Crime

Chambers Criminal team covers all levels of experience and expertise. Members are regularly instructed for both defence and prosecution in the most serious cases of murder, manslaughter, complex frauds and serious sexual offences down to summary offences in the Magistrates Court.

Chambers has a particular expertise in Regulatory Prosecutions including:-

• Trading Standards
• Health & Safety
• Courts Martial
• Environmental Offences
• Maritime
• Corporate Manslaughter
• Benefit Fraud
• Animal Welfare
• Food Safety Offences
• Street Works Offences

Wendy, our dedicated criminal clerk will be able to discuss the most suitable member for a particular case or any other aspect of the work we do.

Family & Child Care

We have developed a family team which has strength in depth as well as members who have an expertise in one or more particular areas of family work. We are routinely instructed to advise and represent clients on the following:-

• Private Law proceedings concerning Residence of and Contact with children.
• Issues surrounding Parental Responsibility and aspects of its exercise.
• Financial applications in relation to children.
• Permission to remove children from the jurisdiction.
• Child abduction.
• Surrogacy.
• Public Law proceedings concerning Emergency Protection Orders, Secure Accommodation Orders as well as applications for Care Orders.
• Proceedings under the Adoption and Children Act 2002.
• Financial ancillary relief following divorce, judicial separation or the breakdown of civil partnerships.
• Claims relating to trusts of land particularly concerning unmarried couples or family members.
• Inheritance Act claims.
• Family Law Act injunctions and other emergency relief.

We cover all courts in the West Country as well as regularly traveling further afield when required. We act for Parents and other family members, Local Authorities and Children's Guardians in equal measure, as well as Children where appropriate.

We believe that we have succeeded in combining the professionalism demanded of every item of work with a friendly, down-to-earth approach which puts clients at their ease and enables a rapport quickly to be established. This environment, we find, enhances the overall level of service we provide.

Jo, our dedicated family clerk will be able to discuss the most suitable member for a particular case or any other aspect of the work we do.

Local Government and Administrative Law

In addition to the areas of law identified elsewhere on this website, Chambers has a broadly based expertise in acting for Central and Local Government and Local Constabularies. Additional areas of expertise include:

• Firearms
• Town & Country Planning
• Housing
• Legal Privilege and Confidentiality
• Highways

Environmental

A number of members of Chambers specialise in environmental law, acting for the Environment Agency, local authorities and other statutory bodies as well as for public companies and private pressure groups. We have particular experience in pollution, maritime and freshwater fisheries work and town and country planning.

Inquests

Members of Chambers have considerable experience of appearing at Coroner's Inquests including Road traffic incidents, deaths in custody and Police shootings.

Personal Injury

Many members accept instructions in personal injury work for private individuals, major insurers and trade unions as well as local and central government.

Members accept instructions under the Conditional Fee Agreement Scheme

Employment and Discrimination

Several members of Chambers appear before tribunals throughout the west country, receiving instructions on behalf of individuals, commerce, local and central government.

Professional Negligence

We have wide experience of advising and representing clients bringing and defending professional negligence actions in this field. We accept instructions to act on behalf of private and corporate clients.

Land Law

Various members of Chambers have expertise in this field, receiving instructions on behalf of both private and commercial clients and local authorities.

Commercial and Contract

We have always been pleased to offer a wide range of commercial expertise particularly in the fields of contract, including pre-emptive remedies, partnership and insurance.