Paul Skinner - Matrix Chambers

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monsterinsights_youtube_percentage_tracking_timeouts = {}; /* Works for YouTube and Vimeo */ function monsterinsights_media_get_id_for_iframe( source, service ) { var iframeUrlParts = source.split('?'); var stripedUrl = iframeUrlParts[0].split('/'); var videoId = stripedUrl[ stripedUrl.length - 1 ]; return service + '-player-' + videoId; } function monsterinsights_media_record_video_event( provider, event, label, parameters = {} ) { __gtagTracker('event', event, { event_category: 'video-' + provider, event_label: label, non_interaction: event === 'impression', ...parameters }); } function monsterinsights_media_maybe_record_video_progress( provider, label, videoId, videoParameters ) { var progressTrackingAllowedMarks = [10,25,50,75]; if ( typeof monsterinsights_tracked_video_marks[ videoId ] == 'undefined' ) { monsterinsights_tracked_video_marks[ videoId ] = []; } var { video_percent } = videoParameters; if ( progressTrackingAllowedMarks.includes( video_percent ) && !monsterinsights_tracked_video_marks[ videoId ].includes( video_percent ) ) { monsterinsights_media_record_video_event( provider, 'video_progress', label, videoParameters ); /* Prevent multiple records for the same percentage */ monsterinsights_tracked_video_marks[ videoId ].push( video_percent ); } } /* --- Vimeo --- */ var monsterinsights_media_vimeo_plays = {}; function monsterinsights_setup_vimeo_events_for_iframe(iframe, title, player) { var playerId = iframe.getAttribute('id'); var videoLabel = title || iframe.title || iframe.getAttribute('src'); if ( !playerId ) { playerId = monsterinsights_media_get_id_for_iframe( iframe.getAttribute('src'), 'vimeo' ); iframe.setAttribute( 'id', playerId ); } monsterinsights_media_vimeo_plays[playerId] = 0; var videoParameters = { video_provider: 'vimeo', video_title: title, video_url: iframe.getAttribute('src') }; /** * Record Impression **/ monsterinsights_media_record_video_event( 'vimeo', 'impression', videoLabel, videoParameters ); /** * Record video start **/ player.on('play', function(data) { let playerId = this.element.id; if ( monsterinsights_media_vimeo_plays[playerId] === 0 ) { monsterinsights_media_vimeo_plays[playerId]++; videoParameters.video_duration = data.duration; videoParameters.video_current_time = data.seconds; videoParameters.video_percent = 0; monsterinsights_media_record_video_event( 'vimeo', 'video_start', videoLabel, videoParameters ); } }); /** * Record video progress **/ player.on('timeupdate', function(data) { var progress = Math.floor(data.percent * 100); videoParameters.video_duration = data.duration; videoParameters.video_current_time = data.seconds; videoParameters.video_percent = progress; monsterinsights_media_maybe_record_video_progress( 'vimeo', videoLabel, playerId, videoParameters ); }); /** * Record video complete **/ player.on('ended', function(data) { videoParameters.video_duration = data.duration; videoParameters.video_current_time = data.seconds; videoParameters.video_percent = 100; monsterinsights_media_record_video_event( 'vimeo', 'video_complete', videoLabel, videoParameters ); }); } function monsterinsights_on_vimeo_load() { var vimeoIframes = document.querySelectorAll("iframe[src*='vimeo']"); vimeoIframes.forEach(function( iframe ) { // Set up the player var player = new Vimeo.Player(iframe); // The getVideoTitle function returns a promise player.getVideoTitle().then(function(title) { /* * Binding the events inside this callback guarantees that we * always have the correct title for the video */ monsterinsights_setup_vimeo_events_for_iframe(iframe, title, player) }); }); } function monsterinsights_media_init_vimeo_events() { var vimeoIframes = document.querySelectorAll("iframe[src*='vimeo']"); if ( vimeoIframes.length ) { /* Maybe load Vimeo API */ if ( window.Vimeo === undefined ) { var tag = document.createElement("script"); tag.src = "https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"; tag.setAttribute("onload", "monsterinsights_on_vimeo_load()"); document.body.append(tag); } else { /* Vimeo API already loaded, invoke callback */ monsterinsights_on_vimeo_load(); } } } /* --- End Vimeo --- */ /* --- YouTube --- */ function monsterinsights_media_on_youtube_load() { var monsterinsights_media_youtube_plays = {}; function __onPlayerReady(event) { monsterinsights_media_youtube_plays[event.target.h.id] = 0; var videoParameters = { video_provider: 'youtube', video_title: event.target.videoTitle, video_url: event.target.playerInfo.videoUrl }; monsterinsights_media_record_video_event( 'youtube', 'impression', videoParameters.video_title, videoParameters ); } /** * Record progress callback **/ function __track_youtube_video_progress( player, videoLabel, videoParameters ) { var { playerInfo } = player; var playerId = player.h.id; var duration = playerInfo.duration; /* player.getDuration(); */ var currentTime = playerInfo.currentTime; /* player.getCurrentTime(); */ var percentage = (currentTime / duration) * 100; var progress = Math.floor(percentage); videoParameters.video_duration = duration; videoParameters.video_current_time = currentTime; videoParameters.video_percent = progress; monsterinsights_media_maybe_record_video_progress( 'youtube', videoLabel, playerId, videoParameters ); } function __youtube_on_state_change( event ) { var state = event.data; var player = event.target; var { playerInfo } = player; var playerId = player.h.id; var videoParameters = { video_provider: 'youtube', video_title: player.videoTitle, video_url: playerInfo.videoUrl }; /** * YouTube's API doesn't offer a progress or timeupdate event. * We have to track progress manually by asking the player for the current time, every X milliseconds, using an interval **/ if ( state === YT.PlayerState.PLAYING) { if ( monsterinsights_media_youtube_plays[playerId] === 0 ) { monsterinsights_media_youtube_plays[playerId]++; /** * Record video start **/ videoParameters.video_duration = playerInfo.duration; videoParameters.video_current_time = playerInfo.currentTime; videoParameters.video_percent = 0; monsterinsights_media_record_video_event( 'youtube', 'video_start', videoParameters.video_title, videoParameters ); } monsterinsights_youtube_percentage_tracking_timeouts[ playerId ] = setInterval( __track_youtube_video_progress, 500, player, videoParameters.video_title, videoParameters ); } else if ( state === YT.PlayerState.PAUSED ) { /* When the video is paused clear the interval */ clearInterval( monsterinsights_youtube_percentage_tracking_timeouts[ playerId ] ); } else if ( state === YT.PlayerState.ENDED ) { /** * Record video complete **/ videoParameters.video_duration = playerInfo.duration; videoParameters.video_current_time = playerInfo.currentTime; videoParameters.video_percent = 100; monsterinsights_media_record_video_event( 'youtube', 'video_complete', videoParameters.video_title, videoParameters ); clearInterval( monsterinsights_youtube_percentage_tracking_timeouts[ playerId ] ); } } var youtubeIframes = document.querySelectorAll("iframe[src*='youtube'],iframe[src*='youtu.be']"); youtubeIframes.forEach(function( iframe ) { var playerId = iframe.getAttribute('id'); if ( !playerId ) { playerId = monsterinsights_media_get_id_for_iframe( iframe.getAttribute('src'), 'youtube' ); iframe.setAttribute( 'id', playerId ); } new YT.Player(playerId, { events: { onReady: __onPlayerReady, onStateChange: __youtube_on_state_change } }); }); } function monsterinsights_media_load_youtube_api() { if ( window.YT ) { return; } var youtubeIframes = document.querySelectorAll("iframe[src*='youtube'],iframe[src*='youtu.be']"); if ( 0 === youtubeIframes.length ) { return; } var tag = document.createElement("script"); tag.src = "https://www.youtube.com/iframe_api"; var firstScriptTag = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; firstScriptTag.parentNode.insertBefore(tag, firstScriptTag); } function monsterinsights_media_init_youtube_events() { /* YouTube always looks for a function called 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Data and Privacy</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="accordion-item"> <h6 class="d-md-none"><a class="opener" href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/london/">Contact us</a></h6> <div class="contact-box mb-3"> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/resources/podcasts/" class="matrix-podcast"> <img class="podcast-img" src="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/themes/matrixlaw/img/podcast.svg" alt="Matrix Podcast Logo"> </a> </div> <ul class="social-networks"> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/matrix-chambers" target="_blank"><i class="icon-linkedin"></i></a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/matrixchambers" target="_blank"><i class="icon-twitter"></i></a></li> </ul> <div class="phone-box"> <span class="title">24 HOUR