Set Profile > Chambers of Andrew Thomas QC > Manchester , England

Chambers of Andrew Thomas QC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chambers of Andrew Thomas QC > Firm Profile

Lincoln House Chambers fields advocates across a range of practice areas from its stylish, modern premises in Manchester’s city centre. It prides itself on its ethos of excellence in advocacy and in meeting the demands of its clients.

For 40 years this approach has allowed Lincoln House Chambers to maintain a lead over its rivals. Its team of advocates practises in a variety of regulatory and disciplinary fields plus civil litigation, where it has established practice teams with a particular strength to meet the demands for this type of work. Its criminal caseload includes many of the major criminal cases of the day. Planned expansion and organic growth now mean that there are 14 Queen’s Counsel and 61 juniors in chambers. A number of members hold judicial appointments in tribunals and in the higher courts. Most members of chambers are qualified to accept work on a direct access basis.

The set: Considered a predominantly criminal and regulatory set, Lincoln House Chambers has an enviable reputation for its work in the prosecution and defence of regulatory crime and fraud. Additionally, chambers has developed a strong civil wing. There is particular expertise in inquiry work, inquests, professional disciplinary work, complex personal injury and industrial disease claims.

Members include specialists in health and safety, trading standards, environmental regulation and financial regulation. Lincoln House’s reputation in these fields attracts a nationwide clientele.

Types of work undertaken:

Crime: chambers remains a strong resource for those needing advice and representation in all fields of criminal practice, members are regularly instructed in cases of the utmost gravity and public interest. Members are often involved at an early stage when strategic advice is required about the investigation itself, or challenging restraint orders. Chambers has attracted praise for its work in business crime & fraud.

Regulatory: chambers has a deserved reputation as a leader in criminal regulatory work. A strong team is fielded in health and safety litigation and in waste and environmental hazard work. The team is routinely instructed in cases that give rise to fatalities and there is particular expertise in the niche area of corporate responsibility. Additionally, members of chambers have also appeared in cases that arise in a medical context.

The combination of specialisms available through chambers ensures any complex technical issues are understood and mastered. Members have advised for both the regulators and the professionals accused.

Inquiries & Inquests: Members are frequently instructed in issues arising in ancillary jurisdictions, notably inquests and public enquiries. Six members of chambers were instructed to act in the Hillsborough inquests (predominantly for senior police officers) and chambers has a presence in many of the more substantial inquest hearings which take place in the north of England. Members have been instructed by the Home Office and Department of Health to assist with substantial public and independent enquiries. The work undertaken in other regulatory areas (CQC, H&S, police and medical practitioner disciplinary) often extends to representation in Coroners Courts.

Civil: the civil team unites a number of fields of practice. The work covered includes general common law but there is an established specialist team with a national reputation that concentrates on complex personal injury, including industrial disease work (eg British coal respiratory disease litigation, miners’ knee litigation, and surface dust) and catastrophic injury claims. Members have experience of the conduct of actions for and against the police, and the public law team regularly challenges unlawful decisions that arise in a criminal context by way of judicial review. Members also welcome instructions in a range of tribunals (e.g. immigration, VAT/employment/Traffic Commissioners).

Professional disciplinary: LHC barristers advise and appear regularly in General Medical Council cases (both prosecution and defence), nursing and dental councils, HCPC, accountancy issues through the AADB, or police disciplinary issues.

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