5 PUMP COURT CHAMBERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager ( Crime )
"I would also like to say how thoroughly Alex has dealt with this instruction - I have been really impressed with the quality of his work and would definitely not hesitate to instruct him again. "
"The feedback on Chris was excellent. The previous barrister who had been dealing with the case had given a negative opinion about the prospects - so we think Chris turned the case around - and the result was exactly what we were looking for. "
Job Titles:
- Chambers Director
- Member of the Executive Committee of the Legal Practice Management Association
Clare is a member of the Executive Committee of the Legal Practice Management Association, and of the Bar Council's Chambers Management Panel.
Craig is a family law specialist with particular expertise in cases involving children. He qualified as a solicitor in 2010, and practised as a solicitor-advocate with higher rights of audience before transferring to the Bar in 2017. Whilst a solicitor, Craig was a member of the Law Society's Children Panel, a recognised quality standard for practitioners representing children in children law proceedings.
"Dickon was patient, thorough, professional and clearly most capable"
Biography
Dickon is an extremely experienced and capable barrister who represents clients in civil and criminal cases at all levels. He is calm, adaptable and very good at interacting with people. He is always able to provide reassurance to those facing very stressful times in their lives, and is an authoritative and persuasive presence in court.
Dickon's civil practice includes personal injury claims; breach of contract; and debt collection proceedings with a focus on consumer credit matters. He acts for both creditors and debtors and has extensive experience of claims dealing with PPI issues and declarations as to unfair relationships and fraud.
Dickon has a thriving criminal practice, prosecuting and defending in the Crown Court. His cases cover a wide range of offences and he is particularly in demand where there is cross over between jurisdictions, such as fraud and regulatory crime.
Dickon sits as a Deputy District Judge in the County Court.
Imran is a calm and confident advocate who practices in civil and criminal law. He is frequently instructed to provide advice and representation in cases which fall between the two, such as civil fraud and regulatory law. He has experience of judicial review proceedings, and has also been successful in defamation proceedings involving allegations of criminal conduct.
He is often praised for his approachability and ability to put clients at their ease whatever their situation. Clients describe him as having a "down to earth honest approach" and providing good support to them during stressful times. He has a reputation as a fearless and seasoned advocate with first class cross-examination skills. Imran is experienced at dealing with cases with complicated legal and factual issues, voluminous disclosure and complex evidence.
Imran is regularly instructed in multi-track cases in the County Court and High Court for civil work, and in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal for criminal work. He has particular skill and ability in advisory and drafting work, and in urgent cases is able to draft pleadings/advice very promptly.
Imran is an exceptionally talented writer, having published his third novel "All I Said Was True" in 2022, and building on his reputation as a great thriller writer. His first novel "You Don't Know Me" won critical acclaim and was adapted for television, airing on BBC1 in December 2021. It is now available on Netflix. His second novel "I Know What I Saw" received very positive reviews. His third novel "All I said was True" was also very well received and his fourth "Finding Sophie" has recently been published. His novels are regularly shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award and the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Imran's great stage presence and presentation skills have also led to him presenting the Gold Daggers in 2023 and 2024.
Ivan is a senior property litigator and law lecturer whose depth of experience means that he is particularly well suited to dealing with complex property issues. He is a problem solver and offers practical advice to clients often faced with technical and unusual property law points. He is an experienced TECBAR adjudicator.
Ivan is known for his patient approach to clients and other members of the profession. He has chaired Chambers' pupillage committee for many years, and is a natural educator, willing to share and discuss ideas, strategy and approach to cases. He is very approachable, and often to be found talking through particularly difficult legal issues with junior members.
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager ( Family )
"Joseph was excellent and very much impressed those who were present and [we] would definitely be eager to use him again in upcoming hearings."
Kate is a family law specialist with a specialism in children law, both private and public, and a growing Court of Protection practice. She accepts instructions in all aspects of children law and CoP work, and is experienced at dealing with a wide range of applications and allegations.
Kate is a bright and accomplished advocate bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience to all of her work. She trained in all of Chambers practice areas, and her understanding of the law and procedure in different specialisms make her particularly suitable for cases where there is a cross over between jurisdictions. She uses the skills she has obtained from different areas across her practice, merging the advocacy skills of the criminal barrister and the forensic techniques of the civil team with the sensitive, empathetic approach of the family specialist.
Kate is charming, friendly, and builds strong working relationships with those who instruct her. She is always a popular choice with solicitors and clients, remaining calm and good humoured in very difficult cases but being unafraid to take a fierce approach in court.
Kate deals with all hearings in public law proceedings from interim care and supervision hearings to complex fact finding hearings, and lengthy final hearings. She is clear and straightforward in her advice and her advocacy.
Kevin is a specialist family law barrister with a very rounded knowledge of public and private family law. Having worked for over 13 years with leading local authorities Kevin brings a socio-legal understanding to family law not generally found at the Family Bar. Extremely hard working and dedicated to his clients, he is always in demand. Recent client comments include "Kevin was AMAZING today - brilliant!He was able to get a grip quickly and kept this as on track as possible with missing bits of the bundle and parental tactics", "Thank you so much for all your work. You are a wonderful barrister and I felt confident you would represent me well and you did. Thank you again!", "I would just like to take this opportunity and say that both my client and I were very impressed with him. I was not in attendance on the day of the hearing, but our Paralegal was, who too sang his praises... I have questioned Jay why he had not previously put Kevin forward when I have called to book Counsel, but understand he is hardly available, [and his performance] perhaps explains this." and "Kevin Gordon was excellent today and we will be retaining him for future hearings".
