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Paul Shenton

Paul Shenton provides specialist advocacy and commercial advice to solicitor firms and their clients. He is ideally suited to do so, having spent many years in one of the world’s largest law firms and then leading a specialist practice focusing on legal costs and funding options.

With the client at the heart of his approach, Paul is committed to finding the right client solution, however long it takes. 

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Paul adopts a direct and straightforward approach to his work: in writing, by telephone and at court. He is unafraid to be robust and forthright where necessary but is equally cognisant of the more empathetic approach often required with lay clients. Direct Access qualified, he understands the importance of clarity and brevity and seeks, wherever possible, to turn complex issues into readily and easily understood advice.

With an established track record of seeking practical compromise where possible, Paul is unafraid to robustly defend a client’s position in court, being the client’s advocate.

Paul spent 13 years at Eversheds LLP, eight years of which as a Partner. After initially specialising in claimant professional negligence claims against solicitors and surveyors, establishing the UK’s largest specialist team, he founded Eversheds’ first national team specialising in legal costs and funding, which he led and ran.

Then in 2005, he created his own solicitor’s firm that specialised in legal costs. At its peak, this firm had over 100 staff and hundreds of solicitor firm clients. He dealt with cases up to and including in the Court of Appeal. Paul was the lead advocate in many cases. He has lectured on third-party funding for over 15 years.

Paul has conducted over 200 hearings at the Senior Court Costs Office (SCCO) and County Courts throughout England and Wales. These have dealt with multi-million-pound costs disputes to important points of legal principle and practice. 

Conducting many cases in the County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, Paul has dealt with test cases and high-value litigation.

Paul's Experience

Called in 1989

Public Access Accredited

Barristers in England and Wales are regulated by the Bar Standards Board

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Costs

Costs Management

Providing strategic advice and advocacy at case management hearings as required, Paul can deal with both the directions and the connected costs-related issues. This, in financial terms, can often be the most important hearing in the case.

Third-Party Funding

Working with numerous law firms and funders, Paul has acted in this rapidly developing area of costs and funding for over 15 years. With the developing field of DBAs and a risk-sharing approach to litigation, this is an important field to both win and finance litigation cases.

HDR & CWI

Paul deals with cases for both landlords and tenants to provide cost-effective solutions in housing disrepair matters. He also has a detailed understanding of the complexities involved in the field of CWI cases and a life-long interest in property-related matters, as his father was an architect.

Professional Negligence

Paul deals particularly with claims against surveyors and solicitors. He was involved in many of the leading cases that led to the Supreme Court’s decision in SAAMCO and the Court of Appeal in BBL v Eagle Star.

Publications
  • Belsner v Cam Legal Services – The Case Of The Year Already?

Privacy Policy

1. This is a privacy notice that describes how, why and for how long I will process or keep your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’).
2. The GDPR governs how an individual’s personal data is used, and your rights in relation to that data.
3.  I, Paul Shenton, have been instructed by you or your litigation friend (usually a parent), through your solicitor or agent, or via the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
4.  It is necessary for me to process your personal data in order for me to provide you with legal services, for example:

  • Advise on the prospects of litigation;
  • Advise on the value of your claim;
  • Representation at a court hearing;
  • Representation at trial;
  • Advise, review or comment on legal issues or evidence.

5. Processing means anything done to data such as: recording, organising, adapting, altering, copying, consulting, transmitting, combining, erasing or storing it.

6.The processing for the purposes listed above will take place in accordance with either Article 6(1)(a) GDPR or Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, depending on how you instructed me.

7. If you have instructed me on a direct access basis, or engaged a solicitor (or legal agent), to assist you in bringing or defending a claim then the processing is necessary to perform a contract to which you are a party (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR). To give effect to that contract (i.e. to bring a claim) it is necessary for me to process your personal data for litigation purposes.

8. If I am assisting you on a pro bono basis, it will be necessary for me to seek your consent to be able to represent you (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). In this scenario, you will be sent a consent form.

Recipients of your data

9.  I may also be required to share your data with others, depending on the nature of your case. This may include:

(i)  Courts and other tribunals to whom documents are presented;

(ii) Your solicitors, or agent representing you, through whom I have been instructed;

(iii) Potential witnesses, experts and other persons involved in the case;

(iv) Solicitors, barristers, or other legal representatives;

(v) Ombudsman and regulatory authorities;

(vi) Education and examining bodies; and

(vii) Current, past or prospective employers.

