence of solicitors, accountants and doctors.
Recent cases include:
Hart v Haygarth Jones and Sons (2003) (solicitorsí negligence ñ loss of a chance of favourable settlement).

Personal Injury

I have 18 years experience of personal injury litigation. Particular interest lies in medical issues, care/rehabilitation and insurer liability.

Recent cases of note include Eastwood and Williams v Magnox Power 2002 C of A (appeal to House of Lords listed for 2004).
 
 
Personal Information

Born 9th July 1960
Married, three children