ASSISTANCE</span> <a class="tel" href="tel:+4402074043447">+44 (0)20 7404 3447</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <style> .alertPanel{ background-color: #1A838D; color: #fff; padding: 10px; text-align: center; } .alertPanel a{color:#fff; text-decoration:underline} .alertPanel p{margin-bottom:0} </style> <section> <div class="container d-print-none">  <div class="row "> <div class="col-12 mtx-titlecrumbs "> <nav> <ul class="breadcrumbs">  <li class="home"><span property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><a property="item" typeof="WebPage" title="Go to Matrix Chambers." href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk" class="home"><span property="name">Matrix Chambers</span></a><meta property="position" content="1"></span></li> <li class="member_profile-root post post-member_profile"><span property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><a property="item" typeof="WebPage" title="Go to Members." href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/members/" class="member_profile-root post post-member_profile"><span property="name">Members</span></a><meta property="position" content="2"></span></li> <li class="post post-member_profile current-item"><span property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><span property="name">Paul Skinner</span><meta property="position" content="3"></span></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div>   <div class="row">  <div class="col-lg-7 col-md-12 d-print-none"> <div class="member-image"> <img width="1024" height="737" src="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fullsize_Skinner_P__017_cool.png" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fullsize_Skinner_P__017_cool.png 1024w, https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fullsize_Skinner_P__017_cool-601x433.png 601w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </div> </div>   <div id="meet" class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 offset-lg-1"> <h5 class="d-print-none"> MEET: </h5> <h1> Paul Skinner </h1> <blockquote><p>A barrister “with excellent judgement”, who “thinks outside the box and is fearless in his imagination”, as well as “good at getting to grips with technical points and all round a great team player.” </p> </blockquote> <h6>(Legal 500)</h6> </div>  </div>   <div class="row">  <div class="col-lg-7 col-md-12"> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <div class="called pt-3 mb-2"> <div class="memberatts-set"><span class="memberatts-title">Called:</span> 2010</div><hr class="memberatts-border"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col wysiwyg"> <p>Paul specialises in the fields of <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/">public</a> and <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/civil-liberties-human-rights/">human rights law</a>, <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/equality-and-discrimination-law/">equality and discrimination law</a>, <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/employment-law/">employment law</a>, international law and <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/commercial/">commercial law</a>.</p> <p>Paul is regularly instructed in high-profile and complex cases, including a number featuring in The Lawyer’s annual list of Top 20 Cases. He regularly appears unled in the Court of Appeal and High Court and also has a busy practice as a senior junior as part of larger counsel teams.</p> <p>Paul is a member of the Attorney General’s B panel of counsel.</p> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <div class="accordion mb-3" id="biogPAs"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-header" id="promoheading1"> <a class="text-left collapsed" href="#" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#promo1" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseOne"> Human Rights and Public Law Involving Individuals <i class="far" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div id="promo1" class="collapse" aria-labelledby="promoheading1" data-parent="#biogPAs"> <div class="card-body"> <p>Paul frequently acts for individuals, NGOs and public authorities in judicial reviews and statutory appeals against the state. Paul is ranked in the legal directories as a leading junior in both administrative and public law and immigration law.</p> <p>He has particular expertise in:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/community-care-law/">Community care</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/discrimination-and-equality/">Discrimination and equality</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/education-law/">Education</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/immigration-asylum-and-free-movement/">Immigration, immigration detention, asylum and nationality</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/media-information-law/">Information, data protection, privacy and freedom of expression</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/healthcare-mental-health-and-mental-capacity/">Healthcare</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/human-rights/">Human rights</a></li> <li>National security and terrorism</li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/prison-law/">Prison law</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-and-private-international-law/">Public international law</a></li> <li>Social security and welfare benefits</li> </ul> <p>Some of recent work include:</p> <ul> <li><em>Soliman v Home Office </em>(ongoing): Human rights claim by suspect in Manchester Arena bombing for ill-treatment in detention in Libya claimed to have resulted from intelligence sharing</li> <li><em>Johal v Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office </em>(ongoing): Claim in relation to claimed ill-treatment in detention in India by British national as a result of claimed intelligence sharing</li> <li><em>R (Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire) v Secretary of State for the Home Department </em>(ongoing): Judicial review of the police funding formula</li> <li><em>R (Ghadam) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Discretion – further enquiries – s31(2A))</em> [2024] UKUT 281 (IAC): Unlawful to fail to consider whether to take into account or undertake further enquiries in relation to particular factors in deciding that a business was not genuine for the purposes of deciding a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application.</li> <li><em>Beth v The Security Service </em>[2024] UKIPTrib3: Human rights claim against MI5 for failure to protect claimant from her abusive former partner, who is alleged to have been a covert human intelligence source.</li> <li><em>FL v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2024] PTSR 589 (on appeal to the Court of Appeal): Inappropriate to disapply unlawfully discriminatory provisions of regulations governing ‘migration’ from legacy benefits to Universal Credit because ‘inapt’.</li> <li><em>R (PCSU) v Secretary of State for the Home Department </em>(settled post-General Election): Article 11 challenge to lawfulness of minimum service levels required of Border Force officials during strike action</li> <li><em>R (Dragoi) v Secretary of State for Justice</em> [2024] EWHC 60 (Admin): The decision to refuse to allow a foreign national offender to be removed from prison under the Early Release Scheme was lawful, given that he would be removed to the village in which his victims of human trafficking were located.</li> <li><em>Abdi v Entry Clearance Officer</em> [2023] EWCA Civ 1455: It was procedurally unfair to find that the appellants’ sponsor was not the source of the funds he was sending to the appellants (and that they were therefore not dependent on him for the purposes of their EEA Family Permit applications) without putting this to him in the appeal hearing.</li> <li><em>ASO (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department</em> [2023] EWCA Civ 1282: Court of Appeal gave guidance on the assessment of materiality for the purposes of immigration appeals.</li> <li><em>R (Keira Bell) v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust</em> [2022] 1 All ER 416 (CA): Inappropriate for High Court to have made a declaration as to when a gender-dysphoric child should make an application to the court should be made for a best interests decision as to whether they should be prescribed puberty blockers and to give general guidance in relation to when such children can consent to such treatment.</li> <li><em>R (Lord) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care</em> [2022] EWHC 2004 (Admin): Judicial review of the pandemic-related requirement to only serve alcohol with a table meal.