Paul Monaghan qualifies as Solicitor Advocate
26th Jul 2010
A Solicitor has joined an elite group of lawyers able to represent clients in the highest courts in England.
Paul Monaghan, who specialises in commercial litigation and corporate recovery and insolvency with regional firm BHP Law, has qualified as a Solicitor Advocate.
According to the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates only 15 lawyers in the North East hold so-called higher rights of audience, allowing them to speak in any court including the Supreme Court.
Paul explained: “All Solicitors can represent anyone in the county courts for civil matters and in the magistrates’ courts for criminal cases.
“In cases that move up to the High Court, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court you have to be a barrister or a Solicitor who has obtained higher rights of audience.
“I already represent clients in the county courts and now I can represent them as a Solicitor Advocate in the higher courts, meaning they don’t have to go to the trouble or expense of instructing a barrister. I can take on their case from start to finish, no matter how high it goes.”
Paul studied for the qualification over the course of a year and was monitored and graded by a High Court Judge. The course covered a number of skills including cross examination of witnesses and expert witnesses, trial strategy planning, evidential, procedural and ethical issues and legal submissions.
“Now I have this qualification, it can be applied to any areas of law. For example, in addition to representing my own clients in the higher courts I can also represent colleagues’ clients from family matters to civil litigation, which is great for BHP clients and the firm itself,” he added.
A graduate of the Universities of Northumbria, York, Edinburgh and the College of Law of England and Wales, Paul joined BHP Law in 2007 and acts for a range of individuals and large private sector organisations.
His work in corporate recovery and insolvency is typically on the side of the licensed insolvency practitioner.
Many of the contentious matters he deals with relate to wrongful or fraudulent trading, transactions at an under value and contested bankruptcy and winding up petitions.
In the area of commercial litigation he usually acts for individuals and company directors in disputes over commercial contracts, partnership disputes, breach of statutory duty, construction and building claims and property disputes.
Paul is based at BHP’s office on Newcastle Quayside but works across the region. The firm also has offices in Durham, Darlington, Teesside and Halifax.
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