Chancery and Commercial
Atlantic Chambers has one of the highest-regarded Chancery and Commercial teams outside London. It includes well-established, recognised practitioners of the highest calibre, and includes practitioners at all levels of seniority.
The team’s work encompasses almost all areas of specialist work within the jurisdiction of the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales. The Business and Property Courts were launched in Liverpool on 9th February 2018. The Business and Property Courts in Liverpool guide, including the Business and Property Courts Practice Direction and Practice Note is here
The team offers specialist advice, advocacy and drafting in virtually all areas of property, insolvency and probate law as well as in a broad range of commercial fields.
The members of the Chancery and Commercial team travel across England and Wales for court and tribunal hearings, site visits and conferences. They have litigated at all levels and often appear in reported cases. Their areas of expertise include contentious and non-contentious work in the following areas:
- Property – including boundaries and boundary disputes; restrictive covenants; rights of way and easements; mortgages and charges; LPA receivers; contracts and specific performance; conveyancing and title issues; unregistered land; registered land; Land Registry disputes; adverse possession; proprietary estoppel; party walls; options; nuisance and trespass.
- Landlord & Tenant – including agricultural, residential and commercial tenancies; leasehold covenants and construction of leases; leasehold enfranchisement; termination and renewal of business tenancies; break clauses and options; licences; forfeiture and possession claims; rent and service charge disputes; rent review; housing and homelessness; dilapidations and disrepair.
- Insolvency – Insolvency including bankruptcy and corporate insolvency; IVAs and CVAs; administration and receivership; applications by or against trustees in bankruptcy, liquidators and administrators; unfair prejudice petitions; transactions at an undervalue and preferences.
- Company and partnership law – including directors and shareholders disputes; company law; company governance; dissolution and restoration; directors’ disqualification; all aspects of partnership and LLP law; partnership disputes; dissolution and winding up.
- Commercial – including contract disputes, debt claims, factoring, banking, insurance, intellectual property, restraint of trade, sale of goods & consumer credit.
- Tax – including inheritance tax, capital gains tax, income tax, corporation tax, VAT, stamp duty and land transfer tax, pensions and trusts.
- Trusts and probate – including wills and trust drafting and construction; contentious and non-contentious probate; undue influence, fraud, forgery and testamentary capacity disputes; trusts and beneficial interest disputes; claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996; claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; administration of estates; Beddoes applications and administration actions; intestate succession; variations of trusts; charities and charitable trusts; appointment and removal of, and duties and powers of, executors, administrators and trustees; Court of Protection, deputies, powers of attorney and statutory wills.
“The Team at Atlantic Chambers handles insolvency issues, landlord and tenant disputes & wills and probate matters, to name a few areas” – Legal 500
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Civil Litigation
Members of the Atlantic Chambers civil litigation group have extensive experience of advising, drafting and advocacy. They are prepared to travel to appear in all courts in England and Wales, at every stage of proceedings and at all levels of seniority.
We have a flexible and competitive approach to fees, and we undertake Conditional Fee Agreements, Direct Professional Access, Direct Public Access and Publicly Funded work.
We have barristers who specialise in all aspects of personal injury work, including industrial injury and disease cases, clinical negligence work, including cases of the highest value undertaken by members of the group. We also undertake judicial review work
- Personal Injury
- Industrial Disease
- Occupational Illness
- Police Law
- Professional Negligence
- Clinical Negligence
- Educational Law
- Judicial Review
- Contract Law
- Insurance Law
- Common Law
Click here for Chambers current Conditional Fee Agreement – PIBA and APIL approved.
Legal 500
Members of the personal injury and clinical negligence group of Atlantic Chambers predominantly represent claimants in road traffic accidents, industrial disease, public liability, medical negligence and employers’ liability cases’
Andrew Pickering – ‘He leaves no stone unturned in his relentless quest to secure justice for his clients’
Michael Armstrong ‘- ‘A brilliant advocate; client focused, kind, approachable and prudent’
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Clinical Negligence
Atlantic Chambers has a number of experienced and dedicated specialist practitioners who embrace the complexity of the law of Clinical Negligence cases alongside an in-depth knowledge of the medicine across all disciplines, including complex obstetric, orthopaedic, surgical and neurological cases, general practice, psychiatry, emergency services, dentistry and much more.