</li> <li><em>Department for Transport v Information Commissioner</em> [2022] 1 WLR 3403 (UTAAC): The Upper Tribunal gave guidance on (1) when aggregated data can be ‘personal data’ and (2) the proper approach to civil servant’s evidence of the chilling effect that the release of information would have under the Freedom of Information Act.</li> <li><em>PF v Disclosure and Barring Service</em> [2020] UKUT 256 (AAC): Test case on the scope of the Tribunal’s jurisdiction in error of fact cases.</li> <li><em>R (Vincent) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2020] EWHC 1976 (Admin): The conversion of Support for Mortgage Interest from a benefit was not unlawfully discriminatory against disabled people.</li> <li><em>ED (claiming as “AA”) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2020] UKUT 352 (AAC): Secretary of State’s power to reclaim overpaid benefits extends to the case of someone who has acquired their right to benefit by pretending to be someone that does not in fact exist.</li> <li><em>Demirtaş and others v Turkey</em> (2019) 69 EHRR 27: Grand Chamber held that the removal of Turkish MPs’ Parliamentary immunity and their arrest and detention for politically motivated reasons was a breach of Article 10 ECHR.</li> <li><em>R (Parkin) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2019] EWHC 2356 (Admin): Universal Credit minimum income floor for the self-employed did not unlawfully discriminate against women.</li> <li><em>R (FDA) v Minister for the Cabinet Office</em> [2018] EWHC 2746 (Admin): No failure to consult the civil service unions in setting the pay remit guidance.</li> <li><em>R (Buxton) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2019] PTSR 502: Cap on Access to Work Scheme did not unlawfully discriminate against D/deaf claimants.</li> <li><em>R (B) v Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education</em> [2019] PTSR 769: High Court gave guidance on standard of review of decisions that a complaint to the OIA is not eligible.</li> <li><em>R (Gina Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the EU</em> [2018] AC 61(SC): Government’s proposed notification of the UK’s intention to leave the EU without statutory authority was unlawful.</li> <li><em>R (MA (Pakistan)) v Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)</em> [2016] 1 WLR 5093 (CA): Court of Appeal gave guidance on the appropriate approach to considering whether it is reasonable to expect a child to leave the UK under s.117B(6) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.</li> <li><em>El-Dinnaoui v Westminster City Council</em> [2013] HLR 23 (CA): Irrational to provide accommodation in high-rise building to homeless person with vertigo.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="card"> <div class="card-header" id="promoheading2"> <a class="text-left collapsed" href="#" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#promo2" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseOne"> Commercial Public Law <i class="far" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div id="promo2" class="collapse" aria-labelledby="promoheading2" data-parent="#biogPAs"> <div class="card-body"> <p>Paul’s public law practice in areas affecting business spans:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Broadcasting regulation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Competition</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Consumer protection regulation</a> (including product safety, medicines and consumer credit)</li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/media-information-law/">Data protection</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/environmental-law-and-natural-resources/">Environmental regulation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Financial services regulation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">International trade regulation</a> (anti-dumping, the EU four freedoms)</li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Public procurement</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">State aid</a></li> </ul> <p>Examples of Paul’s recent work in these areas include:</p> <ul> <li><em>R (Heathrow Airport) v HM Treasury</em> [2021] EWCA Civ 783: Government’s decision to abolish tax- and VAT-free shopping by withdrawing the VAT Retail Export Scheme and an Extra-Statutory Concession did not result from an unfair consultation and did not breach WTO Rules.</li> <li><em>Department for Transport v Information Commissioner</em> [2022] 1 WLR 3403 (UTAAC): The Upper Tribunal gave guidance on (1) when aggregated data can be ‘personal data’ and (2) the proper approach to civil servant’s evidence of the chilling effect that the release of information would have under the Freedom of Information Act.</li> <li><em>Churchill Gowns Ltd v Ede & Ravenscroft Ltd</em> [2020] CAT 22: Challenge in the Competition Appeal Tribunal to the Defendant’s arrangements with universities for the provision of academic dress to students at graduation ceremonies on grounds they restrict competition and constitute an abuse of dominant position.</li> <li>FCA competition investigation into asset management firms.</li> <li>Advice on judicial review on human rights and competition grounds to the introduction of new conditions by the Phone-paid Services Authority.</li> <li>Advice on <em>vires </em>of Environment Agency to enter and damage commercial property under the Water Resources Act 1991.</li> <li>EU Commission Investigation into the dumping of Vinyl Acetate.</li> <li>Represented a ‘payday lender’ in respect of the FSA, Competition Commission and FCA’s respective investigations into the market for high-cost short-term credit.</li> <li>Advice in relation to the <em>vires </em>of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.</li> <li>Advice to a University on the acquisition of various broadcasting licenses.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="card"> <div class="card-header" id="promoheading3"> <a class="text-left collapsed" href="#" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#promo3" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseOne"> Commercial Litigation <i class="far" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div id="promo3" class="collapse" aria-labelledby="promoheading3" data-parent="#biogPAs"> <div class="card-body"> <p>Paul has considerable experience of a wide variety of commercial litigation. As well as the full range of commercial contractual and tortious disputes (including conspiracy and other economic torts), Paul has particular expertise in banking, EU law related and multi-party commercial disputes including group actions, as well as conflicts of laws issues and directors’ duties and other commercial employment issues.</p> <p>Paul is currently writing the practitioners’ text on Abuse of Process for Oxford University Press and is a contributor to the leading loose-leaf text on consumer credit, Goode, Consumer Credit: Law and Practice. He has published in the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law.</p> <p>Paul has experience of obtaining freezing orders and other injunctions at short notice to recover, secure and trace at-risk assets and to unwind fraudulent transactions.</p> <p>Recent and notable cases include:</p> <ul> <li>Currently instructed by investment bank in threatened multimillion-pound claims in unlawful means conspiracy</li> <li><em>Matrix Receivables Ltd v Musst Holdings Ltd </em>[2024] EWHC 1495 (Ch): Multimillion-dollar claims in contract and unjust enrichment</li> <li><em>Benyatov v Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd</em> [2023] 3 All ER 636: Court of Appeal and High Court found investment bank not liable either in tort or under implied contractual indemnity for consequences of banker’s prosecution and conviction abroad.</li> <li><em>Bravo v Amerisur Resources plc</em> [2020] EWHC 203 (QB): Freezing order and group litigation order obtained in international mass tort claim for environmental damage in Columbia.</li> <li>Advised Office of Rail and Road on the interpretation of the Network Code and the Timetable Planning Rules.</li> <li>Acted in complex asset tracing claim, including to reverse gift of property to defraud creditors under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1981, associated freezing order applications.</li> <li>Advice on group claim for breach of contract by consumers against water industry in respect of non-compliance with obligations in respect of sewage treatment.</li> <li><em>Burrell v Helical (Bramshott Place) Ltd</em> [2017] ECC 3: High Court gave guidance on the meaning of “credit” in the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and whether exit fees in leases of properties in retirement villages were unfair terms.</li> <li><em>The Bomu-Bonny Oil Pipeline Litigation</em> (High Court, TCC): Part of the counsel team for the Defendant in this group litigation relating to oil spills in the Niger Delta, involving a variety of private international law issues.