Areas of work

Jonathan specialises in civil and commercial litigation and dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, as well as advisory work. His work includes a significant cross-border element.  His clients include companies and businesses within and outside the UK, foreign governments, overseas lawyers and private individuals.

He has over 26 years experience of handling and resolving a wide range of civil and commercial disputes in areas including commercial contracts, sale of goods, international trade, fraud and asset tracing, banking, finance and investment, professional negligence, shareholder and other corporate issues, partnerships, insurance and re-insurance, IT, internet, e-commerce, media and publishing, art, copyright and moral rights, libel, trusts and probate, human rights legislation, food and drink, aviation and sport. Jonathan finds the breadth of his experience to be an asset in analysing legal problems and providing solutions. 

Jonathan’s international experience includes major arbitrations under ICC, LCIA and other rules, advising on jurisdiction, enforcement of judgments, governing law and other conflict of laws issues and obtaining evidence for foreign litigation. He has acted and appeared as an expert in overseas arbitration and litigation, as well as for the European Commission.  He has advised on aspects of the law and jurisdiction of England and Wales in relation to matters connected with countries including Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and other European states, the USA, Barbados and other Caribbean states, Brazil, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Australia.

Education & Career

Having obtained a law degree at Cambridge University, Jonathan trained as a solicitor at Allen & Overy, qualifying in 1983. After 5 years as a solicitor with Allen & Overy, he joined what is now Taylor Wessing, where he became a partner. In 2003 he joined Hextalls as a partner and in 2008 moved his practice to Goodman Derrick LLP as a full time consultant.

Jonathan has qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and is available for appointment as an arbitrator.

Publications

He has written many articles for legal publications, including an article on Arbitration and the Human Rights Act 1998, published in the Journal of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, which is mentioned as recommended reading in Russell on Arbitration. He contributed a chapter on “Legal Aspects of Cross-Border E-Commerce” to a Practitioner’s Manual on E-Commerce (City & Financial Publishing: 2001).

Foreign Languages

French (good understanding; reasonable fluency).

Interests

He enjoys spending time with family and friends.  A keen sportsman at school and university (rowing, rugby, cross-country running, squash), he now supports rowing from the bank and relishes the renewed success of the Welsh rugby team.  He regularly resolves to play the guitar better.