Kevin began his career as a probation and aftercare officer in Jamaica. Through that work, he developed skills and an interest in working with children, and he is highly skilled at engaging with families and working for fair solutions. He is often instructed to represent mentally unwell and vulnerable clients to whom he brings a calm and reassuring approach. Trained in systemic therapy, Kevin has a solution-focused approach when working with clients and advocates alike.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Kevin danced professionally as a contemporary ballet dancer for 6 years. He is the lead choreographer and dancer during the annual Miscellany Production at Gray's Inn. He retains a commanding stage presence which he uses to great effect in court.
Kevin has a strong commitment to pro bono, and has been named on the inaugural Pro Bono Recognition List as someone who has given more than 25 hours of pro bono assistance in the last year.
"Ms Stephens really had gone above and beyond the call of duty in diligently preparing the case."
Lynette is a civil litigator with experience of acting for businesses in all types of disputes. She has a clear, down to earth manner. Lynette always considers both the legal and commercial aspects of her client's issues, and advises in a way which is best for them whether that is litigation or alternative dispute resolution.
Lynette is experienced at dealing with business clients. However, she also acts for business owners and customers, and individuals involved in other cases such as disputes about property or contentious probate cases. She has a wealth of experience in all types of property cases, dealing with issues from boundary disputes to trust and ownership disputes in a pragmatic way.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Lynette was an investment banker so is able to advise in cases which require knowledge of financial services and products. Most importantly, she has an approach to her work which is based on commercial reality and aimed squarely at resolving problems in as straight forward and cost effective way as possible.
Michael is a qualified mediator. He has an aptitude for getting parties to work together to find a resolution to tricky cases. He is able to work with multiple parties, and to use his time effectively to move everyone towards a resolution of the dispute within a reasonable timescale. His role as Head of Chambers over many years has given him very good experience of managing people, particularly in situations where they are under pressure, and he maintains a calm and reassuring presence throughout.
Michael has been on the TECBAR list of approved mediators since 2013 and is particularly well suited to mediations involving property, business and insolvency disputes.
Michael has been a TECBAR Adjudicator since 1998, and is well placed to adjudicate construction disputes and to advise on the performance and enforcement of adjudications. He is good at mastering the facts in a dispute quickly, allowing him to work efficiently in cases where time is often critical.
"I was very impressed with Queenet who was against me on a complex case recently ... she has admirably handled the difficult mother I passed to her as a result"
Queenet previously worked as a family paralegal in a specialist family law firm where she managed her own caseload and gained experience representing clients in court hearings relating to domestic abuse and private children law. During her masters degree, Queenet worked with the family law team at the University of Law's Legal Advice Clinic where she provided pro bono advice and representation in private children's law proceedings. She also volunteered with a legal charity assisting litigants in persons going through the family court by themselves.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Institute of Barristers' Clerks
- Practice Manager ( Civil )
- Practice Manager of Our Civil Team
Rob is the Practice Manager of our Civil Team. This involves the management and development of all aspects of our members' practices, including the management of their diaries, fee negotiations, listing hearings and developing client relations. Rob is efficient, thorough and popular with clients, as commented on recently by an instructing solicitor: "I have always been pleased with the service provided and the polite nature of your clerks."
Rob is a qualified member of the Institute of Barristers' Clerks having gained a distinction in the BTEC course in clerking and administration.
Job Titles:
- Master of the Bench
- Trustee of the Wootton Academy Trust
Simon is a practising door tenant whose practice includes all aspects of contentious and non-contentious property and trusts law. He is also regularly instructed in claims including but not limited to professional negligence. Since 2013, when Simon was elected to the Consultative Board of the HELP Programme in Strasbourg, he has increasingly provided advice on human rights issues.
Simon is a Master of the Bench of Inner Temple and currently Chair of the Inner Temple Outreach Subcommittee.
Simon is a trustee of the Wootton Academy Trust, and chair of the Charifaith Advisory Body (a CIF managed by BlackRock).
Trisan has a busy and successful family law practice with a particular emphasis on children work. Noted for her empathetic approach to her clients, Trisan is adept at putting people at ease and excels in her ability to build a good working rapport quickly. Her friendly and understated exterior belies a steely core and absolute determination to get the right result for her clients, often in very difficult and distressing cases. Solicitors say "she has a very warm approach with vulnerable clients which puts them at ease" and "I know I can rely upon her to provide am impeccable and positive service". Trisan has been listed in the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior in children law cases since 2022.
She has experience in complex multi-day fact-finding hearing and final hearings in respect of serious physical injury, psychological harm, sexual abuse, neglect including arising from substance misuse and domestic violence.
Trisan has a background in education as a sociology and psychology lecturer and is a visiting part time Lecturer at the University of Westminster Law School. She is ideally placed to advise in cases where there are issues relating to capacity or allegations of psychological harm to children as well as physical harm. She has a growing practice in cases involving emotional abuse and parental alienation. Trisan also uses her educational background as a pupil supervisor and a trainer at Gray's Inn where she is regularly asked to provide equality and diversity training.
Trisan has experience in cases where private law proceedings morph into public law ones, and where family issues intersect with other areas of the law. She was involved in the first successful prosecution for Female Genital Mutilation in the Central Criminal Court, acting for the maternal aunt in the family law aspect of the case. Her practice also includes matters that involve forced marriage, mental health matters and immigration issues.