Barrister Profile

Main Areas of Practice

Commercial Law
Company Law
Employment Law
Personal Injury

Biography

Chris’ practice focuses primarily on employment and commercial/corporate law. Chris has represented individual claimants, trade unions, small-to-medium sized businesses, and insurance companies.

Employment Law

Chris has a busy employment practice. He is instructed by the Equality Commission, accepts instructions from the Royal College of Nursing on behalf of its members, and works with many employment solicitors in Northern Ireland. Chris has represented Claimants and Defendants in a range of claims including dismissal claims, all forms of discrimination and equal pay. Chris also has a busy advisory and mediation practice and has a pragmatic, commercial and risk-aware approach when providing advice on prospects of success and settlement.

Chris is also experienced in civil matters involving employment including claims relating to contractual covenants, breach of contract (sitting outside of the Johnson exclusion zone) and bullying and harassment claims.

Commercial

Chris has experience advising on construction matters (common law and statutory), breach of contract, and claims under the jurisdiction of the Commercial Hub. Chris also provides advice to companies on compliance with Companies Act 2006 obligations, minority shareholder remedies, and directors’ duties.

Other

Before joining the Bar, Chris worked as a lecturer/tutor at QUB, Ulster and Buckingham. Chris’ background before reading law, includes work within the recruitment and HR sector, charity sector and private education sector.

Qualifications

2021; Degree of Barrister-at-Law, The Honourable Society of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland

2021; Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Studies, Institute of Professional Legal Studies

2013; LL.B (Hons) Law (First Class Honours)

Awards and Achievements

2021 - Eoin Higgins Memorial Moot – Best Advocate

Key Cases

Barrow and others v Icon Restaurant and Winebar [2023] NIit 1944/21IT(15 February 2023). Successfully defended 15 applications to extend time for claims of holiday pay and notice pay.