I am a barrister regulated by the Bar Standards Board and am permitted to undertake Public Access work. My entry in the Barrister’s Register can be found here.
This shows (1) whether a barrister has a current practising certificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Bar Standards Board’s website in accordance with their policy. Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 to ask about this (or e-mail ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk).
I practise from Trinity Chambers in Newcastle and across England. My Chambers policies including complaints process can be found at https://www.trinitychambers.co.uk/about/performance-policies/.
My practice encompasses most varieties of civil litigation, including contract and tort disputes, professional negligence, property matters, chancery issues and insolvency.
My clerks can be contacted at Trinity Chambers, The Custom House, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3DE, Tel: 0191 232 1927 or info@trinitychambers.co.uk.
I ordinarily charge on a fixed fee basis and quotes may be obtained from my clerks. For more involved or less clearly defined work I would charge on an hourly rate basis. I rarely accept instructions on a conditional fee basis but professional clients who wish me to do so may inquire of my clerks. I am VAT registered and all my fees attract VAT.
I aim to return paperwork within 28 days however shorter or longer timeframes may be agreed in specific cases. My other professional commitments, availability of parties and/or material may affect such timeframes. For court work and negotiations this can also be affected by other parties and the court system. However I will always endeavour to communicate clearly about deadlines.
Public Access
In addition to the above if you are a member of the public or entitled to licensed access I must give you this information in addition to the above which continues to apply:
In relation to public access/direct access cases you should note that the Bar Standards Board publishes Guidance for Public Access Clients at https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/regulatory-requirements/bsb-handbook/public-access-guidance-for-lay-clients/ which you should read.
I will ordinarily quote fees (as set out above) for public access work but if instructions received vary materially from those discussed then fee quotes or fixed fees may need to similarly vary. If any additional costs or expenses may arise in your case these will be discussed in advance. My fees attract VAT and are quoted exclusive of VAT.
I only undertake public access work in relation to (i) drafting, (ii) advising and (iii) advocacy at court. I am not authorised to conduct litigation and so cannot act as your solicitor would or take formal steps in proceedings.
Specific disclosures – I do not undertake any of the areas of work which attract additional mandatory disclosure on a public access basis.
Complaints
If you are dissatisfied with my service you may complain in the first instance to my Chambers, whose process may be found at complaints process can be found at https://www.trinitychambers.co.uk/about/performance-policies/.
In the event that (having followed my Chambers complaints procedure above) you wish to pursue a complaint you may take up your complaint with the Legal Ombudsman, the independent complaints body for complaints about lawyers, at the conclusion of our consideration of your complaint. The Ombudsman is not able to consider your complaint until it has first been investigated by Chambers. Please note that the Legal Ombudsman has a six-year time limit from the date of the act or omission about which you are complaining within which to make your complaint. or three years from when it ought to have been known of; and within . You can write to them at: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ, Telephone number: 0300 555 0333 Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk. If you are not my client and are unhappy with the outcome of Chambers’ investigation then please contact the Bar Standards Board at: Bar Standards Board, Professional Conduct Department, 289-293 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7JZ, Telephone number: 0207 6111 444, Website : www.barstandardsboard.org.uk.
Information about the Legal Ombudsman’s decision data may be found here.
Last updated April 2020 by Chris Hegarty.