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Jonathan Gavaghan

"Jonathan Gavaghan is a phenomenally good barrister. He is very clever (almost scarily clever), and very practical as well. He is extremely sharp-witted and has a lovely manner with clients."
(Chambers UK 2024)

Jonathan Gavaghan has a specialist chancery and commercial practice with particular experience in partnership / LLP disputes, commercial disputes and property law. Company law (including breach of fiduciary duty claims and shareholder disputes) is a further area in which he specialises.

He was called to the Bar in 1992.

He studied law at Oxford University where he obtained a first-class degree. Top of his year in Land Law, he subsequently obtained a BCL and returned to Worcester College, Oxford as a visiting tutor in constitutional law.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

He was appointed as a Recorder in 2018.

Jonathan Gavaghan has a specialist chancery and commercial practice with particular experience in partnership / LLP disputes, commercial disputes and property law. Company law (including breach of fiduciary duty claims and shareholder disputes) is a further area in which he specialises.

He was called to the Bar in 1992.

He studied law at Oxford University where he obtained a first-class degree. Top of his year in Land Law, he subsequently obtained a BCL and returned to Worcester College, Oxford as a visiting tutor in constitutional law.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

He was appointed as a Recorder in 2018.

Recommendations


“Jonathan is an outstanding advocate. Detailed and precise in his written advice, he explains complicated legal issues in a straightforward and practical way. He is always well prepared and is a thoughtful and robust advocate.”

“He has an excellent understanding of partnership law and is great with clients.”

“Very technically knowledgeable, but also very commercial. He looks for solutions and doesn’t get bogged down in the detail.”

Chambers UK 2024

‘Jonathan has excellent legal knowledge on partnership matters, acute tactical and strategic advice combined with a persuasive, clear and commanding advocacy style.’

‘Jonathan is a brilliant, technically-gifted barrister. His advocacy is persuasive, with a fantastic grasp of legal authorities and a compelling style. He shows good judgement and is great with clients.’

Legal 500 2024

“Jonathan is an excellent counsel, who is knowledgeable, strategically astute, great with clients and highly responsive.”

“He’s devastatingly intelligent and enormously practical. Clients love him and you can’t apply a finer legal mind to a case than his – he is absolutely great.”

“Jonathan is very good on his feet.”

“Clients are always very impressed with Jonathan.”

“He is extremely knowledgeable, strategic and practical.”

“A real pleasure to work with.”

Chambers UK 2023

“Academically very strong, very personable and very easy to listen to. He thinks practically and he’s certainly very clever.”
“Extremely clever, absolutely charming and an excellent advocate with a core of steel.” “He’s very measured, highly intellectual and extremely good with clients.” “Jonathan is incredibly clever, quick-thinking and very personable.”

Chambers UK 2022

‘ Jonathan has a good understanding of the relevant law and is quick to get to grips with the facts of complex cases. a very skillful advocate at both cross examination and submissions. Jonathan is very good at working as part of a team with the instructing solicitor and the lay client and experts. ’

‘ Very personable, great with clients and an extremely persuasive advocate. His skeleton arguments are always very well written. ’ 

‘ Very approachable and collaborative and calm in a storm. ’ 

Legal 500 2022

“Has an excellent knowledge of partnership and LLP law.”

“He instils confidence with his calm and authoritative manner and his strong courtroom presence.”

“Jonathan is formidably intelligent” and “has a lovely manner with clients.”

“He works well as part of a team and is very good with clients. He’s thorough in both his preparation and his presentation in court.”

Chambers UK 2021

Very strategic and tactical, extremely well prepared and thorough in everything, astute with judges and witnesses, and a great Court room presence.

He is charming and has the ability to put clients at ease.

He is wonderful with clients and they are always impressed with his astonishing intellect and knowledge.

Legal 500 2020

“He’s a very clever man much liked by clients, who is excellent on his feet.”

“He is bullish in pursuit of his clients’ interests.”

“He is extremely personable, easy to work with, technically excellent and a very good advocate.”

Chambers UK 2020

“A superb and persuasive advocate as well as an excellent cross-examiner, where he manages to be both aggressive and charming at the same time”

“Highly recommended for property litigation matters”

“Well respected for his commercial Chancery expertise”

Legal 500 2020

“An experienced junior with deep knowledge of acting in partnership proceedings and company law disputes.”

