News & Events
News & Events
John McKendrick QC is among the nominations for The Lawyer Awards, Barrister of the Year 2016. John is a specialist in public law and commercial law and practises internationally. Highly sought after, he has appeared in more than seven Court of Appeal and Supreme Court cases over the last two years. A fluent Spanish speaker, he is regularly invited to address lawyers and government officials on anti-corruption, corporate liability and the rule of law across Latin America and the Caribbean. Working with the British Embassy/High Commission he has advised governments and officials how best to combat financial crime and corruption. He has worked with international law enforcement agencies on combatting the use of off-shore structures and advised major UK PLCs…
News 12 May, 2016
The Leaders’ Anti-Corruption Manifesto represents an impressive project consisting of a diverse collection of statements given by over 50 international leaders in business and civil society. Through these statements, the world leaders show their views on the progress that should be achieved at the 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron. Michael Bowes QC, trustee of Transparency International UK and one of the leaders invited to give statement, promotes a simple but demanding message: ‘turn the talk into action’. Michael asserts, among others, that ‘(t)he Panama Papers scandal is a siren call to arms […] ‘ and that has already have significant effect: ‘on 15 April five EU law enforcement agencies in the UK, Germany, France,…
News 11 May, 2016
Nicholas Hill successfully appeared before the Regulatory Decisions Committee (RDC) of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on 20 April 2016. His client was the team leader in a large UK bank which had paid a multimillion pound fine as a result of failures identified by the FCA in respect of its Payment Protection Insurance complaint handling process. The FCA’s Enforcement Team proposed to impose a prohibition order on Nicholas’ client prohibiting his client from performing any function in relation to any regulated activity carried on by an authorised person, exempt person or professional firm. Enforcement proposed (what is often described as) a time limited prohibition order with a duration of two years but the significance of any prohibition for Nicholas’…
News 11 May, 2016
Tom Gibson represented the successful defendant in Green (Deceased) v Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust (County Court at Central London, 28 April 2016, HHJ Baucher) in a ‘Jackson-themed’ case management appeal about single joint experts. This clinical negligence claim was brought after Mr Green, who was suffering from terminal cancer, died suddenly while he was an in-patient at the Defendant’s hospital. In its defence the Defendant admitted breach of duty, in failing to monitor Mr Green adequately, and apologised to his widow. However the causation of Mr Green’s death was disputed. Because of Mr Green’s limited life expectancy, the Claimant’s case was said to be worth between £20,000 and £25,000 at the first Case and Costs Management Conference. At the…
News 9 May, 2016
Following on from the Wheelchair Challenge & Awareness Day, organised by Bolt Burdon Kemp Solicitors, with the able assistance of the Back-Up Trust and the Wheelchair Rugby Experience, the video footage of the day is now available for everyone to view. Outer Temple Chambers members, Harry Trusted, Eliot Woolf and Ben Bradley, who took part in the challenge, have learnt essential wheelchair skills and are now better informed on the accessibility challenges that many have to deal with every day. Eliot said: “I loved every single second of it – the programme should be enshrined in statute and made compulsory for all.” Click here to watch the video of the wheelchair event.
News 5 May, 2016
Christopher Wilson-Smith QC and Nathan Tavares successfully obtained substantial damages against a Health Trust for a claimant who sustained permanent paraplegia following delayed diagnosis of a spinal abscess. Quantification of the Claimant’s case presented a number of challenging problems because of his drug dependency and associated loss of capacity. The Judgment can be read here.
News 5 May, 2016
The Tackling Corruption Together conference, a major initiative for civil society, business and government leaders, is expected to take place on Wednesday 11 May 2016 in London, UK. The event, which will focus on Anti-Money Laundering regimes and the effect of the Panama Papers, is a unique opportunity for leaders and experts from all over the world to present their views on how business, civil society and policy makers can collaborate in order to tackle corruption efficiently. Michael will be chairing a panel on what financial centres can do to tackle corrupt capital. The organisers advise that “highlights from discussion on 11 May will be passed through to officials involved in the government Leaders Summit on 12 May to inform…
News 4 May, 2016
Outer Temple Chambers is pleased to announce that Oliver Powell has recently joined us. Ranked in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500, Oliver strengthens our Business team and takes instructions on legal matters on the regulation of business activity and commerce. He practises in asset forfeiture and civil recovery, commercial fraud, health, safety and environmental law, indirect tax and maritime regulatory law. Acting for multinationals, SMEs, private individuals and some government departments, Oliver was junior counsel in the legal team that was awarded the GLS Prosecution Team of the Year 2015. He is also a regular contributor to Millington and Sutherland Williams on the Proceeds of Crime (Fourth Edition), OUP (2013) and Westlaw UK Insight (online encyclopedia of UK…
News 4 May, 2016
David Smith, founder of Legal Harmony and co-founder of Fiscal Harmony for the banking and finance sector, tells the story of the Legal Harmony Choir in an article for Counsel Magazine. David says that he wanted to combine his passion for music with his work, and this is how the Legal Harmony initiative took life in 2013. The most recent performances included diverse music, choreographed dance routines and costume changes. It was made up of choirs from more than 25 law firms and chambers, and more than £25,000 was raised for charity. A charity music gala is expected to take place on 8 June 2016, at Central Hall. “Choir members will come from over 20 law firms’ choirs, sets of chambers…
News 28 Apr, 2016
John McKendrick QC is appearing in the Supreme Court on 26 April 2016, on behalf of Mr Lee Hirons, the appellant. The issue in the case is whether the recall of the appellant to hospital under s.42(3) Mental Health Act 1983 was unlawful and should entitle him to relief, because he was not given adequate reasons at the time the recall warrant was executed, nor within 72 hours in breach of the applicable policy of the Secretary of State. Mr Lee Hirons was made the subject of a restricted order under the Mental Health Act 1983. A few weeks after his conditional discharge from hospital a warrant was executed for his recall. He was told at the time that it was…
News 26 Apr, 2016
The New Zealand Bar Association is setting up a new committee to look at how to get greater gender equity in briefing practices. As part of its work it will promote the equitable briefing policy which aims to maximise choices for legal practitioners and their clients, promote the full use of the Independent Bar and optimise opportunities for practice development of all counsel. Kate Davenport QC chaired the New Zealand Bar Association Equitable Briefing Policy Committee when the policy was established 7 years ago. She says that the aim of the policy is to try and encourage those people who brief the bar to widen the briefing pool “and to make a conscious effort, when they are thinking about briefing, to think:…
News 26 Apr, 2016
Asplin J sitting as a Judge in the Financial List today handed down judgment in Hockin Ors v RBS Plc or [2016] EWHC 925 (Ch). The Judge held that it was arguable that a power or discretion of assignment in the hands of the bank within a £55million loan facility agreement was attended by an implied duty of good faith as to the manner in which it was exercised. The Judge also considered the proper construction of a Deed of Assignment by which the administrators assigned certain causes of action to the claimants. The matter is due to go to trial in January 2017. Farhaz Khan (who was brought in to act on the applications) led by David Reade QC acted…
News 26 Apr, 2016