The members of this group are able to provide specialist knowledge and skills, compassion for clients, a rigorous approach to complex issues of quantum and liability, tenacious advocacy and effective negotiation techniques during round table meetings and mediations.
This experienced Clinical Negligence Group is able to deal with high value and multi-party claims, and can provide a service to both Law Society and AvMA Panel Solicitors along with the increasing numbers of non-panel solicitors handling clinical negligence cases funded on a Conditional Fee Agreement basis. The members of the group are also experienced in appearing before professional bodies in regulatory hearings and at inquests.
Elizabeth Francis is also a CEDR-Accredited mediator.
Legal 500 quotes:
Atlantic Chambers ‘provide a wealth of knowledge’ in a broad range of practice areas in the field of clinical negligence. Elizabeth Francis is ‘extremely knowledgeable’ and is ‘approachable and friendly’.
John Benson KC is also noted and has extensive experience in high-value, complex cases that involve gynaecological matters, obstetric, midwifery and neonatal issues, dental negligence.
‘Andrew Pickering leaves no stone unturned in his relentless quest to secure justice for his clients’.
‘Elizabeth Francis has a great eye for detail, an excellent understanding of the law around clinical negligence claims and a fabulous work ethic – always happy to help’.
Testimonials:
‘Chambers are very organised and reliable and always able to assist. They have a good set of experienced counsel and also offer training inhouse in the office. The clerks are very friendly and will do their best to assist when organising conferences or trying to contact counsel.’
‘Excellent chambers, lots of diversity, lots of exceptional talent, seminars and training offered, very approachable on an informal basis, very willing to help.’
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Court of Protection
Our barristers have expertise and experience in dealing with, what are often, complex and sensitive cases heard before the Court of Protection. Whether relating to welfare or financial issues, the Court of Protection rules on the rights of vulnerable adults and their mental capacity under the Mental Health Act 2005.
Our team acts on behalf of local authorities, family members, individuals and healthcare bodies. Our expertise includes:
- Medical treatment matters
- Property matters
- Welfare decisions in relation to residence, contact or care plans
- Financial abuse claims
- LPAs and wills
- Contested applications for the appointment of deputies (welfare/financial affairs)
- Proceedings concerning 16 and 17 year olds, and the overlapping jurisdictions of the Court of Protection and Children Act 1989
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Criminal
Atlantic Chambers has specialist practitioners available to assist you in all areas of crime from straightforward matters through to the most serious and complex.
We have Counsel at all levels of experience and seniority in criminal law. The group provides advocacy and advisory services in all classes of criminal cases from the straightforward to the most serious and complex.
Criminal practitioners are available to both prosecute and defend in publicly funded and privately funded matters at all levels on behalf of agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Service, Customs and Excise, the Health and Safety Executive, the Probation Service and both local and National Police Authorities and private clients.
We have specialist expertise in the following areas:
- Murder
- Police Law
- Proceeds of Crime
- Fraud
- Serious Sexual offences
- Prevention Orders
- Football Orders
- Closure Orders
- Seizure and retention of case and property
Though based in Liverpool, members of the group practice in the Courts throughout England and Wales. Our commitment to providing an efficient and cost effective service means that members are happy to travel to solicitors offices for consultations and conferences.
The group is clerked by an experienced team who are on hand to assist at every stage. Chambers boasts modern premises with conference and video-link facilities allowing us to link up with prisons and courts across the country.
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Employment
Atlantic Chambers are one of the leading Employment Law Chambers in the North West offering a group of established practitioners.
We advise and represent a broad range of employers and employees.
We are instructed by a full range of clients such as Corporate Bodies, Unions, Public Authorities, NHS Trusts and Professional partnerships.
We act in cases at all levels and have a wealth of experience across all areas of employment law, providing advice, advocacy, training and expertise for both Claimants and Respondents.
We also provide advice and representation before regulatory and disciplinary bodies.
Members are also involved in internal investigations – dealing with grievance and disciplinary investigations.
Members practice areas intersect with employment law – with expertise in discrimination and equality, education and other areas of public and administrative law.
We have a deep understanding of the employment law landscape and attempt to offer creative solutions for clients.
