News & Events

A huge thank you to everyone who has instructed us this year. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Here’s to a successful 2025!

In a significant judgment following the UK’s largest fraud trial, Aaron Pulford successfully represented Tesco Stores Limited in contempt proceedings, securing a 15-month custodial sentence for Shahin Mouradi. The case highlighted not only this Defendant’s repeated and extreme misconduct but also the broader societal impact of fraudulent activities on businesses, consumers, and the justice

Marc Willems KC has successfully settled a complex personal injury claim for £13.5M. The case involved a tragic car accident in which a child sustained a serious brain injury. The settlement was approved by HHJ Bird, sitting as a High Court Judge in Manchester, who also ordered the anonymisation of the parties. Marc extends his gratitude to Rob Muttock of Clyde and Co and Lucy Bennett of Inter

Key Questions in Chancery, Probate, and Trusts: A Four-Part Series by Lucie Wood. Part 1, When Should You Consider an Application to Replace or Remove a Personal Representative? I am often asked for my opinion in relation to the prospects of success regarding an application to remove or replace a personal representative due to a breakdown of relations and/or concerns regarding the personal

Ellie Akhgar , instructed by John Mail Solicitors, has successfully defended a case involving seven counts of indecent assault at Bolton Crown Court. The historic allegations, dating from 1997 to 2001, alleged that the defendant had indecently assaulted his stepdaughter on multiple occasions in the family home. The case required sensitive navigation of social services and GP records, with the

Cobden House Chambers’ barrister Nick Flanagan , instructed by Sara Lyle of Capsticks , represents NHS England in the extensive inquests regarding the deaths of former patients surgeon Ian Paterson. These inquests seek to address crucial questions and concerns surrounding patient safety, medical oversight, and accountability. The inquests are divided into several modules, with Module One

We are delighted to announce that Sharon Leene has joined chambers, bringing her extensive experience in criminal law to chambers Called to the Bar in 1996, Sharon began her career at the Criminal Bar in London, where she developed a formidable reputation over more than a decade of practice. In 2003, she relocated to Manchester, continuing her work in criminal law before taking a successful

Cobden House Chambers warmly invites future pupillage applicants for January 2025 to attend our Pupillage Open Evening on Thursday, 28th November. This event offers prospective candidates the opportunity to meet our barristers and clerks, learn about the pupillage process, and gain valuable insights into the dynamic work at Chambers. The evening promises a comprehensive introduction to life

In a reserved judgment handed down in September 2024, HHJ Hassall dismissed the Claimant’s claim based on grounds of breach of duty and causation. The Judge preferred the evidence presented by the Defendant’s reconstruction expert, Mr. Peter Davey, on all points concerning the interpretation of the physical evidence, reconstruction, and findings related to breach of duty. Michael Jones was

We are pleased to share that Satpal Roth- Sharma successfully represented a Vietnamese national in a significant six-day trial at Bradford Crown Court involving four defendants. The case centered on charges related to the commercial-scale production of cannabis, with over 300 kilograms valued at over £2,000,000 found in a large warehouse in Halifax. Satpal effectively defended her client by

Cobden House Chambers is delighted to announce that Michael Elders has accepted an offer of tenancy after successfully completing his pupillage. Throughout his pupillage, Michael has demonstrated exceptional knowledge and skill, earning recognition for his diligent case preparation and dedication to client care. Michael will now continue to build his practice within Chambers, representing both

We are delighted to announce that Cobden House Chambers has been featured in the 2025 edition of Chambers and Partners , with recognition across multiple practice areas. This acknowledgement reflects the outstanding work of our barristers in delivering high-quality advocacy and expert legal advice across a range of disciplines. Personal Injury Our barristers are praised as "a group of very

Tim Willitts recently represented a Claimant in a successful clinical negligence claim against a plastic surgeon. The claim concerned a debridement procedure at a private hospital on 13 December 2016, following an abdominoplasty in November 2016. At the end of the debridement procedure, the Defendant had decided to close the wound, instead of leaving it open to heal by secondary intention.

As we celebrate 25 years of David Maddison’s remarkable career at Cobden House Chambers, we’re excited to share his reflections in this light-hearted yet insightful "25 Things I’ve Learned" article—also humorously titled "25 Mistakes I've Made So You Don't Have To." With a wealth of experience in family law, care work, and advocacy, David offers a mix of practical advice, humor, and personal

Yesterday, Team Cobden completed the Manchester Half Marathon in aid of Day One Trauma Support ! Everyone did a fantastic job, and it was an incredible day. A huge thank you to everyone who supported and donated so far – there's still chance to donate here - Cobden House Chambers is fundraising for Day One Trauma Support (justgiving.com) We celebrated afterwards with some well-deserved food

We are thrilled to announce our continued success in the Legal 500 2025 rankings . An impressive number of our barristers were recognised for their exceptional contributions across various areas of law. As a leading set, we continue to build on our strong reputation, with individual barristers receiving praise for their expertise, dedication, and commitment to client service. Thank you to our

Tim Willitts was recently successful in a personal injury case involving a security guard employed by G4S at a DWP office, following litigation that spanned over five years. The case arose from an incident in October 2018, where a disgruntled benefits claimant entered the building unchallenged, made his way to the first floor, and produced a knife. Our client heroically intervened, protecting

We are delighted to announce that Ellie Akhgar has joined Cobden House Chambers. Called to the Bar in July 2024, Ellie has over a decade of experience in criminal defence. She qualified as a solicitor in 2011 and became a Higher Court Advocate in 2013. Ellie specialises in serious crime, including murder, drug supply, fraud, and sexual offences. Known for her high level of client care, Ellie is

We are delighted to welcome to chambers Jack Bickerton (Family), Lekietia Olutayo (Business, Property & Housing), Madeleine D. (Crime) and Lucy Anne Hemsworth (Personal Injury) who have all commenced pupillage with us. We wish them all the very best of luck.

