Civil Law

The barristers in our Civil Law team offer expert advise over the broad and comprehensive spectrum of this area of law. Our members regularly act for both Claimants and Defendants in all types of civil work including personal Injury, negligence, building and construction, insolvency and bankruptcy, landlord and tenant, wills and probate and many others.

Our team can provide pure advice work in both contentious and non-contentious areas as well as representation in all courts and regularly provide advice and representation in commercial and contract cases in the County Courts and High Court.

One of the great strengths of our civil team is that we can draw from experience in other areas of law. The team boasts barristers who also practice in Fraud which can be of great benefit in many commercial cases. The overlap, in particular in the areas of Employment and Regulatory Breach brings with it barristers with a breadth of talent and experience, ensuring that there is always someone ideally placed to represent a client on a particular case.

Civil law unlike criminal law, regulates relationships amongst persons and organisations. Civil law, in this sense, is usually referring to redress to civil law courts (as opposed to criminal courts) and is often used as a means to resolve disputes involving accidents (torts such as negligence), libel and other intentional torts, contract disputes, the probate of wills, and trusts, and any other private matters that can be resolved between private parties. Violations of this law are considered to be torts or breaches of contract, rather than crimes.

Our team of specialist civil law barristers:

Catherine Mackenzie-Smith

Date of call:
1960
Geographic location:
Central London | Monmouthshire | South East |
catherine-mackenzie

Civil Experience Catherine Mackenzie-Smith is a former Legal Assistant to the Treasury Solicitor, former Assistant Legal Advisor to the Country Landowners’ Association, former Read the Rest…

Sir Nicholas Bonsor Bt DL

Date of call:
1967
Geographic location:
East Midlands |
sir_nicolas-bonsor

Nicholas Bonsor specialises in arbitration and mediation, Financial Services Regulation, revenue and general commercial law. He is the owner of Liscombe Park House, Read the Rest…

The Rt Hon Douglas Hogg QC

Date of call:
1968
Geographic location:
South East | London Area |
douglas-hogg

Involved in heavy leading work especially in homicide, rape, conspiracy, drug importation and serious fraud cases often in the London area and on Read the Rest…

Maura Logan

Date of call:
1971
Geographic location:
North West |
maura-logan

Maura was called to the Bar in 1971 by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and practised for 25 years from St Read the Rest…

Arthur James

Date of call:
1975
Geographic location:
East Midlands |
arthur-james

Following 21 years’ of distinguished service in the Metropolitan Police Force Arthur James was called to the Bar in 1975. Mr James enjoys Read the Rest…

Eric Waley

Date of call:
1976
Geographic location:
Wales |
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Over a 25-year period in Practice both in the UK and in Hong Kong, Eric has been involved in criminal cases of all Read the Rest…

Richard de Lacy QC

Date of call:
1976
Geographic location:
South East | London Area |
richard_de_lacey

Recommended by the professional directories for many years in insolvency. Highly regarded by colleagues and clients. Richard has practised in litigation in the Read the Rest…

David Mendes da Costa

Date of call:
1976
Geographic location:
South East | London Area |
david-mendes-da-costa

A member of the MK Family Law Chambers David Mendes da Costa’s expertise includes contentious issues arising from co-ownership and housing. He also Read the Rest…

Marie-Claire Sparrow

Date of call:
1977
Geographic location:
London Area | South East |
marie-claire-sparrow

Matrimonial law, Child Care and Child Abduction Law, Immigration Law, International Commercial Law, EU Law, Judicial Review, International and Comparative Law, French Property Read the Rest…

Ian Douglas Mason

Date of call:
1978
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Ian has been in practice since 1978. Mostly crime until 2000. From 2001 to 2007 in specialist housing / landlord and tenant chambers. Read the Rest…

Gavin Purves

Date of call:
1979
Geographic location:
London Area | South East |
gavin-purves

After graduating in law from Brunel University in London, Gavin took a postgraduate qualification in EC law and economics on a scholarship at Read the Rest…

Lorraine Webb

Date of call:
1980
Geographic location:
South East | London Area |
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Lorraine undertakes all aspects of licensing. She accepts briefs in crime as either leading junior or junior counsel, both for prosecution and defence Read the Rest…