</li> <li><em>The PIP Breast Implant Litigation</em> (High Court, QB): Instructed to defend contractual claims against a clinic in respect of breast implants used which were of unsatisfactory quality.</li> <li><em>Waterland v Bank of Scotland plc</em> (High Court, Chancery Division – sole counsel) Breach of contract claim for wrongful conversion of various secured lending facilities from Sterling into Swiss Francs (settled at mediation).</li> <li>Injunctive proceedings in support of an arbitration relating to the breakdown of a dental practice partnership.</li> <li>Interest Rate Hedging Products: Advice to a major retail bank in respect of a number of missold interest rate hedging products and in particular the extent of recoverable losses and applicable principles of causation.</li> <li>Advice on claim for breach of copyright by song-writer in respect of well-known number 1 hit.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="card"> <div class="card-header" id="promoheading4"> <a class="text-left collapsed" href="#" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#promo4" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseOne"> International Law <i class="far" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div id="promo4" class="collapse" aria-labelledby="promoheading4" data-parent="#biogPAs"> <div class="card-body"> <p>Paul has a significant practice in matters with a public and private international law element. He has undertaken a number of cases before the European Court of Human Rights and his domestic cases frequently involve questions of jurisdiction, choice of law and the interpretation of international law.</p> <p>Recent and notable cases include:</p> <ul> <li>Currently instructed in ICJ proceedings concerning whether there is a right to strike under ILO Convention No 87</li> <li><em>Benyatov v Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd</em> [2023] 3 All ER 636: Investment bank not liable either in tort or under implied contractual indemnity for consequences of banker’s prosecution and conviction abroad.</li> <li><em>R (Heathrow Airport) v HM Treasury</em> [2021] EWCA Civ 783: Government’s decision to abolish tax- and VAT-free shopping by withdrawing the VAT Retail Export Scheme and an Extra-Statutory Concession did not breach WTO Rules and was justiciable in the English courts.</li> <li><em>Bravo v Amerisur Resources plc</em> [2020] EWHC 203 (QB): Freezing order and group litigation order obtained in international mass tort claim for environmental damage in Columbia.</li> <li><em>Demirtaş and others v Turkey</em> (2019) 69 EHRR 27 (ECtHR Grand Chamber): Representing Article 19 and Human Rights Watch in their successful intervention in this important case relating to the removal of Turkish MPs’ Parliamentary immunity and their arrest and detention for politically motivated reasons.</li> <li><em>Bodo Community v Shell Petroleum Development Co of Nigeria</em> – Representing Shell in claim by 15,000 claimants in proceedings concerning extensive pollution in Rivers State, Nigeria.</li> <li><em>Bytyqi v Republic of Serbia</em> (ECtHR) – Advised the family of three American-Kosovan Albanians killed by Serbian police in proposed claim to the European Court of Human Rights for breach of the investigative duty under Article 2 ECHR.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="card"> <div class="card-header" id="promoheading5"> <a class="text-left collapsed" href="#" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#promo5" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseOne"> Employment and Discrimination <i class="far" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div id="promo5" class="collapse" aria-labelledby="promoheading5" data-parent="#biogPAs"> <div class="card-body"> <p>Paul is ranked as a leading employment law junior by Legal 500 and practices across the full range of employment law matters in both the High Court and Tribunal. He has particular expertise in the contractual and tortious duties employers owe employees posted abroad. Paul is also regularly instructed in public law discrimination challenges and trade union disputes and frequently advises public sector pension schemes in relation to discrimination, forfeiture and interpretation issues.</p> <p>Recent and notable cases include:</p> <ul> <li>Currently instructed by investment bank in threatened multimillion-pound claims in unlawful means conspiracy brought by senior employees</li> <li><em>Leach v The Hideaways Club</em>: Currently instructed in this Tribunal claim involving complex international jurisdiction issues</li> <li>Currently instructed in ICJ proceedings concerning whether there is a right to strike under ILO Convention No 87</li> <li><em>Benyatov v Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd</em> [2023] 3 All ER 636 (CA): Leading case on when an employer may be liable in contract and tort for career losses suffered by an employee convicted abroad by reason of his work. Investment bank not liable either in tort or under implied contractual indemnity for consequences of banker’s prosecution and conviction in Romania.</li> <li><em>Ebury Partners UK Ltd v Acton Davis</em> [2023] IRLR 486 (EAT): ET had been wrong to reconsider its earlier dismissal of constructive unfair dismissal claim on a basis that did not form part of the reconsideration application.</li> <li><em>Hopkins v Secretary of State for Justice</em> (ET): Successfully defended high-profile whistleblowing claim by analyst whose research indicated that the Sex Offender Treatment Programme in prisons may increase the likelihood of reoffending.</li> <li><em>R (PCSU) v Secretary of State for the Home Department </em>(settled post-General Election): Article 11 challenge to lawfulness of minimum service levels required of Border Force officials during strike action</li> <li><em>R (Vincent) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2020] EWHC 1976 (Admin): The conversion of Support for Mortgage Interest from a benefit was not unlawfully discriminatory against disabled people.</li> <li><em>R (Parkin) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2019] EWHC 2356 (Admin): Universal Credit minimum income floor for the self-employed did not unlawfully discriminate against women.</li> <li><em>R (FDA) v Minister for the Cabinet Office</em> [2018] EWHC 2746 (Admin): No failure to consult the civil service unions in setting the pay remit guidance.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="card"> <div class="card-header" id="promoheading6"> <a class="text-left collapsed" href="#" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#promo6" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseOne"> Education and other experience <i class="far" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div id="promo6" class="collapse" aria-labelledby="promoheading6" data-parent="#biogPAs"> <div class="card-body"> <p>Paul had a first career as a professional musician. He holds a first class music degree and licentiate diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, London, and was Woodwind finalist in BBC Young Musician of the Year.</p> <p>Paul subsequently studied for an accelerated 2-year law degree at Cambridge and undertook the Bar Vocational Course at BPP Law School.</p> <p>In 2011/12, Paul spent a year as Judicial Assistant to Lord Dyson and Lord Walker at the UK Supreme Court. Prior to this he worked at the European Court of Human Rights.</p> <p>Paul was a lecturer in law at the Open University from 2010-2012.</p> <p>Paul is currently writing a book on Abuse of Process and has written a number of articles in peer reviewed journals, including the Law Quarterly Review, the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law and the European Human Rights Law Review.</p> <p>Paul sits as a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal and is a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <style> .member-barstandards { font-style: italic; font-size: 12px; } </style> <div class="member-barstandards"> <p class="m-0">Paul is regulated by the Bar Standards Board and accepts instructions under Standard Contractual Terms. To find out more information on this and the way we work at Matrix, including our fee transparency statement, please see our see our <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/about-us/service-standards/">service standards</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <div id="directory"> <div class="directory-header"> DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS </div> <div class="directory-body"> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "A very able practitioner with extensive knowledge and experience." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""A very able practitioner with extensive knowledge and experience.""