News & Events
News & Events
Andrew Short QC is due to speak at the Discrimination Law in 2020 Conference on Friday 31 January 2020. The conference is to be presented by Michael Rubenstein Conferences Ltd & the Trades Union Congress and will be chaired by Michael Rubenstein. The conference aims to provide an authoritative review on the most dynamic area of employment law. Andrew will be addressing recent developments in disability discrimination, including: New case law on the definition of disability: Mart v Assessment Services Inc Perceived discrimination: Chief Constable of Norfolk v Coffey Tests for discrimination arising from disability: Williams v Trustees of Swansea University, Dunn v Secretary of State for Justice, A Ltd v Z, Birtenshaw v Oldfield New cases on reasonable adjustments Five other of Britain’s leading discrimination law barristers will…
News 8 Jan, 2020
Patrick Sadd was recently instructed by the Secretary of State for Transport in a series of test case appeals affecting heavy good vehicle emissions. Fleet operators had appealed against decisions by the industry’s regulators, Traffic Commissioners shutting their businesses down. In each case vehicles had been fitted with Ad Blue emulators. These had the effect of by-passing the on-board emission control systems with a consequence that vehicles were running on public roads with pollutant NXo uncontrolled. The emulators gave the false impression that emissions were being controlled. Their use avoided the vehicle having to come off the road when faults developed in the on-board diagnostic system. In its decision the Upper Tribunal reviewed EU legislation on emission control and national…
News 8 Jan, 2020
We are pleased to announce that in collaboration with the DIFC Academy, members of Outer Temple Chambers will provide training on Common Law Advanced Advocacy Skills. The DIFC Academy of Law have launched this course for Emirati Advocates and other civil law trained lawyers, in-house counsel, and legal professionals seeking to diversify their skills and enhance their professional development. From February to April 2020, James Counsell QC and Sarah Crowther QC will be teaching Trial advocacy and witness handling and examination. John McKendrick QC and Ben Bradley will be teaching Oral Submissions and Appeal Advocacy. Keith Bryant QC and Jonathan Hand QC will be teaching Appeal Advocacy. James Counsell QC commented: “The team from Outer Temple Chambers is delighted once again to…
News 6 Jan, 2020
The Serious Fraud Office has charged two individuals with fraud and false accounting in relation to its investigation into Serco’s electronic monitoring contract with the Ministry of Justice. Nicholas Woods, former Finance Director of Serco Home Affairs, and Simon Marshall, former Operations Director of Field Services within Serco, have been charged with fraud by false representation and false accounting in relation to representations made to the Ministry of Justice between 2011 and 2013. Nicholas Woods is additionally charged with false accounting in relation to the 2011 statutory accounts of Serco Geografix Ltd. This follows the SFO’s completion of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with Serco Group subsidiary Serco Geografix Ltd, which was approved by Mr Justice William Davis on 4th…
News 17 Dec, 2019
Amanda Pinto QC (33 Chancery Lane and Chair of the Bar of England and Wales 2020) and Alex Haines (Outer Temple Chambers) have co-written a chapter on Economic Sanctions in Oxford University Press’ Smith, Owen, and Bodnar on Asset Recovery – Criminal Confiscation and Civil Recovery. The new chapter examines the sources of sanctions law and the implementation of sanctions as well as the practical application of sanctions breaches in the UK. Of particular relevance given the UK’s imminent departure from the EU is the analysis of the recent UK legislation: the Policing and Crime Act 2017 and the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. The book covers the expanding law and practice of asset recovery in the UK, European,…
News 17 Dec, 2019
Professor Ian Bailey SC has been appointed to a Victorian Government Panel as part of the six-person panel that will provide recommendations to Government on a more efficient, responsive and contemporary Building Act. Ian Bailey SC is the Founding Chair of the Society of Construction Law Australia and professorial fellow at the Melbourne Law School. The panel also includes British engineer Dame Judith Hackitt DBE, who conducted an inquiry and reported to the British Government on the regulation of high rise residential building construction following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. The Panel’s first task will be to establish overarching principles to guide the building system review and identify key themes to be investigated and addressed throughout the reform process.…
News 13 Dec, 2019
Through Benchmark Chambers International & Benchmark International Mediation Centre The Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China adds Robert Rhodes QC to the SPC’s pool of experts for discerning foreign law. Robert Rhodes QC specialises in business crime (e.g. civil and criminal fraud, tax investigations, bribery and money laundering), international mediation and international arbitration (both as counsel and mediator / arbitrator), financial services, regulatory and disciplinary law. Should you wish to instruct Robert, please contact Matt Sale (+44 (0)20 7427 4910) or Peter Foad (+44 (0)20 7427 0807).