We’re thrilled to announce that a dedicated team from Cobden House Chambers is taking on the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday, 13th October. As proud charity partners of Day One Trauma Support for 2024, we’re committed to making a significant impact through this challenging yet rewarding event. Our team is incredibly passionate about supporting Day One Trauma Support, and we’re committed to

We are delighted to announce that following the completion of their pupillage, Emily Fildes , Bradley Mather , and Ian Bond have accepted invitations to join chambers as full tenants after successfully completing their pupillages. Their respective Heads of Departments have shared insights into our new tenants, highlighting their contributions and the promising futures they have ahead of them.

David Maddison our head of the Family Department, is marking an incredible 25 years at Cobden House Chambers. Going from the era of briefs in pink tape to briefs in PDF, David has witnessed and contributed to the evolution of our chambers. As David fondly recalls, "When I joined I tore off the bottom of a fax cover sheet to learn everyone's name. This year I had to explain what a fax cover

Michael Jones , instructed by Tom Higson of DWF Law LLP, successfully appeared on behalf of the Defendant in the matter of Kirk and Jones (Administrators of the Estate of Neil Jones, Deceased) v Culina Group and Witkos [2024] EWHC 1431 (KB). Judgment was handed down by His Honour Judge Rawlings, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, on 11 June 2024. The matter proceeded in relation to liability

Angela Georgiou , led by Gerard Martin KC, recently secured a settlement of £4.75 million for a 24 year old claimant, who was just 18 when he suffered a traumatic below knee amputation when he was run over whilst crossing a road. The case involved complex causation issues, including a residuum that was insensate and badly shaped for socket fit and weight bearing. The Claimant also had a

Lucie Wood was recently successful on a Business and Property case, which has been the subject of litigation for over two years. The case was finally resolved by way of a successful strike out and summary judgment application on behalf of the Claimant. The case was listed for a two-day trial to determine whether the Defendant could establish that declarations should be made in her favour

Julie Ann Doyle recently appeared on behalf of the Applicant non-biological mother in the case of M (A child) (No 1) [2023] EWFC 312 (B) and M (A child) (No 2) [2024] EWFC 99 (B) Judgments were handed down on 13 April 2023 and 2 May 2024. Julie acted on behalf of the Applicant non-biological mother in this case. The Applicant (‘Alice’) initially made an application for contact with a child in

Satpal Roth-Sharma successfully secured an acquittal on a rape case following a 4-day trial at Leeds Crown Court before HHJ Batiste The defendant, who was under the age of 18 at the time of the offence, was accused of domestic rape involving his then girlfriend who was also under the age of 18. After four days of evidence and a jury hearing the case, Satpal Roth-Sharma secured an acquittal, and

Julie Ann Doyle successfully represented a psychological / non-biological parent in an application for contact with a child in care and an application to discharge a Care Order made in 2018. At an interim hearing in April 2023, the child was removed from the care of the biological parent with whom she had been wrongly placed, due to emotional harm. The child was returned to the care of the

We are delighted to announce a significant win for Aaron Pulford, who successfully represented Tesco in a landmark contempt of court case. This case follows the UK's largest ever civil motor fraud operation, highlighting the lengths fraudsters will go to evade justice. Aaron's exceptional legal skills and dedication to justice were on full display throughout these complex contempt proceedings.

Congratulations to the Cobden House Chambers team on their remarkable achievement in completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge on Saturday in support of Day One Trauma Support. The team's dedication and resilience were truly inspiring as they tackled this demanding course, especially considering the challenging weather conditions. Their smiles throughout the day are a testament to their positive

HHJ Rawlings, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, dismissed the Claimants’ claim on the grounds of causation. The Judge preferred the evidence of the Defendants’ reconstruction and A&E experts and made findings about conspicuity and applicable perception reaction times in difficult night time driving conditions. The Judgment which was handed down on 11 June 2024 can be found here. Michael was

In a recent family law case, Bethany Pitt achieved a fantastic outcome for a mother. Following a final hearing, Bethany secured a "lives with" order in favour of the applicant's mother, allowing her to relocate with her child to their hometown permanently. The case involved complex challenges. Bethany's meticulous cross-examination addressed multiple allegations against the mother, and her

The Cobden House Chambers football team took to the pitch on Sunday for a competitive charity match against Stephensons Solicitors and Express Solicitors. In a spirited and fun-filled game, the teams battled it out for a worthy cause: Day One Trauma Support. While Stephensons emerged victorious this year, claiming the championship trophy, the true winners are undoubtedly Day One Trauma Support.