> Legal 500, 2025, Administrative Law and Human Rights </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "Not only does Paul have a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the legal issues, but he is charming, good humoured and generous with his time." "Paul is able to do things on short notice. He prepares the claim really well, understanding issues quickly and he is a joy to work with." "Paul has good judgement and his written work is excellent." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""Not only does Paul have a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the legal issues, but he is charming, good humoured and generous with his time." "Paul is able to do things on short notice. He prepares the claim really well, understanding issues quickly and he is a joy to work with." "Paul has good judgement and his written work is excellent.""> Chambers & Partners, 2025, Administrative & Public Law </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "Paul is a sound practitioner who benefits from a great deal of relevant experience." "Paul gets to grips with the arguments quickly and shows a real understanding of the issues." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""Paul is a sound practitioner who benefits from a great deal of relevant experience." "Paul gets to grips with the arguments quickly and shows a real understanding of the issues.""> Chambers & Partners, 2025, Immigration </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "Paul is a clear and persuasive advocate who recognises and focusses on his best points." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""Paul is a clear and persuasive advocate who recognises and focusses on his best points.""> Legal 500, 2024, Administrative Law and Human Rights </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "Paul is an excellent lawyer with a great perspective on the way that different areas of law interact. A very broad knowledge spanning all areas of public law." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""Paul is an excellent lawyer with a great perspective on the way that different areas of law interact. A very broad knowledge spanning all areas of public law.""> Legal 500, 2023, Administrative & Human Rights </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "Easy to work with - he was collaborative and approachable. He also has creative flashes, thinking of innovative and good points to make in argument." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""Easy to work with - he was collaborative and approachable. He also has creative flashes, thinking of innovative and good points to make in argument.""> Legal 500, 2023, Employment </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""> </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "He is a very good lawyer, good at getting to grips with technical points and all round a great team player." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""He is a very good lawyer, good at getting to grips with technical points and all round a great team player.""> Legal 500, Administrative and Public Law </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "He is empathetic and attuned to his client’s needs." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""He is empathetic and attuned to his client’s needs.""> Legal 500, Immigration (including business immigration) </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "Has creative ideas, thinks outside the box and is fearless in his imagination." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""Has creative ideas, thinks outside the box and is fearless in his imagination.""> Legal 500, Employment </cite> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <blockquote> <p> "A careful and thoughtful barrister, who eases the most emotional and vulnerable clients." </p> </blockquote> <figcaption> <cite title=""A careful and thoughtful barrister, who eases the most emotional and vulnerable clients.""> Legal 500, Property Litigation </cite> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 offset-lg-1"> <section class="contact mb-5"> <ul id="contact"> <li> <i class="fa-lg fas fa-arrow-right"></i> <a class="text-uppercase" href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/staff/practice-team/#X"> CONTACT Paul's PRACTICE TEAM </a> </li> <li> <i class="fa-lg fas fa-envelope"></i> <a class="text-uppercase" href="mailto:paulskinner@matrixlaw.co.uk"> EMAIL Paul </a> </li> <li> <i class="fa-lg fas fa-file-pdf"></i> <a class="text-uppercase" href="#" onclick="printFunction()"> DOWNLOAD AS PDF </a> <script> function printFunction() { window.print(); } </script> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="practiceareas mb-5"> <h3> MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE: </h3> <ul class="sidelinks"> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/civil-liberties-human-rights/">Civil Liberties and Human Rights</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/commercial/">Commercial Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/commercial/commercial-public-law/">Commercial Public Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-eu/competition-and-regulation/">Competition</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-eu/">Competition and EU</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/media-information-law/data-protection/">Data Protection</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-eu/eu-law/">EU Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/employment-law/">Employment Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/environmental-law-and-natural-resources/">Environmental Law and Natural Resources</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/equality-and-discrimination-law/">Equality and Discrimination Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/immigration-asylum-and-free-movement/">Immigration, Asylum and Free Movement</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/international-law/arbitration/">International Arbitration</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/local-government-law/">Local Government Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/media-information-law/">Media and Information Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/commercial/mediation/">Mediation</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/police-inquests-and-prison/">Police, Inquests and Prison</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/international-law/private-international-law/">Private International Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/international-law/public-information-law/">Public International Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/">Public Law</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/commercial/sports-law/">Sports Law</a> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="relatedItems mb-5 d-print-none"> <div class="accordion" id="relatedItems">   <div class="card"> <div class="card-header" id="headingOne"> <a class="text-left collapsed" href="#" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#RecentJudgements" aria-expanded="false" 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href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/news/victims-of-manchester-arena-bombing-not-permitting-to-proceed-with-claim-against-the-security-service/"><div class="newsimage" style="background-image: url(https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/jamie-street-aLoN4KX1xSA-unsplash-scaled.jpg)"></div></a><p><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/news/victims-of-manchester-arena-bombing-not-permitting-to-proceed-with-claim-against-the-security-service/">Victims of Manchester Arena bombing not permitted to proceed with claim against the Security Service</a></p><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/news/employment-appeal-tribunal-allows-appeal-in-relation-to-reconsiderations/"><div class="newsimage" style="background-image: url(https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/EMPLOY_800px_BW.jpg)"></div></a><p><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/news/employment-appeal-tribunal-allows-appeal-in-relation-to-reconsiderations/">Employment Appeal Tribunal allows appeal in relation to 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ASSISTANCE</strong><br>+44 (0)20 7404 3447</span></div></div></section><section id="mtx-print-body"><div class="row mtx-print-row"><div class="first-col col-3"><img width="1024" height="737" src="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fullsize_Skinner_P__017_cool.png" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fullsize_Skinner_P__017_cool.png 1024w, https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fullsize_Skinner_P__017_cool-601x433.png 