The Midland Chancery and Commercial Bar Association » Uncategorized

‘Form or Substance’ – talk by Professor Graham Virgo KC, 20 May 2026

Simon Bradshaw — Fri, 01 May 2026 10:08:44 +0000

The MCCBA is delighted to welcome back Professor Graham Virgo KC after his well-received talk last year. Professor Virgo, Master of Downing College and Director of Cambridge Private Law Centre, will be speaking on ‘Form or Substance? Formalities in Equity and the Law of Trusts’, and will discuss the recent Court of Appeal decision in National Iranian Oil Co v Crescent Gas Corporation Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1211 regarding formalities for trusts of land.

The talk is kindly being hosted by No 5 Chambers at 103 Colmore Road, Birmingham, with drinks and registration at 5.30 pm for a 6 pm start. It is open to all users of the Birmingham Business and Property Courts; to register, please contact secretary@mccba.co.uk.

B-CLIPS shortlisted for Pro Bono Award

Simon Bradshaw — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:30:36 +0000

We are delighted to report that the B-CLIPS scheme administered by MCCBA has been shortlisted for Pro Bono & Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year at the 2026 Bar Pro Bono Awards. The winner will be announced on Tuesday 19 May.

Injunctions Masterclass: 22 April 2026

Simon Bradshaw — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:17:35 +0000

MCCBA is delighted to present, in conjunction with the Birmingham Business and Property Courts Forum and Birmingham Law Society, a special interactive panel event exploring how to litigate an injunction from cradle to grave. The panel will feature HHJ Tindal (s.9 Circuit Judge), Georgina Morris (Gowling WLG), Michelle Caney (St Philips Chambers) and Ali Tabari (St Philips Chambers).

The event takes place from 5.00 pm (arrive from 4.30 pm) with refreshments to follow. To register, please contact secretary@mccba.co.uk

B-CLIPS Second Anniversary Event

Simon Bradshaw — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:59:35 +0000

The MCCBA was delighted to welcome the recently-appointed Chancellor, Sir Colin Birss, to our celebration of the second anniversary of the Birmingham Chancery Litigants-In-Person Scheme (B-CLIPS). Sir Colin very kindly presented our first BCLIPS Pro Bono award to Raghav Trivedi of St Philips Chambers for his contributions to B-CLIPS.

Left: Sir Colin Birss presents the Pro Bono award to Raghav Trivedi.

Centre: Alex Pritchard Jones (MCCBA), DJ Philip Mantle (Birmingham BPC), Raghav Trivedi, Michelle Caney (MCCBA).

Right: The event reception kindly hosted by St Philips Chambers.

Stephen Whitaker

Simon Bradshaw — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:48:57 +0000

A message from our Chair regarding Mr Stephen Whitaker:

I just want to take a moment, with sadness, to mark the death of Stephen Whitaker, a member of the Association, who passed away on the 16th of January.

Stephen was a well-respected and deeply valued member of No5 Chamber’s Business & Property Group and the MCCBA. I know many of you who had the privilege of knowing him, will agree that he will be deeply missed.

Stephen joined No5 as an associate tenant in 1982. He was the first Chancery lawyer to do so. He joined No5 full time in 1996 and was instrumental in helping develop Chancery specialism in No5 and in Birmingham. He was the joint editor of Mithani: Directors’ Disqualification and several other books, including the title “Corporate Insolvency” in the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents (2004). He was also a pupil supervisor to current members of the association.

I am personally indebted to him for the time he regularly made for me, as a very junior barrister, to take questions to him in his room in Chambers. He was generous and incredibly intelligent, and one could always be sure of his help and the value he would add.

As an Association we would like to extend our sympathies to his family, friends and all that knew him. I will have a message in those terms placed on our website.

Louise Corfield
MCCBA Chair

Black Mini Pupillage Scheme 2026

Simon Bradshaw — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:04:44 +0000

Applications are now open for the MCCBA’s Black Mini Pupillage Scheme, which is aimed at increasing and promoting the diversity of barristers in our practice area in which black barristers are underrepresented.

Applications for 2026 will close on 13 February 2026 and be considered within 6 weeks of that date, with successful applicants to be announced no later than the end of March 2026.

Details of the Scheme are available here and you can download an application form (MS Word) here.