Our members are frequently invited to speak at training events.
A number of members of the Employment Law Group are able to provide work through direct public access.
A snapshot of the practice areas that we deal with are:
- All areas of Discrimination litigation and victimisation claims
- Confidential information, restrictive covenants, injunctions and garden leave
- Contractual disputes including changing collective terms and conditions
- Disciplinary hearings before professional regulatory bodies
- Equal pay
- Maternity, parental leave, and flexible working
- Redundancy (individual and collective)
- Trade Union claims
- TUPE
- Unfair and wrongful dismissal
- Whistleblowing
- Working Time Regulations
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Family
Atlantic Chambers has a specialist Family Team offering the highest quality expertise and experience in all areas of Family Law. Based upon over ten years of focused specialization, the Team has an unrivalled breadth of experience at all levels of the Family Court, as well as the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. All members of the Family Team are specialist advocates, offering the highest standards of written and oral advocacy at every stage of a case. Within the Team, members work in specialist areas to ensure that an experienced practitioner is available to deal with every aspect of this diverse area of law.
Members of the Team individually offer experience and expertise in all aspects of Children work, from inter-parental disputes upon separation (including trans-jurisdictional issues) to public law cases of the most significant and serious complexity, including cases involving the death of a child or a parent. Members are regularly instructed by Local Authorities, parents, Guardians and other family members. Within this field, members deal with challenges to Local Authority powers and duties and the use of the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court.
A specialist Finance Team provides the highest quality representation for all financial issues arising from relationship breakdown, including pre-nuptial agreements, disputes arising upon death and those involving cohabitants and civil partners as well as spouses. Members have expertise in issues involving trusts, companies, third party asset ownership and assets held beyond the jurisdiction. The Finance Team is committed to access to justice and provides representation to all individuals ranging from those of high net worth to those of more modest means.
The Family Team works across the North-West of England and beyond and has a longstanding involvement in family law in North Wales. Specialist training in all areas of family law and advocacy is provided both in-house and through external seminars, including the Annual Atlantic Chambers Family Law Conference. Members are happy to work in partnership to provide bespoke training for specific needs.
Aided by specialist Family Clerks and a high-quality support structure, the breadth available in the Family Team ensures that the right representation is always available to meet the needs of clients who are facing the most difficult times and for whom sensitive care is required.
Legal 500 quotes:
Atlantic Chambers family team represent local authorities, guardians and authorities across a broad spectrum of children law cases. Financial matters are another core area of instruction.
‘A first-rate barrister’ – Christine Johnson
‘Meticulous and communicates well with clients’ – Andrew Banks
Industrial Disease
Members of Atlantic Chambers Industrial Disease Group have extensive experience of advising, drafting and advocacy in many areas of occupational illness and disease cases. These include:
- Asbestos related claims and mesothelioma
- Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
- Deafness and Noise Induced Hearing Loss
- Dermatitis
- Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and vibration white finger (VWF)
- Occupational Asthma
- Pulmonary Disease
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
- Stress at work
- Work related upper limb disorders (WRULD)
Members of the group appear both in person and remotely across all courts in England and Wales at every stage of proceedings and at all levels of seniority.
Our approach to fees is both flexible and competitive and we routinely undertake Conditional Fee Agreements as well as Publicly Funded work. Details about fees can be found here
Legal 500 quote:
”A brilliant advocate, client focused, kind, approachable and prudent” – Michael Armstrong
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Inquests
Members of Atlantic Chambers can assist in advising and representing bereaved families and other interested parties in inquests held at the Coroner’s Court to establish how the deceased came by their death. This may involve deaths in custody (police, prison or secure premises); deaths in hospitals or other healthcare environments; industrial accidents and deaths in the workplace; and deaths following contact with state agencies.
Atlantic Chambers boasts a strong inquest team comprised of a number of inquest and coronial law specialists, including several who sit part-time as coroners. Members of the team are routinely instructed to appear at all stages of the inquest process, dealing with pre-inquest issues such as resumption, scope and the engagement of Article 2, through to representing clients at the inquest itself, before providing assistance after the event to advise on judicial review proceedings or civil claims which may arise. Members of the team are well-versed in making applications for anonymity, PII or special measures to protect their client’s best interests.
