Stephen’s practice is firmly focused on business, his clients more often – though by no means exclusively - being corporate rather than individual. Within that broad commercial context, he concentrates on employment, property and professional liability work, in both the contentious and non-contentious fields.
Described in the Legal 500 as a “very reliable all rounder” , he is always accessible to clients who appreciate his friendliness and his clear, commercial approach. He is very happy to conduct work on a public access basis when it is appropriate.
Stephen is also a part time judge, sitting as a Recorder in the civil and criminal jurisdictions of County and Crown Courts.
Stephen is a business lawyer well-versed in commercial and trading disputes of all kinds.
He has particular experience of claims involving sales of goods, supply of services, transport, commercial agents, business sales and transfers, estate agency, computer software, electronics distributors and power utilities.
He regularly appears in the High Court and the County Court on commercial matters.
Recent work
Stephen has a wide-ranging employment practice covering contentious disputes in the High Court such as injunction claims based on post-termination restraints, as well as EAT appeals and ET claims. He has considerable experience of contentious TUPE issues around the consultation and information obligations in substantial cases and also SPCs in the private and public sector. He is frequently engaged in advisory work on employment contracts and redundancies.
With his considerable experience, he has advised and successfully represented a wide range of corporate clients, including FTSE/AIM listed businesses as well as SMEs, local authorities and other not-for-profit organisations. He has extensive experience of unfair dismissal and discrimination claims of all types. Several of his cases have attracted media attention – including the defence of one client who sacked her nanny – by phone live on television.
Notable recent case
Enterprise Management Services v Connect-Up [2012] IRLR 190 EAT: a key leading case on service provision change and TUPE concerning activities and fragmentation following a 10 day Pre Hearing Review.
Related activities
Stephen writes articles regularly on employment topics, including restrictive covenants, and has appeared at the Etihad Stadium (not on the pitch) in Manchester addressing a Professional Negligence conference on employment issues. For the sake of balance, he has also recently spoken at Old Trafford at a TUPE conference. He presents seminars on various employment issues both in Gatehouse Chambers and also externally to clients.
As an adjunct to his employment practice, Stephen also handles professional disciplinary cases with recent appearances before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and RICS Disciplinary Board. He regularly acts as the Legal Adviser to the Ethics/Disciplinary Panel of a member organisation of the UK Council for Psychotherapy.
Stephen’s has experience over many years of negligence and allied claims against valuers/surveyors and property professionals.
Recent Work
Stephen has acted for and advised most of the leading banks and mortgage providers in both commercial and residential lending cases. These include Lloyds TSB (as it then was) HBOS (in many of its then guises – Halifax plc, HMSL, Banque National de Paris and Bank of Scotland) Barclays Bank, Britannia Building Society, Bank of Ireland, Bradford and Bingley, Citibank, Northern Rock and The Bank of Wales.
His expertise is however by no means limited to secured lending claims, having also advised and acted in cases concerning accountants and IFAs,. He now also regularly advises a leading insurance claims manager on professional negligence matters.
Recent Work
Stephen has experience over many years of negligence and allied claims against solicitors in secured lending cases.
He now also regularly advises a leading insurance claims manager on allegations against barristers and solicitors in an employment law context.
Recent Work
Stephen’s practice covers all aspects of the subject, including assignments, dilapidation claims, rent reviews and breaches of covenant.
Recent work
Real property is a key area of Stephen’s property practice. He advises generally and has acted in relation to mortgages, beneficial interests, subrogation, equitable remedies, vendor/purchaser disputes, misrepresentation, boundary disputes and easements.
Recent work
Contact the team at tteam@gatehouselaw.co.uk or get in touch with one of our Practice Managers.
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