Clerking team

Chris Shaw

Senior Clerk – Civil, Commercial & Employment

Rob Lang

Assistant Senior Clerk

Xanthé Young

Civil Clerk

Harry is a specialist commercial and property law barrister. He is available to accept instructions in a variety of different commercial matters, including contractual, tortious, insolvency, tax and enforcement disputes. Harry also accepts instructions in relation to property disputes, including both commercial landlord and tenant.

Harry has been instructed to attend small claims, fast track, application, case and cost management, Tribunal and pre-trial review hearings.

Harry is also available to provide advice in relation to commercial and property law. His advice has been complemented for being comprehensive and clear.

Harry completed his specialist commercial and property law pupillage under the supervision of Daniel Metcalfe. During pupillage, he experienced a variety of commercial law areas including contract and tort litigation, intellectual property, consumer law, construction, insolvency, professional negligence, property and land disputes, commercial leases, and procedural.

Prior to joining St John’s Buildings, Harry served as a Litigator for HMRC, where he was responsible for litigating and presenting appeals on behalf of the organisation at First-Tier Tribunal Hearings.

Commercial & chancery litigation

Harry has been instructed to act in a variety of commercial matters at small claims and fast-track hearings. This has included representing clients in cases involving debt claims, breach of contract, negligence and a claim for contribution pursuant to the Civil Liabilities (Contribution) Act 1978.

Harry has also represented clients in a number of application hearings, concerning applications to set aside default judgment, strike out proceedings, grant summary judgment, set aside or vary orders, and adjourn hearings.

In addition, Harry has been instructed in Insolvency proceedings, including in proceedings involving winding up petitions and an application for substitution of a petitioning creditor. Harry has also represented a Respondent Company seeking to have a petition dismissed and been instructed in an application for an interim injunction to restrain the issuing of a winding up petition.

Harry has acted in enforcement proceedings to recover debts, including successfully making an application for an interim charging order in proceedings involving a novel factual matrix.

Harry continues to receive paper-based instructions. These have included instructions to draft a variety of pleadings, including Particulars of Claims, Defences and Replies.

Harry provides advice on commercial, property and chancery matters, either on the papers or in conference. His advice has been complemented for being comprehensive and clear.

Construction & property

Harry has been instructed on multiple residential property disputes including claims for possession, pursuant to Section 8 and Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. Harry has acted for both landlord and tenant. He has also been instructed in proceedings where an injunction pursuant to Section 1 & 4 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 was sought against a tenant.

Harry has also been instructed on commercial property disputes, both at court and on the papers. At court this has included both claims for possession where notice was required pursuant to Section 146 of the Law of Property Act 1925, and where no notice was required due to possession being sought on the basis of non-payment of rent. He obtained an Interim Possession Order against a trespasser on commercial premises.

Harry recently provided an advice concerning a landlord’s opposition to a lease renewal under Section 25 of Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

Harry has also been instructed in the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to represent a client in their application to cancel a unilateral notice, pursuant to Section 26 of the Land Registration Act 2002.

Tax

Prior to joining St John’s Buildings, Harry served as a Litigator for HMRC, where he was responsible for litigating and presenting appeals on behalf of the organisation at First-Tier Tribunal Hearings. Harry developed a deep understanding of tax law and Tribunal procedure, and as such is well-placed to assist clients appealing HMRC decisions. Notably, several of the hearings he led during his tenure at HMRC were published:

  • GCH Corporation Ltd & Ors v Revenue and Customs (CAPITAL GAINS TAX – whether limited liability partnership carried on “a trade or business with a view to profit”) [2024] UKFTT 922 (TC)
  • Turcan & Ors v Revenue and Customs (PROCEDURE – Information Notice issued after opening of enquiry) [2024] UKFTT 869 (TC)
  • Draffan & Ors v Revenue & Customs (PROCEDURE – Sch 36 Notices) [2022] UKFTT 82 (TC)
  • WT Banks & Co (Farming) Ltd v Revenue and Customs (Corporation Tax) [2021] UKFTT 155
  • Gearslutz.com Ltd & Anor v Revenue and Customs (Application for Closure Notices) [2021] UKFTT 150 (TC)

Education

  • BPTC, Very Competent, University of Law (2022)
  • BPTC, Distinction, Professional Practice at the Bar LLM (2022)
  • Professional Studies in Taxation BA, Manchester Metropolitan University (2021)
  • Law LLB, University of Lancaster (2018)

Memberships

  • The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple