Lynne Counsell

Lynne Counsell

Barrister
Membership Status: Barrister - Full Member Called in 1986
Bar Standards Board - Regulating Barristers
Barristers in England and Wales are regulated by the Bar Standards Board

Profile

General Information

Lynne was called to the Bar in 1986 and has since practised in Lincoln’s Inn chancery chambers. Her two areas of expertise are private client (traditional Chancery work such as probate procedure, accounts, Inheritance Act claims, Court of Protection matters, cases under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958, mutual wills, construction of wills and trusts) and financial services (interpretation of the FSMA 2000, collective investment schemes, regulatory issues and the marketing of investments).

This is with a particular emphasis on drafting but also includes advisory and litigation work. Drafting comprises the drafting and interpretation of wills and trusts as well as commercial documents.

Lynne is the author of numerous books, including various volumes of Atkin’s Court Forms. This gives a unique insight into drafting, procedural and legal issues and means, for example, she has won cases on more obscure causes of action such as account stated.

She is also on the expert panel for LexisNexis Q&A – Private Client and LexisNexis Q&A – Commercial.

Areas of law

  • Chancery
  • Financial Services

Chancery

  • Drafting and conducting proceedings for interim and final accounts in both Chancery and commercial matters
  • Applications involving the appointment and removal of executors
  • Advising on probate procedure
  • Litigation in respect of mutual wills, including the case of Charles v Fraser [2010] EWHC 2154 (Ch)
  • Applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958
  • Trust and will disputes, including the interpretation of instruments and the duties of trustees/personal representatives
  • Litigation of Inheritance Act claims
  • Advising on the procedure and duties in respect of lasting powers of attorney
  • Advising and applications in respect of the Mental Capacity Act 2005
  • Drafting wills, trusts and related documents
  • Drafting Partnership deeds

Financial Services

  • Advising on the construction of the FSMA 2000 and whether it applies to commercial arrangements or activities
  • Advising on whether film investment schemes, property developments and various other arrangements are collective investment schemes within the meaning of the FSMA 2000
  • Disciplinary proceedings as to whether traders or other financial services authorised persons have breached relevant rules
  • Litigation as to whether clients are in breach of the FSMA 2000
  • Advising on the marketing and advertising of investments
  • Advising on the requirement for and content of prospectuses and also the listing rules
  • Drafting unit trusts, including for a foreign government
  • Drafting shareholder and takeover agreements
  • Drafting the rules and regulations for a UK building society
  • Drafting all mortgage documentation for one of the main UK banks
  • Drafting loan agreements for UK companies, including those linked to Swiss financial services law

Memberships

  • Chancery Bar Association

Education

  • History BA (Hons) – Bedford College, London University
  • Diploma in Law – City University, London

Awards

  • 2017 Corporate International Global “Investment Contracts Barrister of the Year in England”

Areas of Law

Lynne Counsell is happy to accept instructions as counsel who is:

  • Wills & Probate
  • Business & Commercial Law
  • Inheritance Act Claims
  • Court of Protection
  • Land & Property
  • Business & Commercial Law
  • Business & Commercial Law
  • Consumer Rights Act
  • Land & Property

Outside of these key areas of law, Lynne Counsell is always willing to consider any enquiry requiring the experience or knowledge needed to help you or your client. Please call Lynne direct or the support team on 01823 247 247 if you would like to discuss any aspect of this profile.

Cases and Publications

Publications

  • The original update of Halsbury Laws of England on Injunctions
  • Co-editor of “Practice and Procedure in the Chancery Division” (two editions) including the chapters in that book on “Probate” and “Financial Services”
  • Writing the original volume of Atkin’s Court Forms – “Financial Services” (and subsequent editions)
  • Past volumes of Atkin’s Court Forms include “Contract” and “Charities”
  • Current publications include Atkin’s Court Forms on “Accounts”, “Specific Performance”, “Co-ownership”, “Societies and Clubs”, “Markets and Fairs” and “Money”
  • Articles include “The Marketing of Financial Services” for the Law Society Gazette and “The Doctrine of Mutual Wills” for the Trust Quarterly Review
  • Recent articles include a paper for LexisNexis on “The impact of Brexit on Takeovers and Mergers”
  • Recent drafting includes the LexisNexis standard form precedents for “Notice of Force Majeure” and “Notice of Frustration”, dealing with Covid 19

Fees and Feedback

FEES:

Details regarding our approach to fees can be found at the following link:  http://www.clerksroom.com/content-html?cid=514

SERVICES:

Please see “profile” tab for a description of the legal services provided by this barrister.

We aim to complete and return all paperwork within 14 days (2 weeks) of receipt if no specific deadline is provided. We can work to much faster timescales if requested or we can agree a specific target date for each individual circumstance. We will always advise at the outset if counsel is unable to meet any deadline.

Each barrister has a standard hourly rate for their work. The individual hourly rate can be agreed when instructions are acknowledged if preferred. We welcome early discussion as to the suitability of a specific barrister for a specific case. The right barrister will have the relevant expertise to deal with the case but will not be too junior, or too senior depending on the complexities.

We aim to allocate all cases to the correct level of experience & seniority which we believe will prove most to be the most cost-effective solution for our clients.

If, due to urgency, we allocate paperwork to a more senior member of Clerksroom, we will charge the appropriate hourly rate for the work, not for the barrister. We welcome early discussion to ensure the correct fee is applied to the case at the outset.

REDRESS:

All our barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and hold a current practising certificate, details can be found at the following link Barristers’ Register

Complaints information

If you are not satisfied with the service provided, you can make a complaint to Chambers. Information on the chambers’ complaints procedure is available at the following link: http://www.clerksroom.com/content-html?cid=416

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from my chambers, you can make a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman. You must contact the Legal Ombudsman either within 6 months following the conclusion of our handling your complaint, within 6 years from the date of the act/omission, or 3 years from the date that you should reasonably have known there were grounds for complaint (if the act/omission took place before the 6 October 2010 or was more than six years ago).

