Paul Considine

I have real commercial world experience of Contractual Disputes as well as solid litigation and ADR experience applied to resolve them. I understand from long experience the myriad of problems thrown up by contracts of all types for a wide variety of services and goods and will work with you to achieve the best solution to your problems. Whether your contract is big or small, complex or simple, made as a business transaction or for your personal needs I can help achieve resolution of your dispute.If you need someone to negotiate and draft a contract or advise on termination or support you in a Contractual Dispute I can assist.  I also specialise in contracts concerning technical products such as software and complex hardware items and intellectual property, design or construction where my engineering background often proves invaluable.

My approach

I appreciate that win or lose the case more often than not presents a serious threat to my clients livelyhood and or reputation and I aim to help my clients avoid any negative consequences of litigation (or Abritration and Adjudication) whenever possible.

I take a collaborative approach with my clients and any of their other advisors and adopt a can do attitude when engaging with a case.

I always aim to be thorough in every way, especially in drafting court documents and preparing a case for trial. I keep a close eye on my client's budget and seek appropriate instructions before incurring costs outside of the agreed budget for my own work. 

I see it as an issue of great importance that I understand as far as reasonably possible the case and the client (and the others side) in order to effectively assist my client in balancing all the risks and cost burdens the case presents before taking the agreed cost effective steps to resolve the matter.

If I think your case or any issue is not worth pursuing or has come to a point where you should seek a settlement I will advise you of this as soon as possible.

My work

Examples of Contracts Dispute cases I have been instructed in:

  • Dispute over debt concerning outstanding payments for a car purchase.
  • Construction works for refit of a Diner Cafe at a Petrol Station site following fire damage.
  • Recovery of damages for goods wrongfully seized on closure of a retail shop
  • Dispute re payment for supply of imported earth moving plant machinery.
  • Design and Build contract for construction of a large school extension.
  • Breach of a Franchise Agreement for an indian restaurant including a Trade Mark dispute
  • Minortity shareholders rights under a Small Business Shareholder Agreement
  • Misrepresentation re a contract to purchase a flat

About me

My legal and ADR practice is supported by over 30 years of  pre-bar experience in industry and commerce including 17 years as a consultant Chartered Engineer, Company Director of a Consultancy Practice and 9 years as a Commercial Claims Consultant across a broad range of industries (oil & gas, nuclear, manufacturing, food & beverage, space, rail and the public sector commerce). My consultancy work covered the design and delivery of engineering and technology projects including R&D, design, build, commissioning and support activities as well as commercial contracting and complex contract dispute resolution on large scale government projects in the IT and Technology sectors and on civils infrastructure projects.

Prior to commencing practice at the Bar following a pupillage in Intellectual Property my considerable experience and technical skill was recognised when awarded Chartered Engineer status by the Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1992 and Chartered Physicist status by the Institute of Physics in 1993. I went on to study for the Bar applying my commercial and technical background and achieved an outstanding grade in Intellectual Property at the BVC.

I have specialist experience in software development contracts and related services and has spent many years dealing with very high value complex IT disputes in government department IT outsourcing projects involving safety & business critical software developments and data protection issues. My experience in commercial matters includes outsourcing contracts, confidentiality agreements, guarantees, R&D collaboration agreements and complex contracts for technical projects. I have previously held security clearance whilst working on nuclear and government projects.

 

Professional & academic

Qualifications:

BEng Hons in Electronic Engineering

Chartered Engineer [1993]

Diploma in Law  [Called to the Bar of England And Wales by the Inner Temple 2005]

Certificate in Arbitration (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators)

Accredited Mediator: ADR Group and Regents College London, School of Psychotherapy & Counselling Psychology

Professional Associations:

Member of Intellectual Property Bar Association

Member of TECBAR

Member of COMBAR

Member of the International Nuclear Law Association

Member of the Society for Computers and Law

Member of the Dispute Board Federation (Expert Panel Member)

Member of LCIA (London Court of International Arbitration)

FCIArb - Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

MIET - Member of Institute of Engineering Technology

MIOP - Member of Institute of Physics