Called: 2005
Circuit: South East
Chambers: Littleton Chambers, London
Elected as a Barrister Governing Bencher in 2022
PLEASE GIVE DETAILS OF YOUR CHAMBERS/ORGANISATION AND MAIN PRACTICE AREA(S).
I practise as a Silk from Littleton Chambers, a stone’s throw away from Inner Temple on King’s Bench Walk, specialising in sports law and business protection disputes. In essence, that means representing high-profile clubs, players, managers, agents, associations in financial, disciplinary or regulatory disputes before domestic or international arbitral panels or fast-paced injunctive relief and damages applications or trials before the senior courts.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO BECOME A BENCHER?
First, I simply wanted to give back to Inner. I will remain eternally grateful for the invaluable professional and financial support I received from the Inn during my law conversion, Bar School and my early years of practice. Secondly, I have helped the Inn over several years with BPTC and Bar School scholarship interviews, so wanted to formalise my ongoing support. Thirdly, being from a non-traditional background (neither of my parents are from the UK nor have any connections to the Bar), it is important to be an example to others that the Inner is at the forefront of an ‘open door’ policy to all.
HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT FINDING THREE BENCHERS TO PROPOSE YOU?
I was fortunate to have built up good, professional connections with a number of Benchers as a result of my work with the Scholarships Committee. I then discussed with some of them the possibility of applying to become a Bencher. Very kindly, they were extremely supportive in terms of their time and drafting proposal letters, despite their own very busy leading practices or judicial commitments.
HOW HAD YOU DEMONSTRATED YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE INN BEFORE APPLYING TO BECOME A BENCHER?
I have already mentioned above my regular involvement in scholarship interviews. In addition, I had volunteered to assist the Inn with ‘open days’ for students and events for pupils. More generally, several years ago I founded Littleton’s Inspire Sports Law Initiative, offering advice, mentorship and support to under-represented groups at the Bar. Over that period, Littleton has offered work experience, mock interviews and ongoing mentoring to scores of ‘Inspire’ mentees, many of whom are now in pupillage, training contracts or practitioners. In that regard, Inner is committed to ED&I with ever more emphasis on peer-peer support in what can often be a relentless, pressurised but ultimately hugely satisfying profession.
IN ONE SENTENCE, WHY DO YOU BELIEVE BEING A BENCHER IS REWARDING?
As a Bencher, I am now actively and directly able to assist the Inn to continue and develop its support for all its members.
NAME SOMETHING ABOUT THE INN YOU HAVE LEARNED SINCE BECOMING A BENCHER?
Having to explain to non-barrister guests at occasional lunches in hall or when walking around the Inn why Inner’s superlative staff now call me ‘Master’!