Legal Notice

Legal notice

Giles Powell, Barrister

I practise as a self-employed barrister and sole practitioner. My practising address is Tyrrhyddid Chambers,  Plas Y Felin, Cefn Pennar CF45 4EE. 

I can be contacted by email at gilespowell@gilespowell.co.uk, by mobile on +44 (0)7903 830083 or by telephone on +44 (0)20 3089 6996.

Regulation

I am a barrister of England and Wales, called to the Bar by  Gray's Inn in 1990, and I am regulated by the Bar Standards Board. My entry on the Barristers' Register can be viewed at https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/barristers-register/B41C16EE589C7B17B2A9B4292B9CE4A9.html (www.barstandardsboard.org.uk)  I am bound by the BSB Handbook, including the Code of Conduct, which is available at www.barstandardsboard.org.uk.

How to instruct me

I accept instructions from solicitors and other authorised persons, and I am registered with the Bar Standards Board to accept Public Access instructions directly from individuals and organisations without a solicitor. Whether a matter is suitable for Public Access depends on its nature and the client's ability to manage the parts of the case a solicitor would otherwise handle; I will tell you at the outset if I consider a solicitor should be involved. Guidance for clients on the Public Access scheme is published by the Bar Standards Board at www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/finding-and-using-a-barrister/public-access.

Services

My most commonly provided services are advice, drafting and representation in employment law, professional discipline and regulatory law, public and administrative law including judicial review, and partnership and company disputes; mediation and workplace mediation; and independent investigations, inquiries and reports. Details are on the Services pages.

Fees

I usually charge either a fixed fee for a defined piece of work, or an hourly rate. The basis of charging is agreed in writing before work begins, and the factors that affect a fee are the complexity of the issues, the volume of documents, the number of witnesses, the length of any hearing and the urgency of the work. My fees are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.

Public Access: employment tribunal claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal

I charge an hourly rate of £575 plus VAT, or a fixed fee agreed in advance for a defined stage of the case. Indicative fixed fees are typically: an initial conference, including reading the papers beforehand, £2,500–£3,500 plus VAT; a written advice on merits, £2,500–£5,000 plus VAT; drafting a claim or response, £4,500–£6,500 plus VAT; a one-day final hearing including preparation, £5,000–£9,000 plus VAT. 

Fees depend on the complexity of the issues, the volume of documents, the number of witnesses, the length of any hearing and the urgency of the work, and I will confirm the fee in writing before starting. A straightforward claim typically takes 9–15 months from issue to final hearing, but this depends on the Court's and Tribunal's listing and current backlogs, and delays of a year or more beyond that are not unusual in some regions.

Terms of business

Instructions from solicitors are accepted on the Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services by Barristers to Authorised Persons 2020 unless otherwise agreed; a copy is on the Terms and Conditions page. Public Access instructions are accepted on the terms of a written client care letter agreed before work begins.

Professional indemnity insurance

My practice is insured by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Limited, 1 Fleet Place, London EC4M 7RA. Cover extends to work carried out in England and Wales and elsewhere as set out in the BMIF terms of cover.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with any aspect of my service, please tell me. I will acknowledge a complaint in writing within 7 days, investigate it and respond in full within 28 days, or explain why I need longer. If you are not satisfied with my response, or I have not responded within eight weeks, you may complain to the Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6167, Slough SL1 0EH, telephone 0300 555 0333, enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk, www.legalombudsman.org.uk. The Legal Ombudsman normally requires a complaint to be made within one year of the act or omission complained of, or within one year of your becoming aware of it, and within six months of my final written response. The Legal Ombudsman publishes decision data at www.legalombudsman.org.uk/information-centre/data-centre. The Bar Standards Board publishes its decisions data at www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/complaints-and-professional-conduct/decisions. Complaints about professional misconduct may be made to the Bar Standards Board.

VAT

My VAT registration number is 524 4342 68.

Data protection

I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office as a data controller, registration number C1468335. How I handle personal data is explained in the Privacy Policy.

Website

This website is operated by me. Its content is general information about my practice and does not constitute legal advice; no client relationship arises from reading it or from contacting me until instructions are accepted in writing.