We are a small set of barristers from a variety of backgrounds and specialisms. We are dedicated to customer service and reject the ‘stuffy barrister’ persona. We welcome enquiries from solicitors, businesses and members of the public.
A note of caution: many clients leave it to the last minute to consult a lawyer only for the lawyer to find that the client would have had a much stronger case if contact had been made sooner. A lawyer’s most potent contribution can be at an early stage.
We continue to provide barristers’ traditional services to solicitors.
In addition to this, we can conduct litigation in appropriate cases. This means that we can act in place of a solicitor.
In cases where it would not be appropriate for us conduct to litigation, we may act for you on a public access basis. This also means without a solicitor. However, rather than conduct the case for you, we will help you conduct your own case by advising, drafting all necessary documents, corresponding for you where appropriate and appearing as an advocate before the relevant court or tribunal.
Even when litigation is not contemplated, you may sometimes need legal advice or professionally drafted documents. We are happy to advise and to draft contracts, trust instruments, letters, etc, in relation to matters within our fields of expertise.
We are trained and experienced in mediation and would be pleased to assist you resolve your disputes by this means, whether relating to business or domestic issues.
Acting as mediator/negotiator or representing you in mediation/negotiation.
David was called to the Bar in 1992, having had a previous career in commerce.
He has practised extensively in general civil, chancery and commercial law but is now exclusivly a family practitioner.
David's practice in family law is primarliy in:
David was called to the Bar in 1992, having had a previous career in commerce.
He has practised extensively in general civil, chancery and commercial law but is now exclusively a family practitioner.
David's practice in family law is primarily in:
He is also a certified mediator.
Karin was called to the Bar in 2005, having had a successful career in Information Science and Knowledge Management.
Karin’s practice is in family law, primarily in:...
Karin was called to the Bar in 2005, having had a successful career in Information Science and Knowledge Management.
Karin’s practice is in family law, primarily in:
She has a particular interest in international cross-border financial disputes and enforcement, for example, cases under the Maintenance Regulation.
She also specialises in Equity and Trusts.
Memberships: Family Law Association, Criminal Bar Association.
Mark was called to the Bar in 2016, having had a previous career as a professional musician.
Mark is a family law practitioner...
Mark was called to the Bar in 2016, having had a previous career as a professional musician.
Mark is a family law practitioner, with significant experience in:
Mark has significant experience in cases involving allegations of substance misuse, domestic violence, mental health issues, and emotional and physical abuse. He has a particular interest in representing vulnerable adults.
Mark's previous career required him to travel extrensively and he brings to his practice an open mind and a wealth of life experience, which reflects in his heightened empathy with his clients. Mark exercises a high degree of professionalism and a determination to robustly advance his cllients' interests.
Memberships: Middle Temple, the Family Law Bar Association.
Mark was called to the Bar in 1990. He is a barrister in independent practice, specialising in banking, insolvency, company law and regulation and has appeared in may high-profile cases...
Mark was called to the Bar in 1990. He is a barrister in independent practice, specialising in banking, insolvency, company law and regulation and has appeared in may high-profile cases.
He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster (teaching on their Corporate Finance Law LLM) and a Visiting Lecturer at Cass Business School (teaching the busiupon what a barrister may diness law elective on their Executive MBA).
He is author of Watson-Gandy on Accounts, Corporate Insolvency Practice: Litigation Practice and Procedure, Personal Insolvency Practice: Litigation Practice and Procedure and the ICAEW Guide Tax Advocacy. He is also contributing Editor of the Company Law volume of Butterworths Corporate Law Service and wrote Tolley’s CRS Company Service Corporate Precedents: Directors.
Mark acts for several accountancy regulators and is Head of Professional Standards for the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers.
Mandie was called to the Bar in 1993, having had a previous career as a senior nurse.
Mandie is an experienced and specialist regulator having regulated a number of different professions including nurses, accountants and pharmacists...
Mandie was called to the Bar in 1993, having had a previous career as a senior nurse.
Mandie is an experienced and specialist regulator having regulated a number of different professions including nurses, accountants and pharmacists. She has also worked as the Director of the Bar Standards Board regulating the Bar. Most recently she has been at the helm of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives as CEO and been advisor to a range of regulatory authorities on matters such as data governance.
Stephen has been a barristers' clerk since 1969, including a five-year spell as a costs draftsman. He is hugely experienced, with a large portfolio of useful contacts, and has a great rapport with solicitors and lay clients.
Stephen has been a barristers' clerk since 1969. including a five-year spell as a costs draftsman. He is hugely experienced, with a large portfolio of useful contacts, and has a great rapport with solicitors and lay clients.
Please feel free to contact Stephen to discuss available options for your legal matter.
The way barristers work is evolving. Suitably accredited barristers may now accept instructions directly from members of the public and organisations. Depending upon his or her level of accreditation with the Bar Standards Board, a barrister may act without the involvement of a solicitor, either on a public access basis or to conduct litigation. Essentially, a barrister acting on a public access basis may assist you with your litigation but may conduct the litigation for you, if providing litigation services.
There are restriction upon what a barrister may do when acting on a public access basis. A public access barrister may:
The Bar Council's rules prohibit barristers from:
Before accepting instructions without the involvement of a solicitor, the barrister will need to be satisfied that you can do whatever the barrister is prohibited from doing (the barrister can advise what to do at each stage), or that you have arranged for another person of suitable competence and experience to provide such services for you. The barrister must assess this issue on a case by case basis and may refuse to take instructions under the public access scheme if it is in your best interests to involve a solicitor.
By conducting litigation, a barrister can do all that a solicitor can do. As well as preparing all documents and providing advice, by conducting litigation, a barrister may:
You barrister will assess, on a case by case basis, whether your case is suitable to be conducted by a barrister.
Litigation is not always the best solution to dispute resolution. Litigation can be drawn out over months, if not years, and is geared to producing a ‘winner’ and a ‘loser’. Mediation, on the other hand, are relatively rapid processes which tend to produce an ‘acceptable compromise’. Usually, neither party gets all that they want but neither becomes an out and out loser.
Parties to a dispute are often entrenched in their positions and mistrust each other’s motives. However, communication of their relative positions through an intermediary can produce positive outcomes and sometimes heal broken relationships.
Recruitment
We are interested in hearing from barristers at all levels who are practising or wish to practise in family law. All communications are treated in the strictest confidence.
Please contact David Simpson on ds@cdjs.uk
T: 020 7099 9257
F: 020 7099 2454
E: sjh@cdjs.uk
DX: 143 LDE
