Outer Temple barristers to deliver Advanced Advocacy Skills training at the DIFC Academy

Seven members of Outer Temple Chambers will be involved in the ‘Advanced Advocacy Skills’ training, part of the DIFC Laws Certificate Programme 2025 in October at the DIFC Academy, Dubai.

The DIFC Academy have invited Outer Temple Chambers to deliver the Advanced Advocacy Skills course as part of their DIFC Laws Certificate Programme 2025. This course will be presented by six KCs and barristers, of Outer Temple Chambers in association with the DIFC Courts, including one member acting as a mock judge.  

This comprehensive training explores the application of traditional advocacy skills to activities routinely performed by lawyers. There will be series of both unassessed and assessed advocacy exercises. These exercises take the form of mock hearings covering submissions (written and oral), witness handling and general advocacy tips. They serve as useful refreshers for courtroom skills.

Trial Advocacy & Witness Handling and Examination

James Counsell KC and Oliver Powell KC will be delivering Advanced Advocacy 1 on 13th and 14th October 2025. This unit will cover trial advocacy and witness handling and examination including a practical training workshop and advocacy exercises/mock trials.

Oral Submissions & Appeal Advocacy

Nicolas Stallworthy KC and Nicholas Hill will deliver Advanced Advocacy 2 on 20th and 21st October 2025. This unit will focus on oral submissions and appeal advocacy, including a, practical workshop and mock hearings.

Appeal Advocacy and Advocacy Assessment Exercise

Jonathan Hand KC and Peter Linstead will deliver Advanced Advocacy 3 on 27th and 28th October 2025. This unit will focus on appeal advocacy and include an advocacy assessment exercise. There will be a presentation and workshop on grounds of appeal, a presentation and workshop on oral submissions and an advocacy assessment exercise.

Sean Yates will act as mock judge for the Oral Advocacy Assessments.

Registration

For more information and to register for the course, click here.

Find out more

James Counsell KC is widely recognised in the fields of Financial Services, Professional Negligence, Regulatory and Disciplinary and Personal Injury claims, both in the UK and abroad. James is a Head of Chambers. He acts for defendants in contempt proceedings in the Business and Property Courts, brought against individuals for alleged breaches of freezing and disclosure orders and for claimants and financial institutions in mis-selling claims and other regulatory breaches.  He represents litigants in the UK and also in the Middle East with ongoing clients in the DIFC Courts in Dubai. He has appeared in a number of high profile cases in recent years, all the way to the Supreme Court.

Oliver Powell KC‘s practice concerns commercial disputes and the regulation of business activity and commerce. His practice encompasses: asset recovery; civil & commercial fraud; contract disputes; corporate crime & investigations; financial services; health, safety & environment; maritime regulatory law; and sanctions & export controls. He is often instructed in matters with an international element and usually cases involving allegations of dishonesty, sharp practice or breach of regulations. Oliver acts for companies, company officers, and high-net-worth individuals, and is routinely instructed by US and City law firms. His strong interpersonal skills, candid advice and robust advocacy allow him to forge solid working relationships, making him a popular choice with solicitors and clients alike.

Nicolas Stallworthy KC‘s practice involves the interaction of trust law, contract law, insolvency and professional negligence at very high levels of complexity and value. He undertakes cases concerning the interpretation of trusts, contracts, financial instruments & legislation; and the application of trust principles in the broader commercial context. His professional negligence practice focuses on solicitors, insurance companies, benefits consultants, professional trustees, actuaries & investment advisers. Nick is called to the Bar of Northern Ireland (2010) and registered at the DIFC (2013). He is also a Head of Chambers (Deputy Head of the Business Team).

Nicholas Hill’s practice is made up of three elements: pensions law, professional negligence, and regulatory law. He is ranked as a Leading Junior in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. The directories recommend Nick for his client care, for his advocacy, for developing new arguments, and for finding solutions; he is described as being “second to none”. Nick’s clients include individuals, companies, partnerships, major English and American law firms, regulators (the SRA, FCA & TPR), insurance companies, benefits consultants, professional trustees, actuaries, various property entities, investment managers and advisers.

Jonathan Hand KC specialises in Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury work. He has wide-ranging experience across both these fields, and acts for a mix of claimant and defendant clients. He has extensive experience of multi-party litigation, having acted in the claims arising out of the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of epilepsy at Leicester Royal Infirmary. He was closely involved in the successful ADR process devised to manage the several hundred claims which were brought. He is a judge in the Mental Health Tribunal.

Peter Linstead specialises in employment and commercial disputes including both UK and international matters. He has particular experience in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts and was recently involved in drafting aspects of DIFC primary legislation. He is ranked in the directories as “leading junior” in both UK Employment Law and Commercial Law in the  EMEA region. He also advises in the Isle of Man jurisdiction

Sean Yates, based in Dubai, UAE, specialises in international arbitration and civil and commercial litigation with a focus on construction and infrastructure, real estate, energy and natural resource disputes. More widely, Sean has experience in employment, fraud and regulatory, as well as substantial experience in the tourism, leisure and entertainment sectors. He has experience in both common law and civil law disciplines and can advise on both international and local law matters in the UAE.

News 8 Oct, 2025