601w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><div class="mtx-print-div"><div class="memberatts-set"><span class="memberatts-title">Called:</span> 2010</div></div><blockquote class="mtx-print-div blockquote text-left p-3"><p class="mb-0">A barrister “with excellent judgement”, who “thinks outside the box and is fearless in his imagination”, as well as “good at getting to grips with technical points and all round a great team player.” </p><cite title="Source Title">(Legal 500)</cite></blockquote><div class="mtx-print-div"><h2>MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE</h2><ul><li>International Arbitration</li><li>Commercial Law</li><li>Mediation</li><li>Competition</li><li>Employment Law</li><li>Environmental Law and Natural Resources</li><li>EU Law</li><li>Civil Liberties and Human Rights</li><li>Immigration, Asylum and Free Movement</li><li>Local Government Law</li><li>Media and Information Law</li><li>Data Protection</li><li>Public International Law</li><li>Public Law</li><li>Sports Law</li><li>Police, Inquests and Prison</li><li>Commercial Public Law</li><li>Private International Law</li><li>Equality and Discrimination Law</li><li>Competition and EU</li></ul></div></div><div class="col-9"><h1 class="mb-3">Paul Skinner</h1><p>Contact Paul: <u>paulskinner@matrixlaw.co.uk</u> | +44 (0)20 7404 3447<br></p><p>Contact Paul's Practice Team (Team X): <u>TeamX@matrixlaw.co.uk</u></p><hr><p>Paul specialises in the fields of <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/">public</a> and <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-law/civil-liberties-human-rights/">human rights law</a>, <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/equality-and-discrimination-law/">equality and discrimination law</a>, <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/employment-law/">employment law</a>, international law and <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/commercial/">commercial law</a>.</p> <p>Paul is regularly instructed in high-profile and complex cases, including a number featuring in The Lawyer’s annual list of Top 20 Cases. He regularly appears unled in the Court of Appeal and High Court and also has a busy practice as a senior junior as part of larger counsel teams.</p> <p>Paul is a member of the Attorney General’s B panel of counsel.</p> <h3 class="mt-3">Human Rights and Public Law Involving Individuals</h3><p>Paul frequently acts for individuals, NGOs and public authorities in judicial reviews and statutory appeals against the state. Paul is ranked in the legal directories as a leading junior in both administrative and public law and immigration law.</p> <p>He has particular expertise in:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/community-care-law/">Community care</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/discrimination-and-equality/">Discrimination and equality</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/education-law/">Education</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/immigration-asylum-and-free-movement/">Immigration, immigration detention, asylum and nationality</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/media-information-law/">Information, data protection, privacy and freedom of expression</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/healthcare-mental-health-and-mental-capacity/">Healthcare</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/human-rights/">Human rights</a></li> <li>National security and terrorism</li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/prison-law/">Prison law</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/public-and-private-international-law/">Public international law</a></li> <li>Social security and welfare benefits</li> </ul> <p>Some of recent work include:</p> <ul> <li><em>Soliman v Home Office </em>(ongoing): Human rights claim by suspect in Manchester Arena bombing for ill-treatment in detention in Libya claimed to have resulted from intelligence sharing</li> <li><em>Johal v Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office </em>(ongoing): Claim in relation to claimed ill-treatment in detention in India by British national as a result of claimed intelligence sharing</li> <li><em>R (Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire) v Secretary of State for the Home Department </em>(ongoing): Judicial review of the police funding formula</li> <li><em>R (Ghadam) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Discretion – further enquiries – s31(2A))</em> [2024] UKUT 281 (IAC): Unlawful to fail to consider whether to take into account or undertake further enquiries in relation to particular factors in deciding that a business was not genuine for the purposes of deciding a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application.</li> <li><em>Beth v The Security Service </em>[2024] UKIPTrib3: Human rights claim against MI5 for failure to protect claimant from her abusive former partner, who is alleged to have been a covert human intelligence source.</li> <li><em>FL v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2024] PTSR 589 (on appeal to the Court of Appeal): Inappropriate to disapply unlawfully discriminatory provisions of regulations governing ‘migration’ from legacy benefits to Universal Credit because ‘inapt’.</li> <li><em>R (PCSU) v Secretary of State for the Home Department </em>(settled post-General Election): Article 11 challenge to lawfulness of minimum service levels required of Border Force officials during strike action</li> <li><em>R (Dragoi) v Secretary of State for Justice</em> [2024] EWHC 60 (Admin): The decision to refuse to allow a foreign national offender to be removed from prison under the Early Release Scheme was lawful, given that he would be removed to the village in which his victims of human trafficking were located.</li> <li><em>Abdi v Entry Clearance Officer</em> [2023] EWCA Civ 1455: It was procedurally unfair to find that the appellants’ sponsor was not the source of the funds he was sending to the appellants (and that they were therefore not dependent on him for the purposes of their EEA Family Permit applications) without putting this to him in the appeal hearing.</li> <li><em>ASO (Iraq) v Secretary of State for the Home Department</em> [2023] EWCA Civ 1282: Court of Appeal gave guidance on the assessment of materiality for the purposes of immigration appeals.</li> <li><em>R (Keira Bell) v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust</em> [2022] 1 All ER 416 (CA): Inappropriate for High Court to have made a declaration as to when a gender-dysphoric child should make an application to the court should be made for a best interests decision as to whether they should be prescribed puberty blockers and to give general guidance in relation to when such children can consent to such treatment.</li> <li><em>R (Lord) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care</em> [2022] EWHC 2004 (Admin): Judicial review of the pandemic-related requirement to only serve alcohol with a table meal.</li> <li><em>Department for Transport v Information Commissioner</em> [2022] 1 WLR 3403 (UTAAC): The Upper Tribunal gave guidance on (1) when aggregated data can be ‘personal data’ and (2) the proper approach to civil servant’s evidence of the chilling effect that the release of information would have under the Freedom of Information Act.</li> <li><em>PF v Disclosure and Barring Service</em> [2020] UKUT 256 (AAC): Test case on the scope of the Tribunal’s jurisdiction in error of fact cases.</li> <li><em>R (Vincent) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2020] EWHC 1976 (Admin): The conversion of Support for Mortgage Interest from a benefit was not unlawfully discriminatory against disabled people.</li> <li><em>ED (claiming as “AA”) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2020] UKUT 352 (AAC): Secretary of State’s power to reclaim overpaid benefits extends to the case of someone who has acquired their right to benefit by pretending to be someone that does not in fact exist.</li> <li><em>Demirtaş and others v Turkey</em> (2019) 69 EHRR 27: Grand Chamber held that the removal of Turkish MPs’ Parliamentary immunity and their arrest and detention for politically motivated reasons was a breach of Article 10 ECHR.</li> <li><em>R (Parkin) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2019] EWHC 2356 (Admin): Universal Credit minimum income floor for the self-employed did not unlawfully discriminate against women.</li> <li><em>R (FDA) v Minister for the Cabinet Office</em> [2018] EWHC 2746 (Admin): No failure to consult the civil service unions in setting the pay remit guidance.</li> <li><em>R (Buxton) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2019] PTSR 502: Cap on Access to Work Scheme did not unlawfully discriminate against D/deaf claimants.