Paul Kirtley

MA (Cantab) – Downing College
1982 – Called Middle Temple
1999 – Recorder
2004 – Accredited Mediator in Civil Disputes
Considered as one of the leading civil barristers on the North Eastern Circuit

Areas of Practice:

Civil

• Regularly instructed in high value claims relating to both personal injury and clinical negligence. Recent cases have included cerebral palsy and para and quadriplegia claims in excess of £2m (often without leader). Undertakes a high volume of factory claims for both claimants and defendants, in addition to Fatal Accident Act claims (RTA and industrial disease). Has experience of equine and dangerous sports related injuries.
Recent Court of Appeal cases include successfully arguing liability of health trust for attack by psychiatric patients upon staff and the issue of delegation of responsibility of Defective Premises Act claim.
Has conducted occupational disease litigation involving noise induced hearing loss, vibration white finger, work related upper limb disorder, asbestos exposure, work related stress and factory accidents for both claimants and defendants.
Undertakes Partnership dispute work, using his skills both as a barrister and
mediator.
Enjoys a substantial paper practice in all areas with an emphasis on service
levels with guaranteed turnaround times.

Mediation/ADR

• Fully accredited civil and commercial mediator. Undertakes mediation work both as mediator and on behalf of the parties. Engages in work based mediations particularly in the local authority and policing fields.
16 Park Place, Leeds LS1 2SJ
Tel: 0113 243 3277
Fax: 0113 242 1285, DX: 26401
Email: clerks@parkcourtchambers.co.uk
www.parkcourtchambers.co.uk

Regulatory

• Substantial involvement in regulatory matters particularly relating to the Police (judicial review of powers of Police Authority to make reimbursement order for costs). Considerable expertise in statutory pension schemes (Police Pension Regulations). Advisory work for public authorities on the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act.

Employment

• Very well recognised for his Employment Tribunal and general employment work, particularly discrimination law. Has appeared in high profile discrimination cases.
Regularly advises on restrictive covenant issues for both employers and
employees. Subtantial experience in the public sector, Police, Local Authority, NHS and PTC Trusts. Particular expertise in Public Interest Disclosure cases.

Professional Negligence

• Undertakes clinical negligence and solicitor negligence claims. Known for his keen sense of analysis and driving cases to a positive conclusion. Much work undertaken within the mediation/ADR arena.

Cases of Importance

Wade v West Yorkshire Police [1998] TLR (Court of Appeal)
Stubbs v Lincolnshire Police
Burman and Arrowsmith v Chief Constable of Lancashire
Devanna v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police
Cook v Bradford NHS Trust, 2002
Davies v Oxted and Ors, 2002
R v South Yorkshire Police Authority, ex parte Booth, TLR, 10 October 2000

Additional Information:

Member of Specialist Associations: Personal Injury Bar Association, Employment Law Bar Association, Professional Negligence Bar Association, North Eastern Circuit representative on the General Council of the Bar.
Lectures on employment matters for the Employment Lawyers Association and the Industrial Law Society.
Recommended in Legal 500 2005: 'a reliable, experienced, employment litigator, handles a lot of police work'.
Recommended in Legal 500 2006: ‘is a strong practitioner, particularly noted for regulatory matters and judicial review involving the police’.
Accredited Advocacy Trainer (North Eastern Circuit)
Chairman of the Bar Conference 2006
Chairman Board of Trustees of a national charity.