Peter Thomas-Pedder > Chambers of Mark Love > London, England > Barrister Profile

Called to the Bar in 1999

I describe myself as a bright, pro-active and friendly professional Barrister, with many years of direct experience in Family, Civil and Criminal Law.

​I began my working career in the British Armed Forces in 1978. I enlisted with the Royal Corps of Signals at the age of 17 years and completed much of my 4-year service in the former Federal Republic of Germany on various tasks. These included supporting a front line working field unit as a Combat Electrician, Unit Interpreter (German), and Regimental Policeman. As a keen sportsman, I also represented my Regiment in the Boxing and Tug of War teams.

​Following military service, I spent several years in the commercial sector employed as a Senior Credit Manager, largely responsible for managing the credit functions of several £ multi-million turnover companies to litigation level. I then enjoyed several more years of success running my own recruitment business. However, I had always held a keen interest in the law and when the opportunity arose I took the decision to become a Barrister. Following full time legal studies, my interest in the area of preventing commercial fraud heightened when I was engaged on a contract basis within the Insolvency Service in London. As part of the ‘Carousel Fraud Unit’ I was responsible for investigating large scale international VAT fraud. I then went on to join London Underground Limited as a Contracts Manager working within the strict auspices of the then newly formed ‘Private Finance Initiative’.

​I now enjoy a developed and successful practice in the Family Law sector in a leading London Family Law centered set of Chambers. I specialise predominantly within private / public child law. My recent successful appearance in the Court of Appeal in Re: L 2011 (a child) culminated in many years of experience coming to the fore.

​I regularly appear on the London and South Eastern Circuits conducting all aspects of Private / Public Family case work, including inter alia: – child contact / residence disputes, divorce and ancillary relief proceedings and a fair amount of Local Authority Care Proceedings. I have a particular interest and skill in ‘Children Act’ proceedings. I am regularly briefed to undertake particularly complex family cases with ‘difficult’ Clients and opponents. My direct and common sense approach to these cases has proved valuable to me in establishing a proven track record in this area of my practice. I am continually re-instructed.