Palmyra Chambers was formed in 2005 and has grown to have a substantial presence in Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington, Chester and surrounding areas, being ideally situated to meet the needs of Solicitors in those areas. However, Chambers undertakes work nationally in all practice areas.
As the market for legal services becomes increasingly competitive, Palmyra Chambers distinguishes itself as a progressive and modern set, committed to providing a high quality professional service whilst maintaining a formidable reputation for excellent advocacy skills and approachability.
Chambers is made up of niche Barristers, serviced by an outstanding clerking team, which enables it to provide individual Solicitors and Solicitors’ firms with a personal and integrated service to meet their requirements.
In November 2008, Michael Jones joined Chambers as Senior Clerk. He brings with him over twenty years of clerking experience gained in the North West. Mike is happy to deal with your enquiries, efficiently and effectively.
As Chambers continues to grow, its ethos will remain focused on meeting the personal requirements of Solicitors and Clients. Members of Chambers believe in a strong and uncompromising attitude towards quality and client service.
A number of members of Chambers accept Direct Access instructions, providing a unique resource to the business community of Warrington and beyond.
Palmyra Chambers offers a programme of seminars throughout the year for companies and members of the legal profession. All seminars are delivered by practising barristers who are able to offer a depth of knowledge and experience in their chosen fields. Additionally members are happy to attend at clients’ premises to deliver these seminars.
Mike Jones, Senior Clerk
Jonathan Rule
Head of Chambers
Jonathan specialises in landlord and tenant, real property, easements and covenants, insolvency, wills and probate, inheritance disputes, partnerships and general commercial disputes
Neil Addison
Neil has particular experience in Civil/Criminal cases such as Proceeds of Crime, Banning Orders, Anti Social Behaviour, and Police Powers
Robert Askey
Robert’s Chancery Practice and experience encompasses Banking and Financial transactions, Landlord & Tenant, Land Law and Insolvency, as well as Employment, Housing and Personal Injury
Lorraine Barton
Lorraine was educated at Liverpool John Moores University and completed her BVC at Manchester University. She was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 2000
Tahir Khan
Ex police constable for the Greater Manchester Police, former Partner/ Solicitor in the Personal Injury department of a Manchester City centre solicitors practice. Tahir has
Steven Levine
Steven has been a Barrister for over 19 years since his call to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn and pupillage and gaining his Masters Degree in Law in London. He has a predominantly mixed common law background
Cathy Mitchell
Cathy deals in particular with credit hire and road traffic accident cases and personal injury work. She has conducted trials on the small claims and fast track
Maria Mulla
Maria receives instructions across the full range of civil litigation and appears regularly in trials and applications in the County Court
Iain Mutch
Iain specialises in crime, housing and personal injury work, litigious and non-litigious family work, the interpretation of consumer contracts and the drafting and interpretation of tenancy agreements.
Christopher Perry
Chris is nationally acknowledged for his considerable expertise and technical acumen in the field of costs litigation, particularly in relation to matters concerning litigation funding. Chris accepts instructions in all areas of the common law with particular emphasis on costs law, credit hire, personal injury, coroners law and regulatory work
Josephine Scally
called to the bar in 1984 and, after serving a pupillage in St. John Street Chambers, Manchester, pursued a general practice of family, crime and personal injury
Brett Wilson
Brett was called to the Bar in 2008 having spent several years in procurement and commercial roles in the rail industry and IT sector
In addition to receiving instructions from Solicitors, members of Chambers may also accept instructions in two other ways:
Licensed Access
Barristers at Palmyra Chambers are happy to accept instructions from approved organisations in appropriate cases. We believe that in close cooperation with licensed access organisations, our members can provide efficient and cost-effective legal advice and representation. If you believe that you / your organisation may be part of the licensed access group scheme please telephone the Clerks for confirmation or alternatively and to find out more about the Licensed Access route, we suggest you refer to the handbook “Licensed Access Guidance – Handbook for Clients”, published by the General Council of the Bar (whose address is below), which is also available online at www.barcouncil.org.uk (follow the links to “Instructing a Barrister; Licensed Access”).
