Direct Access Barrister
Dr Liam Wells
Direct Access Barrister
Dr Liam Wells
Barrister experienced in defamation, property, commercial, family, judicial review, housing, planning, local government, inquests, and general civil litigation.
Area of Law
Commercial
Commercial loan disputes. Contacts of sale/supply of goods and services. Fast-track and multi-track trials County Court/High Court. Interim proceedings including costs management.
Defamation
High value claims in libel, slander, malicious falsehood, breach of confidence, and data protection. Adjunct claims in civil harassment.
Injunctions, contempt of court proceedings, assessment of damages hearings, orders against social media platforms under section 13 Defamation Act 2013.
Family
Financial remedy applications - full service from advice on application to final hearing. Interim steps including applications for specific disclosure. Financial remedies following overseas divorce (Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984).
Private Law children: child arrangements orders, prohibited steps orders.
Contempt proceedings related to breach of family court orders.
Housing and Social Welfare
Social housing: possession proceedings and appeals, Equality Act, Human Rights.
Inquests and Public Inquiries
Extensive experience in Article 2 inquests. Judicial review of decisions made at inquests.
Local Government
Judicial review: housing, planning and adult social care. Equality Act and Human Rights claims/defences. Social housing possession proceedings and appeals. Benefits decisions. Business rates decisions.
Planning and Environmental
Planning inquiries - residential developments, wind turbines, protection of heritage assets. Representation for interested parties at full inquiries across the country.
Statutory appeals (High Court) and judicial review proceedings (Planning Court, Kings Bench).
Property
Freezing and proprietary injunctions (High Court/Chancery). Defending/seeking claims for tracing in equity. Property claims linked to planning disputes. Cryptocurrency fraud and blockchain evidence. Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996. Charity proceedings.
Matrimonial property and mortgage disputes.
Partnership and company disputes related to property.
Commercial landlord and tenant. Private residential landlord and tenant.
Public and Administrative Law
Judicial review: challenges to the decisions of both local and national government (High Court and Court of Appeal). Human Rights, Equality Act, Public Sector Equality Duty, Natural Justice. Pre-action letters. Settling statements of facts and grounds.
Statutory appeals to High Court (Kings Bench): planning decisions, professional regulatory proceedings.
What sort of work do I do?
Advice
Drafting
Court Representation (County Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court)
Who do I work for?
Individuals with contentious matters who wish to save litigation cost by directly instructing Counsel.