EXPERTISE

Insurance

Graham is a specialist insurance lawyer, drawing on the knowledge and experience gained in his previous career as a chartered loss adjuster. He advises policyholders, brokers and insurers on disputed claims and all aspects relating to the interpretation and application of insurance contracts.

He is the co-author of Property Insurance Claims: Law and Practice, published by Witherby Publishing in 2022. A second edition is in preparation.

He has successfully defended policyholders and uninsured drivers against claims by insurers under s.151 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Article 75 of the Motor Insurers Bureau Articles of Association.

Other areas of specific expertise include claims against insurance companies under the Third Party (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010 following the bankruptcy of the insured and the right of an insurer to refuse cover on grounds of misrepresentation and/or breach of duty of fair representation.

Company Law & Insolvency

Graham has had extensive involvement in company law litigation, including petitions for relief from unfair prejudice and other shareholder and director disputes. He has acted in insolvency proceedings including winding-up petitions and administration orders.

Land & Property

Graham has a particular knowledge of claims involving land that has become bona vacantia or in escheat to the Crown and for the rectification of the Register under the Land Registration Act 2002

Forsythe v HM Attorney General (2025) PT-2025-NCL-000010: the incomplete transfer of a property from a company to the Claimant nevertheless took effect as an immediate equitable assignment, meaning that the property did not become bona vacantia on the dissolution of the company and the Claimant and his wife were entitled to an order under s.44 of the Trustee Act 1925 vesting the property in them.

Griffiths v Crown Estate Commissioners (2024): partnership property owned by a bankrupt did not fall into the bankruptcy estate and the subsequent disclaimer by the trustee in bankruptcy was void and of no effect. The Claimant was entitled to a declaration that he retained the legal title in the property, which he held on trust for the benefit of the partnership, and an order requiring the register to be corrected accordingly.

Emergency Applications

Both at the Bar and with solicitors Graham has extensive experience of applications for interim injunctions in the County Court and High Court, and in preparing responses on behalf of the respondent.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Property Insurance Claims: Law and Practice, Witherby Publishing, 2022

EDUCATION

  • BSc Economics, University of Bath
  • Associate Chartered Insurance Institute
  • Associate Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Law, Northumbria University
  • Bar Vocational Course, Northumbria University
  • LLM Commercial Law, Northumbria University

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Graham was called to the Bar in 2000 after a career as a chartered loss adjuster. More recently he was a senior lecturer at Northumbria University where he taught civil litigation and was an accredited advocacy tutor.

 

Clerking team

Steve Walker

Lead Business, Property & Employment Clerk

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0191 245 9589

Business & Property Clerk

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0191 245 9556

Lead Housing, Personal Injury & Public Law Clerk

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0113 3235 955

Junior Civil Clerk

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0191 3009 359

Junior Civil Clerk

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0191 245 9543

Criminal & Family Clerk

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01642 247 569

• Chowdhury v Ageas Insurance Limited (2017) – contested income insurance claim
• Towergate Underwriting Group Ltd (t/a Towergate Insurance) v A&J Scott Ltd (2018) – disputed brokers fees

• Pandongate House v Barton (2019) – applications under section 117 Companies Act 2005.
• Blackett & Blackett v Jabac Finance Ltd and others (2019) – TOLATA, equitable interests, mortgages and overreaching.

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