Pupillage interviews are over, congratulations to all who battled through! The calibre of candidates is so high these days that just getting an interview is a testament to your exceptional skills. Now that the dust has settled, let's talk about something that came up during our first round of interviews. We reached the customary "any questions?" stage, and while we're happy to answer anything,

Marc Willems KC has secured a successful outcome in a recent credit hire appeal case, which will influence the ongoing legal battle between credit hire companies and RTA insurers. The case centered on the possibility of misrepresentation during the initial phone call between an innocent driver seeking a replacement vehicle and the credit hire company. The defendant insurer alleged that the credit

Robert Sterling has been successful in two recent libel cases. Francis v Pearson and Burston [2024] EWHC 605 (KB) was a strike-out application on the ground of 14 months delay in taking a step in the action. The case is of general interest as it shows the importance of a claimant having to pursue the Court to fix a case management conference when it has failed to do so. Parsons v Atkinson [2024]

Mussadak Mirza succeeded in opposing applications for repeat audiograms in two recent NIHL cases. Mohamed v (1) Paisley Welding & Fabrication (2) AOC International Limited (3) Amec Process & Energy Limited (4) Wood Group Engineering (North Sea) Limited (5) Wood Group UK Limited Bowker v (1) Walstell Garage & Filling Station Limited (2) A R Astbury Limited In the first case, Mussadak Mirza,

In a driving offence case, Satpal Roth- Sharma successfully defended a solicitor accused of using a phone while driving. Despite crucial body-worn footage not being provided after repeated requests over 18 months, Satpal strategically leveraged available evidence and legal arguments to emphasize fair trial procedures. By arguing that convicting the defendant without this crucial evidence would

In a display of spirit and determination, a team of dedicated staff and members from Cobden House Chambers are gearing up for a challenging adventure in support of a worthy cause. They've set their sights on conquering the iconic Yorkshire Three Peaks, with the option for some team members to tackle a single mighty summit. This ambitious hike, taking place on Saturday, June 15th , will see the

Philip Simms , instructed as counsel to the inquest by HM's Senior Coroner for West Yorkshire Mr Martin Fleming, has recently concluded the inquest touching upon the death of Katelyn Louise Dawson. Katelyn came by her death on 10 January 2018 when she was hit by a car whilst waiting for a bus to school. She tragically passed away in hospital later that day. After a police investigation, the

Huge congratulations to the Cobden House Chambers Marathon Team for completing the Manchester Marathon on Sunday! Colin Harrison , Daniel Gray , Jamie Conwell and Martin Leech all took to the streets of Manchester to complete the grueling 26.2 mile race supported by friends, colleagues and family along the way. The Team have raised a fantastic £3,000 in support for Day One Trauma

In a powerful display of unity and strength, four members of our clerking team - Martin Leech , Jamie Conwell , Daniel Gray , and Colin Harrison - are gearing up to tackle the gruelling adidas Manchester Marathon on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Their mission? To raise vital funds for Day One Trauma Support! This marathon serves as the inaugural event in our ambitious 2024 fundraising calendar, as we

Satpal Roth-Sharma instructed by a client via the direct access scheme, recently presented a compelling case before the First Tier Tribunal, Criminal Injuries Compensation, resulting in a noteworthy success. The Tribunal granted her appeal, overturning the original decision by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The Appellant, who discovered her father's murdered body in 2014,

Chetna Parmar , instructed by Habib Rahman at Alison Law Solicitors , has been successful in an appeal against the CICA. The case, spanning over 5 years, involved Chetna representing the Applicant who contested CICA's negative decision to deny compensation. Handling a sensitive matter, this case served as a pivotal point for the applicant to pursue further action against other entities. Despite

Following on from his article on 1 December 2023 which considered the decision leading to Everton's immediate 10-point deduction, Gary Lewis digests the appeal decision published on 26 February 2024 which reduced that sanction and what could come of the second set of proceedings. Download Article: the_premier_league_and_the_law_-_the_continuing_case_of_everton_football_club_28.02.24__002_.pdf

Satpal Roth- Sharma , specialising in serious crime, fraud, and regulatory matters, recently represented a defendant accused of conspiring to supply Class A drugs at Preston Crown Court. In a strategic move, she successfully argued to exclude late expert interpretation evidence from the case, leaving the Prosecution facing difficulties in proving their matter. The Learned Judge, acknowledging the

NICK ROSS successfully prosecuted a case for the CPS involving a 20-year-old Californian who pleaded guilty to importing 22.4kg of Cannabis. The illicit substances were found in two suitcases at Manchester Airport, following his journey from LA to New York, then to Munich and finally to Manchester. Border Force suspected the defendant not to be a genuine visitor, leading to his refusal to

At Cobden House Chambers, our commitment to justice extends beyond the courtroom. We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Day One Trauma Support, a UK charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by major trauma. Cobden House Chambers and Day One Trauma Support unite in a shared commitment: to empower individuals embarking on the path to recovery and justice. This aligns

We are delighted to announce that Keith Jones has joined Chambers. Keith specialises in a wide range of serious criminal cases, including drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and more. He also handles private road traffic defence work in both magistrates’ and Crown courts Find out more about Keith by visiting his profile here .

Embarking on the journey to secure pupillage? We have four pupils who have shared their unique tips from their pupillage application journey together with their path to pupillage. Click on each person’s tips to view their journeys and tips.

