News

Two of 3PB’s specialist commercial litigation barristers, David Berkley QC, 3PB’s Head of Chambers and Neil Fawcett have reviewed business insurance claims arising from the current Coronavirus pandemic. Their review points out that some insurance companies deliberately sought to exclude respiratory diseases from their policy following the outbreak of SARS in 2003; and recommends that businesses should conduct a detailed examination of their business interruption policy wording. The article also reviews size of claims, how...

3PB is delighted to announce that former family solicitor Theresa Lim - who transferred to the Bar last year - has become a tenant and full member of the 200-strong national barristers’ chambers. She joined its busy Family team and is based from their expanding Birmingham office. Theresa qualified as a solicitor in April 2005 and worked for solicitors Glaisyers for 15 years. Theresa has considerable experience undertaking a wide range of advocacy in family...

David Richards, head of the marine group at 3PB and pupil barrister Dr Tagbo Ilozue have reviewed national and international maritime responses to the Covid 19 crisis, looking in particular at the UK regulatory framework that may be used to police responses to the coronavirus beyond the current lockdown. The two maritime barristers and co-authors suggest that shipowners and employers of seafarers are best advised to take account of the special features of coronavirus and...

3PB’s pupil barristers Mariya Peykova, Georgina Dietrich (editor) and Gemma Ralph are authors of a new newsletter, ‘’Publications during the Pandemic’’. The newsletter has introductions from David Berkley QC, 3PB’s Head of Chambers, and Cheryl Jones, Head of Pupillage at 3PB. The newsletter focuses on the Coronavirus Act 2020 and highlights updates in the areas of Clinical Negligence, Construction, Competition and Insolvency law with focus on the regulations and laws during this unprecedented time. The...

3PB’s specialist Property and Estates Barristers Charles Irvine and Rebecca Farrell issue an updated guide on the rights of commercial landlords and their tenants during the Coronavirus pandemic. The guide reviews the existing position for commercial landlords and their tenants as well as an update on the latest Government’s announcement on 23rd April 2020. To read the full guide please click here. To discuss this further with Charles or Rebecca, please contact Chambers Director Mark Heath to schedule...

3PB’s specialist Property and Regulatory Law Barrister Joshua Dubin warns local authorities about their right-to-buy lease terms when major works are being planned. Piechnik v Oxford City Council [2020] EWHC 960 (QB) – Mrs Justice Tipples DBE In a judgment with significant implications for right-to-buy (‘RTB’) long leaseholders, the High Court has held that a local authority lessor does not have an extended right of entry implied into such leases in order to carry out works...

3PB’s Rachael Goodall, instructed by Trethowans LLP, appeared for the wife in a case involving the treatment of pensions on divorce. The case was before HHJ Hess, Deputy Lead Judge of the Financial Remedy Court. The authority quotes widely from the Pensions Advisory Group report published in 2019 and has very useful guidance as to how pensions should be treated on divorce. Rachael was successful in arguing that the total £2.1m pension fund should be shared...

Following the recent decision of Re Debenhams Retail Ltd (In Administration) [2020] EWHC 921 (Ch) which applied Re Carluccio’s Limited [2020] EWHC 886 (Ch), 3PB’s specialist Employment and Commercial Barristers Daniel Brown and Rebecca Farrell join forces to review the Carluccio’s decision. Daniel Brown and Rebecca Farrell provide an analysis of this decision which serves to provide guidance to joint administrators who wished to retain employees under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme but only if...

In Zenith Logistics Services (UK) Ltd and others v Coury [2020] EWHC 774 (QB), 3PB’s Victoria Jones appeared before the Queens Bench Division in a successful appeal against a Master’s refusal  to approve a Tomlin Order on the basis that the Schedule attached to the Order was contrary to the principles of open justice because its terms were confidential to the parties. Victoria Jones was instructed by Lucy Nash of Royds Withy King. To read the full article please click here.

3PB's Indirect Tax barrister Max Schofield is conducting a complimentary Webinar in conjunction with London Tax Society on recent VAT cases and Tribunal developments arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar at 6.00pm on 28 April 2020 is aimed at those with up to 10-years PQE. Click here to sign up.

3PB’s Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Team is pleased to be hosting a virtual quiz, in aid of the Child Brain Injury Trust, at 7pm on Friday 1st May 2020. We would be delighted if you could join us. All the usual rounds, together with ‘team breakout rooms’ and the wooden spoon! The Child Brain Injury Trust is the leading voluntary sector organisation providing support for those people affected by childhood acquired brain injury across...

3PB’s specialist Commercial and Property Law Barrister Thomas Talbot-Ponsonby has issued an update on tax for both residential Landlords and Tenants. The article finds that the Coronavirus outbreak has come at difficult time for landlords due to the previous changes that will come into full effect on 6 April 2020. The current changes have been phased over the last three tax years, 25% at a time however on top of the new laws introduced by...