General News

Expert evidence and second opinions: process and pitfalls

13th September 2022

3PB's family law specialist, James Legg, alongside Alex Brereton from Mishcon de Reya LLP, writes for Family Law on how the use of expert evidence is tightly regulated by the Judges in the Family Court. Expert evidence can only be used where it is ‘necessary’ to assist the court to resolve the proceedings. In proceedings relating to children (including claims under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989), experts are only usually instructed once the court...

Pay Now - don't stay adjudication enforcement for arbitration (MBC Sefton v Allenbuild) - an analysis by James Davison

13th September 2022

3PB's James Davison, who specialises in construction and engineering disputes as well as in the procurement and financial arrangements that fund construction/development projects, analyses the decision in MBC Sefton v Allenbuild Ltd [2022] EWHC 1433 (TCC). The case has clarified some of the remaining conflicts between the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended) and the Arbitration Act 1996 (AA 1996) in quite sweeping terms. This article was first published by Lexis®PSL on...

3PB welcomes three new family barristers

8th September 2022

3 Paper Buildings (3PB) is delighted to welcome three new family barristers to our ranks: two junior counsel from Senate House Chambers in Northampton: Kate Yeomans [2007 call] and Ayesha Bell-Paris [2012 call] are both starting today (pictured right and left respectively); and are joining new colleague Laura Scott [2001 call], formerly of Fourteen Chambers, who started at the national chambers two weeks ago. The trio are set to be joined in mid-October by Harriet...

South Gloucestershire Council v DN [2022] EWCOP 35 (12 August 2022)

7th September 2022

Poonam Bhari instructed by Charlotte Melhuish of Stone King Solicitors LLP represented the School, which is a small charitable and independent special school, in this challenging, difficult and complex case. The case concerned DN a 17 year old boy with co-morbid diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Severe Learning Difficulties and Tourette’s Syndrome who had been residing at the School under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989. DN physically assaulted staff members at the school...

Criminal QC Adam Feest appointed as a Circuit Judge

7th September 2022

We are delighted to announce that the Queen has appointed 3PB’s criminal barrister Adam Feest QC (pictured) to be a Circuit Judge with effect from 12 September 2022. Called to the Bar in 1994 and taking silk in 2016, Adam Feest QC has been a Crown Court Recorder for the last 12 years. With over 25 years’ experience at the Bar, he has led some of the most complex and important criminal cases across the Western Circuit, especially...

Exceptional criminal KC joins 3PB

6th September 2022

3PB is delighted to welcome leading criminal law barrister Kate Lumsdon KC (pictured here) as a door tenant. Joint Head of Chambers at 23ES, Kate was called to the Bar in 1993. She practised exclusively on the Western Circuit at 2KBW until moving to 23 Essex Street in 2010.  Prior to taking Silk in 2018, she was a Grade 4 prosecutor on both the Western and South Eastern Circuit, and defended across the country. Rated...

Criminal barrister Nicola Talbot-Hadley appointed as a Circuit Judge

5th September 2022

We are delighted to announce that the Queen has appointed 3PB’s criminal barrister Nicola Talbot-Hadley (pictured here) to be a Circuit Judge with effect from 12 September 2022. Called to the Bar in 2007, Nicola was appointed as Chairman of Valuation Tribunal for England in 2017, as a Tribunal Judge in 2019 and as a Recorder in 2022,  Her Honour Judge Talbot-Hadley will now sit on the South-Eastern Circuit, based at Ipswich Crown Court. Nicola...

3PB Barristers shortlisted as 'Client Service Set of the Year'

1st September 2022

3PB Barristers has been shortlisted in the category of 'Client Services Set of the Year' in the Chambers UK Bar awards 2022. Good luck to all of those nominated! The awards recognise a Chambers pre-eminence in the UK. They also reflect achievements over the past 12 months including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth and excellence in client service. They honour the work of sets and individuals across the country based on the research for the...

3PB welcomes top children and domestic violence barrister Laura Scott

28th August 2022

3 Paper Buildings (3PB) has welcomed family barrister Laura Scott(2001 call), pictured here, to its now 83-strong team of family law counsel. Laura practises exclusively in children and domestic violence law and has over 20 years' experience representing parents, grandparents, children, guardians, extended family members and local authorities in all aspects of the law relating to children. Formerly at Fourteen Chambers and Tanfield Chambers in London, Laura now lives in the Midlands and will practise...

Aimee Fox co-authors briefing on Children Act proceedings and children with SEND

28th August 2022

3PB’s specialist family and education law barrister Aimee Fox (pictured here), alongside law firm Anthony Collins’ associate solicitor Kadie Bennett, have co-authored a briefing in Education Law Monitor examining how parents can minimise the impact of separation on children with SEND. According to the latest figures from Statista, 2020 saw 103,592 divorces granted in England and Wales. Separation for parents of children with SEND can present additional complications and worries. The stresses and strains of...

3PB backs Criminal Bar Association's indefinite strike action in September

23rd August 2022

Yesterday, 80% of the members of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) voted to go on an indefinite, uninterrupted strike in England and Wales from 5 September. This overwhelming vote to escalate the action - started in April - will see criminal barristers refusing to take on publicly funded criminal defence cases. It is clear that the Government’s response remains insufficient to deal with the current crisis in the criminal justice system. This view is endorsed...

Philip Bambagiotti tackles the issues for in-house lawyers of client privilege in international arbitration

9th August 2022

3PB's Philip Bambagiotti, a joint qualified Australia and UK barrister specialising in construction and international arbitration, has a prolific practice in China and the wider SE Asian region and was guest speaker at the International Arbitration Insights series of seminars in July. Philip, who routinely advises in-house counsel on their client privilege issues and wider commercial litigation disputes said, "In the international context, what one may understand as legal privilege is a ‘slippery’ & amorphous...