Yes, I am a barrister and I am regulated by the Bar Standards Board, but – unless you have formally engaged me through your solicitor and\/or my clerks – I am not your barrister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a repository of my occasional thoughts and is not intended to provide either general or specific legal advice and may not be relied upon as such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where I have set out my views on the law, these are my views and cannot be relied upon to be accurate or complete as at any point in time, any such posts are for my own benefit and may rely upon unstated assumptions. I accept no liability for any reliance placed upon any post or material on this site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a9 Chris Hegarty 2020. Unauthorized use and\/or duplication of any content contained on this blog without my express permission is strictly prohibited. Excerpts or links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to me with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the avoidance of doubt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(1) Anything posted on this website is for general information only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(2) Nothing contained in any of the articles, posts, comments or replies is intended to be, or constitutes legal advice on any general or specific legal matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(3) No liability is accepted for any reliance upon any post or material contained in this website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am a barrister regulated by the Bar Standards Board and am\npermitted to undertake Public Access work. My entry in the Barrister’s Register\ncan be found here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n This shows (1) whether a barrister has a current practising\ncertificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which\nare published on the Bar Standards Board\u2019s website in accordance with their\npolicy. Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444\nto ask about this (or e-mail ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I practise from Trinity Chambers in Newcastle and across\nEngland. My Chambers policies including complaints process can be found at https:\/\/www.trinitychambers.co.uk\/about\/performance-policies\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My practice encompasses most varieties of civil litigation,\nincluding contract and tort disputes, professional negligence, property\nmatters, chancery issues and insolvency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My clerks can be contacted at Trinity Chambers, The Custom\nHouse, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3DE, Tel: 0191 232 1927 or info@trinitychambers.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ordinarily charge on a fixed fee basis and quotes may be\nobtained from my clerks. For more involved or less clearly defined work I would\ncharge on an hourly rate basis. I rarely accept instructions on a conditional\nfee basis but professional clients who wish me to do so may inquire of my\nclerks. I am VAT registered and all my fees attract VAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I aim to return paperwork within 28 days however shorter or\nlonger timeframes may be agreed in specific cases. My other professional\ncommitments, availability of parties and\/or material may affect such\ntimeframes. For court work and negotiations this can also be affected by other\nparties and the court system. However I will always endeavour to communicate\nclearly about deadlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the above if you are a member of the public\nor entitled to licensed access I must give you this information in addition to\nthe above which continues to apply: <\/p>\n\n\n\n In relation to public access\/direct access cases you should\nnote that the Bar Standards Board publishes Guidance for Public Access Clients\nat https:\/\/www.barstandardsboard.org.uk\/regulatory-requirements\/bsb-handbook\/public-access-guidance-for-lay-clients\/\n<\/a>which you should read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I will ordinarily quote fees (as set out above) for public\naccess work but if instructions received vary materially from those discussed\nthen fee quotes or fixed fees may need to similarly vary. If any additional\ncosts or expenses may arise in your case these will be discussed in advance. My\nfees attract VAT and are quoted exclusive of VAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I only undertake public access work in relation to (i)\ndrafting, (ii) advising and (iii) advocacy at court. I am not authorised to\nconduct litigation and so cannot act as your solicitor would or take formal\nsteps in proceedings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific disclosures <\/strong>– I do not undertake any of the\nareas of work which attract additional mandatory disclosure on a public access\nbasis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are dissatisfied with my service you may complain in\nthe first instance to my Chambers, whose process may be found at complaints\nprocess can be found at https:\/\/www.trinitychambers.co.uk\/about\/performance-policies\/<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the event that (having followed my Chambers complaints\nprocedure above) you wish to pursue a complaint you may take up your complaint\nwith the Legal Ombudsman, the independent complaints body for complaints about\nlawyers, at the conclusion of our consideration of your complaint. The\nOmbudsman is not able to consider your complaint until it has first been\ninvestigated by Chambers. Please note that the Legal Ombudsman has a six-year\ntime limit from the date of the act or omission about which you are complaining\nwithin which to make your complaint. or three years from when it ought to have\nbeen known of; and within . You can write to them at: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box\n6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ, Telephone number: 0300 555 0333 \nEmail: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk<\/a>.\nIf you are not my client and are unhappy with the outcome of Chambers’\ninvestigation then please contact the Bar Standards Board at: Bar Standards\nBoard, Professional Conduct Department, 289-293 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7JZ,\nTelephone number: 0207 6111 444, Website : www.barstandardsboard.org.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n