The Atlantic inquest team covers all aspects of coronial law and acts on behalf of a wide range of organisations and individuals from bereaved families, to police forces, NHS trusts and healthcare providers, local authorities, prisons and private companies. We offer particular expertise in representing police forces in inquests where a death has followed police contact, for scenarios ranging from vehicle pursuits, domestic homicides, suicides and deaths in custody. Other specialisms include clinical negligence, industrial disease and regulatory work.
Atlantic Chambers’ inquest specialists recognise the sensitive nature of inquest proceedings and our barristers are often recognised for their excellent advocacy, client care and practical advice to approaching difficult hearings. To find out more about how we can help you to prepare for an inquest, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
For further information about inquests, see the Guide to Coroner Services available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-coroner-services-and-coroner-investigations-a-short-guide or call Atlantic Chambers now to see how we can assist you.
Mediation
Atlantic Chambers now offers a specialist mediation service. Mediation is a completely voluntary and confidential form of alternative dispute resolution which involves an independent, impartial person helping two or more individuals or groups to accomplish a resolution that is acceptable to all involved. This can avoid going through the courts, often leading to a more cost-effective and speedier outcome.
At Atlantic Chambers we have a small dedicated team of qualified mediators who are able to assist. As mediators they will talk to both parties separately and together, they will not make judgements or determine the outcome, they will simply ask questions that will uncover the underlying issues and assist parties in understanding these.
Our qualified mediators can assist in many areas including:
- Family and children matters
- Neighbour disputes
- Trusts and probate
- Property
- Landlord & Tenant
- Commercial
- Professional negligence
- Matrimonial
- Personal injury claims
The terms of our mediation services can be read in our Mediation agreement.
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Police Law
Members of Atlantic Chambers are available to assist with Police Law matters, this entails all non-criminal aspects of police law, including civil trials (with or without a jury) for unlawful detention, false imprisonment, assault/battery, misfeasance in public office, malicious prosecution and negligence; misconduct and disciplinary matters; personal injury claims involving police officers; inquests and inquiries; judicial review and operational policing policy.
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Proceeds of Crime
This group focuses on various specialisms of chambers – Criminal law, Family law, Civil litigation and Chancery & Commercial law – upon the interdisciplinary subject of the proceeds of crime.
This subject now has an unprecedented impact upon all practitioners due to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2007. Not only criminal law but also family, chancery and civil areas of the law and legal practice will be affected, in matters such as beneficial interests, insolvency, and the tracing of money and assets. The provisions of the Act relating to money laundering will also have serious implications for solicitors, employers and other professionals in their dealings with their clients.
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
Public Law
Atlantic Chambers offers significant strength in Judicial Review as part of its comprehensive public law capability.
The Public Law Group provides the special expertise required for Judicial Review cases and the high standards of service and experience needed by Solicitors acting both for claimants and on behalf of public bodies such as local authorities, police authorities and NHS Trusts.
Judicial Review
In 2009 the Administrative Court for the first time began to operate outside London and begin issuing and hearing judicial review applications in the North West and Wales.
As one of the North West’s largest sets of barristers – with considerable experience of Judicial Review cases in London – Atlantic Chambers played a leading part in the campaign to bring this Court nearer home and to improve access to this important source of legal remedy. The previous requirement for cases to be heard in London often provided a serious barrier in terms of cost and disruption especially with regard to the individuals bringing cases.
Expert Practitioners
In 2008 Atlantic Chambers began preparing for the newly regionalised Administrative Court by setting up a new Public Law Group to build on the expertise of those members with experience of Judicial Review work in London alongside the experience of a wider range of members with a considerable track-record of working regionally on major cases for Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, Police Authorities and Prison Authorities.
Accessible Expertise
With a wide range of legal expertise under one roof and considerable experience in areas of law which cut across traditional legal specialisms – such as Proceeds of Crime – Atlantic Chambers believes it offers an ideal resource for clients faced with complex problems.
Though based in Liverpool, members of the group practice in the Courts throughout England and Wales. Our commitment to providing an efficient and cost effective service means that members are happy to travel to solicitors offices for consultations and conferences.
If you require assistance, please contact the clerks at clerks@atlanticchambers.co.uk
