Education has been in the spotlight with the country in lockdown. With schools and universities closed “until further notice”, the education sector is being subjected to a broad spectrum of novel problems, from setbacks to pupils progress and financial compensation claims by fee-paying learners, to concerns for the most vulnerable students and potential human rights infringements, with grading disputes potentially following this summer.

A number of Monckton Chambers’ public law barristers have considerable experience of working with the education sector. The current crisis has provided a focus for them to come together to share their views and expertise under the banner of a dedicated Education Law Group. Recognising the need for specialist advice to the sector, Monckton’s Education Law Group will provide clients and contacts with meaningful support. The launch of the blog is the next step.

The blog is written by specialist barristers from Monckton and covers important developments across the field of education law. It includes:

• case notes on important judgments, both from Monckton and elsewhere;
• legislative changes and analysis of their implications, for example in relation to human rights; and
• commentary on topical issues in education law, such as school closures due to COVID-19.

You can visit the blog, where you can also subscribe to receive posts by email.

It is aimed at all those active in this area: solicitors and barristers, students and parents, schools, universities and other FE & HE institutions, local authorities, the Department for Education, Ofsted and other education regulators.

We hope that readers will find the blog to be an enjoyable as well as a valuable resource.

Adapting to the challenge and not cancelling existing arrangements for a series of seminars by the Commercial Law Juniors at Monckton Chambers was the motivation behind Monckton’s first foray into webinars. Resending invites to invite contacts to zoom and virtually attend the original roundtable discussions resulted in an audience of over 175 tuning in to speakers William Hooper and Alfred Artley who delivered talks on ‘Frustration & Force Majeure in a COVID19 Context’ and ‘Enforcement of ‘hybrid’ foreign penal Judgments’.

Last week’s successful inaugural webinar is now being followed by:

Thursday 9th April – 5pm
Ciar McAndrew will focus on ‘Evidence from abroad’: Obtaining evidence in Arbitral proceedings from witnesses based in other EU Member States.

Thursday 16th April – 5pm
William Hooper will present on ‘Late amendments: pitfalls and procedure’.

William recently acted for the successful party in Fisken v Carl [2019] EWHC 3360 (Comm) which concerned very late amendments to make allegations of fraud in the purchase of the world’s most expensive car.

If you wish to register for either seminar please email Chris at cobrien@monckton.com

Monckton Chambers is currently extending the webinar formula to feature other practice areas.

Kristina Lukacova, who has a broad commercial and chancery practice with a focus on commercial litigation and company and insolvency matters, has joined Monckton Chambers.

Kristina has a particular interest in private international law and is regularly instructed in cases involving complex issues of jurisdiction, including acting as sole counsel on a $4m contract claim before the DIFC-LCIA Tribunal, defeating a jurisdiction challenge and succeeding on a preliminary issue of contractual interpretation.

Kristina has worked with barristers from Monckton Chambers on recent instructions, including acting for the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to Eurotunnel’s challenge of Brexit-related contracts for additional ferry capacity. She was led in this case by Philip Moser QC, and assisted alongside Azeem Suterwalla and Ewan West.

Philip Moser QC, joint Head of Monckton Chambers, welcomes Kristina to Monckton Chambers:

“We are delighted that Kristina Lukacova has joined Monckton Chambers to bring her expertise to the growing team of members who are practising in the commercial and arbitration fields, both domestically and internationally. These may be challenging times and it is even more important that we continue to look to the future with confidence, optimistic about our ongoing strategic goals.”

The members and staff of Monckton Chambers warmly congratulate Rob on ‘taking silk’ yesterday. Rob was sworn-in along with the 113 other new QCs, at the official Queen’s Counsel Appointments Ceremony 2020 at Westminster. The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC, who was appointed as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on 24 July 2019, officiated.

Rob is a highly experienced barrister and advocate practicing in competition law, procurement law and other public law and regulatory litigation. He won Competition Junior of the Year at the Chambers Bar Awards 2019.

George Peretz QC today gave evidence to the House of Lords EU Internal Market Sub-committee, which is conducting an inquiry into level playing field commitments and State aid in the future EU/UK trade agreement. George gave evidence on a wide range of issues relating to State aid, including the State aid elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol. A link to the recording of the evidence session can be found here.

