Major New Barristers' Chambers for the South West |
22 Jul 2010 |
King’s Bench Chambers, Plymouth and Godolphin Chambers, Truro have agreed to merge to form King’s Bench & Godolphin Chambers [‘KB&G’]. KB&G will be the largest chambers in the South West outside Bristol offering comprehensive and wide-ranging expertise and experience to match the best in the country.
At a time of change and uncertainty within the legal profession generally, this merger creates a forward-looking and flexible set. It represents a positive affirmation of belief in the long-term future of the Bar. Strength in numbers puts KB&G in a strong position to meet coming challenges such as block-contracting for the provision of legal services.
KB&G will continue to cover the 3 core areas of Civil, Crime and Family. By combining resources, KB&G will be able to provide a much greater strength across the 3 areas at all levels of call. Both Chambers come with proud histories and strong ties to their local communities, Godolphin Chambers is the only set based in Cornwall, and the merger will enhance the range of skill and expertise available rather than weakening local ties. The new set will maintain bases with conference facilities in both Plymouth and Truro and will conduct seminars accredited for continuing professional development in both locations. Geographically members of the new set are spread from the far West to the Devon/Somerset border, while individual practices extend still further, with some members having specialisms which attract instructions from throughout England & Wales.
For a transitional period after the merger, Colin Elliott and Gina Small, will act as joint Heads of Chambers.
What does the merger mean?
In the field of Civil law, the new chambers will offer an extraordinary range of expertise, with individual members whose specialisms include clinical negligence, property, employment and commercial litigation to name but a few. As Colin Elliott puts it:
“The South West has for too long been without a chambers offering a focused team based civil practice. Now with KB&G those clients who have had to seek services out of the region will have a local choice..”
The merger is particularly timely when many firm of solicitors within the South West, both large regional firms and smaller firms with particular specialisms are increasingly seeking to compete directly with London firms and the those from other major conurbations.
In Family law King's Bench Chambers and Godolphin Chambers individually possessed strong teams, which will be enhanced in combination. Covering everything from large money ancillary relief to the most serious of public law children cases, KB&G's family team will be unmatched on the circuit.
The fusion of the existing Chambers' Criminal teams will bring greater strength and choice as well as the additional benefit of more convenient conference facilities close to two of Devon and Cornwall's three principal trial centres. The King's Bench Criminal team has historically predominated in Plymouth as well as covering criminal work in Crown Courts and other courts across the region and in the case of Courts Martial, nationally and abroad. Both sets of chambers have had a strong presence in Truro.
But this is not the end of the story, as according to Gina Small:
“KB&G will be forward looking with an eye to further expansion and development.”
In the short to medium-term this will mean a policy of expansion and growth - whether by collaboration with other chambers or other professionals and certainly by welcoming those barristers of quality and experience who might wish to join KB&G. A formal merger date will be announced in due course. |
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Family Advocacy Seminar |
06 Jul 2010 |
Plymouth County Court Family
Advocacy Seminar
Her Honour Judge Miranda Robertshaw invites you to join in the fun at the Advocacy Seminar being run in association with the Local Family Bar
on
Tuesday 13th July 2010 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm
at Plymouth County Court.
We are delighted that The Honourable Mr Justice Coleridge will be joining us
The Seminar will close with wine and nibbles in the Jury Suite
CPD Accreditation points for attendance 1 hour
Ref: DFJ/KBCH
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Family Seminars - June 2010 |
21 May 2010 |
King's Bench Chambers Family Group are pleased to announce the following seminar dates -
Tuesday 1st June - King's Bench Chambers, Plymouth - 5pm - 1 CPD Point (Accredited)
Financial Issues Surrounding Special Guardianship - Claire Appleby
Children Act Law Update - William HIgginson
Wednesday 2nd June - One Eyed Cat, Truro - 5pm - 1 CPD Point (Accredited)
Financial Issues Surrounding Special Guardianship - Yvonne Sutherland
Children Act Law Update - Thomas Challacombe
There will be an opportunity after each seminar to meet speakers and other members of the family group for drinks and nibbles.
