Barristers from a range of Trinity's practice groups have again been recognised in the recently published 2014 edition of Chambers & Partners "Your guide to the world's best lawyers".
Barristers in Trinity's Business, Chancery, Criminal, Employment, Family and Licensing groups have been mentioned. More barristers and entries have been included in the 2014 edition than in any previous years for Trinity. Chambers are ranked in Band 1 for Family/Matrimonial and Licensing. The Trinity Clerking teams also receive recognition in the directory. The entries are as follows:-
Chancery
Trinity Chambers is highly regarded on the North-Eastern Circuit for complex chancery work. The set's chancery group handles a broad variety of matters, with members' expertise sought out in relation to property, probate, trusts and estate, and landlord and tenant disputes."I find the set and its barristers to be very professional. They are knowledgeable and skilled in their fields, and easy to deal with. They provide prompt and expert advice, and they are professional, approachable and pragmatic." "They are a first-rate civil set in Newcastle and they have a commitment to growing as a commercial set."
Simon Goldberg
Enjoys a solid reputation for all aspects of chancery work in the North East, and is regularly called upon to lead cases involving partnership disputes and complex commercial litigation. "He deals with a variety of areas, so he has good all-round knowledge and experience. He is good at breaking down complex legal problems and cutting to the heart of the issue." "He is efficient, thorough and I know the work will be of an impeccable standard."
Michelle Temple
Handles traditional chancery matters, and is noted for her expertise in trust, probate and cohabitation disputes. She also handles commercial chancery cases, and is frequently instructed on partnership and insolvency matters. "She really knows her stuff and is an effective, hard-hitting advocate."
Commercial Dispute Resolution
This set offers strength in depth across a broad array of practice areas. Its business law team covers the full spectrum of commercial litigation, including construction and engineering disputes, insolvency matters and commercial judicial review. Its members represent a variety of clients, ranging from professional organisations to local authorities and government departments. Solicitors appreciate the courtesy of the clerking team, and speak highly of the consistency and quality of its practitioners. "The clerks are amazing, a bloody great team; helpful, friendly and unfailingly polite, they take all the stress away from us."
Michelle Temple
Experienced in mediation and respected by her peers, Michelle Temple is noted for her expertise in company law disputes and is regularly instructed on substantial commercial matters. "She is hugely bright, and takes a sensible and personable approach. Both clients and judges warm to her." She advised on a High Court claim concerning an alleged breach of contract and fiduciary duty as well as misuse of confidential information.
Simon Goldberg
A commercial and chancery specialist with a broad range of expertise in areas such as shareholder disputes, directors' duties and sale of goods issues. "He's efficient and thorough, and his work is always of an impeccable standard; he's very approachable, and explains things to clients in a manner they can easily understand." He represented Executive Training Solutions in a claim against a former employer for damages and a breach of contract or fiduciary duty.
Charles Holland
Recognised on the North Eastern Circuit for his knowledge and experience across a range of commercial issues. He is especially noted for his work with leisure sector clients.
Crime
Trinity Chambers covers the whole of the North Eastern Circuit, with its members based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Teesside and Durham. The barristers here have a broad range of expertise, and have been instructed in notable cases concerning large-scale conspiracy, terrorism and internet crime.
Toby Hedworth QC
Whose practice encompasses professional and white-collar crime. He has considerable expertise in handling sensitive police disciplinary proceedings and inquests. "He is a very strong advocate in this field."
Christopher Knox
A vastly experienced criminal barrister with an aptitude for handling complex homicide cases. He is renowned for his ability to act in cases that involve informants. "He is the best barrister I know by a country mile. He is tenacious and inquisitive, and he has a first-rate manner with clients."
Robert Adams
Frequently instructed in highly sensitive cases, including those concerning death by dangerous driving and rape allegations. He is widely commended for the professionalism with which he approaches matters.
Employment
Jane Callan
Has focused her practice entirely on employment and discrimination law. She is frequently instructed on behalf of claimants, and acts for a range of clients including local authorities and NHS trusts. She appeared on behalf of Middlesbrough Council in a case concerning the ability of males to bring contingent equal pay claims by using successful female colleagues as comparators.
