General News

Michael George successful in only reported case (T v T) on variation of pension sharing orders

22nd November 2021

3PB specialist family finance barrister Michael George (pictured here) successfully represented the wife appellant in the case of T v T (variation of a pension sharing order and underfunded schemes) [2021] EWFC B67 heard by HHJ Hess. The case saw the judge advise that “Family Lawyers would be well advised in the meantime not to tick either boxes in section F”, as per the advice of the PAG report of July 2019 on pension sharing...

Berenice Mulvanny successfully defends accused with significant mental health issues

22nd November 2021

3PB criminal barrister Berenice Mulvanny (pictured here) successfully defended a client of good character with significant mental health vulnerabilities charged with historic rape and sexual assault of a 4-year-old. The jury at Southampton Crown Court took less than 45 minutes to return unanimous not guilty verdicts after hearing the evidence and closing submissions from Miss Mulvanny. The trial involved sensitive cross-examination of the complainant, complaint evidence and issues of character. The client had longstanding and...

3PB reviews abatement, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the Readie Construction case

22nd November 2021

3PB’s pupil barrister Jakob Reckhenrich (pictured here) has analysed the case of Readie Construction Limited v Geo Quarries Limited [2021] EWHC 3030 (QB). By way of background, Section 49 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 prescribes the circumstances in which the seller is entitled to sue for the price. The seller has to demonstrate either that property in the goods has passed (which will be problematic if the contract contains a retention of title clause), or that the...

  Welcome to our December's education law newsletter Welcome to 3PB's Education Law Team December 2021 Newsletter. It features contributions from specialist Education Law Barristers Aimee Fox, Emma Waldron, Matthew Wyard, Naomi Webber and Jim Hirschmann and has been co-edited by Jim Hirschmann and Katherine Anderson. You will find legal analyis on: (1) Discrimination in Foster Placeents as analysed in the recent Court of Appeal Judgment R (Cornerstone) v Ofsted [2021] EWCA Civ 1390 (2)...

Leading criminal law barrister Jane Rowley appointed as a Circuit Judge

19th November 2021

We are delighted to announce that the Queen has appointed 3PB’s specialist criminal law barrister Jane Rowley (pictured here) to be a Circuit Judge with effect from 22 November  2021. HHJ Rowley will sit on the South Eastern Circuit, and be based at Inner London Crown Court. Jane Rowley was called to the Bar (BVC Inns) in 1988. She was appointed Part-Time Judge (Recorder) in criminal cases in the Crown Court since 2008 and was...

Family barrister Charles Hogan joins former colleagues at 3PB  

19th November 2021

Family law barrister Charles Hogan (pictured here) has joined national chambers 3PB in Birmingham from another set in Northampton, where he will team up again with former colleagues and family lawyers Ria Herbert, Adeo Fraser and James Legg. Charles has a well-known expertise and focus on family finance and TOLATA cases. He has just represented the wife in a long-running dispute between two Iranian nationals, with competing divorce petitions in Iran and England. There were substantial assets...

Thomas Acworth’s client acquitted of sexual assault

15th November 2021

3PB criminal barrister Thomas Acworth (pictured) saw his client, DN, has been acquitted of sexual assault following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. DN was a driving instructor of previous good character. Under Thomas’ cross-examination, it emerged that the complainant had told lies to the police, provided a partisan selection of her text-message history with DN to the police and deleted some messages from her phone. The impact of the questioning on the complainant’s credibility...

Graham Gilbert successfully defends client against money laundering charges

10th November 2021

In R v James & Others at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, 3PB's crime and regulatory barrister Graham Gilbert secured the acquittal of a client initially charged with money laundering in 2017. His client, Mr James, alleged that he had been duped by criminals into allowing money to pass through his account. Graham’s preparation and cross-examination allowed for the identification of a man who fitted the description given by Mr James in his police interview. The jury...

Graham Gilbert appears in first Court of Appeal decision on Knives Act 1997 (section 1)

8th November 2021

3PB crime and regulatory barrister Graham Gilbert appeared before the Court of Appeal in R v STC LIMITED [2021] EWCA Crim 1237 in July 2021 representing three parties charged with offences under section 1 Knives Act 1997 (unlawful marketing of the items). The Court noted that, in its extensive experience, it had never been required to consider this piece of legislation previously. The matter is of particular note as, in coming to its decision, the Court...

3PB celebrates silks day for Lucy Hendry QC and Mathew Gullick QC

6th November 2021

Barristers and staff from 3PB’s six national offices joined together this week to celebrate the new silk status of Lucy Hendry KC and Mathew Gullick KC (pictured here outside 3 Paper Buildings in London with their clerks Robert Leonard and Chris Mitchell). David Berkley KC, Head of Chambers at 3PB also attended the event at 3PB’s office in Temple, London and said ‘‘On behalf of everyone at 3PB, I would like to congratulate Lucy and...

Jane Rowley in successful sentence appeal at the Court of Appeal 

4th November 2021

3PB criminal barrister Jane Rowley (pictured here) achieved a reduction of 5 years from the 14 years originally imposed on the Appellant, reducing the term to 9 years following her successful appeal on the 4th November to the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal [R v Ryland]. The Court agreed with her submissions that the original sentencing Judge had passed a sentence which was wrong in principle and manifestly excessive, and that all custodial...

  Welcome to November's employment law newsletter Our team has much to celebrate this month yet again, with Mathew Gullick's formal appointment at the Queen’s Counsel Appointment Ceremony in Westminster Hall on Monday. This comes hot on the heels of Chambers and Partners announcing a record 11 of our employment juniors ranked in 3 circuits, following equally outstanding results in the Legal 500 back in October. Case law analysis is provided by - Grace Nicholls on the importance of case...