Benjamin Blakemore

Ben is a Personal Injury and Chancery focussed civil practitioner with experience in many aspects of civil litigation at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal.

Ben is a Civil Recorder and a deputy District Judge in the County Court and also sits as a recorder in the Crown Court. He is also an accredited CEDR trained Mediator in civil disputes, experienced in conducting mediations both as lead mediator and on behalf of parties. Praised for his fresh approach and tactical awareness he endeavours to explore all potentially successful avenues to settlement.

Notable cases in which Ben has been involved include the leading and seminal case on Relief from Sanctions, Denton, Decadent and Utilise [2014] EWCA Civ 904. Ben has a particular interest in civil procedure and disputes concerning interpretation and application of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Within his Personal Injury practice Ben acts for both Claimants and Defendants, regularly being instructed by Local Authorities. He has significant experience in Occupiers, Highways, Road Traffic, Animals, Product Liability, Housing Disrepair, Assault and Employer’s Liability claims, including industrial disease and deafness matters. Ben provides practical Opinions and advice with a sensitive and astute tactical commercial eye. Ben’s caseload includes complex traumatic brain injury and fatal accident litigation. Ben often attends Inquests on behalf of families or other interested parties and is experienced in lengthy inquests, including Jury and Article 2 cases.

Ben is prepared to accept suitable cases subject to conditional fee arrangements.

Ben’s Chancery practice includes Wills and Probate litigation, Land related disputes, Trusts (including an emphasis on TOLATA), and contractual and Sale of Goods matters. Ben deals with heavy commercial and company matters, including Insolvency. Ben also has significant experience in licensing, with a particular niche in Hackney Carriage and Private Hire related matters where he has appeared at all levels, from Committee decisions to the Court of Appeal.

His manner with clients as well as what has been described as his “tenacious advocacy”, have fuelled the speed with which Ben’s civil practice has developed to one beyond that ordinarily associated with a barrister of his call.

Training provision
Ben has experience in teaching at university level and also regularly delivers seminars both as part of Chambers’ lecture series and also tailored lectures to solicitors firms and organisations. Ben’s practical application and approach is generally well received.

Ben is an Advocacy Trainer on the Wales and Chester Circuit and a frequent Pupil Supervisor.

Other areas
The focus of Ben’s involvement in criminal matters in practice is on regulatory crime, and fraud. Ben appears on behalf of a range of prosecuting authorities as well as Defendants and is an experienced jury advocate. His manner and level of preparation has been commended, especially when it comes to challenging expert evidence. Ben has experience in handling complicated POCA cases in the Crown Court and the High Court, including the interplay between the criminal and family or civil Court as regards asset recovery.