Today, the court awarded Tesco Stores Limited exemplary damages over £60,000 due to the outrageous conduct of 4 parties conspiring and staging crashes in fraudulent claims. As part of an anti-fraud operation, Aaron Pulford secured exemplary damages for Tesco against former employees and the public. Tesco has recovered compensatory damages exceeding £50,000 and obtained exemplary damages exceeding

In Goulden v Milne [2024] EW Misc 1 (CC) Richard Oughton successfully obtained a declaration that the tenants of a building comprising residential flats could acquire the freehold pursuant to Part 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. HH Judge Keyser KC held that notices under s3 and s3A Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 could only be served after completion of the purchase of the reversion and not

Continuing from Aaron Pulford’s outstanding success in the largest civil fraud trials in the UK at the end of 2023, Aaron is starting 2024 with the 8 remaining cases, which are proceeding to assessment of damages hearings, commencing on Monday 15 th January 2024 until the end of February 2024. These hearings are to address the court on the outrageousness of the conspiracy and the deceits of 10

Philip Simms , instructed by Soo Choi of the Government Legal Department, successfully represented the Ministry of Justice at trial on 8 and 9 January 2024. The trial was before HHJ Saggerson in the County Court at Central London. The Claimant brought a claim valued in excess of £200,000 for orthopaedic, ophthalmic, and psychological injuries. He alleged that he had suffered injury whilst working

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our Personal Injury team – Benjamin Clayton. Ben brings a wealth of expertise in Personal Injury Law, having honed his skills with a successful practice set on the Midland's Circuit and as a Solicitor-Advocate for a national advocacy firm. His experience representing both claimants and defendants provides a balanced perspective on litigation. Ben

It is a common form of journalism to refer to an individual and his wrong doing and for effect to place that story side-by-side with a separate story of wrong doing. Sean Price v Newsquest Media Group Limited [2023[ EWHC 3027, where Robert Sterling recently appeared for the successful claimant, Mr Price is a good example of how a newspaper, The Northern Echo, in its reporting, over-stepped the

We are delighted to announce that Jennifer Routledge has accepted the offer of tenancy after successfully completing her pupillage. Jennifer specialises in all aspects of Business, Property and Housing Law.

The Premier League and The Law: The Curious Case of Everton Football Club On the day Everton Football Club is set to submit its appeal against its controversial 10-point deduction, Business and Property Counsel (and Everton fanatic) Gary Lewis considers the case and what could come of that appeal. Please see link to the full article : -

Marc Willems KC and Jonthan Boyle secure substantial settlement Marc Willems KC is delighted to be able to report that he and his Junior, Jonathan Boyle , both of Cobden House Chambers, Manchester have been able to settle the case of DDM on terms which were approved by the High Court on the 27th November 2023. DDM suffered catastrophic injuries including a very severe brain injury in an

Cobden House Chambers is delighted to announce that it is now recruiting for four fully funded 12-month pupillages in the Personal Injury, Crime, Family, and Business & Property/Housing Departments. The planned pupillage start date is October 2024 for all of the pupillages, but Chambers will consider a flexible starting date to accommodate successful candidates according to their personal

Marc Willems KC leading Oliver Celensu recently secured a lump sum settlement of £6.455 million in a case where the Claimant sustained catastrophic injuries to his leg in a road traffic accident. The Claimant’s significant orthopaedic injuries resulted in him requiring the use of a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. He will require 24 hour care, single storey accommodation and a range of

We are delighted to announce that Jack Littler has accepted an invitation to join chambers. Jack specialises in all aspects of Personal Injury Law.

Marc Willems KC and Chloe Murray succeed in the Court of Appeal Marc Willems KC and Chloe Murray of Cobden House Chambers have succeeded in their appeal to the Court of Appeal in the case of Clements-Siddall v Dunbobbin Hotels Ltd. The Judgment was handed down today. The Claimant was an unborn child at the time of the accident when his mother fell over the unguarded raised edge of a

We are delighted to announce that following the completion of her pupillage, Bethany Pitt has accepted an invitation to join chambers. Bethany specialises in all aspects of family law .

Satpal Roth-Sharma rejoins Chambers We are delighted to announce that Satpal Roth-Sharma has rejoined us. Satpal is an experienced Crown Court advocate specialising in all aspects of criminal litigation and regulatory work including inquests and professional discipline. She has vast experience in both defence and prosecution work. Satpal qualified as a Solicitor in 2003 and became a Higher

Megan Horner Joins Chambers We are delighted to announce that following the completion of her pupillage, Megan Horner has accepted an invitation to join chambers. Megan specialises in all aspects of Criminal and Regulatory Law

We are delighted to welcome to chambers Ian Bond (Business, Property and Housing), Emily Fildes (Family) and Bradley Mather (Crime) who have all commenced pupillage with us today. We wish them all the very best of luck.

On 8 August 2023, HHJ Bird, sitting as a judge of the High Court in the King's Bench Division, handed down judgment in the contempt of court case of Stockport MBC v Alexander and Others. Judgment followed a two-day trial in which Gary Lewis, instructed by Marc Livingston and Catriona Virden of Janes Solicitors, represented the successful defendant. The case had a long and complex history, having

Nick Flanaga n appointed as Crown Court Recorder Cobden House Chambers are delighted to announce that Nick Flanagan has been appointed a Crown Court Recorder. Nick is one of 163 new recorders appointed by the King on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, The Right Honourable Alex Chalk KC MP, and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, The Right Honourable The Lord Burnett of Maldon.

