The Legal 500

Position

Barrister practising in sports law, regulatory, legal services and commercial. Sports law – professional disciplinary: acts regularly for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) and the General Medical Council (GMC). Appears both prosecuting and defending before the BHA in corruption and running and riding enquiries. Cases of note: as prosecutor; Dean McKeown/Hits Only Money – nine defendant race fixing conspiracy acting before the Disciplinary Panel and Appeal Board and subsequently on review to Mr Justice Stadlen where the jockey’s attempt to have allegation of bias, dishonesty and to have his ban lifted failed. Reported in [2010] EWHC 508 (Admin); Golden Surplice – seven defendant conspiracy allegations against Italians of race corruption and against Jockey of complicity in concealment; Aleemdar – Appeal from Stewards Decision by Trainer and Jockey; Mias Boy – Non Cooperation Charges; currently instructed in two substantial corruption enquiries which are pre-charge. Defending: Sir Michael Prescott and Seb Sanders – Harris Tweed – successful appeal from riding offence decision of local stewards; Milton Harris – Contested Licence Application – advising and acting on successful grant of licence. Ralph Beckett – Successful appeal against findings by the Disciplinary Panel; Red Lancer – defending jockey in corruption charges. Prosecuted for the GBGB in the animal cruelty case of Cronin and the dog doping case of Mason.GMC: prosecuted in cases of failure to renew registration, fraud on NHS and inappropriate treatment. Regulatory practice: prosecutes and defends in trading standards offences. Prosecution for Gloucestershire County Council in the cases of trading standards offences including Kausar [2009] EWCA Crim 139 and (2009) 2 Cr App; Prosecutes Fisheries offences for the Southern Seas Fisheries District and offences for the Port of London Authority (recently R v Clow- dangerous navigation on the Thames). Defends in health and safety and environmental crime cases. Recent cases include: R v Lee Smith Carpentry – prosecution for breach of health and safety following death in a scaffolding collapse; R v Colin Parker Masonry – prosecution for breach of health and safety following death in workplace. Currently instructed in environmental prosecutions and health and safety prosecutions. Legal Services Commission criminal costs claims: Acts for LSC. Currently instructed in cost recovery claims against the MPs tried before Southwark Crown Court; acted for Legal Services Commission in the cases of Abu Hamza, Terry Adams and Erkin Gurney; appeared and acted in Judicial Review proceedings brought by: Basch, Seago and McGuinnness. Commercial practice: Advises and litigates in commercial disputes. Recent cases of note: Egan v Bath Motor Services – Court of Appeal – [2007] EWCA Civ 1002 – dispute over interpretation of SGA 1979 and quality of car; Ghariban – Saki v Trant [2008] EWHC 492 (QB) dispute over ownership of a casino. Currently instructed in substantial disputes arising from construction of boats, sale of insurance business and solicitors bill claim.

Career

Called 1994, Lincoln’s Inn; Recorder, 2010.

Education

Winchester College; St Thomas Hospital Medical School; Bristol University (Philosophy BA, first)

Leisure

Active scuba diver from English and Welsh Coasts; member of the North Dorset Sub Aqua Club; horseracing.

Practice Areas

Commercial; Healthcare; Sport