Christopher Howells
 
 
Call to the Bar: 1999
Joined Civitas: 2010
Email: christopher.howells@civitaslaw.com
 
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  Christopher Howells


Practice Profile

Employment Group

Chris’ employment practice ranges from routine unfair dismissal claims to discrimination claims on all of the prohibited grounds. He is also regularly instructed to deal with sometimes complex TUPE cases, particularly involving insolvent employers.

Chris has appeared on behalf of a number of well-known Companies before employment tribunals across the UK, including Asda, Debenhams and Evans Halshaw to give but a few examples. This is supplemented by a strong following of smaller businesses and organisations.
 
Chris has also managed to gain invaluable experience at representing employees who have brought claims against high profile employers including Royal Mail, B&Q, Vodafone, HSBC (to give but a handful of examples). This balance between Claimant/Respondent workload has provided Chris with an invaluable insight as to how to most effectively present the cases that he is instructed to handle.


Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Group

Chris has a wide range of experience in personal injury work having acted on behalf of both Claimant and Respondent across the spectrum of judicial arenas. He is happy to undertake appropriate cases on a CFA basis.

He is often asked to conduct employer liability and stress at work claims given the overlap with his employment law practice.


Background

Chris has developed a strong reputation for his thorough case preparation and strong advocacy skills having honed his skills during a short but distinguished period at the Criminal Bar.

 

NOTABLE CASES 

    • Cox v Northern Devon NHS, EAT 2011. Successful appeal against the decision to restrict the Claimant’s damages to a nominal period of time. The EAT upheld the submission that the ET had failed to correctly apply the relevant legal principles to this case.
     
    • Proctor v Caerau Lane Surgery, ET 2010. Instructions received on behalf of the Claimant. Substantial damages were awarded to the Claimant nurse after the ET upheld her claim of constructive dismissal following a 5 day hearing.
     
    • Merrigan v University of Gloucestershire, ET 2010. Instructions received on behalf of the Respondent. The Claimant had raised a number of serious allegations against the University, none which were upheld by the tribunal. The claim succeeded on a limited basis, for which a modest sum in damages was awarded, and substantially less than the Claimant had invited the ET to award.  
       
    • Macana v. Marilyn Leisures Ltd, Birmingham ET, 2010. Unfair dismissal and ancillary claims following the dismissal of a Director for alleged misappropriation of approximately £250k in Company funds.
     
    • Phillips v Bradshaw, Birmingham County Court, 2009. High value, multi-track claim following a serious motorcycling accident that nearly resulted in the Claimant’s leg being amputated below the knee.

       

EDUCATION

1999 - 2000: Cambridge University  (M.Phil/MA)
1998 - 1999: Inns of Court School of Law (Bar Vocational Course (Very Competent)
1995 - 1998: University College London  (LLB- 2.1)        
1993 - 1995: Atlantic College, St Donat’s (International Baccalaureate) 

 

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Call: Lincoln’s Inn (1999)
  • Member: Employment Lawyers’ Association, Wales and Chester Circuit, PIBA.

  • Chris regularly delivers CPD accredited training in his specialist fields.