Paul Staddon

Profile

Paul is an experienced advocate, who is frequently called upon to handle difficult cases where a very tough approach is called for and where fast, realistic advice is called for at an early stage. He has often been called upon to represent in litigation his own instructing Solicitors, when they have serious legal problems of their own.

He is appreciated for his incisive strategic advice and tenacious cross-examination.

Recently, Paul was instructed in a case involving the alleged misappropriation of diamonds, said to be worth many millions of pounds, where he successfully defended during the course of a five week trial in the Chancery Division.

Paul’s practice comprises all areas of business and property litigation with an emphasis on commercial contractual disputes and professional negligence affecting business and property transactions.

In the field of employment law, Paul has particular experience in both prosecuting and defending claims seeking to enforce post-employment restrictive covenants.

Recently he was invited to present a seminar for Pannones on Springboard Injunctions.

Paul was previously employed by a leading firm of stockbrokers as an investment analyst.

Experience

Paul has extensive experience of business and commercial, contract and property law spanning over 30 years at the Bar.

Ahmed v Wingrove (2007) 31 EG 81
Where the wording of an option agreement did not clearly identify the land subject to ht4e option but an agreed plan attached to the agreement did, the land was identified with sufficient certainty and agreement was not void.

Godin Mendoza v Ghaidan [2004] 2AC 557
Partner in a gay relationship with a deceased statutory tenant to be treated as if he were the spouse of the deceased and could succeed to his statutory tenancy. Effect of the Human Rights Act on the construction of para. 2 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Act 1977. This remains the leading authority on the ambit of sec tion 3 of the Human Rights Act.

O’Connor v Old Etonians Housing Association [2002] 2 WLR 1133
Construction of the meaning of “to keep in proper working order” in section 11(1)(b) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985

Basch v Stekel [2001] 1 L&T Rep 1
Whether the obligations of a guarantor survived his death and whether his executors could be called upon to take a new lease under the terms of the guarantee

Cadogan Estates v McMahon [1999] 1 WLR 1689
A proviso for re-entry in the event of bankruptcy created an obligation under a lease not to become bankrupt and was therefore continued into a statutory tenant’s statutory tenancy by virtue of section 3(1) Rent Act 1977.

Ferrishurst v Wallcite [1999] 2 WLR 667
A tenant’s option to purchase the whole of the land comprised in a registered disposition was enforceable, as an overriding interest, against a new registered proprietor, notwithstanding that the tenant occupied only part of the land comprised in the disposition in question.

Laimond Properties v Al-Shkarchi (1998) The Times 23 February
Whether a new tenancy of alternative accommodation could be an assured tenancy as expressed by the parties where the defendant contended it to b e a protected tenancy within the meaning of the Rent Act 1977 thereby falling within the exception of section 1(1) of  the Housing Act 1988

Dawncar Investments v Plews 25 HLR 639
Whether a judge was obliged to give less weight to environmental factors in assessing overall reasonableness because a case was based on para. 5(1)(a) of Schedule 15 ot the Rent Act 1977, rather than para. 5(1)(b).

Hammersmith & Fulham LB v Monk [1992] AC 478
Whether one of several joint tenants can terminate a periodic tenancy against the will of the others

Bodle v Coutts & Co Whether Solicitors can be restrained from acting against a former client, where they retained files that might be relevant to the new action but there was no risk of disclosure of confidential information.

Johnson v BJW Property Developments [2002] 3 All ER 574
The extent to which an owner is responsible for damage caused by fire that had escaped from his property due to the negligence of an independent contractor.

Socgen Lease v Capital Bank (1999)
The purchase of goods for the purposes of a connected finance agreement, where delivery was effected by the seller to t

Indata Equipment Supplies Ltd v ACL Ltd [1998] FSR 248
The extent to which fiduciary duties can be found in commercial relationships and the measure

Series 5 Software v Clarke [1996] 1 All ER 853
Criteria for interim injunction when breach of copyright in respect of software allege

Barrett v Duckett (1995) 1 BCLC 73
Availability of relator action procedure, where company in liquidation.

Jenice v Dan [1993] BCLR 1349.
Director’s personal liability, where breach of obligation to use correct name of company on a cheque

Publications

Contributor, Service Charges and Managment: Law & Practice 2nd edition (Sweet & Maxwell)

Memberships

Member, Property Bar Association

Member, Chancery Bar Association

Member, Professional Negligence Bar Association 

Qualifications

BSC Econ (Lond)