Call: 1992
"Jonathan is so smart; the level of analysis he does is unparalleled. He can look at the facts, bring it all together and make an argument in a heartbeat."
Chambers UK 2026
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.
Jonathan Gavaghan has a specialist chancery and commercial practice with particular experience in partnership / LLP disputes as well as commercial disputes and property law. Company law (including breach of fiduciary duty claims and shareholder disputes) is a further area in which he specialises.
Chambers & Partners reported that he “is a superb advocate with phenomenal client-handling capabilities … incredibly thorough, highly approachable and very practicable.”
Jonathan is the chair of the Association of Partnership Practitioners. He is the first barrister in independent practice to hold that post.
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 and sits as a Recorder in the Crown and County Courts.
Jonathan is chair of the Association of Partnership Practitioners. He is recognised in the Legal Directories as being one of the leading junior counsel in the partnership / LLP field: both major directories placing him in Band 1. Chambers & Partners reports that “Jonathan Gavaghan attracts special praise for his blend of deep knowledge, his client-friendliness and his particularly high degree of accessibility. He is noted for his handling of issues affecting individual solicitors or their firms, and acts on matters concerning both traditional and medical partnerships. Gavaghan further offers extensive experience as an arbitrator or arbitration counsel in partnership disputes.” Legal 500 says “He is brilliant. Jonathan is creative, strategic, knowledgeable and hard working. He is also a charming yet effective advocate; a winning combination.”
He has dealt with numerous partnership and LLP disputes and is regularly instructed by managing partners of firms as well as individual partners. He has acted in disputes for solicitors, accountants, private equity investors, farmers, doctors, dentists, veterinary surgeons and stone masons to name a few.
He has extensive experience in dealing with partner exits and team moves both in an advisory capacity and dealing with litigation and injunctions: including issues of enforceability of post-termination restrictions and breach of fiduciary duty.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and accepts appointments as an arbitrator.
Much of his work is highly confidential given its nature but recent highlights include:
Jonathan is recommended in both Chambers & Partners UK and the Legal 500 as a leading junior in commercial work.
He has extensive experience in appearing in contractual disputes including those with an international dimension, shareholder disputes and actions for and against directors of companies. He has also appeared as an advocate in many civil fraud cases obtaining or opposing urgent interlocutory relief including freezing injunctions and related relief.
He has substantial experience of arbitration having appeared in lengthy proceedings before the LCIA and other arbitral tribunals and connected High Court proceedings.
The Directories refer to his commercial chancery work as follows:
“Jonathan is excellent. He is incredibly thorough, has really good client care skills and is very practical in his approach… a highly creative thinker, who is very technical and enormously experienced… very clever and intellectual. He’s a very smooth advocate and a shrewd strategist who thinks outside the box.” (Chambers & Partners – Chancery: Commercial).
“Jonathan is extremely knowledge and deploys that knowledge in a strategic and commercial manner. His ability to take complex issues and to discern an effective solution to achieve the ultimate client’s outcome is a significant strength. He is also a persuasive and effective advocate. (Legal 500 – Commercial Litigation)
Jonathan came top of his year in Land Law at Oxford and specialises in all areas of property law, in particular landlord and tenant, land registration and real property.
He advises property developers, landlords and tenants. He appears before the Courts, property tribunals and in arbitrations.
“A junior with a charming and persuasive advocacy style” (Legal 500 – Property Litigation)
He has particular experience of valuation issues. He has been instructed in over fifty cases in the High Court for successful appellants relating to the setting of fair rents and as a result appeared in the majority of leading appellate cases on the calculation of such rents.
Jonathan has great arbitration experience and acts either as an advocate or as an arbitrator. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
He is used to appearing in complicated multi-party arbitrations as well as applying for interim applications under section 44 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and appearing on appeals and challenges to arbitrators’ awards.
The Directories have reported the following about Jonathan:
“Offers especially extensive experience as an arbitrator of, or arbitration counsel in, partnership disputes” Chambers & Partners; “Highly skilled in arbitration matters”: Who’s Who Legal: UK Bar
His recent work as counsel or arbitrator includes:
Jonathan has experience in acting for executors, trustees and beneficiaries in contentious probate disputes as well as connected disputes with a property or commercial element.
Chambers has been highly ranked again in the Chambers and Partners 2026 UK Bar directory….
‘A fantastic chambers, full of the brainiest barristers.’ Chambers is pleased to announce its latest…
Jonathan Gavaghan has been elected as the Chair of the Association of Partnership Practitioners and…
