Paul Gott
Call Date
1991
Practice Areas
All areas of commercial law, particularly: banking, insurance (Lloyd's and non-Lloyd's), civil fraud, international trade, sale of goods, financial services, professional negligence and sports/entertainment.
Employment law and industrial relations (particularly injunctive work in relation to strike action.)
Recommendations (Practitioners' Guides)
Listed as a leading junior for Commercial Litigation, Chambers Directory 2006 and described as "practical, commercial and extremely knowledgeable on industrial relations matters" by Legal 500 2007.
Education
1979-86 Marple Hall Comprehensive, Stockport
1986-89 MA Cambridge University, Downing College, Double First Class Honours (Proxime accessit Part 1(a) of Tripos; Proxime accessit Part II of Tripos)
1989-90 BCL Oxford University, First Class Honours
Prizes & Scholarships
Rebecca Flower (Cambridge University) Scholarship 1987
JC Platt Memorial Prize for Law 1987
Downing College Tripos prizes: 1987, 1988 and 1989
Downing College Law Scholarships: 1987, 1988 and 1989
Joseph Squire (Cambridge University) Scholarship 1988
Clive Parry International Law Prize 1988
Harris Senior Scholarship (Downing College) 1989-1992
Hardwicke Entrance Award (Lincoln's Inn) 1989
Brasenose College (Oxford) Graduate Prize 1990
Mansfield Scholarship 1990
Denning Scholarship 1991
Appointments
Reporter, Bar Council Report into Problems at the Young Bar, 1993
Appointed as Junior Counsel to the Crown, July 1999 Appointed to Treasury 'A' Panel, April 2005
Listed as a leading junior for Commercial Litigation, Chambers Directory 2006
Appointed as Board Member to the Standards Board for England, February 2006
Professional Experience
Regularly advises in core practice areas identified above and has extensive advocacy experience in Court of Appeal, High Court, EAT, Employment Tribunals as well as County Courts and Coroner’s Court. Instructed by Government Departments on a broad range of commercial and employment law matters.
Recent Practice
Commercial Litigation
Counsel for ODPM in Squadron v ODPM (Commercial Court 2005/2006, government contracts, partnership and estoppel). Counsel for SWI in Sunderland FC v Sports World International (High Court 2005/2006). Advocate to the Court in Bhamjee v Forsdick [2004] 1 WLR 88 Court of Appeal (vexatious litigants and civil restraint orders). Counsel for P&G, Maersk v Procter & Gamble (Commercial Court 2002, jurisdiction, demurrage, displacement of carrier’s standard terms and conditions). Counsel for WT in Nyirenda v Wellcome Trust (High Court, 2002). Counsel in Gilkes v Venizelos [2000] 1 LPr 487 (Commercial Court, anti-suit injunction). Counsel for ESW in Rudman v Essex & Suffolk Water (High Court 2000, led by Christopher Moger QC). Counsel in Fuerst Day Lawson v Givaudan Roure (High Court, 1999, insurance and jurisdiction). Counsel for WS in Morris v Wilkinson’s Sword (High Court 1998, led by Michael Brindle QC). Counsel for CKL in Hornsby v Clark Kenneth Leventhal (High Court 1997, fraud, partnership, agency, negligence and vicarious liability, led by Michael Harvey QC). Counsel for SBAC in Black & Edgington v Society of British Aerospace Companies (High Court 1995, contract construction dispute). Counsel for UN General Assembly in Abdullahi v Unisom II (High Court 1994, sovereign immunity).
Employment
Instructed by Royal Mail Group plc (the Post Office) in respect of industrial relations issues, strike action by CWU and injunctive relief, 1996 to present. Counsel for N in Network Rail v RMT (2004 threatened national rail strike, led by David Griffith-Jones QC). Counsel for Southern Trains in respect of strike action, 1998 to present. Counsel for SWT in respect of strike action, 2000 to present inc. SWT v RMT [2000] IRLB 639 led by Andrew Clarke QC. Counsel in respect of strike action injunctions for Virgin Trains (2005/2006), Scottish & Newcastle plc (2004/2005) and Aviance (2004/2005). Counsel for T in Thameslink v ASLEF (High Court 1998, injunction against strike action, TULRA 92, led by Nicholas Underhill QC). Counsel for C in Connex v RMT (High Court, 1999). Counsel for M in News International v Mirror Group Newspapers (High Court, 1998, resisting enforcement of restrictive covenants, led by Nicholas Underhill QC). Counsel for NH in Darbyshire v Nuffield Hospitals (High Court 1999, injunctive relief in respect of hospital practice privileges).