A copy of the guidance for those assessing applications can be found here.

19 November – Professor Nelson Enonchong

Simon Bradshaw — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 21:28:34 +0000

We are delighted to be hosting our next event with the Birmingham Business & Property Courts Forum on Wednesday 19 November 2025, at 5.30pm. Professor Nelson Enonchong will be discussing the recent Supreme Court case of Waller-Edwards v One Savings Bank PLC, which cites his work in the field of banking and commercial law.

The event will be taking place at No5 Chambers, 103 Colmore Row. In order to reserve a space, please RSVP to secretary@mccba.co.uk.

16 October – The Future of ADR in the Midlands and Beyond

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 21:17:01 +0000

As part of the Birmingham Business and Property Courts Forum, MCCBA is pleased to present a panel discussion on the future of ADR in civil and commercial litigation. The panel features Lady Justice Aplin, HHJ Richard Williams, Chris Fitton and Louise Corfield.

St Philips Chambers, 55 Temple Row, Birmingham B2 5LS

Registration from 4.45, Panel at 5.00, drinks and networking at 6.00.

Please register via secretary@mccba.co.uk

MCCBA – 16 October Event Flyer

Recording of Mr Justice Foxton’s talk on ‘Courtroom Ringcraft’

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:44:16 +0000

Mr Justice Foxton’s talk on ‘Courtroom Ringcraft’ from the Birmingham BPC Forum event in September 2024.

Notes from Professor Graham Virgo’s recent talk

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:18:39 +0000

Professor Graham Virgo‘s notes for his talk on the duties of fiduciaries to account for profits following Rukhadze v Recovery Partners GP Ltd are now available.

Prof Graham Virgo: Disgorging Profits for Breach of Fiduciary Duty (Powerpoint)

Prof Graham Virgo: Disgorging Profits for Breach of Fiduciary Duty (PDF)

B-CLIPS Scheme

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:45:17 +0000

We will be updating the website shortly with a separate page on the Birmingham Chancery Litigants In Person Scheme, but for now please see here for details of the scheme and how to volunteer for it.

Birmingham BPC Women’s Network – A Message from our Chair

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 10:56:58 +0000

Dear all,

I’m delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Birmingham BPC Women’s Network’. We hope to organise a few social events a year for female BPC practitioners and the female judiciary who sit in the Birmingham BPC (full and part time).

Our first event will be for female MCCBA members and the female judiciary, held at No5 Chambers, 103 Colmore Row, Birmingham from 5pm on 6 November 2024.

HHJ Emma Kelly, who has supported me making this idea a reality, will say a few introductory words, and we will have drinks, refreshments and an opportunity to socialise and get to know each other better. We hope the events will promote a sense of inclusivity for women working in our practice area and we aim, over time, to boost retention rates for women.

I really hope that lots of you will support this first event. It would be great to get a really strong turn out.

Please rsvp (for the purposes of understanding catering needs) to me directly at chair@mccba.co.uk (please note the gender neutral change to the email address!!)

Best wishes,

Louise

Louise Corfield
MCCBA Chair

Applications for the MCCBA Black Mini Pupillage Scheme

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 10:44:51 +0000

Applications are now open for the MCCBA’s Black Mini Pupillage Scheme, which is aimed at increasing and promoting the diversity of barristers in our practice area in which Black barristers are underrepresented.

Details of the Scheme are available here and you can download an application form (MS Word) here.

Birmingham BPC Form Event 24 September 2024 – Mr Justice Foxton

Simon Bradshaw — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 03:56:05 +0000

The MCCBA and Birmingham Law Society, as part of the Birmingham Business and Property Courts Forum, are delighted to present the latest in our series of events. The former Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court, Mr Justice Foxton, will speak on “Ten Great Courtroom Dramas and What We Can Learn From Them”. This event will also be an opportunity to introduce Mr Justice Michael Green as the incoming Business and Property Courts Supervising Judge for the Midland, Western and Wales Circuits and Mr Justice Henshaw as the new Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court. Drinks will follow the presentation, to provide a networking forum for the whole dispute resolution community.

Please click here for event and booking details

Panel Recording – FDR Hearings in the Birmingham BPC

Simon Bradshaw — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 03:46:09 +0000

Our recent talk and discussion panel on Financial Dispute Resolution hearings in the Birmingham Business and Property Courts, featuring HHJ Williams.