Special Categories of Data

10.  In some cases I will have been given your personal data that is within the ‘special categories’ of data described in GDPR Article 9(1). For example, personal data that reveals your race, ethnicity, sexual preferences, political or religious beliefs, trade union membership or health. There are also restrictions for processing information regarding criminal convictions.

11. This type of personal data will only be processed where it is necessary in order to represent you in your legal claim, or advise on the prospects of a legal claim.

Retention

12. I will retain your personal data for no longer than is necessary, and where it is possible, I will anonymise your data.

13. How long your personal data is kept will depend on a number of factors. The retention period will be reviewed when the service I am providing you with is complete. However in general, I am obliged by the Bar Code of Conduct to retain records of my cases, and by HM Revenue and Customs to retain records for 6 years.

14. Once your case has concluded and fees have been paid, I shall retain only the personal data necessary for the following purposes:

(i) The legal and professional obligation to retain information relating to my cases;

(ii) To check for any potential conflict of interests that may arise in the future when I am instructed on other cases;

(iii) For use in the defence of potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes;

(iv) To refer back to in future cases which raise similar legal, factual, or procedural issues.

15. The processing for the purposes listed in paragraph 14 (ii), (iii), and (iv) above, will take place in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. That is, for the purposes of legitimate interests that are not outweighed by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms.

16. The processing for the purposes listed in paragraph 14(i) above, will take place in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) GDPR. That is, the processing is necessary for me to comply with a legal obligation. 

Your Rights

17. Where processing of your personal data was based on your consent (see paragraphs 6 and 8) you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This does not affect the lawfulness of the processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

18. Withdrawal of your consent to process such data will most likely mean that I am no longer able to provide you with the legal services you seek.

19. You may request confirmation that your personal data is being processed by me and details about the personal data, the source, the processing, the purposes of the processing, the recipients and the retention period.

20. You may request a copy of your personal data that is being processed by me. You may also request rectification (i.e. correction) where there are inaccuracies in the personal data.

21. You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time, to processing of your personal data in paragraph 14 of this privacy notice. Should you object, the processing will only continue where there are compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your fundamental rights, freedoms and interests. 

22. Where the processing or retention of your data is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, it will not be possible to object. 

23. You have the right to request that your personal data is erased where any of the following apply:

(i) The personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed;

(ii) You withdraw your consent where the basis of processing was based on consent and where there is no other ground for the processing;

(iii) Where your fundamental rights, freedoms and interests override the legitimate interests of processing in paragraph 14;

(iv) The personal data has been unlawfully processed; or

(v) The personal data have to be erased to comply with a legal obligation.

24. You have the right to request that your personal data is restricted from processing, so that it is simply stored, for the following reasons: as an alternative to deletion; so that it can be corrected; for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims; to verify if a legitimate ground exists (paragraph 14).

25. Where it is necessary to correct your personal data, or you have requested the restriction or erasure of your personal data, I shall endeavour to contact the recipients of the personal data, unless this involves disproportionate effort. 

Security

26. I take appropriate physical and technical procedures to safeguard your personal data to prevent it from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way. 

Complaints or Queries

27. If you have any questions regarding this privacy notice, or how I use your personal data please email me: mailto: paul.shenton@thebarristergroup.co.uk, or my clerks: clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk telephone 01823 247 247.

28. I shall aim to respond as soon as possible, and within 30 days.

29. You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe I have not handled your request in an appropriate manner. For information on contacting the ICO please go to: https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/

Latest articles from Paul

Belsner v Cam Legal Services

The result of a new hearing of Belsner v Cam Legal Services on 11 July 2022, which centres on the issue of informed consent to deductions, has implications for thousands of cases ...
Paul Shenton
Paul Shenton

What will the introduction of the new Fixed Costs Regime mean for solicitors and clients?

The starting point is of course always the Rules themselves – these are set out in terms of inter-partiesrecovery in the new CPR Part 45 and the associated Practice Direction – ...
Paul Shenton
Paul Shenton

 

 

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