Academy Chambers

Gareth Reeds
Call: 2001 Lincoln’s Inn

Gareth practises in most areas of civil and commercial litigation and Employment law, regularly undertaking advisory work whilst maintaining a busy court practice.

He often appears as sole advocate in a variety of courts and tribunals, including the County Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and employment tribunals.

His first degree is in Law. Whilst reading Law, he further studied European Law to be awarded the degree of LL.B. (European) with Honours. Having come top of his year, he won first prize in his Masters in European Business Law degree (which he undertook in The Netherlands). He also obtained the highest marks amongst non-native German speakers for his Diploma in German Law. He went on to gain a very competent in his Bar Finals at Inns of Court School of Law in addition to his Lincoln’s Inn scholarships.

Over the years he has worked for German law professors by researching and advising on German law (including the conflict of laws) and as a language editor for the practitioner work Competition Law in the EU, its Member States and Switzerland (2000 et seq., Kluwer Law International).

Gareth’s commercial experience has included negotiation, employment disputes and various forms of corporate financing. He has widespread experience in dealing with particularly acrimonious commercial disputes and is highly regarded for his ability to bring a level-headed perspective to negotiations and resolve disputes on highly favourable terms to his clients.

His clients range from individuals and small businesses to larger international and domestic financial institutions and insurers.

Since he started out in practice Gareth has also assisted in the writing of:

* Bernstein’s Handbook of Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (4th ed., 2003, Sweet & Maxwell)
* International Dispute Resolution (Cases and Materials) (2004, Sweet & Maxwell)

Gareth is a Hardwicke Entrance and Walter Wigglesworth Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn.

He is also a member of the Free Representation Unit, providing pro bono legal assistance.

Practice Areas

Gareth has broad experience of and takes instructions for:

* Applications and Hearings in the High Court (trials, CMCs and interim applications)
* Applications and Hearings in the County Court (trials, CMCs and interim applications)
* Employment matters in Employment tribunals and the EAT (both for employees and employers)
* Winding Up and Insolvency matters in both the County Court and High Court
* Appellate Court work

He specialises in, and is therefore particularly able to advise on and be instructed to appear in court in, the following areas:

* Consumer law (including the law of mortgages and guarantees)
* Commercial law
* Insolvency and Bankruptcy law
* Corporate/Company law (including shareholder disputes)
* Employment disputes
* Personal Injury
* Professional Negligence
* Housing and Landlord and Tenant law

Gareth also has experience of working with and is available to work as a junior to Silks or other senior practitioners. He has worked as part of the advocacy team on complex legal trials in the Commercial Court with leading QCs, in addition to high value appeals in the Court of Appeal.

Instructions from Overseas

Gareth has a Diploma in German law from the University of Bayreuth in Bavaria (one of the top German law faculties) and is able to advise on civil aspects of German law and the private international law of both England and Germany. He is able to take instructions in German, French, Spanish and Dutch and is frequently instructed to give advice to overseas clients, including cross-border transactions. Please speak to the Clerks to obtain further information.

Public Access

Gareth has been approved for direct public access work. In certain circumstances, he is able to advise and appear in court for clients without the need for a solicitor to be involved. Those individuals and companies interested in taking advantage of this are advised to speak to the Clerks to obtain full details.

Fees

For full details of the hourly fees Gareth charges, please contact the Clerks. Certain trials and applications can be undertaken on a case fee basis. These fees can be determined by liaising with a member of Gareth’s clerking team once full details of the matter are known and time estimates for the work to be undertaken are calculated. Please note that no CFA work is undertaken.

Reported Cases

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals v Munur and anr. [2008] EWHC 199 (Admin); (2008) ACD 42; powers of confiscation under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Memberships

Employment Lawyers Association
European Circuit
Bar European Group

Academic Posts

Gareth has been a part-time Visiting Lecturer in law at the University of Westminster in London.

Languages

German
French
Spanish
Dutch (written)