Professor Carl Baudenbacher has been appointed Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics. His teaching and research will focus on the institutional design of international and supranational treaties. Baudenbacher will have a special regard for surveillance and judicial control in the EU and the EEA as well as in the bilateral relationships EU – Brexit Britain and EU – Switzerland.

The Lawyer has published details of its top fifteen appeals to watch across 2020 and seven members of Monckton Chambers feature in three of those selected:

1. Mastercard / Visa – Interchange Fee Litigation
Supreme Court, January 20, four days (now awaiting judgment)

For Sainsburys

Monckton’s Mark Brealey QC, instructed by Morgan Lewis partner Frances Murphy and Mishcon de Reya partner Rob Murray.

For Asda, Argos and Morrisons

Monckton’s Jon Turner QC, Meredith Pickford QC and Laura John, instructed by Stewarts partner Kate Pollack for Asda, Argos and Morrisons.

For the European Commission

Monckton’s Tom Sebastian, instructed by the European Commissions legal team.

2. Walter Merricks & Ors v Mastercard
Supreme Court, May 12, two days

For Walter Merricks

Monckton Chambers‘ Paul Harris QC, instructed by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partners Boris Bronfentrinker and Nicola Chesaites.

3. Uber v Transport for London
Westminster Magistrates’ Court, TBC

For Uber

Monckton Chambers’ Tim Ward QC, instructed by Hogan Lovells partner Charles Brasted.

If you are a subscriber of The Lawyer’s premium content, you can access the full article here.

Chambers Global 2020 has just been published, ranking the top lawyers and law firms in over 190 countries across the world.

Competition Law in UK

Monckton Chambers is one of five sets to be recognised for Competition Law in UK and one of only two in the leading band. Individual Monckton members ranked for this category are:

SILKS: Tim Ward QC, Philip Moser QC, Mark Brealey QC, Jon Turner QC, Paul Harris QC, Daniel Beard QC, Kassie Smith QC, George Peretz QC, Meredith Pickford QC, Josh Holmes QC and Ronit Kreisberger QC.

JUNIORS: Rob Williams, Alistair Lindsay, Ben Rayment, Julian Gregory, Anneli Howard, Alan Bates, Ben Lask, Philip Woolfe, Anneliese Blackwood, Laura Elizabeth John, Ligia Osepciu, Alison Berridge, Michael Armitage and James Bourke. Julianne Kerr Morrison and Thomas Sebastian are ranked in the Global Guide for the first time this year.

Public International Law in UK

Thomas Sebastian also appears for the first time in the Global Guide under Public International Law: The English Bar. Client comments include: “Very well respected in international trade.”

Dispute Resolution in Russia

Drew Holiner is one of only six UK lawyers ranked for Dispute Resolution in Russia (expertise based abroad). The Guide highlights the following client comments:
“Having somebody who is a Western-trained lawyer but also with incredible expertise is unique,” a source says, adding: “I don’t have enough good things to say! He’s a unique asset and someone I enjoy working with.” Another source adds: “He can translate the concepts into English law and vice versa. That’s a real advantage to have on your side.” reports that ‘sources appreciate his insight and expertise, with one noting: “One of a very small pool of high-level Russian law experts who acquits himself well in difficult cases.”’

Dispute Resolution: Commercial (UK)

Drew Holiner is also ranked, for the first time, alongside William Buck and Gregory Pipe, for the category of Dispute Resolution: Commercial (UK) in the Global Guide.

Drew has the following client comment : “Very good at giving incisive advice which gets to the point. He’s helpful and user-friendly and he has a great turnaround time.” “Drew Holiner is a good resource at the Bar, as he is dual-qualified in English and Russian law.”

William Buck’s strengths are highlighted as:
William is very commercial, and he finds a way to make the law work in his client’s favour.” “He is very pleasant, approachable and user-friendly. Clients like him and he works well as part of a legal team.”

Gregory Pipe is described as:“a good advocate on his feet, who is very tactical and very strategic. He’s excellent on the really heavy stuff and very good with clients.”

For the full Chambers Global Guide, click here.