Civitas Law > Cardiff, Wales > Set Profile

Civitas Law
THE MEWS, 38 CATHEDRAL ROAD
CARDIFF
CF11 9LL
Wales

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Chancery, probate, and tax Tier 1

At Civitas Law, Owain Rhys James is regularly instructed in cases involving Inheritance Act claims and contentious probate issues, and Kate Parker has an excellent reputation for her track record in advising on trusts, real property and succession issues. Parker’s recent workload includes acting in cases concerning the interpretation and validity of wills.

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Commercial litigation Tier 1

Civitas Law‘s commercial litigation team has solid expertise advising claimant and defendant clients on a broad range of issues, including multi-track claims, contractual and debt disputes, and procurement matters. Anthony Vines is very experienced in assisting with cases involving regulatory elements, Owain Rhys James handles breach of contract disputes, and Kate Parker and Alys Williams are regularly instructed in cases involving cases involving allegations of fraud.

Rising stars

Alys Williams - Civitas Law 'Alys is meticulous and thorough in her advice and approach. Her advice is beyond her year of call.'
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Juniors

Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 2
Kate Parker  - Civitas Law 'Kate is methodical and meticulous in her advice, and a highly skilled advocate.'
Ranked: Tier 2

Testimonials

Set

A fantastic chambers, always ready and willing to assist, often within very tight timeframes.’

Civitas is a great set which deals with enquiries efficiently and promptly.’

Clerking

Jonathan Mytton is an outstanding clerk. Nothing is ever too much trouble for him.’

The clerks are fast and efficient.’

Jonathan Mytton is one of the best clerks in Cardiff. He is personable and efficient.’

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Employment Tier 1

Civitas Law‘s employment team is highly experienced in representing claimants and respondents in a broad range of employment matters, and fields expertise in acting for both employers and employees. Christopher Howells successfully defended Dolce & Gabbana against an unfair dismissal and race discrimination claim brought by a former employee, who was dismissed on the grounds of gross misconduct. Joanne Williams regularly acts for respondents in cases involving disability discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal claims.

Leading Juniors

Christopher Howells - Civitas LawChristopher is a very experienced, excellent employment barrister, always very well prepared and a skilled advocate. He goes the extra mile for his clients.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Jonathan Walters - Civitas LawHis attention to detail is second to none, and he is a very calm pair of hands through what can be a very difficult and complex process.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Joanne Williams - Civitas LawJoanne is extremely approachable and always gives very practical advice.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 2

Testimonials

Set

Good availability of counsel.’

Excellent employment barristers in the set.’

Clerking

The team at Civitas are helpful and readily available, particularly Jonathan Mytton.’

The clerks are very approachable. Jonathan Mytton is particularly friendly and helpful.’

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Personal injury Tier 1

Viewed as ‘one of the best personal injury sets in Wales‘, Civitas Law reports an increase in defendant work, and a growth in instructions relating to cases involving allegations of fraud.  Bryan Thomas ‘ recent instructions involve liability claims, and Rebecca Mansell‘s practice includes road traffic accidents, employers’ and public liability matters, and cases involving issues of dishonesty or fraud. Alys Williams regularly handles claimant work. Ian Meikle left the Bar in March 2021.

Rising stars

Alys Williams – Civitas Law ‘Alys is a calm and considered barrister who always provides clear and structured advice. She is a confident and reliable advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Juniors

Nicholas David JonesCivitas LawA fine negotiator who demonstrates tenacity and tactical acumen. He has excellent judgement and is always thorough.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Bryan ThomasCivitas LawBryan is an outstanding barrister with years of experience. He has always provided exceptional advice in a timely manner. Very experienced in dealing with catastrophic injury claims. A safe pair of hands who is good at putting clients at ease.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 2
Rebecca MansellCivitas LawVery thorough, very well prepared, professional, and astute. A tenacious advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 2

Testimonials

Set

They provide a competitive service, with practitioners who are always well versed in what they do.’

First class service.’

A very reliable set.’