Simon Goldberg
An experienced employment practitioner whose broad practice covers a variety of cases, including equal pay, whistle-blowing, unfair dismissal and breach of contract. He acted for the respondent in Chowdhury v Newcastle City Council, a race, age discrimination and unfair dismissal case.
Jamie Morgan
Represents both claimants and respondents across a range of employment cases, although he is particularly highly noted for his expertise in equal pay and unfair dismissal claims. He successfully acted on behalf of the director of a company who claimed £100,000 relating to an unfair dismissal.
Richard Stubbs
Has a broad employment practice covering unfair and wrongful dismissal, equal pay and discrimination claims. He represented the claimant in a complex Pre-Hearing Review to determine whether unsociable hour remuneration was a separate term to basic pay in relation to an equal pay claim.
Family/Matrimonial Band 1
Trinity Chambers has cemented its position as one of the leading sets in the North East, and is renowned for its expertise across all aspects of family law. Its members are commended for their fantastic span of specialist family law knowledge, which ranges from complex ancillary relief to the heavy end of children's proceedings, including international abductions and sensitive public law cases. "The clerking is first-class; the service that my firm gets from Trinity Chambers is superb."
James Richardson
Renowned for his expertise in financial proceedings, and praised by instructing solicitors for his forensic eye for detail. He is regularly instructed on complex, high net worth family finance cases, on behalf of a wide range of clients. "He is my first-choice barrister in Newcastle. He has great technical knowledge and is always very thoroughly prepared, with an air of authority that commands respect in the courtroom."
Christopher Knox
A heavyweight criminal practitioner who is frequently instructed in high-value ancillary relief cases. Instructing solicitors are quick to praise his powerful advocacy. "He is always calm, collected and approachable, with a down-to-earth manner that always puts clients at ease. He is always well prepared, with a complete mastery of the facts of the case in great detail, no matter how complex."
Timothy Spain
He is regularly instructed on significant ancillary and financial relief cases, and is also noted for his expertise on Court of Protection matters relating to vulnerable clients. "He really looks after his solicitors and clients, going above and beyond the call of duty for them." "He has a powerful courtroom presence and is a robust advocate."
Nicola Shaw
She specialises in complex financial proceedings and cohabitation disputes. Commentators praise the value of her training in collaborative law, and note her considerable expertise in alternative dispute resolution and mediation. "She takes a holistic view of the client's circumstances and thinks outside of the box to consider the practical consequences of any advice she gives." "Nicola Shaw is very accessible and takes a real interest in the case, providing good, solid advice in financial cases."
Lesley McKenzie
Draws praise for her vast expertise in relation to child protection matters, including complex care proceedings. She receives instructions from a range of clients, and regularly acts on behalf of local authorities, guardians and family members. "She's incredibly bright, forceful when she needs to be, and very well respected by the judges."
Nicholas Stonor
Has particular expertise in cases involving complex medical evidence, including those involving shaking injuries and serious sexual abuse. He regularly receives instructions from family members, guardians and local authorities. "He is approachable and great with clients, and does an excellent job on very complex cases."
Justin Gray
Handles a number of significant and sensitive cases, including allegations of sexual abuse, the protection of vulnerable adults, and contested adoption and care proceedings. "He is brilliant for the really complex stuff relating to children law, particularly jurisdictional complexities." "He's extremely good on his feet."
Licensing Band 1
Charles Holland
Acts nationally across a comprehensive range of liquor, gambling, entertainment, sexual entertainment, firearms and transport licensing issues. Taxi licensing is a key area of specialisation. "He is capable, highly amenable and always goes that extra mile to win the case." "He has good knowledge of the local market, and is also good at developing tactics and strategy for difficult cases."
Joan Smith
Handles alcohol, gambling, firearms and taxi licensing matters at regulatory hearings, and to Crown and Administrative Court level. Smith is especially noted for her taxi licensing expertise, which she has applied in providing advice to statutory bodies on matters of policy. "She is extremely practical and diligent, and quickly focuses on key issues in complex cases."
Real Estate Litigation
Michelle Temple singled out by market observers for her property experience. Property and land matters are a significant focus of her broad chancery practice. She regularly advises on boundary disputes, possession claims and landlord and tenant disputes. She advised on an application to the Lands Tribunal for discharge of a restrictive covenant limiting use of a building to occupation by agricultural workers.
Trinity's full Chambers and Partners listings can be found here.