Author: platform81

MEGAN EDWARDS SUCCESSFUL IN CRIMINAL COURT OF APPEAL

Megan Edwards appeared at the Criminal Court of Appeal in July 2026, securing a reduced and suspended sentence for an Armed Forces veteran of previous good character. Megan Edwards appeared for the Appellant, who was sentenced to 27 months immediate custody in April of this year for a single offence of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily… Read more »

IRAMA: HIGH COURT REINFORCES KEY PRINCIPLES IN COSTS LITIGATION

18 St John Street costs specialists, Darren Malone and James Miller, analyse the High Court decision in Irama PTE Limited v Formark Scaffolding (Holdings) Limited [2026] EWHC 1681 (KB). Darren Malone and James Miller, instructed by Irwin Mitchell LLP for the Respondent, successfully resisted a renewed application for permission to appeal before Mr Justice Griffiths…. Read more »

UNANIMOUS COURT OF APPEAL CONFIRMS COURTS RETAIN A WIDE DISCRETION IN CASE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS – WARD V RAI [2026] EWCA CIV 816

This morning the Court of Appeal have handed down judgment on the most recent decision pertaining to the application of Ainsworth and overall compliance within Detailed Assessment. Darren Malone, of the Costs Department at 18 St John Street Chambers, offers commentary on the judgment. Lady Justice Falk, who gave lead judgment, found that the initial… Read more »

NOT GUILTY VERDICTS RETURNED IN STRANGULATION / ASSAULT TRIAL

18 St John Street’s Emily Wilson acted on behalf of the defendant in her first Crown Court trial concerning allegations of strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Unanimous not guilty verdicts were returned following the four-day trial at Preston Crown Court. The jury deliberated on the matters for just over 2 hours. The prosecution… Read more »

CHRISTOPHER LOTHIAN-FIELD SECURES AWARD IN EXCESS OF £1.5 MILLION FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL APPEAL BEFORE THE WAR PENSIONS AND ARMED FORCES COMPENSATION CHAMBER OF THE FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL

Christopher Lothian-Field has secured a substantial increase in compensation following a successful appeal before the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. The appeal concerned an award made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. The appellant, who has a diagnosis of complex PTSD, challenged the level of award made. The principal… Read more »

MUKUL CHAWLA KC AND RACHEL SHENTON PROSECUTED DEFENDANT CONVICTED OF MURDER, ASSAULT AND FOUR OFFENCES OF THEFT

Ashley Crowder of Farnworth, Bolton has been found guilty of murder and other related offences having held his victim, Graham Cox, hostage at his flat in order to drain his bank account of almost £1200 received as benefit payments. Mukul Chawla KC and Rachel Shenton of 18 St John Street Chambers prosecuted the trial which took place at Bolton Crown Court…. Read more »

BETSY HINDLE SECURES UNANIMOUS NOT GUILTY VERDICTS FOLLOWING A TRIAL INVOLVING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT PRISON

18 St John Street’s Betsy Hindle acted on behalf of the defendant in a recent trial concerning allegations of assault by penetration and sexual assault. Unanimous not guilty verdicts were returned following the three-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The prosecution alleged that, during the course of a night at one of His Majesty’s Prisons,… Read more »

ADVOCATE – PRO BONO PANEL MEMBER SHOUT-OUT | KANE SIMONS

Kane Simons was pleased to assist a severely injured man with his successful personal injury claim that was conducted recently through the Advocate pro bono scheme. Advocate looks for free legal help from barristers for people who cannot get public funding (legal aid) and cannot afford to pay. The claimant approached Advocate with his personal… Read more »

SETTING ASIDE STATUTORY DEMANDS – EZAIR V RENA PROPERTIES LTD AND OTHERS – CASE ANALYSIS | OLIVER CAPLAN

Oliver Caplan, head of 18 St John Street’s Business and Property Department, has an article published on Lexis+ – Setting aside statutory demands – relevant considerations as to cross-claims, abuse and stifling (Ezair v Rena Properties Ltd and others [2025] EWHC 3627 (Ch)) Upon the case the High Court refused to set aside a statutory… Read more »

WHO COUNTS AS A DEFENDANT? THE LIMITS OF SECURITY FOR COSTS – CASE ANALYSIS – JAMES MILLER

18 St John Street Costs Barrister James Miller has provided expert analysis in the latest LexisNexis Dispute Resolution blog. In a current LexisNexis blog, James Miller analyses the case of Soprim Construction SARL v The Republic of Djibouti and discusses the background and practical implications of the case. The key issue for the court to decide was whether DPW could be considered… Read more »

MAZUR – AS YOU WERE

The Court of Appeal handed down their much anticipated Judgment in the matter of CILEX & Ors v Mazur & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 369 today. 18 St John Street’s Helen Hankey analyses the decision… Today was the day many legal professionals were waiting for. The Court of Appeal handed down their much anticipated Judgment… Read more »