News

Two of 3PB’s specialist crime barristers feature in BBC’s new documentary ‘’Football’s Darkest Secret’’

22nd March 2021

Adam Feest QC, who heads 3PB’s group of criminal law barristers, is appearing tonight with fellow 3PB crime team counsel Berenice Mulvanny in the BBC’s new three-part documentary about child abuse in English football. The BBC’s new three part documentary ‘’Football's Darkest Secret’’ which airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One, follows a number of high profile cases involving sexual/child abuse in English football. Specialist crime barristers Adam Feest QC and Berenice Mulvanny will talk...

Neil Fawcett gives legal opinion that estate agents could be 'negligent' for not disclosing air pollution levels

19th March 2021

3PB’s commercial barrister Neil Fawcett has co-produced,  with Jessica Simor QC from Matrix Chambers,  a 20-page legal opinion for the Central Office of Public Interest which says there is a "strong legal argument" that estate agents not disclosing air pollution levels would be considered negligent. This follows the news about a new pollution rating tool for every postcode in the UK, addresspollution.org - using 1.5 billion data points generated by air pollution experts at Imperial...

Rogue landlords: Do multiple offences mean multiple rent repayment orders?

18th March 2021

As more tenants become aware of the provisions made in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (“HPA2016”) to sanction the behaviour of rogue landlords, 3PB property litigation barrister Antonietta Grasso considers the recent case of Ficcara & Others v James [2021] UKUT 0038 (LC), [2021] All ER (D) 30 (Mar), in which the tenants raised the issue of the interpretation of sections 40, 43 and 44 HPA2016 and whether the multiplicity of offences by a...

Tom Evans' client found not guilty in Bristol Crown Court of causing death by careless driving

18th March 2021

3PB Crime barrister Tom Evans’ client, Stephen Johnson, was involved in a collision with a motorcycle that resulted in the death of a motorcycle rider, Keith Pearce. The defendant accepted that he was required to give way; had not come to a stop; he had cut the corner; had not activated his indicator; and had not taken a second look along the carriageway before commencing his turn. However, the jury in Bristol Crown Court concluded...

  Welcome to the 3PB family newsletter In our fourth family group newsletter, we bring you a round up of our brunch talks and topical articles, news, and details of our forthcoming events. We hope you enjoy reading this and please do contact us if we can help with further information or enquiries. Details of upcoming events here Lucy Hendry QC enjoys her first days as newly-appointed Silk  Family barrister Lucy Hendry QC started her first day as Queen's Counsel...

3PB’s Simon Lillington successful in mansion dispute between businesswoman and her millionaire former partner

16th March 2021

3PB family barrister Simon Lillington (pictured here) has helped his client businesswoman Sharon Blades win half of the £2.5m mansion that her former partner paid for, but registered in both their names. The dispute – which attracted widespread media coverage including this feature in the Daily Mail - between Dr Chris Rowland and Sharon Blades centred on who owned the 'large and elegant country house' which he bought for £1.6m in March 2009 - namely...

Lucy Hendry QC and Mathew Gullick QC enjoy first day as newly-appointed Silks

15th March 2021

3PB Barristers' two new Silks - family barrister Lucy Hendry QC and public and employment law barrister Mathew Gullick QC - started their first day as Queen's Counsel today, after their appointments were announced last December. Lucy Hendry QC was called to the Bar in 1988 and is a family barrister who specialises in all areas of public and private children’s law. Mathew Gullick was called to the Bar in 2003. A specialist in public...

David Richards successfully prosecutes skipper in Sussex triple-drownings case

15th March 2021

David Richards, Head of 3PB’s Marine Group, successfully prosecuted David Marr for failing to keep a proper lookout as master of the fishing vessel Vertrouwen, as a result of which three men, out for a night’s recreational fishing off the coast of Sussex, were killed. The incident happened just after midnight on 6 August 2017. Following a five-day retrial Mr Marr was convicted unanimously by the jury at Brighton Crown Court. He was sentenced to...

Two important points to consider in international child abduction cases following Dorian Day and Sarah Tierney's success in the CoA

9th March 2021

Dorian Day and Sarah Tierney successfully represented the Appellant mother in Re G (Abduction: Consent/Discretion) [2021] EWCA Civ 139. The case highlights two important points for practitioners to consider in international child abduction cases: The exercise of judicial discretion under Article 13 of the Hague Convention; The inherent inequality of arms caused by the difference in the availability of legal aid to the parties. In Re G, the parents (‘M’ and ‘F’) and their 2...

Dorian Day and Sarah Tierney successful in CoA case considering the competence of the child in Children Act proceedings

9th March 2021

Dorian Day and Sarah Tierney acted for the father in the reported case of Re Z (Interim Care Order) [2020] EWCA Civ 1755 on an appeal against an interim care order where HHJ George had authorised the removal of a 15 year old boy with autism from his father’s care. The appeal was successful on the difficult ground of procedural irregularity. Baker LJ, delivering  the leading judgment, made important observations regarding the need for the...

Thomas Acworth acts for serving Grenadier Guard in serial sweetheart frauds

4th March 2021

3PB’s specialist crime barrister Thomas Acworth (pictured here) acted for Lance Corporal (LCpl) Nathan Walker, a serving soldier in the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. LCpl Walker pleaded guilty to defrauding three vulnerable women he met on dating apps in order to finance his gambling addiction. There was some dispute between the prosecution and the defence about the overall value of the frauds. When passing sentence, HHJ Miller QC valued the fraud on the basis of...

Virtual quiz raises over £1,500 for Headway Salisbury and South Wiltshire

3rd March 2021

National barristers chambers 3PB’s Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team joined forces with Novum Law, Trethowans and Fawcetts to organise a virtual quiz in aid of brain injuries charity Headway Salisbury and South Wiltshire. The quiz took place via Zoom on Friday last week and thanks to the 81 participants, the teams managed to raise an incredible £1507.95 on the night! All donations were greatly appreciated by this pioneering charity and will enable Headway Salisbury...