Qualifications & Professional Experience:
Andrew was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn (November 2005) and practices in Civil, Criminal, Employment and Immigration law. He has an interest in International law, particularly litigation involving commonwealth jurisdictions, and closely follows emerging legal trends from the United States. Andrew is also a qualified Solicitor and was previously employed for a number of years in an in-house capacity for a company, whereby he gained experience in large scale property litigation and arbitration proceedings (2007-2010).
Andrew holds the degrees of an LL.B. (Hons) from London South Bank University (2002) and LL.M. (Banking & Finance law) from Queen Mary University of London (2003). He also holds Membership status of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2004) and has completed an Internship at the British Institute of International & Comparative Law (2005) where he contributed to the Bulletin of International Legal Developments (BILD). He takes an active interest in legal training and currently assists students in their advocacy development skills at the The College of Law's Practitioner evenings.
Andrew is a committed Christian. His interests outside the law involve theology, religion & ethics, travel, and running (in completing the 2005 & 2008 Flora London Marathons he raised money for the Disability Law Service).
Andrew is registered with the Bar Council to accept instructions directly from the public and he maintains a blog (click here to access)
Pro-Bono:
Andrew’s pro bono work involves undertaking 15 cases on behalf of the Free Representation Unit in Social Security and Employment tribunals, volunteering for the Bar Pro Bono Unit in Consumer Credit and Criminal Injuries Compensation work, assisting with general advice to the Disability Law Service, the Royal Courts of Justice and East London Citizen’s Advice Bureaux.
Andrew will consider taking on further pro-bono work in appropriate circumstances, and he is particularly interested to do so in cases that raise important human rights and civil liberties issues.
USA:
Andrew passed the February 2011 New York bar exam and was admitted as an Attorney & Counsellor-at-Law by the Third Judicial Department of the New York State Supreme Court.
He was a beneficiary of the International Professional Development Grant Programme from the Bar Council of England & Wales, being sponsored to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association in San Francisco, California (2010) and has also received a scholarship from the South-Eastern Circuit to partake in the Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section's Advanced Advocacy Course (2011).
His article on American & English advocacy is available at:
http://www.southeastcircuit.org.uk/education/transatlantic-advocacy
Professional Memberships:
(Committee Member & Membership Secretary)
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The London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association
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Criminal Bar Association
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Employment Law Bar Association
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South-Eastern Circuit
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The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
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Young Legal Aid Lawyers
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Bar Pro Bono Unit
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The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship
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The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
(Participant in “Monday Night Law” -free legal advice clinic)
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New York State Bar Association
(Member of the Trial Lawyers Section)
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The American Bar Association
(Member of the International Section)
Publications:
"An Irish Blessing"
Criminal Bar Quarterly February 2012, pages 9-10
-Reports on the topics discussed at the American Bar Association's Section of International Law 2011 Fall Meeting, held in Dublin from 11-15 October. Including an address by the President of Ireland Mary McAleese on Human Rights and contemporary challenges in Irish culture, Election Dispute Resolution, Privatization of Military and Security Functions, Ireland's Arbitration Law, the UK Bribery Act, and "Speed Networking".
“A Right to Die?”
Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, Volume 176(4)January 2012, pages 37-38
–Reviews the recommendations of the Commission on Assisted Dying. Comparing the proposed regime with the equivalents existing in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Oregon, noting that it most resembles this last regime, which does not extend to euthanasia. Discusses the current position of assisted suicide in English law and the moral issues surrounding reform of that position, referring to relevant jurisprudence. Argues that, despite, or because of, the Commission's efforts to resolve the issue of potential patient abuse, the proposals may prove unworkably contradictory.
“The American Way”
Counsel Magazine November 2011, pages 17-18
–Reflects upon the experience of becoming a New York attorney, focusing on the New York Bar examination and particular issues faced by candidates with a foreign legal education.
“The Appeal of Summary Jurisdiction”
Criminal Bar Quarterly February 2011, pages 9-10
–Discusses the implications for the administration of justice following the government’s announcement to close approximately one-third of Magistrates’ Courts in England & Wales, including a historical outline of the concept of Summary Jurisdiction.
“An American Dream”
Counsel Magazine November 2010, pages 24-26
–Reports on the topics discussed at the American Bar Association's annual general meeting, held in San Francisco from August 5-10, including developments in California's treatment of same-sex marriage, the roundtable held by the current and various former US Solicitor Generals, international law standards relating to national and international security, the constitutionality of state regulations on marijuana, and ethical issues for trial lawyers.
“Hate crime in Sweden”
British Institute of International & Comparative Law (BIICL)
Bulletin of International Legal Developments (BILD) 2005, Issue No.25
-Discusses the prosecution of Pastor Ake Green for “Hate Crime”, concerning the contents of a sermon he preached condemning Homosexuality.
Available at:
http://www.biicl.org/files/473_24bld2005.pdf
“House Arrest”
Journal of Law & Justice 2005, volume 154, pages 81-82
-Reflects on the significance and effect of government proposals to introduce “Control Orders” as an alternate measure of dealing with terrorism.
Cases:
Successfully represented defendant at multi-track trial, in substantial claim for possession of her property and arrears, resulting in her being exonerated from an accusation of fraud, after relying on expert evidence and raising defence that mortgage was voidable.
Represented Ghanaian bank in proceedings in the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in claim for over $1,000,000. Involving the registration of a foreign judgment, according to the Administration of Justice Act 1920.
Successful outcome in disability discrimination case, after lengthy tribunal proceedings and hearing before the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
The Judgment is available at:
http://www.employmentappeals.gov.uk/Public/results.aspx?id=6679
Successfully prevented removal of over-stayer to Jamaica on Human Rights grounds. Appeal allowed immediately.
Arguing mitigation and submitting skeleton argument, for Defendant to be spared jail term, after pleading guilty to possession of a false identity document.
Resources
