John specialises in costs and civil litigation.
John's experience far exceeds his year of call. Prior to joining Chambers in 2019, John practised in an award-winning international law firm as a Solicitor-Advocate. He attended hearings nationwide including before Regional Costs Judges, High Court Masters and Masters of the Senior Court Costs Office. He has frequently appeared against more experienced Counsel including Leading Counsel.
John prides himself on providing practical and commercially focused advice and, as a former solicitor, John understands the needs of those who instruct him.
John has completed the Bar Vocational Course, achieving an overall grade of Very Competent, and the Legal Practice Course, achieving a Distinction. Upon completion of the Legal Practice Course, John was awarded the BPP Highest Performing Professional award for achieving the highest overall mark in his cohort.
Articles and Publications
- Belsner v Cam Legal Services Limited - An Important Decision, But Unanswered Questions Remain. Read More
Interests outside the law
Away from Chambers, John is a tech, science and electric car enthusiast. He enjoys reading history of all periods and has a wide range of sporting interests; in particular he is a lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast and a fan of Rugby League.
Civil Litigation
John regularly appears in costs matters from CCMCs and applications through to multiple day detailed assessments. He has appeared frequently before Masters of the Senior Court Costs Office and Regional Costs Judges.
With almost 10 years' experience in a solicitors' environment, he understands the importance of providing practical and commercially focused advice.
John is able to handle a full range of costs matters but has particular specialism in litigation funding (including broken retainers), fixed costs challenges, conduct issues, the application of the indemnity principle, proportionality challenges, procedural points of law and solicitor and client assessments.
John has developed a busy solicitor and own client practice with a particular focus on assisting solicitor's firms faced with challenges from former clients. He is able to provide advice on all aspects of these challenges.
Civil Litigation and Costs
Content
Preliminary issues hearing
Successfully representing the receiving party at a preliminary issues hearing concerning whether fixed costs applied to claims falling within the Montreal Convention, the first such decision before a Regional Costs Judge (McKendry v British Airways PLC)
Costs Case
Representing a receiving party at a multiple day detailed assessment at the Senior Court Costs Office. Successfully arguing that there was no good reason to depart from the costs budget, leading to the receiving party beating its own Part 36 offer.
Recoverable costs case
Advising a client as to the recoverable costs in a claim in which jurisdiction and applicable law were in dispute.
Commercial Claim
Representing a paying party at detailed assessment arising out of a commercial claim. John successfully obtained a reduction to the Bill of Costs on the grounds of proportionality.
Litigation & Costs
Resisting an application to set aside a default costs brought by a litigant in person pursuant to CPR r 47.12.
Professional Negligence
Successfully representing a paying party at detailed assessment arising out of a claim for professional negligence. John obtained an order striking out the Bill of Costs on conduct grounds.
Fixed Cost Case
Advising a client on the interplay between CPR r 36.13 and CPR r 36.20 and the relationship between detailed assessment and fixed costs.
Legal Costs Case
Successfully recovering a large bespoke ATE premium on behalf of a receiving party and an award of detailed assessment costs on the indemnity basis
Clinical Negligence Case
Attending a costs budgeting hearing on behalf of a receiving party in a high value clinical negligence matter in which the Bill of Costs totalled just below £1 million pounds.
Clinical Negligence Costs Case
Successfully representing a client at an application hearing before a High Court Master arising out a clinical negligence claim. John successfully obtained an order for costs on behalf of his client worth in excess of £50,000.
