Introduction
Philip is a busy leading junior with an almost exclusive High Court practice. Philip is the Deputy Head of Civil within Chambers and heads up the Wales Annex in Chepstow. He is standing counsel to the Professional Boxing Assosciation.
He has extensive civil practice covering such areas as Civil Fraud, Chancery (property related), Defamation and Sports Law. Philip is often instructed in cross over areas of law which are extremely litigious and require an utterly courageous approach. He is renown for his fearess cross-examination. Within these practice areas Philip is also of often instructed for urgent injunctive relief applications and regulatory challenges within a public law context. Many of Philip’s clients are high net worth individuals or high-profile media celebrities who, for obvious reasons, cannot always be named.
He is regularly instructed against Kings Counsel and is currently instructed and has been instructed as a leading junior in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Philip retains Solicitors who have instructed him since he was a junior tenant. Philip is attainable to those who instruct him outside of normal office hours; Philip is one of the few barristers that will go above and beyond the call of duty to utilise his skills for the benefit of the team and gain the required result.
Commercial
Philip has a rapidly expanding High Court litigation practice, and his practice encompasses areas such as Technology and Construction, Property and contested Insolvency matters. His vigorous advocacy style often sees him arguing narrow points of law in order to obtain the desired result.
Philip acts for Claimants and Defendants in high value and complex disputes involving allegations of fraud, negligence (including professional negligence in banking finance and financial regulation), breach of contract and breach of statutory duty in the full range of commercial settings.
In addition to substantial experience of multi-day trials in both the High Court and the County Court, Philip is regularly instructed to provide written advice at the pre-issue stage,and through every stage of litigation. He often represents clients at hearings for orders for pre-action disclosure, preservation of goods, security for costs, summary judgment and/or strike out.
Philip also has a thorough knowledge with the drafting of documents for, and representation of, those seeking or defending against emergency injunctions at short notice.
Philip has a friendly and approachable manner with clients and easily distils large and complex information into layman's terms. Philip thrives when undertaking convoluted cross-over points of law; his understanding of different legal aspects of common law results in strong legal arguments and a high success rate.
Planning & Environment
Philip has a wide range of experience in planning law, advising and representing developers, resident groups and associations, as well as local planning authorities and Rule 6 Parties on a broad range of planning and environmental matters including large residential developments, changes of use, stationing of mobile homes and caravans, development within residential curtilages and the interpretation and application of the Use Classes Order, Lawful Development Certificates, Assets of Community Value (ACVs), highways and Rights of Way.
Philip has experience dealing with matters concerning Habitats Regulations and protected species. Recent work has included advising on planning policy making and interpretation of policy. Her continues to specialise in cases involving highly technical issues, particularly those relating to the Health and Safety Executive. This includes; Advising and representing claimants, in judicial reviews and statutory challenges in the High Court, particularly under sections 288 and 289 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (the “Act”), or where planning issues arise collaterally in property cases or other civil proceedings.
Philip represents clients at all stages of the process and is well-versed in inquiry advocacy, including having worked on larger scale inquiries and statutory appeals to the High Court and above. Philip also deals with matters of planning enforcement, both by way of enforcement notice and injunction, in a civil law context. In addition to representing parties at enforcement inquirie
Specialiams include:
- Commercial/Retail
- Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
- Development Consent Orders
- Development Contribution: Section 106 and CIL
- Energy
- Environment
- Infrastructure
- Green Belt
- Heritage
- Highways, Footpaths and Rights of Way
- Minerals and Waste
- Neighbourhood Planning
- Planning Appeals, Inquiries and Hearings
- Planning Enforcement and Injunctions
- Planning Judicial and Statutory Reviews
- Residentials.
Property
Philip has vast experience in the Court of Appeal, High Court, County Court and the Land Tribunals, in property related cases. His main focus is on adverse possession, easement and equine litigation as well as boundary disputes. Philip has numerous reported cases and has successfully acted on one of the highest value adverse possession claims, with litigation running into a multi-million pound claim for land close to the access of the 2012 Olympic site in Stratford, East London.
Construction
Philip is well versed in construction related matters and has appeared in the Court of Appeal and High Court as a Leading Junior, with many of his cases being reported.
Philip has been instructed in a wide range of building and engineering disputes, including: those concerned with residential development, commercial premises development, and civil engineering projects.