Where the owner of a property agrees with an introducer to pay a fee conditional upon the property being sold for a certain amount to the person he introduces, and the property is sold for less than that amount, does the property-owner have an obligation, contractual, statutory or restitutionary, to pay reasonable remuneration to the introducer for their services? The Supreme Court had to grapple

Our Family Pupil Bethany Pitt shares a brief insight into her pupillage so far… Whilst I sit and reflect on my first three months in pupillage, I cannot believe how fast the time has gone. I started pupillage in an unorthodox way, as a month prior I had knee surgery which meant I attended my first day with a set of crutches. Everyone was so supportive and accommodating but of course

Dixon v Crown Estate Commisioners [2022] EWHC 3256 (Ch) Richard Oughton succeeds in a novel argument to enable shareholders to recover land from the Crown where a company has been dissolved and the time limit for restoration has expired. The reference to attached Note. dixon_v_crown_estate_commissioners_chambers_note_i.docx

Richard Hartley KC and Jonathan Boyle have recently achieved a £7.5M settlement for a client who suffered a spinal cord injury in a road traffic accident which rendered him paraplegic. Whilst primary liability was admitted, contributory negligence remained in issue. The client was a remarkable individual who had enjoyed a career in the army prior to his injury. In spite of the challenges he faced

Christmas Open hours Please see below for our opening times during the festive period:- Friday 23 rd December 2022 – 9am to 12.30pm Monday 26 th December 2022 – Closed Tuesday 27 th December 2022 – Closed Wednesday 28 th December 2022 – 9:00am to 3:00pm Thursday 31 st December 2022 – 9:00am to 3:00pm Friday 30 th December 2022 – 9:00am to 3:00pm Monday 2 rd January 2022 - Closed Tuesday 3 rd

Anthony Mazzag has recently secured a settlement of £5.75 million in a below the knee amputation case. It was particularly important for the Claimant to settle the claim as soon as possible and, during the course of the lockdown periods, significant work was carried out so that the claim was in a very advanced state within a short period of time. By adopting a collaborative approach with the

Cobden House Chambers is delighted to announce that it is now recruiting for four fully funded 12 month pupillages in the Personal Injury, Crime, Family and Business & Property/Housing Departments. The planned pupillage start date is October 2023 for all of the pupillages, but Chambers will consider a flexible starting date to accommodate successful candidates according to their personal

Chloë Booth instructed by Hannah Smith of Bendles Solicitors, for the mother and Suzanne Hargreaves instructed by Mark Graham of Gaynham King and Mellor Solicitors, for the child in a newly published case: Private law matter involving a fact – finding in respect of allegations of sexual abuse of a child. The proceedings uncovered the importance of proper consideration by professionals as to the

We are delighted to announce that following the completion of his pupillage, Oliver Celensu has accepted an invitation to join chambers. Oliver joins the Personal Injury department. For further information on Oliver and his practice please contact Colin Harrison .

The members of Cobden House Chambers who practice in criminal law have unanimously affirmed that they will abide by the outcome of the current ballot by the Criminal Bar Association. We will only return to the Crown Courts to undertake legally aided defence instructions if the members of the CBA vote to accept the Government’s offer.

We are delighted to announce that following the completion of his pupillage, Matthew Francis has accepted an invitation to join chambers. Matthew joins the Business / Property department and the Housing department. For further details about Matthew's practice please contact Christina Crook .

Katherine Wright Joins Chambers We are delighted to announce that following the completion of her pupillage, Katherine Wright has accepted an invitation to join chambers. Katherine specialises in all aspects of Criminal and Regulatory Law

Cobden House Chambers is delighted to welcome Esther Agamemnon to the Family department. Esther was called to the bar in 2007 and brings to Chambers a wealth of experience after twelve years of working in local authority child care legal departments. To find out more about Esther and her practice, please contact Christina Crook on 0161 833 6000 or [email protected]

Peter Edwards joins as full tenant. We are delighted to announce that Peter Edwards has accepted an invitation to join Chambers as a full tenant having previously been a door tenant since 2018. Peter, called in 1992, is a specialist Personal Injury and Employment Law Practitioner. In the PI field he deals mainly with catastrophic injury claims (brain and spinal injuries) and claims for

Chloe Booth produces article on Scott Schedules after re: H-N and others [2021] copy of the article is available below to download. scott_schedule_article_-_chloe_booth.pdf

Cobden House Criminal Department are unanimous in our support of the escalation of ongoing action. From Monday, we will not be accepting new instructions in legally aided cases, we will not be covering cases in which other members of the Bar are already instructed (returns) and we will be participating in “days of action” on those dates proposed by the Criminal Bar Association. It is not a

Richard Oughton wins in an important case clarifying the law on adverse possession and registered land In Crook v Zurich Assurance REF/2019/`1066 the First Tier Tribunal (Land Registration) clarified the law in relation to para 5(4) of the Sixth Schedule to the Land Registration Act 2002 . For an adverse possessor to acquire title to registered land where the boundaries are uncertain,

We are delighted to announce that Malka Afzal has joined Chambers. Malka is a Personal Injury practitioner with a busy practice encompassing all aspects of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Law. Should you wish to learn more about Malka and her practice please contact Steven Tobias on 0161 833 6882 or [email protected]

Marc Willems QC has secured Court approval for a £12m settlement in a cerebral palsy case against the MPS representing a General Practitioner. The matter was listed for a liability and causation trial in the Royal Courts of Justice to be heard this June but was compromised at a Mediation in May 2022 and received Court approval from Mr Justice Freedman for the settlement on a lump sum basis on

Philip Simms concludes Harry Sykes inquest Philip Simms , instructed as counsel to the inquest, has recently concluded the inquest into the death of Harry Sykes before Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for West Yorkshire Martin Fleming. The inquest was heard over 10 days and concluded with a narrative conclusion. Harry was 16 when he drowned at a lake whilst on a rugby tour to Carcassonne

Philip Simms concludes Paul Stewart inquest Philip Simms , instructed by Hugh Potter and Elliott Clifton-Thompson of Potter Rees Dolan , represented Mr Paul Stewart's family in the recently concluded inquest into his death before Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for North Manchester Ms Joanne Kearsley. Mr Stewart was involved in an altercation with Mr Richard Garrick on 17 May 2017 in which

Cobden House Criminal Department considered with care the question of whether to adopt the “no returns” action voted for by members of the Criminal Bar Association. We will be unanimous in our support of such action for as long as it takes to achieve proper remuneration for the work we do, a position which is not presently reflected in the Government’s proposals.