</li> <li><em>R (B) v Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education</em> [2019] PTSR 769: High Court gave guidance on standard of review of decisions that a complaint to the OIA is not eligible.</li> <li><em>R (Gina Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the EU</em> [2018] AC 61(SC): Government’s proposed notification of the UK’s intention to leave the EU without statutory authority was unlawful.</li> <li><em>R (MA (Pakistan)) v Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)</em> [2016] 1 WLR 5093 (CA): Court of Appeal gave guidance on the appropriate approach to considering whether it is reasonable to expect a child to leave the UK under s.117B(6) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.</li> <li><em>El-Dinnaoui v Westminster City Council</em> [2013] HLR 23 (CA): Irrational to provide accommodation in high-rise building to homeless person with vertigo.</li> </ul> <h3 class="mt-3">Commercial Public Law</h3><p>Paul’s public law practice in areas affecting business spans:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Broadcasting regulation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Competition</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Consumer protection regulation</a> (including product safety, medicines and consumer credit)</li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/media-information-law/">Data protection</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/environmental-law-and-natural-resources/">Environmental regulation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Financial services regulation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">International trade regulation</a> (anti-dumping, the EU four freedoms)</li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">Public procurement</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/competition-and-regulation/">State aid</a></li> </ul> <p>Examples of Paul’s recent work in these areas include:</p> <ul> <li><em>R (Heathrow Airport) v HM Treasury</em> [2021] EWCA Civ 783: Government’s decision to abolish tax- and VAT-free shopping by withdrawing the VAT Retail Export Scheme and an Extra-Statutory Concession did not result from an unfair consultation and did not breach WTO Rules.</li> <li><em>Department for Transport v Information Commissioner</em> [2022] 1 WLR 3403 (UTAAC): The Upper Tribunal gave guidance on (1) when aggregated data can be ‘personal data’ and (2) the proper approach to civil servant’s evidence of the chilling effect that the release of information would have under the Freedom of Information Act.</li> <li><em>Churchill Gowns Ltd v Ede & Ravenscroft Ltd</em> [2020] CAT 22: Challenge in the Competition Appeal Tribunal to the Defendant’s arrangements with universities for the provision of academic dress to students at graduation ceremonies on grounds they restrict competition and constitute an abuse of dominant position.</li> <li>FCA competition investigation into asset management firms.</li> <li>Advice on judicial review on human rights and competition grounds to the introduction of new conditions by the Phone-paid Services Authority.</li> <li>Advice on <em>vires </em>of Environment Agency to enter and damage commercial property under the Water Resources Act 1991.</li> <li>EU Commission Investigation into the dumping of Vinyl Acetate.</li> <li>Represented a ‘payday lender’ in respect of the FSA, Competition Commission and FCA’s respective investigations into the market for high-cost short-term credit.</li> <li>Advice in relation to the <em>vires </em>of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.</li> <li>Advice to a University on the acquisition of various broadcasting licenses.</li> </ul> <h3 class="mt-3">Commercial Litigation </h3><p>Paul has considerable experience of a wide variety of commercial litigation. As well as the full range of commercial contractual and tortious disputes (including conspiracy and other economic torts), Paul has particular expertise in banking, EU law related and multi-party commercial disputes including group actions, as well as conflicts of laws issues and directors’ duties and other commercial employment issues.</p> <p>Paul is currently writing the practitioners’ text on Abuse of Process for Oxford University Press and is a contributor to the leading loose-leaf text on consumer credit, Goode, Consumer Credit: Law and Practice. He has published in the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law.</p> <p>Paul has experience of obtaining freezing orders and other injunctions at short notice to recover, secure and trace at-risk assets and to unwind fraudulent transactions.</p> <p>Recent and notable cases include:</p> <ul> <li>Currently instructed by investment bank in threatened multimillion-pound claims in unlawful means conspiracy</li> <li><em>Matrix Receivables Ltd v Musst Holdings Ltd </em>[2024] EWHC 1495 (Ch): Multimillion-dollar claims in contract and unjust enrichment</li> <li><em>Benyatov v Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd</em> [2023] 3 All ER 636: Court of Appeal and High Court found investment bank not liable either in tort or under implied contractual indemnity for consequences of banker’s prosecution and conviction abroad.</li> <li><em>Bravo v Amerisur Resources plc</em> [2020] EWHC 203 (QB): Freezing order and group litigation order obtained in international mass tort claim for environmental damage in Columbia.</li> <li>Advised Office of Rail and Road on the interpretation of the Network Code and the Timetable Planning Rules.</li> <li>Acted in complex asset tracing claim, including to reverse gift of property to defraud creditors under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1981, associated freezing order applications.</li> <li>Advice on group claim for breach of contract by consumers against water industry in respect of non-compliance with obligations in respect of sewage treatment.</li> <li><em>Burrell v Helical (Bramshott Place) Ltd</em> [2017] ECC 3: High Court gave guidance on the meaning of “credit” in the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and whether exit fees in leases of properties in retirement villages were unfair terms.</li> <li><em>The Bomu-Bonny Oil Pipeline Litigation</em> (High Court, TCC): Part of the counsel team for the Defendant in this group litigation relating to oil spills in the Niger Delta, involving a variety of private international law issues.</li> <li><em>The PIP Breast Implant Litigation</em> (High Court, QB): Instructed to defend contractual claims against a clinic in respect of breast implants used which were of unsatisfactory quality.</li> <li><em>Waterland v Bank of Scotland plc</em> (High Court, Chancery Division – sole counsel) Breach of contract claim for wrongful conversion of various secured lending facilities from Sterling into Swiss Francs (settled at mediation).</li> <li>Injunctive proceedings in support of an arbitration relating to the breakdown of a dental practice partnership.</li> <li>Interest Rate Hedging Products: Advice to a major retail bank in respect of a number of missold interest rate hedging products and in particular the extent of recoverable losses and applicable principles of causation.</li> <li>Advice on claim for breach of copyright by song-writer in respect of well-known number 1 hit.</li> </ul> <h3 class="mt-3">International Law</h3><p>Paul has a significant practice in matters with a public and private international law element. He has undertaken a number of cases before the European Court of Human Rights and his domestic cases frequently involve questions of jurisdiction, choice of law and the interpretation of international law.</p> <p>Recent and notable cases include:</p> <ul> <li>Currently instructed in ICJ proceedings concerning whether there is a right to strike under ILO Convention No 87</li> <li><em>Benyatov v Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd</em> [2023] 3 All ER 636: Investment bank not liable either in tort or under implied contractual indemnity for consequences of banker’s prosecution and conviction abroad.</li> <li><em>R (Heathrow Airport) v HM Treasury</em> [2021] EWCA Civ 783: Government’s decision to abolish tax- and VAT-free shopping by withdrawing the VAT Retail Export Scheme and an Extra-Statutory Concession did not breach WTO Rules and was justiciable in the English courts.</li> <li><em>Bravo v Amerisur Resources plc</em> [2020] EWHC 203 (QB): Freezing order and group litigation order obtained in international mass tort claim for environmental damage in Columbia.</li> <li><em>Demirtaş and others v Turkey</em> (2019) 69 EHRR 27 (ECtHR Grand Chamber): Representing Article 19 and Human Rights Watch in their successful intervention in this important case relating to the removal of Turkish MPs’ Parliamentary immunity and their arrest and detention for politically motivated reasons.