News 13 Dec, 2019
James Leonard successfully defended the Master of the Isle of Wight Red Funnell ferry in relation to charges brought by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency following a collision in September 2018, just outside Southampton Water, between his vessel, the Red Falcon and a 30 foot motor cruiser named the Phoenix. The collision risked the lives of four people on board the Phoenix but the Court was persuaded that fault for the collision lay with the helm of the Phoenix and that it was satisfied Capt Drummond had kept a proper lookout within the meaning of the International Regulations relating to Collisions at Sea and was not in breach of section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. The Court ordered…
News 12 Dec, 2019
Fiona Horlick QC successfully defends a Consultant in sequential proceedings. Dr Basu, a consultant cardiologist, was charged in criminal proceedings involving sexual allegations in relation to three female patients. Fiona defended Dr Basu at the trial at Woolwich Crown Court and he was acquitted. Following the trial, the GMC investigated the allegations and brought Fitness to Practice proceedings against Dr Basu. Following a hearing in front of a MPTS Tribunal in November in which again Fiona defended, Dr Basu was cleared of all allegations. Fiona specialises in defending professionals in criminal proceedings and regulatory proceedings. Should you wish to instruct Fiona or find out more, please contact Graham Woods or Chris Rowe on +44 (0)20 7353 6381.
News 5 Dec, 2019
We are delighted to announce that Andrew Short QC has been awarded ‘Employment silk of the Year’ at the Legal 500 UK Awards 2020. The complete list of the 2020 winners can be read here. Andrew Short QC is at the forefront of equal pay claims in the private sector, including Brierley v Asda, Sainsbury’s and Thandi v Next Retail Limited. His multi party and pensions knowledge has resulted in instructions on behalf of hundreds of judges and thousands of firefighters in successful discrimination challenges to public sector pension reform, including McCloud v Lord Chancellor & Ministry of Justice and Sargeant v LFEPA. His “strong strategic insight and advocacy” and “vast technical knowledge of the area” make his Andrew highly sought after by his clients, whether they…
News 5 Dec, 2019
Tom Gibson represented the successful claimant recently in an unusual ‘misinformation’ psychiatric injury claim. The claimant, a man in his 40s, saw a consultant respiratory physician in clinic at his local hospital, following an x-ray and a CT scan of his chest. The claimant was told, wrongly, that he had “incurable” lung cancer and that he was likely to die within a year. However – as the lung multidisciplinary team meeting had concluded the day before the consultation – the claimant actually needed further investigations in order “to gain a diagnosis”. After the further investigations were done, 2-3 weeks later the claimant was actually diagnosed with a low grade lymphoma – a much less aggressive form of cancer, which carried…
News 4 Dec, 2019
Robert Dickason, led by Ben Collins QC, represent the MOD seeking to uphold the trial judge’s findings below – see our news coverage from March 2019 for details. The appeal will be heard by Martin Spencer J over two days (5-6th December) and its outcome is likely to have a significant bearing on the remainder of the Q Fever litigation cohort, in which soldiers deployed to Afghanistan seek substantial damages for Q Fever Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which they contracted during deployment and allege could have been avoided with better care and treatment by MOD. To find out more or to instruct Robert, contact Graham Woods or Chris Rowe on +44 (0)20 7353 6381.
News 4 Dec, 2019