Rebecca Hirst obtains a finding of fundamental dishonesty following a multitrack trial heard before HHJ Carmel Wall. Having heard the evidence and submissions from counsel the court concluded that the claim was staged and, therefore, both the claim and the claimant were fundamentally dishonest. The claimant was ordered to pay the costs of the trial which can be fully enforced.

Chambers would like to congratulate Angela Georgiou on her recent appointment as a Legally Qualified Chair and Legal Assessor for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. This is a part-time position that will run alongside Angela’s existing practice in which she continues to specialise in Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Motor Fraud claims.

Human Rights Act Declarations, under Articles 2, 3 and 8 of the Human Rights Act, and damages award of £2.3 million, secured for a Claimant who was abused by the Care Co-Ordinator responsible for her treatment, pursuant to the Mental Health Act, 1983. The Judgment of Mr Justice Fordham in UXA v. Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWHC 345 (QB) was handed down on 21st December 2021 and

Anthony Mazzag secured a £4.4M mediated settlement Anthony Mazzag secured a £4.4M mediated settlement, shortly before a 6 day trial, in a lower limb amputation case. The settlement will enable the Claimant to purchase a variety of advanced prosthetics including different prosthetic limbs suitable for a wide range of sporting activities which formed a large part of the Claimant’s

Marc Willems QC has secured a landmark victory in a clinical Negligence and Human Rights claim on behalf of patient who was groomed and sexually abused by her Care Co-ordinator. Marc led Peter Edwards and Prof Conor Gearty QC and secured a settlement the day before a three week trial was due to commence and then won the legal argument about whether the evidence and written submissions in the

Breathing Assisted Tetraplegic claim settles for £12M Marc Willems QC , instructed by Defendant insurers and reinsurers, has just settled a breathing assisted tetraplegic claim for a lump sum settlement of £12M. The settlement included a compromise on Liability and was reached by the parties engaging in Alternative Dispute Resolution throughout the life of the case. This was done by

Marc Willems QC and Aaron Pulford's article on Ex Turpi Causa Non Oritur Actio/The Illegality in Defence: Did the Supreme Court in Henderson v Dorset help PI lawyers? has been published in the Journal of Personal Injury Law issue 4 2021.

Michael Jones successfully defends RSA in a claim for damages for severe traumatic brain and spinal injuries. The Claimant’s claim for £4 million in damages was discontinued at ADR following allegations of Fundamental Dishonesty

Michael Jones successfully defends NFUM Insurance in a claim for damages for traumatic brain injury, sustained by a banking IT specialist at a leisure facility. In a judgment given on 7 December 2021, Her Honour Judge Bloom dismissed the claim and found that the Claimant had failed to prove the mechanism of the alleged injury, breach of duty and causation.

Cobden House Chambers is delighted to welcome Aubrey Sampson to the Criminal department. Aubrey was called to the bar in 2021 and brings to Chambers a wealth of experience having previously been a solicitor since 1994 and having dealt exclusively with crime since 1996. To find out more please contact Andrew Oakes on 0161 833 6000 or [email protected]

Alistair Reid has successfully defended in a recent private prosecution, which has attracted nationwide media attention. “Animal Protection Services”, a registered charity, launched a series of private prosecutions accusing defendants of animal welfare offences and breaching consumer protection regulations. However, Alistair quickly identified that not only were the charges unsupported by any

Cobden House Chambers are delighted to be ranked as a Leading Chambers in the 2022 Edition of Chambers and Partners. We would like to congratulate those individual members of chambers who receive praise. We also thank our clients who have provided excellent references. Please click here to view Cobden House Chambers profile.

Chambers would like to congratulate Nick Flanagan on his recent appointment as a Fee-Paid Employment Judge . This post is with effect from 1 st October 2021 and he has been assigned to the North-Eastern Region. This is a part-time position that will run alongside his existing practice. Nick specialises in Employment Law, with particular interest in discrimination, whistleblowing and TUPE issues.

Robert Sterling successful in his libel case for the retired couple accused in a local online newsletter of being liars, thieves and bullies in their claim over disputed land in the Lake District village of Rosgill, Cumbria. The case, Wozniak & Kelly v Randall (2021) EWHC 2341 (QB), can also be read online at The Times and the Mail Online both reported 19th August 2021. Judgment :-

Court of Appeal affirmed His Honour Judge Hodge QC on meaning of "Actual Occupation" In Rock Ferry Waterfront Trust v Pennistone [2020] EWHC 3007 H.H. Judge Hodge QC sitting as a Judge of the Chancery Division in Liverpool dismissed the Defendant’s application to rectify the registered titles of the two Claimants to three parcels of land at the waterfront at Rock Ferry, Birkenhead. The decision