Please contact Lizzie Jenkinson on 01752 221551 or elizabeth.jenkinson@kingsbenchchambers.co.uk to book your place
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Article by Rawdon Crozier in the 'Landlord & Tenant Review' |
21 Apr 2010 |
Rawdon Crozier has an article in the current edition of the Landlord & Tenant Review. In 'The fraudulent tenant: equity, estoppel and statutory purpose' Rawdon examines the Court of Appeal's decision in Newport CC v Charles [2008] EWCA Civ 1541; [2009] 1 WLR 1884 and reviews the history and development of proprietary estoppel, highlighting some of the misconceptions about the nature and ambit of the doctrine. (L. & T. Review (2010) Vol.14 No.2 Pages 63-66). |
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Carrie-ann Rawlings completes her first six pupillage |
13 Apr 2010 |
Carrie-ann Rawlings succesfully completed her six months of pupillage on the 1st April is now able to appear in court. She has already completed several cases and won her first trial in the Magistrates Court. We wish her continuing success for the reminder of her pupilage. |
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Leasehold Holiday Home Update |
09 Apr 2010 |
8th. April 2010 Holiday Homes Service Charges The judgment in Phillips & Goddard v Francis has been reported on Lawtel the reference is LTL 8/4/2010. A case note and report will be also be available through the Estates Gazette shortly. HHJ Griggs has granted permission to appeal on the grounds that the point is one of general public importance. |
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Success for Leasehold Holiday Home Owners |
26 Mar 2010 |
Leasehold holiday homes are "dwellings" under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 the High Court has ruled. Conflicting decisions in the Lands Tribunal and LVT were resolved in favour of a group of leaseholders' represented by Rawdon Crozier. This means that important protections afforded to leaseholders under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 and the Housing Act 1996 will apply equally to leaseholders of holiday homes. The Lands Tribunal had ruled in 2008 in King v Udlaw that holiday homes were not "dwellings" within the meaning of the 1985 Act but that decision was not followed in the instant case. A case note will appear in Vol 14, Issue 4 of the Landlord & Tenant Review due to be published in June 2010.
Case: Phillips & Goddard v Francis & Francis, QBD Truro District Registry (HH Judge Griggs sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) 24/3/2010
A case commentary by Rawdon Crozier on Newport City Council v Charles will appear in Volume 14 Issue 3 of the Landlord & Tenant Review, which is due to be published shortly.
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Rawdon Crozier Published in the Journal of Professional Negligence |
01 Jan 2010 |
Chambers is pleased to announce that Rawdon Crozier's article "When damage occurs - limitation and pecuniary loss in tort - an examination of the courts' divergent approaches" has been published in the Journal of Professional Negligence (P.N. (2009) Vol.25 No.2 Pages 68-75) and is digested on Lawtel and Westlaw. Publication was delayed due to editorial changes at the Journal of Professional Negligence following the take-over of the publisher, Tottel, by Bloomsbury Professional and those who read the article should note that the decision in Axa Insurance v Akther & Darby Solicitors [2009] EWCA Civ 1166 has, in the interim, confirmed the first instance decision of Flaux J. referred to in the article. This outcome does not alter the premise of the article that there is a conflict between the approaches to when damage occurs in personal injury claims and other claims for pecuniary loss in tort. |
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New Associate Tennant |
08 Dec 2009 |
Chambers is pleased to announce that RICHARD GUY of Godolphin Chambers, Truro is to join us as an Associate Member.
Richard was called to the Bar in 1970 and brings with him a great wealth of experience. His principal areas of practice are chancery, administrative law, judicial review, planning and local government and family law (including child abduction). Richard's chancery work ranges from disputes about real property, easements, rights of way and restrictive covenants to trusts of land and cohabitee cases, while in administrative law he has been involved cases extending from planning to family law. He will be a welcome addition to Chambers' Civil Group. For more information about Richard please consult his website entry. |
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New Member Joins the Civil Team |
13 Nov 2009 |
Chambers is pleased to announce that ANDREW PHILIP WILLETTS of New Walk Chambers, Leicester is to join us as an Associate Member. Andrew who already has established links with the West Country intends to divide his time between work on the Midland and Western Circuits.
Andrew, who was called in 1997, was appointed a Recorder dealing with Civil matters on the Midland Circuit this year and is also currently studying for an LLM in Medical Law. He will be a welcome addition to our Civil Team. For more information about Andrew please contact James Basden our Civil Clerk. |
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University of Plymouth Business Placements & General Graduate Recruitment Fair |
12 Nov 2009 |
Members and Clerks attended Plymouth University's recruitment fair on Wednesday 11th November in the new Roland Levinsky Building. Our stand proved a great success, allowing students to talk to members and clerks about Chambers and how to join the Bar. |
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Landlord and Tenant Review features an article by Rawdon Crozier |
16 Jun 2009 |
Abuses in the sell-to rent-back market - an estoppel response by Rawdon Crozier has been published in the Landlord & Tenant Review (2009) Vol.13 No.3 Pages 104-107, an article on this topic previously appeared in the Law Society Gazette, Vol. 106 No.19 p.27. The Landlord & Tenant Review's legal editor is Prof. Mark Pawlowski of the Department of Law, University of Greenwich and Rawdon would like to thank him for his help in producing this extended and editorially enhanced version. Rawdon is currently working on another article for the Review about limitation in tort-based landlord and tenant litigation, examining the potential impact of seemingly divergent approaches to tortious limitation periods in recent cases. |
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Announcement from King’s Bench Chambers Civil Group |
01 Jun 2009 |
King’s Bench Chambers civil croup would like to inform you that after 36 happy and successful years of practice, Hugh Parker has retired from the Bar.