Direct Public Access
Traditionally members of the public could not go to Barristers directly; they had to go through Solicitors or other recognised bodies. That meant paying for two lawyers. For paying clients, the cost of engaging two lawyers was often too much to bear and hence a barrister’s involvement was often held off to save costs. That situation changed in July 2004 when the Bar Council made rules allowing members of the public to engage the services of barristers directly without first going through Solicitors. The rules are known as the Public Access Rules. Palmyra Chambers aims to assist clients in line with the aim of that change in the rules.
A number of our Barristers, Jonathan Rule, Robert Askey, Neil Addison, Steven Levine, Maria Mulla, Iain Mutch and Christopher Perry are willing to accept instructions in relation to advisory work, drafting and advocacy directly from companies, organisations and members of the public under the Direct Public Access Scheme. For contact details click [Here]
To find out more about the Public Access route, we suggest you refer to the handbook “Public Access to Barristers – Guidance to Lay Clients” also published by the General Council of the Bar and available online at www.barcouncil.org.uk (follow links to “Instructing a Barrister; Public Access”).
Direct public access is not permitted in most criminal, family or immigration work and barristers are only authorised to carry out direct access work in line with the requirements of our professional regulatory body, the Bar Council.
And for Foreign Lawyers?
Barristers are able to receive direct instructions from lawyers, businesses or individuals based outside the UK and can offer specialist advice, arbitration services, mediation and specialist advocacy services, the latter before European and international courts and tribunals. Only if and when litigation is being contemplated in this jurisdiction, will an English/Welsh solicitor need to be instructed to complete the preparatory work for litigation.
For more information on these routes, requirements and other guidelines on how to instruct barristers please see the Bar Council of England & Wales website at www.barcouncil.org.uk. Or write to:
The Bar Council,
289-293 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7HZ
Tel 020 7242 0082
When you contact us, we will first offer you a consultation about the matter and advise you about the procedures and legal assistance you may require at each stage. We will quote and agree a fee for the legal service for each stage before we provide any legal service. You may be able to reduce your total legal costs by up to half. When and where appropriate should the services of a Solicitor be required we will either recommend one or you could instruct one of your own choice.
Funding
It is unlikely that we could carry out the means assessment required to establish whether you would qualify for public funding or “legal aid” as it is commonly called. Presently barristers are not permitted to apply to the Legal Services Commission for public funding on your behalf. However if it appears to us that you may qualify for public funding, we are likely to advise that you to approach a solicitor with a franchise from the Legal Services Commission to investigate this possibility but in any event the Legal Services Commission website has an ‘online means test’ qualification section which may assist in the first instance.
For assistance with this issue please contact the Legal Service Commission via it’s website at http://www.clsdirect.org.uk/index.jsp
Jonathan Rule - Head of Chambers
Palmyra Chambers is made up of niche Barristers, serviced by an outstanding clerking team, which enables it to provide individual Solicitors and Solicitors’ firms with a personal and integrated service to meet their requirements.
We are committed to the continued development of our successful practice and are accepting applications from established practitioners and pupils seeking a third six with a view to tenancy. For further information, please click here.
- Costs: Motto & Others -v- Trafigura: Court of Appeal judgment handed down. - October 12, 2011
- Employment Law: Delay and Constructive Dismissal - Fereday v South Staffordshire NHS Primary Care Trust - August 30, 2011
Delaying for six weeks and accepting sick pay before finally resigning meant that an employee lost her chance to claim constructive dismissal.The EAT held that the delay was of such a length that she had affirmed her contract.
- Costs: No award of interest before Detailed Assessment in CFA funded case: Bridle -v- Ikhlas & Motto –v- Trafigura - May 15, 2011
Master Hurst has added to the judicial pressure mounting upon the CFA regime by adding his voice to those of HHJ Stewart & HHJ Harris.
- Credit Hire: Will the decision in Chen Wei -v- Cambridge Power and Light Ltd be short-lived? - October 10, 2010
Enforceability of Credit Hire Agreements is again under the spotlight following judgment in Chen Wei –v- Cambridge Power and Light Ltd (10th September 2010, Cambridge County Court).