WWL UK Bar 2019

“Truly sophisticated, Jon possesses a keen intellect, ready knowledge of the practice area and a reassuring manner that is the envy of his peers.”

Chambers UK 2019 - Partnership

“Very clever, engaging and hardworking.”

Legal 500 2018 - Commercial Litigation

“An exceptionally intellectual barrister.”

Legal 500 2018

“Extremely imaginative and forthright in his strategic thinking.”

Legal 500 2018

“He puts the client at ease through his knowledge and strategy.”

Legal 500 2018

“Standout”

“Receives praise for his skills in dispute resolution”

“Is recognised for his superb work handling partnership exits, team moves and breach of fiduciary duty”

Who's Who Legal UK Bar 2018

“Attracts special praise for his blend of deep knowledge, client-friendliness and particularly high degree of accessibility”

“Incredibly thorough, forceful when required and very good in court, he always operates with a view to getting the result you want.”

“Very bright, utterly charming and a very popular choice with lay clients.”

Chambers UK 2018 - Partnership (Band 1)

“Attracts special praise for his blend of deep knowledge, client-friendliness and particularly high degree of accessibility. He is noted for his handling of issues affecting individual solicitors or their firms, and offers extensive experience as arbitration counsel in partnership disputes.”

“As bright as you could wish: authoritative, thorough and reliable.”

“Very practical, down to earth and knows his stuff.”

Chambers UK 2017

“Clients love him – he hits the button, gives them value for money, and they have faith in his analysis.”

Chambers UK 2017

“A clever and approachable barrister, who achieves the balance between being assertive and sensible in court.”

Legal 500 2016

“He is technically excellent, very knowledgeable and builds a good rapport with clients.”

Legal 500 2016

“An extremely intelligent barrister, who is highly effective in court and effective in his cross-examination.”

Legal 500 2016

“Sharp, charming and absolutely devastating in cross-examination.”

“Very, very good and really knows his area.”

Chambers UK 2016

“He is able to produce work of the highest standard in a fast turnaround time. Extremely good at getting to the heart of a case, he provides guidance on the bigger picture, and keeps the client constantly aware of the costs implications of decisions. He’s also excellent at drafting ‘high-impact’ letters.”

Chambers UK 2015

“An extremely strong advocate; able to cross-examine to devastating effect.”

Legal 500 2015

“He is quick, slick and has a tremendous ability to grasp the real issues.”

Chambers UK 2014

“He has a fantastic brain and never misses a trick. He is utterly charming and makes clients who are ill at ease feel comfortable. The complete package.”

Chambers UK 2014

Qualifications


  • MA (First Class): Worcester College, Oxford University.
  • BCL: Worcester College, Oxford University.
  • FCIArb
  • Martin Wronker Prize Winner for best University Performance in Land Law, Oxford University (1990)
  • Henriques Prize-winner, Worcester College, Oxford University (1990)
  • Holder of Inns of Court Studentship
  • Eastham Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn
  • Hardwicke Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn

Appointments


  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
  • Recorder (Crown Court), Northern Circuit (April 2018)
  • Former Elected Member of Bar Council (2 terms).
  • Former Chairman of the Young Barristers’ Committee.
  • Former Member of Professional Standards Committee of the Bar Council.

Associations & Memberships


  • Committee Member of the Association of Partnership Practitioners
  • Member of the Chancery Bar Association
  • Member of the Property Bar Association

For more information and advice

Call: +44 (0)20 7405 0758

Email: clerks@tenoldsquare.com

Pricing Policy

Unless otherwise agreed my Clerk will calculate my fees based on my current hourly rate. My rates are reviewed annually and details can be obtained from my Clerk. Once a rate is set for any particular case the hourly rate will only ever be adjusted with express agreement between my Clerks and those instructing me. All fees are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate where applicable.

Jonathan Gavaghan is a self-employed, independent barrister whose practice is governed by the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales. He is regulated by The Bar Standards Board [Bar Ref 29030] and is fully insured with the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund [BMIF Ref 2360/025] to provide legal services, please refer to the BMIF website for full details of the world-wide cover provided. He is registered for VAT under the reference 648945679.

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