Chambers has again been named a leading set in the new Legal 500. Civitas was founded in October 2008 with the vision of providing highly specialist services, excellence and innovation in the areas of civil and public law. It has been regarded as a Top-Tier set each year ever since, and this year was no exception.
The new Legal 500, published on 14th September 2016, again confirms Civitas as the pre-eminent Civil and public Law set, fielding the greatest proportion of leading juniors across its areas of specialism: http://www.legal500.com/c/regional-bar/wales-and-chester-circuit. Two thirds of chambers’ members have been raked as Tier-1 in at least one of their practice areas: http://www.legal500.com/firms/9558/9558.
Chambers also continues to attract the best of the bar, having been recently joined by Mathew Paul and Dan Dyson who are ranked in the Top-Tier in the areas of Regulatory and Commercial Law respectively.
In Commercial, Banking, Insolvency and Chancery Law the Legal 500 noted that ‘members are active in cases relating to a range of commercial contracts and Chancery disputes; recent instructions have concerned misrepresentation, company sales and defamation law.’ Richard Cole, Gareth Jones, Anthony Vines and Graham Walters were again recognised as leading juniors in this area. Gareth Jones being ‘well known for traditional Chancery matters’ and Richard Cole as ‘experienced in director disqualification cases’.
Graham Walters talents were also not limited to the commercial sphere also being recognised as a Regulatory, Health and Safety, Licensing, Property, Construction, Planning and Environmental Law heavyweight, coming highly recommended in his areas of practice.
Anthony Vines was also ranked highly in the areas of Employment, Regulatory, Health and Safety & Licensing. Further members of chambers listed as leading juniors in the area of Employment include Joanne Williams, Mona Bayoumi and Christopher Howells who is noted for his experience in ‘all forms of discrimination claims’. The legal 500 noted: ‘Civitas Law is well known for its employment expertise, and members are active in a range of claims including unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment, breach of contract and restrictive covenants disputes. The members act for employers and employees.’
Joanne Williams was also ranked Tier-1 in the area of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence alongside Bryan Thomas, Nicholas David Jones and Simon Hughes who is described as ‘Straight-talking yet measured, he is a likable and persuasive advocate.’ Bryan Thomas received similar high praise being described as ‘very thorough and excellent with clients’. The Legal 500 described chambers as having a ‘broad personal injury practice, which is handling an increasing number of brain injury cases. Chambers is also well versed in employers’ liability and disease cases.’ Both Nicholas David Jones and Joanne Williams were noted for their expertise in the same with Nicholas David Jones being described as a ‘highly experienced in brain injury cases’.
Mona Bayoumi was described as ‘an excellent barrister, who is great with clients, works extremely hard and achieves excellent results.’ Aside from employment, Ms Bayoumis is also recognized as a leading junior in the area of Public Law alongside chambers’ Cathrine Grubb and Victoria Hiller. The Legal 500 notes Civitas as being ‘highly reputable for public law work and members are active for government departments and individual claimants in a range of cases; human rights appeals, judicial reviews and immigration proceedings.’
In the area or Regulatory, Health and safety and Licensing Civitas Law was noted as having ‘expertise in regulatory disputes and inquests. Professional discipline, particularly in relation to police law, is a major area for chambers’. Victoria Hillier was also ranked a leading junior in this area and was noted as having acted for the government in inquests relating to deaths in prison. She is described as ‘a very good barrister; dedicated, efficient, caring and always presents her case very well.’ Ms Hillier is joined by Anthony Vines, Graham Walters and Matthew Paul who is noted as being ‘experienced in licensing cases and health and safety prosecutions.’
Chambers would like to thank our instructing solicitors for their continuing support and thank our excellent members of staff.