Call: 2009
Chris became a tenant in October 2011, having completed pupillage at 4 New Square and a leading Commercial Chancery set. He is now developing a broad commercial practice across all areas of Chambers’ work, with a particular focus on professional liability, real property and construction work.
Since joining Chambers, Chris has taken on both written and court work in a variety of civil and commercial disputes, in respect of substantive and procedural matters in both the High Court and the county courts.
In line with Chambers’ core area of practice, a significant part of Chris’ practice comprises professional liability work. He has advised,undertaken drafting workand appeared on behalf of solicitors in respect of a wide variety of underlying claims, particularly in respect of litigation and non-contentious property-related work. Chris is currently instructed alongside Jamie Smith, defending a firm of solicitors in a claim concerning alleged conduct of commercial IP litigation, alleged to be worth over £10m. He has also undertaken drafting work in a claim against solicitors for alleged negligent advice on commercial landlord and tenant matters, alleged to be worth over £5m. In line with his other key interests, Chris has also acted on behalf of barristers, construction professionals, surveyors, valuers,and property agents.
Chris also undertakes a substantial amount of property-related work. He regularly acts on behalf of mortgagees and LPA receivers, and has experience of issues arising from regulation under the Consumer Credit Acts and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as well as more conventional real property disputes. In addition, he has advised and acted in numerous landlord and tenant claims, representing both landlords and property managers. Chris is also developing a pure construction practice, and will be spending time on secondment at a leading construction law firmin April and May 2012.
Chris complements these areas with experience of insurance claims, commercial disputes,company and insolvency work, sale of goods, bailment and other common law claims, as well as disciplinary proceedings.
During his pupillage at 4 New Square, Chris was supervised by Jamie Smith. In this time, Chris gained experience of a range professional liability and insurance disputes, with a strong emphasis on professional negligence claims against solicitors and barristers.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Chris read Law at the University of Warwick, where he obtained a First Class degree. He thenspent three months as an intern at the Cape Town office of Bowman Gilfillan Attorneys, one of the largest commercial law firms in South Africa, followed by five months as a Blue Book Stagiaire at the European Commission in Brussels.
Chris was awarded a Major Scholarship from the Inner Temple for his BVC year. During this time, he also represented the Inner Temple at the World Debating Championships 2009. Immediately before joining 4 New Square, Chris spent 6 months at the Court of Appeal, working as a Judicial Assistant to Lord Justice Mummery and Lord Justice Rix.
Education
LLB (Warwick)
Languages
German