Appointment of Lord Justice Zacaroli

Simon Bradshaw — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:19:16 +0000

The Committee and Members of the MCCBA are delighted by the announcement that Mr Justice Zacaroli, Supervising Judge for the Business and Property Courts on the Midlands, West and Wales Circuits, has been appointed to the Court of Appeal.

We are thrilled to see His Lordship’s well-deserved promotion and hugely grateful for everything he has done for those on Circuit whilst he has been our supervising judge. We wish him well in his new appointment.

Appointment of Lord Justices of Appeal: 12 June 2024

17th June – FDR Hearings in the Birmingham Business and Property Courts

Simon Bradshaw — Tue, 14 May 2024 11:44:41 +0000

On 17 June 2024 the MCCBA will be hosting a panel event alongside the Birmingham BPC Forum discussing FDR Hearings in the Birmingham Business and Property Courts. The panel will be hosted by HHJ Williams and include solicitors and barristers who will be discussing the practicalities of FDR hearings and how to get the most out of them.

The event will start at 5.30pm at No5 Chambers at 103 Colmore Row, with drinks and samosas. The panel discussion will start at 6.30pm. Both solicitors and barristers can attend this event, so it will also be a great opportunity to network with chancery and commercial practitioners from across the Midlands.

Please RSVP to secretary@mccba.co.uk if you would like to attend.

MCCBA Annual Dinner – 17th May 2024

Simon Bradshaw — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:56:53 +0000

The MCCBA Annual Dinner for 2024 will take place on 17th May 2024 at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham. Our guest speaker will be Mr Justice Zacaroli, the Business and Property Courts Supervising Judge for the Midland Circuit.

An invitation has been sent to all MCCBA members – if you have not received this, please contact secretary@mccba.co.uk

Practice Development Seminar – 1st May 2024, 6pm

Simon Bradshaw — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:40:00 +0000

6pm to 8pm at 3PB Birmingham, The Colmore Building, 20 Colmore Circus, B4 6AT

Open to MCCBA members and to pupil barristers interested in Chancery and Commercial law.

Want to boost your career development and improve your current trajectory?

Aimed at Business and Property barristers who are in their first 10 years of practice, this panel discussion will be hosted by Ali Tabari (St Phillips Chambers) with contributions from DDJ Simon Bradshaw and DDJ Rebecca Keeves (both of Cornwall St Chambers) and Louise Corfield (No5 Chambers). This discussion will observe The Chatham House Rule, to allow for honest questions and frank answers and will cover topics including:

How to promote yourself and build your profile inc social media
Professional and internal Networking
Getting into the directories and progressing within them
Building relationships with the judiciary
Part time judicial appointments
Having the right relationship with your clerks
Developing your CV within and outside of the bar

RSVP to secretary@mccba.co.uk

‘Misfeasance and Moratoriums’ with Mr Justice Zacaroli

Simon Bradshaw — Tue, 16 May 2023 07:58:02 +0000

Webinar – Committal Procedure and Practice: The New CPR Pt 81

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 03 May 2021 11:59:49 +0000

Tuesday 18th May, 6 pm to 7 pm – online Webinar via Zoom.

Part 81 of the Civil Procedure Rules was comprehensively overhauled in October 2020, simplifying and streamlining the procedure for committal for contempt. In this MCCBA online seminar Simon Bradshaw (Cornwall Street Barristers) will describe the new rules and review the key elements of committal applications, and His Honour Judge Rawlings will give a judicial perspective of committal hearings.

Please join by following this link and entering your details on the booking page together with any advance questions for the panellists. This event is open to non-members so do please forward the link to any colleagues who you think may be interested.

COVID-19: Notice to Birmingham Court Users (QBD and CC)

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 18 May 2020 22:10:57 +0000

His Honour Judge Worster, Acting Designated Civil Judge for Birmingham, has released updated guidance as to the operation of the Birmingham High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) and the County Court at Birmingham during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notice for Court Users – Birmingham QB and County Court (revised 18 May 2020) v3

Annual Dinner Cancellation

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:22:23 +0000

In light of the current risk posed by COVID-19, it has been decided, with regret, to cancel the annual dinner on 20 March 2020 (this Friday).

