General News

Sharan Sanghera examines the Court’s decision finding that two claimants were precluded by the ex turpi causa principle from recovering damages in Joseph Thomas Beaumont & Lewis O’Neill v David Ferrer [2016] EWHC Civ 768. Please find Sharan’s update below.

Thomas O’Donohoe appeared as one of a team of speakers from Chambers’ Employment Law Group at a seminar on current employment law topics presented by the group to professional clients at the National Liberal Club in London. Thomas addressed the topic of recent developments in the law on reasonable adjustments.

Commercial contracts often contain clauses that prevent a variation of the contract taking effect unless reduced to writing (an “anti-oral variation clause”). Edward Ross analyses a recent decision of the Court of Appeal in MWB Business Exchange Centres Ltd v. Rock Advertising Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 553 that considers (1) does an anti-oral variation clause prevent an oral variation from having effect? (2) if not, what is to be considered good consideration for the variation?...

Louis Weston, Head of the Sports Group, gave a talk at the MBL 2016 Sports Corruption Conference on 14 July 2016 on putting the principles of sports corruption into practice. This popular annual conference focused once again on a wide range of topical and difficult issues from match manipulation to anti-doping controls, attracting a panel of leading experts. The conference was attended by professionals interested in keeping up-to-date with all the latest issues in this...

David Richards and Sunyana Sharma appeared in Stanley Magistrates’ Court, Falkland Islands in the largest ever fisheries prosecution brought in the Falkland Islands. Both the Company and Master pleaded guilty and were sentenced for illegal fishing in Falkland Waters in breach of its fishing licence terms pursuant to s.167 of the Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Ordinance 2005 and 10 offences concerning the false reporting of catch data pursuant to regulation 61(3) of the Fishing Regulations...

Adam Feest QC was involved in the case of Mark Lester at Bristol Crown Court.  Sentencing on Friday 9th July 2016, HHJ Picton described Mr Lester as “a committed paedophile of a highly dangerous nature" before imposing a life sentence.  This followed a five week trial conducted by Adam, leading Rosie Collins from Guildhall Chambers, which included evidence given by and cross-examination of vulnerable complainants, extensive disputed identification evidence, and complex expert evidence relating to...

Does a bank who is negotiating with a customer for a sale of a financial product, owe a common law duty to advise the client about an onerous break clause? Tom Webb analyses a recent decision of the Mercantile Court that considers the scope of a banker’s duty (Fitch v. Lloyds TSB Bank plc [2016] EWHC 1236 (QB)). Tom is a Commercial Law barrister who regularly advises in business disputes.

3PB Barristers invites suitable candidates to apply for a third six-month pupillage in its Business & Commercial law team. We are interested in applications from pupils who are completing (or who have already completed) a pupillage and have gained advocacy and paperwork experience. 3PB Barristers are a multi-disciplinary chambers organised into 6 specialised practice teams. The successful candidate will join the Business & Commercial law team. They must have an interest in, and experience of,...

Chambers is pleased to announce that Mathew Gullick and Caroline Stone have been appointed to the Attorney-General’s panels of Junior Counsel to the Crown in civil matters, with effect from 1 September 2016. Mathew has been appointed to the A Panel, having spent four years on the B Panel and prior to that four years on the C Panel. Caroline has been appointed to the B Panel after completing five years on the C Panel....

Tanya Zabihi, Chair of FLBA and Deputy Head of 3PB's Family Law Group, hosted a successful summer drinks party in Bristol at the end of June. The party was well attended by members of the Judiciary, local FLBA members and solicitors from private practice and local government and Mr Justice Baker gave an interesting and informative speech at the event. Much needed funds were raised during the evening for the Bread Youth Project, a Bristol...

Richard Owen-Thomas addressed the White Paper Employment Conference on 29 June on the extent of an employer's duty to investigate a grievance or disciplinary matter, including the monitoring of employees. Richard examined reasonable investigations and when they might breach expectations of privacy and become repudiatory breaches. Click here to view his presentation.

Richard Owen-Thomas, one of 3PB’s employment and regulatory barristers, advised the British Amateur Gymnastics Association (BAGA)  in the recent formal disciplinary procedure involving Louis Smith MBE for a breach of the BAGA Standards of Conduct over social media posts. The respondent, Louis Smith, admitted failing to display high personal standards commensurate with his role in sport. To see the BAGA formal statement regarding the disciplinary process, please see: https://www.british-gymnastics.org/news-and-events/news/latest-news/6552-british-gymnastics-formal-statement Richard Owen-Thomas (Year of Call 2000)...