Civitas Law > Cardiff, Wales > Set Profile
Civitas Law Offices

THE MEWS, 38 CATHEDRAL ROAD
CARDIFF
CF11 9LL
Wales
Civitas Law > The Legal 500 Rankings
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
Leading Juniors
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
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
Leading Juniors
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
Leading Juniors
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 personable‘ Owain Rhys James are other key names in the team.Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Clinical negligence
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Company and insolvency
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Immigration
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Inquests and inquiries
Leading Juniors
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 > Set Profile
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.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
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 |
Barrister Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Mona Bayoumi | Mona’s practice is extensively based within the public, planning and regulatory and… | View Profile |
![]() | Richard Cole | Richard is instructed by the Force Solicitors of the police forces across… | View Profile |
![]() | Mair Coombes Davies | Mair specialises in dispute resolution. She has conducted many hundreds of separate… | View Profile |
![]() | Dan Dyson | Dan specialises in commercial and property litigation. His practice features business disputes… | View Profile |
![]() | Cathrine Grubb | Barrister specialising in chancery, commercial and public law. Cathrine also accepts instrucion… | View Profile |
![]() | Victoria Hillier | Victoria is ranked in the Legal 500 2011 and 2012 directory for… | View Profile |
![]() | Christopher Howells | Chris is ranked as a Chambers UK Guide ‘Leader in their field’… | View Profile |
![]() | Simon Hughes | Simon practices in the field of personal injury law. He appears in… | View Profile |
![]() | Owain James | Owain has a busy advocacy and advisory practice across all of chambers’… | View Profile |
![]() | Nicholas Jones | Nick acts on behalf of claimants and defendants (including central government and… | View Profile |
![]() | Kate Parker | Kate has a specialist chancery and commercial practice with a particular focus… | View Profile |
![]() | Matthew Paul | Matthew Graham Paul practices within Civitas Law’s public, planning and regulatory group.… | View Profile |
![]() | Bryan Thomas | Bryan is a Chambers UK Bar Guide and Legal 500 ‘Tier 1’… | View Profile |
![]() | Anthony Vines | Anthony has an extensive practice and is a member of the Public,… | View Profile |
![]() | Graham Walters | Practice is essentially concerned with property, planning and public and administrative law.… | View Profile |
![]() | Joanne Williams | Joanne is recommended as leading counsel for personal injury and employment law… | View Profile |
Languages
English (fluent) Arabic Welsh- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Chancery, probate, and tax
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Commercial litigation
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Employment
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Personal injury
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Planning and environment
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Social housing
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights)
Set Rankings
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Clinical negligence
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Company and insolvency
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Immigration
- Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Inquests and inquiries
- 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