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Barton Checks In With… Joseph Dawson

In this edition, Paul Barton checks in for a virtual coffee with Joseph Dawson, an Associate at Leigh Day Solicitors (Manchester), to find out a bit more about how he got into travel law and why he enjoys it so much.

How did you become involved with travel law?

I qualified as a solicitor in summer of 2010 after spending 3 years at a high street firm specialising in domestic personal injury litigation. Whilst the firm did not have a dedicated practice in non-domestic PI, they had a several historic cases that I became fascinated with due to their international element.

After qualification I applied for my first travel law job in a leading and well-established Travel Law team. This allowed me to take the skills and knowledge I had obtained whilst training and apply them to the additional complexities that an international personal injury case can present. I quickly learned that travel law requires the adaptability to additional laws and regulations from all over the world which can be very different from country to country.

Almost 7 years later and I have continued to practice in travel law by securing a role with Leigh Day solicitors in 2016, becoming an Associate Solicitor and helping our travel team develop with increasing success.

What’s your stand out moment as a travel lawyer?

The stand out moments for me are more about from what I take personal gratification, whether those be high profile every so often or on a daily basis in the tos-and-fros of working on a case. The same could be anything from being successful after a Trial or securing an advantage for my client during a case that will ultimately lead to an overall accomplishment.

A case I take much pride in is when I acted for one of the Claimants in the multi-party case of Marshall & Pickard v MIB & Others [2015] which also involved working alongside Outer Temple’s own Sarah Crowther QC. This was the first case that I litigated to Trial in the High Court which resulted in a successful judgment on the heavily disputed interpretation of the applicable Regulations that remains to be cited by travel lawyers in various different contexts to this date.

What’s the most exciting location travel law has taken you to?

Working in travel law certainly provides ample opportunity to venture all over the world, both in relation to case work as well as maintaining relationships with colleagues in many jurisdictions, including regular PEOPIL conferences across Europe.

Although not geographically far flung, one of the more exciting locations travel law has taken me too was a Joint Settlement Meeting with my client at the High Court in Dublin, Rep of Ireland. It was fascinating for me to see and be involved in the negotiation with lawyers in a different legal system which resulted in a very favourable six-figure settlement for my client.

Tell us about an interesting case you’ve worked on.

It is no understatement to say that each case is interesting in its own way, whether that be on the facts of how the accident occurred or how it has impacted the Claimant’s life. I could say with all sincerity that there are no ‘routine’ cases when it comes to travel law, especially in more recent times with the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

One of the more interesting cases I worked on was a seven-figure case involving an accident whilst working abroad. With a combination of myself and Outer Temple’s own Eliot Woolf QC, we were able to work hard to focus on the complex issues raised by both the medical evidence and extensive financial losses to achieve a settlement that assist my client with their future needs.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

The favourite thing about my work in travel law is the fact that it is continuously developing and setting new precedents on a regular basis. The work of myself and an array of colleagues in the field means that every day is interesting and there is always something new to learn.

Image by Jon 'ShakataGaNai' Davis

What would you be if you weren’t a travel lawyer?

Since childhood I was always drawn towards becoming a military pilot which was largely encouraged by the hit 80’s movie, Top Gun. Unfortunately, due to bad eyesight, it became clear that I would not be able to get my wings via the armed forces and so I turned my attention to the law. This was again influenced by some of my favourite legal movies: A Few Good Men, JFK & Philadelphia.

Find out more

Practice Director Paul Barton is the clerking driving force behind our International Injury and Travel Group. Paul has been instrumental in developing the team for over ten years and has proven to be a vital bridge between our valued clients and the OTC Barristers. He has a keen understanding of the travel law market and is an active PEOPIL member.

Joseph Dawson has extensive experience of dealing with complex and high value personal injury claims, dealing exclusively with accidents occurring abroad since July 2010, from hotel and RTA claims to accidents whilst working abroad. Joseph has an in depth knowledge and understanding which has enabled him to successfully overcome issues involving complex matters of jurisdiction and applicable law.

News 15 Dec, 2020

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