The Legal Ombudsman’s details are as follows:

Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6806
Wolverhampton
WV1 9WJ
Tel: 0300 555 0333
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.legalombudsman.org.uk

Privacy Notice

ICO Reference 00013560842

1.              This is a privacy notice that describes how, why and for how long I will process or keep your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’).

2.              The GDPR governs how an individual’s personal data is used, and your rights in relation to that data.

3.              I, Lynne Counsell, have been instructed by you or your litigation friend (usually a parent), through your solicitor or agent, or via the Bar Pro Bono Unit.

4.              It is necessary for me to process your personal data in order for me to provide you with legal services, for example:

·   Advise on the prospects of litigation;

·   Advise on the value of your claim;

·   Representation at a court hearing;

·   Representation at trial;

·   Advise, review or comment on legal issues or evidence.

5.              Processing means anything done to data such as: recording, organising, adapting, altering, copying, consulting, transmitting, combining, erasing or storing it.

6.              The processing for the purposes listed above will take place in accordance with either Article 6(1)(a) GDPR or Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, depending on how you instructed me.

7.              If you have instructed me on a direct access basis, or engaged a solicitor (or legal agent), to assist you in bringing or defending a claim then the processing is necessary to perform a contract to which you are a party (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR). To give effect to that contract (i.e. to bring a claim) it is necessary for me to process your personal data for litigation purposes.

8.              If I am assisting you on a pro bono basis, it will be necessary for me to seek your consent to be able to represent you (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). In this scenario, you will be sent a consent form.

Recipients of your data

9.              I may also be required to share your data with others, depending on the nature of your case. This may include:

(i)                  Courts and other tribunals to whom documents are presented;

(ii)                Your solicitors, or agent representing you, through whom I have been instructed;

(iii)               Potential witnesses, experts and other persons involved in the case;

(iv)               Solicitors, barristers, or other legal representatives;

(v)                Ombudsman and regulatory authorities;

(vi)               Education and examining bodies; and

(vii)             Current, past or prospective employers.

Special Categories of Data

10.          In some cases I will have been given your personal data that is within the ‘special categories’ of data described in GDPR Article 9(1). For example, personal data that reveals your race, ethnicity, sexual preferences, political or religious beliefs, trade union membership or health. There are also restrictions for processing information regarding criminal convictions.

11.          This type of personal data will only be processed where it is necessary in order to represent you in your legal claim, or advise on the prospects of a legal claim.

Retention

12.          I will retain your personal data for no longer than is necessary, and where it is possible, I will anonymise your data.

13.          How long your personal data is kept will depend on a number of factors. The retention period will be reviewed when the service I am providing you with is complete. However in general, I am obliged by the Bar Code of Conduct to retain records of my cases, and by HM Revenue and Customs to retain records for 6 years.

14.          Once your case has concluded and fees have been paid, I shall retain only the personal data necessary for the following purposes:

(i)                  The legal and professional obligation to retain information relating to my cases;

(ii)                To check for any potential conflict of interests that may arise in the future when I am instructed on other cases;

(iii)               For use in the defence of potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes;

(iv)               To refer back to in future cases which raise similar legal, factual, or procedural issues.

15.          The processing for the purposes listed in paragraph 14 (ii), (iii), and (iv) above, will take place in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. That is, for the purposes of legitimate interests that are not outweighed by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms.

16.          The processing for the purposes listed in paragraph 14(i) above, will take place in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) GDPR. That is, the processing is necessary for me to comply with a legal obligation. 

Your Rights

17.          Where processing of your personal data was based on your consent (see paragraphs 6 and 8) you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This does not affect the lawfulness of the processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

18.          Withdrawal of your consent to process such data will most likely mean that I am no longer able to provide you with the legal services you seek.

19.          You may request confirmation that your personal data is being processed by me and details about the personal data, the source, the processing, the purposes of the processing, the recipients and the retention period.

20.          You may request a copy of your personal data that is being processed by me. You may also request rectification (i.e. correction) where there are inaccuracies in the personal data.

21.          You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time, to processing of your personal data in paragraph 14 of this privacy notice. Should you object, the processing will only continue where there are compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your fundamental rights, freedoms and interests. 

22.          Where the processing or retention of your data is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, it will not be possible to object. 

23.          You have the right to request that your personal data is erased where any of the following apply:

(i)                  The personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed;

(ii)                You withdraw your consent where the basis of processing was based on consent and where there is no other ground for the processing;

(iii)               Where your fundamental rights, freedoms and interests override the legitimate interests of processing in paragraph 14;

(iv)               The personal data has been unlawfully processed; or

(v)                The personal data have to be erased to comply with a legal obligation.

24.          You have the right to request that your personal data is restricted from processing, so that it is simply stored, for the following reasons: as an alternative to deletion; so that it can be corrected; for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims; to verify if a legitimate ground exists (paragraph 14).

25.          Where it is necessary to correct your personal data, or you have requested the restriction or erasure of your personal data, I shall endeavour to contact the recipients of the personal data, unless this involves disproportionate effort. 

Security

26.          I take appropriate physical and technical procedures to safeguard your personal data to prevent it from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way. The I.T. systems used by Clerksroom are ISO27001 compliant.

Complaints or Queries

27.          If you have any questions regarding this privacy notice, or how I use your personal data please email me: [email protected], or my clerks: mail@clerksroom telephone 01823 247 247.

28.          I shall aim to respond as soon as possible, and within 30 days.

29.          You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe I have not handled your request in an appropriate manner. For information on contacting the ICO please go to: https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/

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