Barry Havenhand
Membership Status: Barrister - Full Member
General Information
A senior civil barrister (1976 call) and former solicitor, Barry Havenhand is a talented and committed advocate, advisor and mediator.
After studying law at Oxford, Barry qualified as a barrister, later became a solicitor, and returned to the bar in 2001. He has a wealth of diverse legal experience, including spells with the Government Legal Service and a City firm. He practised as a solicitor in the West Country for several years, becoming Head of Litigation, and dealt with cases ranging from the local Magistrates’ Court to Judicial Reviews in the High Court and also to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
A combination of diplomacy and dogged persistence has won him substantial success in even the most difficult cases. With 35 years experience of advocacy, Barry is particularly well known for tackling some of the difficult cases that sometimes cross boundaries and areas of law. He is senior, experienced, easy to work with and completely flexible when it comes to fees or travel. Described as a 'people person', Barry always tells it as it is in plain English, so clients know where they are.
With wide-ranging experience, Barry has acted in cases from substantial commercial matters to neighbour disputes over a few inches of land. He has an excellent track record, with a high percentage of settlements, even in seemingly impossible cases. As a recognised expert, Barry has lectured, trained and published articles on many topics. He takes a flexible approach to this role, experienced in working solo, jointly with solicitors, advising and representing parties.
Whether it be a fast track, multi-track, tribunal, injunction, tricky application or you simply need a senior advocate to fight your small claim for you, Barry is always happy to help if available. He takes a long-term view of relationships when it comes to fees. If available, Barry would prefer to be in court fighting your case or advising you on how to get the best out of your case.
Barry is accredited to accept instructions on a Public Access basis. He lives in Somerset but is happy to travel across the UK.
Areas of law
- Commercial, Business Disputes & Money Claims
- Contract and Tort Disputes
- Costs - in particular defendant work, including attending detailed assessments nationally and regular appearances at the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO)
- Property Disputes - including landlord & tenant (commercial and residential), boundary and rights of way disputes
- Building Disputes
- Employment Law
- Professional Negligence
- Road Traffic Accidents (including credit hire)
- Personal Injury
Education
- Law, University of Oxford
Personal Interests
Barry is married with two grown-up children and fills his spare time with travel (particularly in Italy), visits to the theatre and choral singing. He also chairs an independent panel on school admission and exclusion appeals.
Click here to see Barry's mediator profile.