Marc Willems QC was instructed as Counsel to the inquest by HM Assistant Coroner for the West Yorkshire (Western District), Mr Oliver Longstaff, in the recently concluded inquest into the death of Andrew Hall. Mr Hall died shortly after being in police custody following an assault on a nurse at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. The inquest lasted for 10 weeks in Bradford Coroners Court, commencing

The Jury have returned their conclusions in this 10 week inquest in which Marc Willems QC acted as Counsel to the Inquest. 50 witnesses were called including 14 experts in what all experts agreed was an unusually complex Inquest. The Inquest raised issues of Race, Use of Force by Police and allegations of Clinical Negligence and mismanagement

Pupillage Opportunities 2021 Cobden House Chambers is delighted to announce that it is now recruiting for 5 fully funded 12 month pupillages in the Criminal, Personal Injury, Family, Business and Property and Housing Departments. The planned pupillage start date is 4 th October 2021 for all 5 of the pupillages, but Chambers will consider a flexible starting date to accommodate successful

Cobden House is delighted to announce Sophie Kenny and Peter Malone have joined Chambers. Sophie joins Cobden House from 30 Park Place in Cardiff, where she enjoyed a busy mixed practice, with a focus on crime, family and inquest proceedings. Peter arrives at Cobden House after working at Morton's Solicitor for many years and will practice in all aspects of crime.

Marc Willems QC and Philip Simms conclude ‘unlawful killing’ inquest Marc Willems QC and Philip Simms , instructed as counsel to the inquest by HM’s Senior Coroner for Manchester Mr Nigel Meadows, have recently concluded the inquest into the death of Jack Anderson Barnes. Mr Barnes was pursued from Manchester Victoria Station by contractors working for the Manchester Metrolink to

Marc Willems QC secures High Court Approval for a £6.5M settlement in relation to a Brain Injury claim

We are delighted to announce that Gary Lewis and Philip Simms have been appointed to the Attorney General’s panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (Panel C). Gary and Philip’s appointments will commence on the 1 st March 2021 and will last for 5 years. Congratulations to them both from everyone at Cobden House Chambers.

Kate Hammond produces article entitled 'No Victim No Harm? Sentencing attempted sex offences when there is no actual Victim?' To read more, please click the link below. kate_hammond_attempted_sex_offences_article.pdf

We are delighted to announce that Jenna Tym has joined Chambers. Jenna specialises in all aspects of Housing and before joining chambers, Jenna was in-house counsel at a Legal 500 specialist social housing Team. To find out more please contact Christina Crook on 0161 833 6000 or email [email protected]

Eleanor Gleeson produces article on 'Spitting at a Police Officer: Expect a custodial sentence' Read more by clicking the below link eleanor_article.pdf

Marc Willems QC secures a £6M mediated settlement "Luke Arm" Case. Marc Willems QC secures a £6M mediated settlement, on the eve of a 10 day trial, for a Brachial Plexus injury case which will allow the Claimant to purchase the ground breaking upper limb prosthetic known as the “Luke Arm”. Only 23 of these bionic arms have so far been deployed world wide.

Monday 21 st December 2020 – Normal Hours (9am to 5.30pm) ** COVID reduced ** Tuesday 22 nd December 2020 – Normal Hours (9am to 5.30pm) ** COVID reduced ** Wednesday 23 rd December 2020 – Normal Hours (9am to 5.00pm) ** COVID reduced ** Thursday 24 th December 2020 – Closed Friday 25 th December 2020 – Closed Monday 28 th December 2020 – Closed Tuesday 29 th December 2020 – 9:00am to 3:00pm

In Rock Ferry Waterfront Trust v Pennistone Holdings Limited [2020] EWHC 3007 (Ch) acted for purchasers of a substantial area of land who successfully resisted the claims of a previous purchaser who had deliberately chosen not to register a Transfer of registered land to have priority. The previous purchaser advanced claims based upon equitable notice and having an overriding interest through

On Thursday 15 th of October, Louise Blackwell QC and Gwen Henshaw led a training day in conjunction with Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre as part of their Forensic Medical Examination in Rape and Sexual Assault (FMERSA) Course. The course was attended by medical professionals looking to specialise in the examination and treatment of survivors of rape and sexual assault. The course is

Cobden House Chambers are delighted to be ranked as a Leading Chambers in the 2021 Edition of Chambers and Partners. We would like to congratulate those individual members of chambers who receive praise. We also thank our clients who have provided excellent references. Please click here to view Cobden House Chambers profile.

Cobden House Chambers are delighted to be ranked as a Leading Chambers in the 2021 Edition of The Legal 500. We would like to congratulate those individual members of chambers who receive praise. We also thank our clients who have provided excellent references.

On 25 September 2020, following the lifting of the stay on possession claims on 20 September 2020, Gary Lewis, instructed by Onward Homes Limited, secured an outright possession order in a case concerning a joint tenant who had been convicted of being responsible for a six-figure benefit fraud. Following a trial before Deputy District Judge Mawdsley in the County Court at St Helens, the Court

Michael Jones successfully defends the Chief Constable of GMP in a claim for damages for TBI, based on alleged breaches of the Workplace Regulations and EC Workplace Directive. HHJ Evans, sitting in the Manchester Civil Justice Centre, found that there was no breach of the Regulations or EC Directive and dismissed the claim

We are delighted to announce that following the completion of her pupillage Eleanor Gleeson has accepted an invitation to join chambers. Eleanor specialises in all aspects of Criminal and Regulatory Law .