</li> <li><em>Bodo Community v Shell Petroleum Development Co of Nigeria</em> – Representing Shell in claim by 15,000 claimants in proceedings concerning extensive pollution in Rivers State, Nigeria.</li> <li><em>Bytyqi v Republic of Serbia</em> (ECtHR) – Advised the family of three American-Kosovan Albanians killed by Serbian police in proposed claim to the European Court of Human Rights for breach of the investigative duty under Article 2 ECHR.</li> </ul> <h3 class="mt-3">Employment and Discrimination</h3><p>Paul is ranked as a leading employment law junior by Legal 500 and practices across the full range of employment law matters in both the High Court and Tribunal. He has particular expertise in the contractual and tortious duties employers owe employees posted abroad. Paul is also regularly instructed in public law discrimination challenges and trade union disputes and frequently advises public sector pension schemes in relation to discrimination, forfeiture and interpretation issues.</p> <p>Recent and notable cases include:</p> <ul> <li>Currently instructed by investment bank in threatened multimillion-pound claims in unlawful means conspiracy brought by senior employees</li> <li><em>Leach v The Hideaways Club</em>: Currently instructed in this Tribunal claim involving complex international jurisdiction issues</li> <li>Currently instructed in ICJ proceedings concerning whether there is a right to strike under ILO Convention No 87</li> <li><em>Benyatov v Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd</em> [2023] 3 All ER 636 (CA): Leading case on when an employer may be liable in contract and tort for career losses suffered by an employee convicted abroad by reason of his work. Investment bank not liable either in tort or under implied contractual indemnity for consequences of banker’s prosecution and conviction in Romania.</li> <li><em>Ebury Partners UK Ltd v Acton Davis</em> [2023] IRLR 486 (EAT): ET had been wrong to reconsider its earlier dismissal of constructive unfair dismissal claim on a basis that did not form part of the reconsideration application.</li> <li><em>Hopkins v Secretary of State for Justice</em> (ET): Successfully defended high-profile whistleblowing claim by analyst whose research indicated that the Sex Offender Treatment Programme in prisons may increase the likelihood of reoffending.</li> <li><em>R (PCSU) v Secretary of State for the Home Department </em>(settled post-General Election): Article 11 challenge to lawfulness of minimum service levels required of Border Force officials during strike action</li> <li><em>R (Vincent) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2020] EWHC 1976 (Admin): The conversion of Support for Mortgage Interest from a benefit was not unlawfully discriminatory against disabled people.</li> <li><em>R (Parkin) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions</em> [2019] EWHC 2356 (Admin): Universal Credit minimum income floor for the self-employed did not unlawfully discriminate against women.</li> <li><em>R (FDA) v Minister for the Cabinet Office</em> [2018] EWHC 2746 (Admin): No failure to consult the civil service unions in setting the pay remit guidance.</li> </ul> <h3 class="mt-3">Education and other experience </h3><p>Paul had a first career as a professional musician. He holds a first class music degree and licentiate diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, London, and was Woodwind finalist in BBC Young Musician of the Year.</p> <p>Paul subsequently studied for an accelerated 2-year law degree at Cambridge and undertook the Bar Vocational Course at BPP Law School.</p> <p>In 2011/12, Paul spent a year as Judicial Assistant to Lord Dyson and Lord Walker at the UK Supreme Court. Prior to this he worked at the European Court of Human Rights.</p> <p>Paul was a lecturer in law at the Open University from 2010-2012.</p> <p>Paul is currently writing a book on Abuse of Process and has written a number of articles in peer reviewed journals, including the Law Quarterly Review, the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law and the European Human Rights Law Review.</p> <p>Paul sits as a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal and is a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel.</p> <h3>DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS</h3><div class="mtxprint-directorybody"><figure><blockquote><p>"A very able practitioner with extensive knowledge and experience."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""A very able practitioner with extensive knowledge and experience."">Legal 500, 2025, Administrative Law and Human Rights</cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"Not only does Paul have a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the legal issues, but he is charming, good humoured and generous with his time." "Paul is able to do things on short notice. He prepares the claim really well, understanding issues quickly and he is a joy to work with." "Paul has good judgement and his written work is excellent."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""Not only does Paul have a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the legal issues, but he is charming, good humoured and generous with his time." "Paul is able to do things on short notice. He prepares the claim really well, understanding issues quickly and he is a joy to work with." "Paul has good judgement and his written work is excellent."">Chambers & Partners, 2025, Administrative & Public Law </cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"Paul is a sound practitioner who benefits from a great deal of relevant experience." "Paul gets to grips with the arguments quickly and shows a real understanding of the issues."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""Paul is a sound practitioner who benefits from a great deal of relevant experience." "Paul gets to grips with the arguments quickly and shows a real understanding of the issues."">Chambers & Partners, 2025, Immigration </cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"Paul is a clear and persuasive advocate who recognises and focusses on his best points."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""Paul is a clear and persuasive advocate who recognises and focusses on his best points."">Legal 500, 2024, Administrative Law and Human Rights</cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"Paul is an excellent lawyer with a great perspective on the way that different areas of law interact. A very broad knowledge spanning all areas of public law."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""Paul is an excellent lawyer with a great perspective on the way that different areas of law interact. A very broad knowledge spanning all areas of public law."">Legal 500, 2023, Administrative & Human Rights</cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"Easy to work with - he was collaborative and approachable. He also has creative flashes, thinking of innovative and good points to make in argument."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""Easy to work with - he was collaborative and approachable. He also has creative flashes, thinking of innovative and good points to make in argument."">Legal 500, 2023, Employment</cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p></p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""></cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"He is a very good lawyer, good at getting to grips with technical points and all round a great team player."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""He is a very good lawyer, good at getting to grips with technical points and all round a great team player."">Legal 500, Administrative and Public Law</cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"He is empathetic and attuned to his client’s needs."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""He is empathetic and attuned to his client’s needs."">Legal 500, Immigration (including business immigration)</cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"Has creative ideas, thinks outside the box and is fearless in his imagination."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""Has creative ideas, thinks outside the box and is fearless in his imagination."">Legal 500, Employment</cite></figcaption></figure><figure><blockquote><p>"A careful and thoughtful barrister, who eases the most emotional and vulnerable clients."</p></blockquote><figcaption><cite title=""A careful and thoughtful barrister, who eases the most emotional and vulnerable clients."">Legal 500, Property Litigation</cite></figcaption></figure></div></div> </div> </section><section id="mtx-print-footer"><div class="row mtx-print-row"><div class="col"><hr><p>Please consider the environment and only print this material if you absolutely need to. 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