Philip is experienced in information technology disputes, including those concerned with website development and the provision of computer hardware and software, (Including Intellectual Property )
Familiar with the type of issues that are frequently encountered in construction cases, for instance, delay and disruption, liquidated damages, extensions of time, quantum meruit claims, defect claims, variations/additional work etc,
Regulatory
Philip has retained an interest in Regulatory proceedings since pupillage; having initially started off as a unique criminal and planning practitioner. He understands in-depth civil matters that are often heard before the Magistrates' Court. Philip has been instructed successfully in Judicial Reviews and Case Stated matters from a variety of Tribunals involving and including the decisions Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court.
While Philip is predominately a civil practitioner, appearing occassionally in the criminal courts for private clients, is not something that phases him. Philip has historically appeared as a [very] Junior in murder and other serious trials.
Philip was also described as 'truly outstanding' and obtaining 'sometimes seemingly impossible results' when defending privately paying clients on alleged driving over the prescribed limit charges.
Sports
Philip is standing counsel to the Professional Boxing Association (The PBA).
Philip is a leading junior in sports law. Prior to coming to the Bar Philip was a professional sportsman, trainer and promoter. His indepth knowledge of the procedure before numerous tribunals and before the Courts is vast.
Philip undertakes complex and valuable sports cases that are litigated. Some of the recent leading reported cases have featured him both led and unled.
Philip is also involved in sports cases arising from contractual disputes arising between sportsmen and agents, professional negligence of legal teams arising out of representation of clients at sports arbitration, career and life changing injuries to sportsmen and failings in safety in the organisation of sports events.
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Notable Cases
Below is a selection (only) of some of Philip's cases.
Noel Clarke V Guardian QB-2022-001397. Leading the case (with two Juniors) for the Claimant. Raises serious issues as journalistic impropriety and names of people who have not made complaints and/or do not wish to give evidence. Ongoing. Instructed by The Khan Partnership.
EURASIAN NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION LIMITED V (1) THE DIRECTOR OF THE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE(2) JOHN GIBSON (3) ANTONY PUDDICK: CL-2021-000035 [2024]. Acting for theThird Defendant Defendant in relation to allegations of Misfeasance in Public. Philip was leading junior and the only non KC for any of the parties. Successful settlement reached on the second day of trial.
Alex Reid v Katie Price [2018] 5 WLUK 373. Acting for the Claimant against Katie Price in an alleged breach publishing private and sensitive material. Ongoing and instructed by Tim Gir of Sanderswitherspoon LLP.
Baker v British Boxing Board of Control [2015] EWHC 2469 (ChD)
Leading case on adjournments when an Applicant is too unwell to provide instructions.
Baker v British Boxing Board of Control [2014] EWHC 2074 (QB)
Junior counsel in the High Court for an application for a mandatory injunction to retain the Applicant’s licence pending an appeal based on on arguments of procedural irregularities and unfairness (with Hugh Mercer QC).
Palmer v Muir [2014] EWCA Civ 309
This started off before a District Judge before being given permission to appeal. It was lost originally lost on appeal before a Circuit Judge in Teeside. There was then a rare but successful second appeal. The issue was one of whether the actual seller of a horse could revert to being an agent as defence. The Court of Appeal agreed on the argument that had been run from the outset by Philip, in that the Seller absolutely could not do so (with Mark Anderson QC). Instructed by Jacqui Fulton Equine Law.
Cronin v Greyhound Board of Great Britain [2013] EWCA Civ 668
Junior Counsel before the District Judge and the Recorder. The matter ended up in the Court of Appeal due to inter alia lack of reasons for coming to a decision, the jurisdiction to impose a fine and removal of a licence (with David Lock QC). Interestingly, the veterinary expert (who provided the predominant advice and evidence to the Board) was later found to have been grossly negligent in separate proceedings conflicting with the Court of Appeal. Instructed by Sanderswitherspoon LLP.
Driver v Dover Roman Painted House Trust [2014] EWHC 1929 (QB); [2014] 4 WLUK 511.
Highly publicised and succesful defence after heavy cross-examination. Leading authority on the Occupiers' Liability Act, intoxication and control of premises.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-26990303
Staple v Munro Seear [2011] EWHC 3962 (QB)
Successful injunction to deliver up a horse. Took into account whether the horse had individual features, interference with goods and the balance of convenience. Philip acted as sole counsel.
Francesca Pollera v William Fox-Pitt (2009) (unreported)
This was where Philip ran a successful defence of Civil Fraud on behalf of an Olympic gold medallist against an Italian horse Agent. It was heard in Bristol High Court. Philip was sole counsel.
