Robin Howard
Called to the Bar in 1986
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Commercial
- Employment
HIS WORK
Robin accepts work from individuals and companies under public access. Where it is still available he welcomes legal aid instructions. He accepts instructions under Conditional Fee Agreement.
Much of his work is advisory and so unreported. His recent cases include a Commercial Court dispute concerning the destruction of stored oats; the “Thakrar litigation”, a five-year-long saga involving fraud, insolvency in almost all forms (bankruptcy, receiverships, administrations) and a multi-million pound property company; anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry; company fraud centred on horseracing; disputes within motor industry trade associations and franchise groups; complex franchising disputes in the recruitment industry, and claims against solicitors, accountants & surveyors.
Robin undertakes work in all aspects of business and property. As a CEDR-accredited mediator, Robin looks for pragmatic and cost-effective solutions. At the same time, when the need arises, Robin is a tenacious and effective court room advocate.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- sales of goods and supplies of services
- construction claims
- franchising
- insurance
- individual insolvency
- economic torts
- restitutionary claims
- directors’ liabilities
- shareholders’ remedies
- corporate insolvency.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
SG (Stratford) Ltd v LB Newham [2013] EWHC 2868 (TCC): striking out commercial property damages claim
Lenn Mayhew Lewis v Jennifer Yeeles [2010] EWCA Civ 326, on appeal from Yeeles v (1) Benton (2) Mayhew Lewis (3) Strand Corporation Ltd [2009] EWHC 1259 (Ch): procuring breach of contract and whether a company director can have immunity for tort;
Jackson v Thakrar (no 2) [2007] EWHC 626 (TCC) [2008] 1 ALL ER 601: costs against non-party funders: SCA s. 51
Jackson v Thakrar [2007] EWHC 271 (TCC): whether settlement agreement binding
Assured Quality Construction v Thompson [2006] The Times 21 April Chancery Division: Elements of slander of title in a dispute between property developers
Krasner v Dennison, Lawrence v Lesser [2001] Ch. 76 CA (and HL for leave): the leading case on pensions and bankruptcy
Robin has appeared for workers and employers, both business and public sector, at all levels from internal disciplinary hearings and inquiries to the Appellate Courts. His practice has covered the full range of work in the employment tribunals and above, as well as employment-related claims in the civil courts.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Discrimination: sex, sexual orientation, transgender, race, disability, victimisation
- Unfair dismissal
- Restrictive covenants
- Franchising
- Redundancy
- Directors’ loss of office
HIS WORK
As well as appearing as an advocate at all levels, with his experience as a CEDR-accredited mediator, Robin is adept as a mediation advocate and in direct negotiations. He accepts direct public access instructions.
Robin’s recent employment law clients include a transgender consultant in the NHS, a gay, disabled (deaf and HIV-positive) trade union official, and a franchisee/employee unfairly dismissed and subject to a clawback agreement
QUALIFICATIONS
MA: Oxford
Accredited mediator: Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
