Clair Phillips

My Approach

I seek to provide clear and constructive legal advice to achieve the best possible outcome in every case. I appreciate that the resolution of disputes must be considered with regard to both the legal merits and commerciality of each matter. With this approach, I enable decisions to be made on an informed basis and seek to resolve matters, where possible, without the need to involve the Court.

Areas of Expertise

I deal with all types of commercial litigation, with a particular expertise in:-

• Contractual disputes;
• Professional negligence claims;
• Landlord and tenant disputes;
• Debt recovery;
• Misrepresentation;
• Contentious trusts and probate matters (including Will disputes);
• Inheritance (Provisions for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims;
• Judicial Review/Statutory Challenge regards planning decisions;
• Restrictive covenant disputes;
• Prevention of Enforcement Proceedings (bailiff action); and
• Removal/ Set Aside of County Court Judgments.

Recent Work Includes

• Advising upon the removal/ set aside of default County Court Judgments. Successful in achieving set aside by consent for a significant number of clients.
• Defending a claim for damages in relation to the quality of building works. Settlement reached without the issue of proceedings.
• Successful in a matter involving the statutory rejection of defective goods, which resulted in a full refund for the value of the goods.
• Advising upon the modification/discharge of a restriction (restrictive covenant) affecting the development of property.
• Assisting in successfully defending a Judicial Review claim in respect of planning permission.
• Assisting in bringing a successful Judicial Review claim in respect of planning permission, the result being that the planning decision was overturned.
• Acting in an assistant solicitor capacity in respect of Inheritance (Provisions for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims.
• Successfully obtaining the suspension (removal) of a Writ of Enforcement (bailiff action) and a contribution towards my client’s legal costs.

Experience, Professional Associations and Qualifications

• Qualified as a solicitor in March 2017
• First Class LL.B (HONS) Law Degree
• Distinction in the Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Member of Bournemouth and District Junior Lawyers Division
• Recommended Department by The Legal 500 (UK 2016) for Commercial Litigation.
• Recommended Department by The Legal 500 (UK 2016) for Contentious Trusts and Probate –being described as ‘Streets ahead’.
• Winner of the Dorset Legal Awards 2019 ‘Rising Star of the Year’.