The Legal 500

Civitas Law is a team of barristers dedicated to the practice of civil and public law. The set was founded in October 2008 on the basis of a shared ideal that clients are best served by a chambers of specialist lawyers offering the highest standards of service in advisory work, drafting, mediation and advocacy. Civitas Law is the only such specialist set in Wales and serves all regions throughout England and Wales. The set continues to develop its reputation by attracting the best of the Bar and aims to provide a modern service whilst maintaining traditions of independence and integrity.

The set: The set’s expertise covers five main areas of law, which have been organised into practice divisions, each led by a highly respected and experienced barrister: personal injuries and clinical negligence, led by Theodore Huckle QC (call 1985); public law, planning and regulatory work, led by Graham Walters (call 1986); employment law, led by Jonathan Walters (call 1984); Chancery, business and consumer law, led by Gareth Jones (call 1992); and ADR and arbitration, led by Mair Coombes Davies (call 1988).

Among its 22 members are barristers who write or contribute to leading practitioner texts, act as mediators and arbitrators, and are appointed as Treasury Counsel, to the Attorney General’s Panel and as counsel to the Welsh Assembly Government and National Assembly for Wales.

The range of experience within each practice division means that the needs of the client can be met, from a case on the small track to a complex appeal. The practice group profiles below provide evidence of the breadth and depth of work being undertaken.

Civitas Law is a modern and progressive set of chambers, occupying brand new office premises in the recently developed Cardiff Bay area.

Chambers has set itself the highest standard in the delivery of services to its clients: that of excellence. It aims to be professional and approachable, and to provide legal advice which is clear and easily understood by its lay clients.

Types of work undertaken: The personal injury division consists of more than 15 specialist practitioners at all levels of experience acting for claimants and defendants, including major trade union and insurance clients, central, local and the Welsh Assembly Government and NHS trusts. The group has specialists in occupational deafness and disease work and in injuries of maximum severity.

Chancery practitioners specialise in all aspects of probate, inheritance and property disputes, including extensive advisory work.

Practitioners in the employment division specialise in all aspects of employment law, ranging from basic unfair dismissal claims to the more complex discrimination and equal pay and breach of contract claims.

The public law and regulatory division brings together practitioners from public and administrative law, civil aspects of public authority work and criminal enforcement, reflecting patterns of change in local government. It serves the requirements of public bodies of all descriptions and provides appropriate specialist knowledge tailored to the individual issues. From advisory work, inquiries, court appearances at all levels and judicial review, regular instructions cover the breadth of public law and include health and safety, trades descriptions, care standards, food hygiene and licensing.

In addition individual members practise extensively in town and country planning and environmental work.

The dispute resolution division provides expert and experienced mediation, arbitration and adjudication services in civil and commercial disputes.