Policy

Procedure

Complaints Submission Form

Response Submission Form

Reply Submission Form

Basic Guide to DRS

Timetable

Decisions

Experts

RGS, Newcastle upon Tyne
Manchester University LLB (Hons)
Chester Law College Law Society Finals
Admitted as a Solicitor in 1983

Position:

Commercial Litigation Partner, Ward Hadaway, Solicitors, Newcastle upon Tyne

Previous Employment:

Practised in City of London 1981-1993;
Herbert Smith, Clifford Chance, Richards Butler (Partner);
Returned to Newcastle 1994, joining Ward Hadaway as a partner in 1996.

Experience:

Whilst in London (1981 - 1993), work done at the three firms covered in particular cross-border and international disputes, intellectual property litigation (with particular emphasis on trade marks, copyright, and design right), and EU and Competition law, together with more general commercial litigation across a wide range. The client base of the those firms included many of the best known national and international companies, with many household brand names.

Since returning to the North East (1994 to date), the work involved has generally been more local in character, involving a wide range of commercial litigation, primarily for technology-based businesses involved in the heavy/light engineering, IT/high tech, and other manufacturing sectors. However, many of those businesses are well-known at least nationally, and a considerable proportion of the work continues to involve an international element.

The previous interest in intellectual property remains and has widened to include patent and registered design work in addition to previous areas, and also led to a significant volume of IT and e-commerce related litigation including domain names disputes, initially from an IP base, but now as a specialism in its own right.

Other areas covered outside the primary IP/IT technology sectors include company/business sales disputes; faulty machinery/manufacturing processes; EU-international; defamation; administrative law; judicial review and disputes concerning powers and authority; professional negligence; and disputes regarding restraint of trade clauses.

Other Information:

CEDR Accredited Mediator; Recognised as the Leading Individual dealing with commercial litigation in the North East by Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, and described in Chambers Guide as "dominating the North Eastern scene".

Personal:

Lives in Wall, near Hexham, Northumberland; married with two daughters; interests - hill walking, gardening and cooking.