Regular appearances in EAT and Employment Tribunals esp. for Treasury Solicitor and Inland Revenue. Counsel for the Department of Constitutional Affairs in Jones v DCA (ET and EAT 2006). Counsel for MOD in Harman v MOD (ET 2004, EAT 2006, disability discrimination, reasonable adjustment and justification). Counsel for HO in Kuttappan v Home Office (ET 2003, EAT 2004, striking out misconceived claims of race discrimination and victimisation). Counsel for HMPS in Cheasty v HMPS [2003] All GR (D) 23 (Disability discrimination and perverse costs orders). Counsel for DETR in Charles v Department of Environment Transport and the Regions (ET and EAT 2002/2003, Equal Pay Act 1970 and sex discrimination, led by Nicholas Underhill QC.) Member of Government Legal Advisors Equal Pay sub-committee. Regular advice to ODPM, DfT, HO, FO, Dept of Health, Cabinet Office and Regional Govt Offices on employment and equal pay issues.
Professional Discipline
Counsel in Tassell v Orme [2001] EWHC Admin 611 (judicial review of solicitors disciplinary proceedings and vexatious litigants). Counsel in SIF v Sivananthan (High Court 2001, solicitors’ undertakings, regulation of solicitors). Counsel for the Law Society (led by Tim Dutton QC and latterly unled) in the Miners’ Compensation Cases (High Court 2005/6).
Banking & Finance
Counsel for Nat West in: Nat West v Thomas (High Court 2005/2006), Nat West v Field (2003/2005, bank mortgages, deed execution and undue influence), Nat West v Singh (2002 bank mortgages, undue influence and solicitors’ negligence), Nat West v Connolly (High Court 2000, bank guarantees, misrepresentation, contractual interpretation), Nat West v Nicholls (Mercantile Court 2000, bank securities, undue influence, misrepresentation, fraud), Nat West v Yardley (High Court 1999), Nat West v Mos (Court of Appeal 1997, mortgage possession and bank securities), Nat West v Kitch [1996] 1 WLR 1316 CA (mortgage actions, bank securities, RSC Ord 88 (CPR Part 55) led by Michael Lerego QC), Nat West v Potter (High Court 1996, freezing injunction, civil fraud). Instructed by Nat West on over 100 matters. Counsel for Lloyds Bank in: Carman v Lloyds Bank (2001/2002), corporate insolvency and cheque conversion), Lloyds Bank v Acharya (High Court 2001, fraud, freezing injunctions, cheque kiting) Lloyds Bank v Marks (High Court 1999, insurance, non-disclosure, banker’s negligence)
Insurance & Reinsurance
2nd junior counsel to Cuthbert Heath Lloyd’s names action group (Syndicate 404). Instructed as junior counsel on “long tail” issues in Clementson v Lloyd’s. Counsel for ML in Kaplan v Murray Lawrence (1999, Lloyd’s of London arbitration arising from Lloyd’s R&R). Counsel for AGF in Total Graphics v AGF [1997] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 599 (Commercial Court, non-disclosure, Third Party Rights Against Insurers Act 1930, led by Charles Falconer QC). Advocate in the Insurance Brokers’ Disciplinary Tribunal.
Sports, Media & Entertainment
Counsel for FW in Jones v Frank Warren (High Court 2001). Counsel for IMG in Coulthard v IMG (High Court, 1997).
Regular advisory work in respect of boxing management/promotion and film/television licensing.
Publications
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? – New Notification Requirements pursuant to Section 226A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 – Chambers & Partners Employment Report. January 2006.