Cobden House were sadden by the passing of former member and previous Head of Chambers, John Broadley. Long-time friend and colleague Ian Metcalfe has written the following: JOHN BROADLEY 1951 – 2020 AN APPRECIATION I first met John Broadley in November 1986 when I applied for tenancy at 67 Princess Street, Manchester. The interview was conducted in a sauna. A couple of weeks

Chambers has decided to reopen our doors from Monday 6 th July. All government guidelines have been followed to allow us to open safely and we ask all visitors to chambers comply with social distancing rules together with sign posted directions in and around our building. We will be operating with a small number of staff working in chambers with the rest working from home. As a result Chambers

Webinar: Rebecca Hirst Considers Axa Insurance UK Ltd V EUI Ltd T/A Elephant Insurance [2020] EWHC 1207 https://www.cobden.co.uk/seminars/webinars/

Louise Blackwell QC and Suzanne Hargreaves successfully prosecute "misplaced revenge murder". The accused Connor Reece, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. His two co-defendants, both charged with " doing act intending and tending to pervert the course of public justice" sentenced to 2 years and 4 months each. Read more -

'The end of Furlough... the Start of Redundancy?' an article by Nick Flanagan The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has been paying the wages of over 7.5 million UK employees, but as the most expensive government spending programme in history draws to a close, Nick Flanagan addresses what the employment law consequences are? To view and download the full article, please click

Cobden House Chambers is committed and will continue to fight injustice and inequality in all its forms. We understand the need to fight against racism and social injustice together. We wholeheartedly support the Bar Council’s statement on recent events - https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/bar-council-statement-on-equal-treatment-the-rule-of-law-and-inclusion.html

First and foremost we would like to thank all our clients for their continued support and understanding during these unprecedented times. In accordance with government guidelines regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic chambers remains closed and all staff are working well from home. We continue to review our position regularly and will announce in due course when we are to reopen our doors.

Julie Doyle appeared before MacDonald J in this newly reported case in which the birth Father made an application to revoke an adoption order made in 2019. Julie, representing the respondent local authority, argued the adoption proceedings as articulated in the evidence before the Court could not be said to amount to a fundamental breach of natural justice, the kind that constitutes the highly

Julie Doyle represented the local authority at the first Family Law hearing to be listed at Manchester Civil Justice Centre since the COVID-19 lockdown where all parties were in attendance in person. In advance of the hearing the court prepared and sent to the parties a case plan which included scheduled arrival times for each person. Security staff had PPE and there was clear signage and floors

Chambers' Housing Department have commenced, with success, a free bi-weekly webinar programme for the benefit of its clients with topics ranging from straightforward Q&As through to injunctions, committals and disrepair. Due to high demand and an intention to keep numbers limited to ensure interaction and attendee-benefit, attendance is to be arranged via the Department's designated clerk,

As we are all aware with the current pandemic of Covid-19, there is a real risk of running out of the necessary equipment in order to try and keep people safe. Opus Engineering were contacted by The Christie to make important parts for healthcare visors. They are essential PPE for all Hospitals, including The Christie. So, we as a Family have funded 4 x 3D printers to do the job and Opus

The police forces across the country now have the powers to issue a summons for offences relating to the new coronavirus legislation passed in March 2020 as a response to the ongoing Pandemic. This has been enacted as an emergency measure, to protect the public, its well-being and the National Health Service who are regarded as front line workers. So, what does the law say we can do? The

Cobden House Chambers is acting proactively to guard against the risks posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and have devised an internal action plan to assist in restricting the spread of the COVID-19. It is of vital importance for Chambers to be in a position to ensure that any and all procedures are in place to support the health and well-being of our clients, staff and members, whilst still

Venue: Cobden House Chambers, 19 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN Date: Thursday 27th February 2020 Time: 5.30pm ( refreshments will be served ) Speaker: David Maddison (Barrister, Cobden House Chambers ) Aim: FGM Protection Orders in practice A discussion about the practice and procedure of obtaining FGM Protection Orders, highlighting the practical and cultural issues that need

We are delighted to announce that Eve Horren has joined Chambers. Eve specialises in Family and Regulatory Law .

Louise Blackwell QC and Craig MacGregor defend man accused of stabbing his wife over 75 times and trying to decapitate her. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/mohammed-choudhry-saima-riaz-rochdale-17653281

Marc Willems QC and Stefanie Cochrane Successful in the Privy Council Marc Willems QC and Stefanie Cochrane have been successful in an appeal before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with judgment handed down today. The appeal, heard in November by five Supreme Court Justices, related to an attempt by the Attorney General of Saint Helena to limit General Damages for Pain, Suffering

We are delighted to announce that following the completion of her sixth month pupillage Lucie Wood has accepted an invitation to join chambers. Lucie specialises in Housing Law and Chancery / Commercial

Satpal Roth-Sharma Joins Chambers We are delighted to announce that Satpal Roth-Sharma has Joined Chambers. Satpal is a Business Crime and Regulatory specialist.

Chambers Response to MOJ FRC Consultation Following a consultation process launched by the Ministry of Justice in respect of the future of the fixed recoverable costs regime in light of Sir Rupert Jackson's 2017 report, please see link below to download a copy of Cobden House Chambers response:- cobden_house_frc_consultation_response.pdf We are very grateful to Philip Simms and Jennifer

Michael Jones negotiates £5.4 million settlement in JSH v PC NHSFT Michael Jones was instructed to act for the Claimant by Potter Rees Dolan Solicitors . The settlement, which is subject to an anonymity order, was in the context of a case in which the Claimant suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.