Hugh was one of the founder members of King’s Bench Chambers and with his assistance Chambers reputation in the South West has grown from strength to strength.
As part of the continuing development of the Civil Group, King’s Bench Chambers is delighted to announce the appointment of James Basden as their civil clerk. James has extensive experience of clerking large civil and common law sets. He is here to provide you with a dedicated service and welcomes discussing how we can meet your needs.
On behalf of Hugh, and the civil group, King’s Bench Chambers would like to thank you for all your instructions to Hugh and to Chambers over the years. We look forward to forging an even stronger working relationship together in the future. |
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Congratulations to Emma Birt |
26 May 2009 |
King's Bench Chambers would like to congratulate Emma Birt on becoming a Grade 3 prosecutor after a successful CPS re-grading. |
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Congratulations to the King's Bench Chambers Half Marathon Team |
24 May 2009 |
Congratualtions to the runners in the King's Bench Chambers Half Marathon Team who completed the race on Sunday 24th May. The runners battled the heat to complete the race. The team were running for St Luke's Hospice and look set to raise nearly £1,600. If you wish to make a donation you can at www.justgiving.com/kingsbenchchambershalfmarathonteam
Left to right - Nancy Jennings (Plymouth Legal Services) Louise Portass & Rebecca Mabelle (Nash & Co) Thomas Challacombe (KBC) Colin Palmer (KBC) Ceren Ozsoy (MP Jones) Dan Dyson (KBC) Not in Picture - LIsa Troutt (CPS Plymouth) Vicky Murphy (Plmyouth County Court)
Thank you to all those who sponsored us and cheered us on during the race. |
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KBC welcomes new civil clerk |
12 May 2009 |
King’s Bench Chambers are delighted to announce the arrival of our new civil clerk, James Basden, who has relocated to the West Country having spent over 10 years clerking civil sets in London. James has worked extensively in civil and commercial clerking and looks forward to developing the ever-growing and successful civil group.
King’s Bench Chambers are further pleased to introduce Lizzie Jenkinson as their new family clerk. Working alongside Tanya Luke, Lizzie will be a point of contact for all family solicitors. |
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A Lack of Care: Local authorities, care and negligence claims |
06 Apr 2009 |
In an article in Family Law Week (which is also to appear in the forthcoming KBC Family Newsletter) Rawdon Crozier reviews the rise of negligence claims arising from local authority care and gives practical advice on how family lawyers can handle such cases. See it at the following link:
www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx |
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KBC - supporters of the University of Plymouth Employer Mentoring Programme |
27 Mar 2009 |
This year, Claire Appleby and Carol Mashembo of King's Bench Chambers were proud to support the University of Plymouth Employer Mentoring Programme, which aims to link disabled students with professionals to gain support and insight into a specific area of work. The programme runs for six months and helps students to increase their understanding of their chosen industry and address issues around their disability.
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New Door Tenants |
24 Feb 2009 |
King's Bench Chambers are pleased to announce the arrival of Mr. Stewart Jones QC & Mr. Michael Vere-Hodge QC, both at 3 Paper Buildings, as Door Tenants.
Both are senior criminal silks with extensive experience of all types of criminal work both for prosecution and defence.
For more information about Mr. Stewart Jones QC & Mr. Michael Vere-Hodge QC please contact one of our clerks. |
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KBC Plymouth Half Marathon Sponsorship Page |
23 Feb 2009 |
As you are aware KBC have put together a team that are taking part in the Plymouth Half Marathon on Sunday 24th May. Four members of our Chambers, Malcolm Clarke, Deni Mathews, Thomas Challacombe & Dan Dyson are running in the race along with several local solicitors. We plan to raise as much money as we can for St Luke’s Hospice, through sponsorship, using the justgiving website below. Please click the link below and follow the simple steps to sponsor our team. We appreciate every pound that is donated.
Many thanks |
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Plymouth Half Marathon 2009 |
07 Feb 2009 |
We at KBC are putting together a team to run in the Plymouth Half Marathon 2009, which is due to take place on Sunday 24th May 2009 starting from Plymouth Hoe. KBC would like to welcome YOU to join our team, whether you are a serious runner or a complete novice.
KBC will be supplying KBC/Charity T-shirts for each member of the team. We plan to set up a charity website, using the ‘just giving’ website, to raise money for a charity. This website will allow all colleagues, family and friends to donate money directly to the charity. Charity to be decided by the team – race entry fee applies. We also plan to organise a running group once numbers have been finalised.
If you are interested contact Colin: colin.palmer@kingsbenchchambers.co.uk |
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