Latest news with #BrowneJacobson
Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Daily Record
Rock climber facing double leg amputation sues partner who 'let go of rope'
David Littlejohn is reportedly suing Shane Williams for £1million compensation after the accident. A climber who may be forced to have both legs amputated and broke his neck, has blamed his partner for allegedly letting go of the rope. David Littlejohn, 55, is reportedly suing Shane Williams for £1million compensation following the accident at Avon Gorge, Bristol, in May, 2023. He broke his sternum, pelvis and feet after falling down a 56 feet rock face. They were taking part in a climb known as the Arms Race when he put his weight on the rope under the impression that Mr Williams had a firm grip on it, reports the Mirror. And he claims that his climbing partner let go of the rope without telling him, with the result that he went crashing down the rock face. Two years on from the accident and Mr Littlejohn still has constant back pain, his orthopaedic surgeon reportedly told a court, and he may need to have both legs amputated if reconstructive surgery on his feet does not work out. Mr Littlejohn also claims that he suffers from anxiety and depression as well as panic attacks since his fall. Documents presented to the High Court allege that he is only able to walk using a four-wheel aid. He is also said that he trusted Mr Williams as capable as he was a member of The Climbers Club, where members must be proposed and then seconded before they can join. In the court documents he alleges that Mr Williams failed to have 'due regard for his personal safety' and act in accordance with his experience as a competent amateur climber. Mr Littlejohn, of Lymsham, near Weston-super-Mare, told The Telegraph: 'I hope this will be resolved quickly given the serious impact of my severe injuries on me, my family and my work life.' Stephanie Clarke of Stewarts Law, Mr Littlejohn's solicitor, states in the claim: 'The Defendant had let go of the rope or otherwise taken the Claimant off belay where it had not been clearly and unequivocally communicated by the Claimant as leader that this was required.' Mr Williams's legal team at Browne Jacobson solicitors have yet to file a defence against the claim with the court. Browne Jacobson has been contacted for a statement. It comes after a rock climber who plunged around 400ft down a mountain somehow hiked to his car in the dark and then drove to a pay phone to call for help. Anton Tselykh, 38, survived the ordeal against all odds as, despite suffering internal bleeding and head trauma, he staggered for more than 12 hours to the pay phone. He was desperate to call for help for his three companions; Vishnu Irigireddy, Tim Nguyen and Oleksander Martynenko, who also fell down the steep terrain in North Cascades National Park in Washington, United States. The three friends sadly died of their injuries. Anton managed to extricate himself from a tangle of ropes, helmets and other equipment to leave on his rescue mission on Saturday. He is now in hospital receiving treatment for various injuries, including the head wound. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Climber who fell 56ft and may lose legs is suing partner who 'let go of rope'
David Littlejohn, 55, suffered horrific injuries after falling down a 56 feet ravine at Avon Gorge, Bristol, and he is now suing his climbing partner Shane Williams for £1million in compensation A climber who broke his neck and may be forced to have both legs amputated blames his partner for allegedly letting go of the rope. David Littlejohn, 55, is reportedly suing Shane Williams for £1million compensation following the accident at Avon Gorge, Bristol, in May, 2023. He broke his sternum, pelvis and feet after falling down a 56 feet rock face. They were taking part in a climb known as the Arms Race when he put his weight on the rope under the impression that Mr Williams had a firm grip on it. And he claims that his climbing partner let go of the rope without telling him, with the result that he went crashing down the rock face. Two years on from the accident and Mr Littlejohn still has constant back pain, his orthopaedic surgeon reportedly told a court, and he may need to have both legs amputated if reconstructive surgery on his feet does not work out. Mr Littlejohn also claims that he suffers from anxiety and depression as well as panic attacks since his fall. Documents presented to the High Court allege that he is only able to walk using a four-wheel aid. He is also said that he trusted Mr Williams as capable as he was a member of The Climbers Club, where members must be proposed and then seconded before they can join. In the court documents he alleges that Mr Williams failed to have 'due regard for his personal safety' and act in accordance with his experience as a competent amateur climber. Mr Littlejohn, of Lymsham, near Weston-super-Mare, told The Telegraph: 'I hope this will be resolved quickly given the serious impact of my severe injuries on me, my family and my work life.' Stephanie Clarke of Stewarts Law, Mr Littlejohn's solicitor, states in the claim: 'The Defendant had let go of the rope or otherwise taken the Claimant off belay where it had not been clearly and unequivocally communicated by the Claimant as leader that this was required.' Mr Williams's legal team at Browne Jacobson solicitors have yet to file a defence against the claim with the court. The Mirror has contacted Browne Jacobson for a statement. It comes after a rock climber who plunged around 400ft down a mountain somehow hiked to his car in the dark and then drove to a pay phone to call for help. Anton Tselykh, 38, survived the ordeal against all odds as, despite suffering internal bleeding and head trauma, he staggered for more than 12 hours to the pay phone. He was desperate to call for help for his three companions; Vishnu Irigireddy, Tim Nguyen and Oleksander Martynenko, who also fell down the steep terrain in North Cascades National Park in Washington, United States. The three friends sadly died of their injuries. Anton managed to extricate himself from a tangle of ropes, helmets and other equipment to leave on his rescue mission on Saturday. He is now in hospital receiving treatment for various injuries, including the head wound.
Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Times
City firms keep it in the family with in-house barrister training
Employed barristers working outside chambers form a fifth of the practising profession — and City law firms are increasingly training them in-house. The Government Legal Department and the Crown Prosecution Service are the largest providers of in-house pupillage, the 12-month training that must be completed to practise as a barrister. But over the past few years regulators, banks and just short of 40 law firms, ranging from high street practices including AHS Law and GT Stewart to larger ones such as Candey, DWF and Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen, have started to recruit pupils. Some even have in-house advocacy units that mirror the chambers model. Browne Jacobson was one of the first law firms to train pupils; since 2010 its advocacy team has grown to
Business News Wales
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Browne Jacobson Appoints First In-house Pupil Barrister in Wales
Browne Jacobson is taking a lead to supporting young legal talent in Wales by appointing what is believed to be the nation's first in-house pupil barrister within private practice. David Drew has enrolled on a two-year pupillage at the UK and Ireland law firm's Cardiff office. A pupillage is the work-based learning component of Bar training, which then qualifies individuals to practise as a barrister. Working under the supervision of experienced barristers, a pupillage is usually completed in chambers but Browne Jacobson is one of the few law firms to offer this within its in-house barrister team. It was the first of its kind to be recognised as an approved pupillage training provider by the Bar Standards Board in 2010. Samantha Paxman, Barrister and Partner who oversees the barrister team in Cardiff and was one of the firm's first pupil barristers, said: 'Browne Jacobson has a proven track record of producing and retaining excellent barristers, who work hand in glove with our solicitor colleagues during proceedings to provide clients with a truly full service. 'We are particularly proud of our reputation as a successful pupillage training provider in England and we're excited to now be rolling this out in Wales, where our presence continues to grow rapidly. 'As a trailblazer in improving social mobility in the legal profession – demonstrated by our firm's joint-top ranking in the Social Mobility Foundation's prestigious Social Mobility Employer Index for 2024 – this is another example of how we are widening the routes into a career in law, while lowering entry barriers by offering the extra financial security that comes with being an employed barrister as opposed to the more traditional self-employed path.' The pupillage programme is designed to equip aspiring barristers with the skills and knowledge required for a successful career at the Bar. During the 24-month programme, individuals will receive guidance from a dedicated pupil supervisor and shadow them in court proceedings, which include the High Court, Upper Tier Tribunal and County Courts, before conducting their own hearings in the practising period of pupillage. Prior to joining Browne Jacobson, David worked in IT while undertaking his law degree with the Open University, before completing his bar training course at Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics. Following a successful application for pupillage in 2024, David was hired by the firm as an Assistant Advocate in August last year, before starting his pupillage on 31 March 2025. David said: 'I wanted to join Browne Jacobson's barristers' team as not only would I be joining a nationally-renowned law firm but I would benefit from seeing the high-quality cases the team conducts. The fact that I get to shadow such a wide variety of barristers across a breadth of areas of law is fantastic and I'm enthusiastic about what I will learn during my pupillage. 'As someone with a young family, a career at the employed Bar with this firm gives me the security my family and I need while allowing me to pursue an interesting, exciting and varied role.' Browne Jacobson's in-house barrister team, which comprises 14 employed barristers (including nine trained pupil supervisors) and two pupil barristers, is renowned for its specialism in conducting high-profile and lengthy inquests for health organisations, public bodies and education providers, often before juries. The team is instructed to prosecute on behalf of national regulators, such as the Teaching Regulation Agency, and specialises in education matters before the First and Upper-Tier SEND Tribunals. Additionally, it receives instructions in Court of Protection, employment and civil litigation, including trials and injunctions. Applications for Browne Jacobson's mini-pupillage scheme, which offers people the opportunity to shadow the barrister team for a week, are now open until 31 May. For more information, click here. For more information about the pupillage programme and virtual work experience scheme for aspiring barristers, click here.
