Christopher Newman

Having built up a busy junior practice since he was called to the Bar in 2003, Christopher Newman covers the whole spectrum of commercial chancery litigation with particular expertise in commercial contracts, partnership, banking, employment, company law and professional negligence.

Christopher's recent advisory work has included claims brought against a Premier League football club and its director for a breach of a contract for the purchase of seating stands.

He regularly appears in both the county court and the employment tribunals, and has assisted senior members in matters at all levels in a number of landmark cases including Moneygram International Ltd v Travelex and Lemos v Coutts.

Christopher is also a longstanding supporter of Newcastle United football club and has acted on a number of leading sports related cases including Crystal Palace vs. Ian Dowie.

EDUCATION

MEng. Clare College, University of Cambridge - Double First (1997-2001)
Boxing Blue (1999)
Pressed Steel Prize for Engineering (2000) - placed first in College in finals.
Postgraduate Diploma in Law - City University (2001-2002)
Bar Vocational Course - Inns of Court School of Law (2002-2003)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Recent work includes:

• advised on the construction of a Framework Agreement governing the relationship between a public transport provider and a sub-contractor.
• Advised on claims for breach of a distribution agreement alleging an implied term of co-operation.
• acted for the claimant in a claim brought in the High Court for non-payment of solicitors’ fees.
• advised on a dispute concerning a sale of bespoke furniture involving allegations of breach of contract and conversion.
• resisted a strike-out application brought by Electrolux in respect of a claim alleging defective refrigerators.
• advised and drafted particulars of claim in an action for wasted expenditure brought pursuant to a 'letter of intent' in the construction industry.
• advised on a claim for misrepresentation arising out of a contract for the supply and maintenance of industrial vehicles.
• advised on the effect of a contractual 'non-reliance' clause on a claim for misrepresentation following the sale of house at auction.

• advised on the liability of retiring partners to contribute to a settlement of liabilities incurred by the partnership prior to their retirement.
• advised on issues arising from the dissolution of a farming partnership including the effect of documents which purported to be 'without prejudice'.
• advised on the construction of a annuity clause in a partnership agreement and the prospects of a rectification claim succeeding

• acted for the Nationwide Building Society in successfully defending a claim brought under the Consumer Credit Act 1975.
• advised a high street bank as to a possible limitation defence to claims brought by customers in relation to charges levied on their accounts.
• instructed to act for the Claimant in a dispute involving misappropriation of funds from joint bank accounts.

• successfully represented the Claimant in a 3 day pregnancy discrimination trial.
• currently representing the claimants in an 11 day race discrimination trial.
• currently instructed to represent the Claimant in a 6 day disability discrimination trial.
• drafted particulars of claim seeking springboard relief against former employees following a 'team move' (Penwell Publishing (UK) Limited v Ornstien & Others [2007] EWHC 1570 (QB).

• drafted defence to an action seeking specific performance of an alleged agreement to allot shares.
• regular appearances in the companies court on behalf of creditors of insolvent companies.

• advised on potential claims for breach of fiduciary duty against solicitors who had advised on a business sale.
• Advised on the possibility of recovering reliance-measure damages in a claim against a solicitor for negligence in the conduct of litigation.

• instructed to act for the Claimant in a dispute involving co-ownership and disputed mortgage liabilities.
• advised on the validity of a section 25 notice purporting to terminate a business tenancy of a Cafe.

• acted for the Defendant in an application to set aside a statutory demand involving questions of private international law.
• advised on the strength of a retention to title claim brought by a drinks producer against its insolvent distributor.