Gordon Tregaskis

Date of call:
1980
Geographic location:
Yorkshire & Humberside |
gordan_tregaskis

All aspects of international commerce particular experience of major project disputes, multinational joint venture failures, PFI (private finance initiative) and BOOTs (that is, Read the Rest…

Jonathan Edwards

Date of call:
1981
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Barrister Jonathan Edward’s practice includes Criminal Defence and Common Law. Wide experience of agricultural law and rural cases; instructed in a number of Read the Rest…

Jonathan Powell

Date of call:
1984
Geographic location:
South East | London Area |
jonathan_powell

All areas of local government planning, compensation and environmental law work. Recent work includes: Inquiries Green Belt, both opposing and promoting development. Extensive Read the Rest…

Veronica Newman

Date of call:
1984
Geographic location:
North West |
veronica_newman

She completed pupillage in two London sets (4 Paper Buildings and 29 Bedford Row) where she had a broad based grounding in civil Read the Rest…

Harry Angelides

Date of call:
1987
Geographic location:
London Area | South East |
harry-angelides

Harry Angelides has extensive experience in the property sector including property development, social housing and residential homes for children and persons with learning Read the Rest…

Catherine Gordon

Date of call:
1989
Geographic location:
East Midlands |
cath-gordon

Specialises in all aspects of mental health law with particular emphasis upon and extensive experience of First-tier Mental Health Tribunals at all levels Read the Rest…

Faiz Siddiqi

Date of call:
1990
Geographic location:
East Midlands |
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Faiz Siddiq has acted as an expert for cases involving Pakistan, Middle Eastern and Islamic Law. He has dealt with the complexities of Read the Rest…

Michaela Neufeld

Date of call:
1990
Geographic location:
South East | London Area |
michaela-neufeld

Counsel has professional experience in the following areas; Civil Law, in particular contract law, personal injury, landlord and tenant, employment law, mental health Read the Rest…

Wendy Datta

Date of call:
1990
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Wendy’s clients are solicitors acting for private clients. Direct Professional Access and Bar Direct clients encouraged where appropriate.

Paul Dipré

Date of call:
1991
Geographic location:
London Area | South East |
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A member of the MK Family Law Chambers Paul Dipré is a former scholar of Christ Church, Oxford, 1st class in Honour Moderations Read the Rest…

Christopher McNicholas

Date of call:
1995
Geographic location:
South East | London Area |
christopher-mcnicholas

Joined the Bar following a career in international banking with, amongst others, HSBC and SG Warburg & Co. Christopher previously undertook bar external Read the Rest…

Keith Pitts

Date of call:
1997
Geographic location:
South East | London |
keith-pitts

Before training for the Bar, Keith enjoyed an engineering career spanning 20 years, including 15 years as a consulting engineer and employer. That Read the Rest…

Thomas John

Date of call:
1997
Geographic location:
London Area | South East |
thomas-john

Tom practiced as a pharmacist before joining the Bar and now practices in General Common Law, Human Rights, Mental Health and Pharmaceutical Law.

Joan Gandolfi

Date of call:
1997
Geographic location:
East Midlands |
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Shobana Iyer

Date of call:
1998
Geographic location:
London Area | South East |
shobana-iyer

Shobana has gained experience in various different aspects of contentious and non-contentious areas from advising on and drafting contracts, to interlocutory, appellate and Read the Rest…

Julian Smith

Date of call:
1998
Geographic location:
South East | London Area |
julian_smith

Julian Smith (1998) LLB (LSE), DBTS (Oxon) Companion, Guild of St George (CGStG) Head, Lincoln’s Inn Fields Chambers Mediator (Family, Employment & Civil) Read the Rest…

Natalie Hyams

Date of call:
1998
Geographic location:
East Midlands |
natalie-hyams

Counsel has professional experience in the following areas in particular: VAT and Duties Tribunals Employment Law Family Law Criminal Law Civil/County Court, small Read the Rest…

Robert Askey

Date of call:
1998
Geographic location:
North West |
robert-askey

Robert Askey was called to the bar in 1998 having been admitted as a solicitor in 1988. As a solicitor he gained extensive Read the Rest…