At present, the plan is to re-arrange the dinner for a date in the late Summer/early Autumn. The committee will be in touch with further details when they are decided.

MCCBA Annual Dinner, Friday 20th March 2020 – NOW CANCELLED

Simon Bradshaw — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 18:34:40 +0000

The MCCBA is delighted to announce that we are honoured to be hosting Lord Justice Newey as the guest speaker for our 2020 Annual Dinner, which will take place on Friday 20th March at Hotel du Vin, Birmingham.

~~Lord Justice Newey will be familiar to members through his role as our previous presider in the Business and Property Courts in Birmingham.~~

~~Please RSVP to the Secretary to confirm attendance and provide details of any dietary requirements.~~

UPDATE 16th MARCH: Regrettably, owing to the COVID-19 situation, this event has been cancelled. The MCCBA Committee plans to re-arrange the dinner for later in the year.

Mohammed Zaman QC – our new Chairman

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 08:08:34 +0000

The committee of the MCCBA is delighted to announce that Mohammed Zaman QC is to be the new Chairman of the Association in succession to Ed Pepperall QC, who as previously announced is appointed to the High Court.

Ed Pepperall QC appointed to the High Court

Simon Bradshaw — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 12:48:10 +0000

The Committee and members of the MCCBA are delighted to be able to congratulate our Chairman, Ed Pepperall QC, on his appointment as a High Court Judge.

Judicial Appointments Commission: Appointment as High Court Judge

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary: High Court Judge Appointments

Ed will be very much missed both by the Association and the Midlands Bar, but we all wish him the very best in his new appointment.

UK Stem Cell Foundation – donations in memory of HH Charles Purle QC

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:25:39 +0000

In memory of the late HH Charles Purle QC his daughter Sally has set up a page to collect donations to the UK Stem Cell Foundation.

www.justgiving.com/HHCharlesPurle

Guide to the Business and Property Courts – Update

Simon Bradshaw — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 15:25:17 +0000

The LexisNexis/MCCBA guide to the Business and Property Courts in Birmingham has been updated to note the revised name of the Property, Trusts and Probate List.

Business and Property Courts in Birmingham (PDF, 3MB)

Business and Property Courts in Birmingham – Launch Reception

Simon Bradshaw — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 20:51:00 +0000

Following the official opening today of the Business and Property Courts in Birmingham by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, this evening saw Birmingham Civil Justice Centre host senior members of the judiciary, local dignitaries and judges, and members of the legal profession to a reception to mark this new era for the Birmingham courts. Guests heard from Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Mr Justice Coulson, Mr Justice Newey and Sir Brian Leveson, all of whom have been deeply involved in setting up the new Business and Property Courts and establishing them in Birmingham. A small selection of the many who attended are pictured below.

MCCBA Chairman named Barrister of the Year

Simon Bradshaw — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 10:02:30 +0000

MCCBA Chairman, Ed Pepperall QC, was last night named Barrister of the Year at the Birmingham Law Society’s annual awards event.

MCCBA welcomes Judge McCahill QC back home

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 10:15:38 +0000

The MCCBA tonight threw a drinks reception to welcome His Honour Judge Patrick McCahill QC back to Birmingham upon his appointment as the city’s fourth Chancery judge. Judge McCahill practised for many years as a Chancery and commercial barrister from St Philips Chambers and its predecessor set, Priory Chambers (previously 2 Fountain Court). He was also a founder member of the Association. Called in 1975, McCahill took silk in 1996. He was appointed a circuit judge in 2001 and appointed as the Bristol Chancery judge in 2007.

MCCBA Chairman, Ed Pepperall QC, said “The Association is delighted to welcome Judge Patrick McCahill QC back to Birmingham. He was a very successful Chancery & Commercial barrister in the city before his appointment as Chancery judge in Bristol. He returns to us after 10 years’ exile with an excellent reputation as a popular and respected judge. Birmingham can now boast an exceptionally strong Chancery bench as Patrick joins Judges Charles Purle QC, Simon Barker QC and David Cooke.”

MCCBA member James Morgan appointed Silk

Simon Bradshaw — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 12:58:15 +0000

The MCCBA congratulates James Morgan on being appointed as Queen’s Counsel.

More details of James and his appointment are available here.

(photo: St Philips Stone)