Clerking

The clerks are very professional.’

A friendly and efficient service is provided.’

Very personable, quick to respond, helpful.’

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Planning and environment Tier 1

At Civitas Law, Anthony Vines  is well known for appearing in public inquiries, with particular focus on planning matters, while Matthew Paul  is instructed by developers and local authorities in planning enforcement work and proceedings arising from environmental criminal cases. Owain Rhys James is also sought out for his expertise in planning work.

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Social housing Tier 1

Members of Civitas Law‘s social housing practice are instructed in proceedings for landlords and tenants in a broad range of matters. Housing disrepair claims, anti-social behaviour issues, warrants for eviction and unlawful eviction claims are key areas of expertise for the group. Dominic Evans has been kept busy handling disrepair claims, Owain Rhys James is ‘very confident in court‘, and Victoria Hillier regularly acts for housing associations and local authorities.

Rising stars

Dominic Evans – Civitas LawDominic provides practical and sound advice on a complex area of law in a very succinct way. A gifted young advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Juniors

Owain Rhys James – Civitas Law ‘Owain is incredibly talented and intelligent. He is highly knowledgeable about housing law, and his calm and measured approach during hearings is effective and persuasive. Very approachable and accommodating.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 2

Testimonials

Set

The set as a whole is very reliable. Chambers always has someone available to assist and is very prompt at confirming our instructions.’

Clerking

Jonathan Mytton is always very accommodating and will go above and beyond for instructing solicitors.’

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights) Tier 2

At Civitas Law, members are well known for representing individuals, governmental bodies, and local authorities in a wide range of public law matters. Cathrine Grubb  is active in this area, with notable expertise in acting in judicial review challenges and human rights claims involving immigration and asylum issues. Anthony Vines  and the ‘reliable and personableOwain Rhys James are other key names in the team.

Leading Juniors

Ranked: Tier 1
Cathrine Grubb  – Civitas LawShe exercises a high degree of professionalism, has a very good understanding of public and administrative law, and is extremely thorough in her legal analysis.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Owain Rhys JamesCivitas LawVery persuasive. Owain charms the court and is determined to get the best result for his clients.’
Ranked: Tier 2

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Clinical negligence

Leading Juniors

Ranked: Tier 1
Bryan Thomas - Civitas Law 'A very experienced and tactically spot-on barrister.'
Ranked: Tier 1

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Company and insolvency

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Immigration

Leading Juniors

Cathrine Grubb - Civitas Law 'She has detailed knowledge of immigration law.'
Ranked: Tier 1

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Inquests and inquiries

Leading Juniors

Richard Cole - Civitas Law 'Richard is extremely hard working and has a first class legal brain. He has flair and charm in court, and is admired by judges and barristers alike.'
Ranked: Tier 1

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Licensing

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Professional disciplinary law

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Property and construction

Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Agriculture

Civitas Law is an award-winning, leading specialist civil and public law barristers’ chambers serving clients across Wales and England. It believes clients are best served by a set of highly specialist lawyers offering excellence and innovation in advisory work, drafting, mediation and advocacy. With the support of its dedicated, experienced and highly responsive clerks and client support teams, barristers are able to provide a full range of counsel services in personal injuries and clinical negligence; employment; public, planning and regulatory; chancery, business, consumer; and ADR matters. The wide range of experience within each group allows the set to work successfully with clients from small-track cases to a complex appeal. The set continues to develop its reputation by attracting the best of the Bar and aims to provide a cutting-edge service while maintaining traditions of independence and integrity. Civitas Law is a Law Society-accredited course provider and regularly hosts CPD training, seminars and conferences, either in-house, at clients’ offices or in collaboration with sector organisations.

The set: Civitas Law puts itself at the heart of the evolution and development of legal services, the civil and public law process and the communities in which it and its clients operate in. Working closely with clients and understanding their legal and business needs has allowed chambers to create valuable client benefits that add to its pure counsel capacity.