Cunningham v Buckley [2017] EWCA Civ 224
Philip was lead counsel in a three week trial at first instance and then again in the Court of Appeal. This has become a leading case on the applicability of VAT on new build properties and the burden of proof of who has to obtain the evidence.
Fairhurst v Collins [2016] EWHC (TCC) 199
Highly publicised and reported five week trial in Manchester (TCC) High Court. A dispute arising out of the quality of the build, arguments that the Claimant was an artificial Claimant (litigation vehicle) and the need for numerous experts. Ancillary matters still ongoing.
Browne Construction v Chapman [2016] EWHC 152
Successful co-defence (with Giles Mooney QC for the Second Defendant) to allegations of fraud in an invoicing capacity between two construction companies and their directors. Philip was for the First Defendant. Permission to Appeal from the Court of Appeal was granted. Settled pre-appeal hearing. Instructed by Dominic Tryb of Railton Law.
R (on the Application) of Derbyshire County Council v High Peak Magistrates Court & Kate Marlow [2013] EWHC 1762 (Admin)
Sole counsel on a civil-public law matter within the Magistrates Court against Paul Stinchcombe QC. Philip acted on a CFA for the original Applicant (who was Simon Cowell’s appearance coach). Acting on a CFA was novel within the Magistrates' Court. The application against the local authority was successful and the District Judge's Judgment damning. The matter was subject to a Judicial Review, which was successfully defended in the High Court, with yet another damning assessment of the Local Authority. The costs of the proceedings in the Magistrates' court exceeded six figures alone. Instructed by Jacqui Mann of Nigel Davies Solicitors.
Pipe v DPP [2012] EWHC 1821 (Admin)
Successful Case Stated application. Philip acted on behalf of the succesful Applicant in the High Court and previous defence counsel defending a speed in excess of 100 mph on the basis of the defence of necessity. This is now the leading authority in relation to such driving matters and duress of circumstances. Instructed by Tim Gir of Sanderswitherspoon LLP.
Watson v National Taxation Team [2011] EWHC 3962 (QB)
Judicial Review on the amount solicitors and counsel should be paid for privately paying successful criminal defences. This arose out of a successful privately paying accountant who had been accused of assault by a sister of a Senior Crown Prosecutor. Abuse of process proceedings were pursued, a District Judge recused himself (accordingly) and the Defence was successful (led by Yvonne Coen QC). It was the costs of the same that were at issue. Instructed by Instructed by Tim Gir of Sanderswitherspoon LLP.
Stratford Upon Avon v Dyde [2009] EWHC 2011 (Admin)
Succesful defence of a Case Stated on behalf of the Prosecuting Licensing Authority as to the correct fares to be charged when a Taxi is also a Hackney Carriage. Complicated matter as to whether a criminal offence could arise based on a conflict in relation to the contractual price and the displayed meter (put simply).
Stevenson & Ors v Southwark [2011] EWHC 108 (QB)
Represented the former manager of Jessy. A five-week trial of Misfeasance in Public Office against alleged corrupt and misfeasant Planning Officers (against Lord Faulks QC).
007 Stratford Taxis v Stratford on Avon [2011] EWCA Civ 160
Successful resistance in the Court of Appeal to a challenge by way of Judicial Review of the Local Authorities Policies relating to Disabled Taxi access.
Melton v Uttlesford (R on the Application of Melton) [2009] EWHC 2845
This is a case that Philip ran from pupillage. It went from the Licensing Committee, Magistrates' Court, Crown Court and then High Court in a rolled-up case stated and Judicial Review procedure. It involved a Taxi driver who lost his licence to drive in accordance with an (argued unlawful and strictly) applied policy relating to Stanstead Airport. Instructed by Tim Gir of Sanderswitherspoon LLP.
Islam v SoS (R on the Application of) (1) Tower Hamlets (2) [2012] EWHC 1314 (Admin)
Leading case on the conflict of Section 288 and 289 Appeals.
Georgiou (R on the Application of) v SoS [2011] EWCA Civ 775
Successful Appeal in the Court of Appeal of a Planning Inspectors decision for the lack of reasons when the only expert evidence went in favour of the Appellant.
Jenkins v Welsh Assembly [2010] EWCA Civ
Split decision in the Court of Appeal relating to a complicated judicial review on material considerations (on Appeal from Patrick Curran QC) in relation to Cardigan Island Farm Park. Against Clive Lewis QC (as he was then).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-42643329
Successfully representing a Grenfell Tower Paramedic in keeping his licence notwithstanding a speed limit of 116 mph along with it being his 3rd speeding conviction in 18 months.