Its professional standards and advice are supported by a first-class client care team and service-oriented approach to help deliver and support clients beyond all expectations. The provision of providing clear legal advice which is easily understood by the set’s lay clients is a founding principle of Civitas Law, established in 2008 as Wales’ first focused civil and public law set. The set works closely with its professional clients to ensure that chambers’ services are tailored to their unique requirements and business objectives.

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

Civitas Law has set for itself the highest standards in the delivery of services to its clients; that of excellence. The set aims to be professional and approachable and to provide legal advice which is clear and easily understood by lay clients.

Types of work undertaken: The personal injury and clinical negligence division consists of more than 12 practitioners at all levels of experience acting for claimants and defendants, including major trade union and insurance clients, central, local and the Welsh 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 and court appearances at all levels to 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.

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Senior Clerk Sandra Harvey
Office Manager Marie Durbin
Clerk Jonathan Mytton
Fees Clerk Deborah Tully
Members of Chambers WIILLIAMS KC, Sir Wyn (1974)*
Members of Chambers THOMAS, Bryan (1978)
Members of Chamnbers WALTERS, Jonathan (1984)
Members of Chambers JONES, Nicholas D (1987)
Members of Chambers COOMBES DAVIES, Mair (1988)*
Members of Chambers KING, Lucy (1992)
Members of Chambers VINES, Anthony (1993)
Members of Chambers MARSHALL, Elizabeth (1995)*
Members of Chambers HOWELLS, Christopher (1999)
Members of Chambers WILLIAMS, Joanne (1999)
Members of Chambers COLE, Richard (2000)
Members of Chambers PAUL, Matthew (2000)
Members of Chambers HUGHES, Simon (2003)
Members of Chambers BAYOUMI, Mona (2004)
Members of Chambers HILLIER, Victoria (2005)
Members of Chambers MANSELL, Rebecca (2005)
Members of Chambers DYSON, Dan (2007)
Members of Chambers GRUBB, Cathrine (2007)*
Members of Chambers PARKER, Kate (2010)
Members of Chambers JAMES, Owain Rhys (2011)
Member of Chambers WILLIAMS, Alys (2016)
Members of Chambers EVANS, Dominic (2016)
Members of Chambers KNIGHT, Isabelle (2019)
*Door tenant
PhotoNamePositionProfile
Mona Bayoumi photo Mona BayoumiMona’s practice is extensively based within the public, planning and regulatory and…
Richard Cole photo Richard ColeRichard is instructed by the Force Solicitors of the police forces across…
Mair Coombes Davies photo Mair Coombes DaviesMair specialises in dispute resolution. She has conducted many hundreds of separate…
Dan Dyson photo Dan DysonDan specialises in commercial and property litigation.  His practice features business disputes…
Cathrine Grubb photo Cathrine GrubbBarrister specialising in chancery, commercial and public law. Cathrine also accepts instrucion…
Victoria Hillier photo Victoria HillierVictoria is ranked in the Legal 500 2011 and 2012 directory for…
Christopher Howells photo Christopher HowellsChris is ranked as a Chambers UK Guide ‘Leader in their field’…
Simon Hughes photo Simon HughesSimon practices in the field of personal injury law. He appears in…
Owain James photo Owain JamesOwain has a busy advocacy and advisory practice across all of chambers’…
Nicholas Jones photo Nicholas JonesNick acts on behalf of claimants and defendants (including central government and…
Kate Parker photo Kate ParkerKate has a specialist chancery and commercial practice with a particular focus…
Matthew Paul photo Matthew PaulMatthew Graham Paul practices within Civitas Law’s public, planning and regulatory group.…
Bryan Thomas photo Bryan ThomasBryan is a Chambers UK Bar Guide and Legal 500 ‘Tier 1’…
Anthony Vines photo Anthony VinesAnthony has an extensive practice and is a member of the Public,…
Graham Walters photo Graham WaltersPractice is essentially concerned with property, planning and public and administrative law.…
Joanne Williams photo Joanne WilliamsJoanne is recommended as leading counsel for personal injury and employment law…
English (fluent)
Arabic
Welsh