PHILLIPS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Partner Andrew Completed His Legal Studies in June 2007, Was Called to the Bar of England and Wales in July 2007. He Joined Phillips in the Summer [.]

Andrew M.J. Cardona Partner Andrew completed his Legal Studies in June 2007, was called to the Bar of England and Wales in July 2007. He joined Phillips in the summer [... Andrew completed his Legal Studies in June 2007 and was called to the Bar of England and Wales on 26th July 2007. He joined Phillips in the summer of 2007 and was called to the Bar of Gibraltar on 29th February 2008. Andrew became a partner of Phillips in 2016. Andrew specialises in civil litigation, particularly in the fields of personal injury and clinical negligence in which he has acted for clients in cases involving catastrophic injuries. He is widely regarded as one of Gibraltar's top barristers in these areas. Andrew is also highly knowledgeable and experienced in Employment Law having acted for both employers and employees in the Employment Tribunal, Supreme Court and the Gibraltar Court of Appeal. He also formed part of the Sub-Committee of the Bar Council to advise the Government of Gibraltar on reforms relating to the Employment Tribunal. Andrew's practice includes commercial litigation, civil fraud and professional negligence claims involving the mis-selling of financial products by banking and financial institutions. He also has considerable experience in insolvency, having acted for the Bankruptcy Trustees in Gibraltar's largest personal insolvency case, including a successful appeal to the Gibraltar Court of Appeal

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• Partner

Anne Balestrino Partner Anne was called to the Bar of England and Wales in March 2000 and began her practice in Gibraltar after being called to the Bar

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• Abogada

Anne- Francoise has been called to the bar in France as an Avocat, in Spain as an Abogado and is a Registered European Lawyer in Gibraltar. Following the completion of two Master's degrees in English Literature and Comparative Law, Anne-Francoise completed her Diplome d'Etudes Approfondies in European Law at the Centre de Recherches Européenes in Rennes, part of the prestigious French National Network of Research Centres. This 5 year degree includes research and is the French equivalent of a PHD. Anne-Francoise assists our clients in Gibraltar in a wide variety of matters in relation to real estate, property purchases and sales, planning issues, and personal residency and tax issues which may affect clients residing or doing business in different European Union member states. Anne-Francoise's educational and professional background allows her to simplify the many processes that might otherwise be complex or confusing for private and professional clients lacking a firm grasp of the various legal systems in which she has experience or a command of the relevant native language. Anne-Francois has acted for our clients in various matters in Spain, France and Germany, with the assistance of local lawyers or notaries in appropriate cases. In Southern Spain Anne-Francoise enjoys a good relationship with many of the Courts, local authorities and other legal offices, which enables her to simplify and expedite such processes as purchasing and selling property, changing residency, opening bank accounts, obtaining Divorces and preparing Wills and Powers of Attorney for use in Spain. Qualifications and Memberships:

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• Associate

Callum Smith Associate Callum graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2019 with a Degree in Law. He graduated with distinction from the LPC at BPP University Birmingham [...] Callum graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2019 with a Degree in Law. He then undertook the Legal Practice Course at BPP University Birmingham, graduating in June 2020 with Distinction. Upon his return to Gibraltar, Callum joined Phillips in November 2020. He completed the Professional Certificate of Competence in Gibraltar Law as well as the Professional Skills Course at the University of Gibraltar whilst he completed his period of recognised training. Callum's main practice area is in civil litigation with a particular focus on clinical negligence and personal injury. He has appeared regularly before the Supreme Court of Gibraltar acting for claimants in a wide range of matters including catastrophic injuries. Callum also has a special interest in Employment Law, having appeared before the Employment Tribunal for Gibraltar on behalf of employees in claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal as well as claims under the fixed term contract and agency worker regulations. In addition to his practice in civil litigation, Callum also advises on private client matters including wills and probate. Between 2023 and 2024, Callum acted as solicitor for three Core Participants in the Public Inquiry into the Early Retirement of the Former Commissioner of Police Mr Ian McGrail, which has received widespread media attention both in Gibraltar and in the United Kingdom. Qualifications and Memberships:

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• Litigation Counsel Charles Is a Very Experienced Advocate Who Appears Regularly in Serious Cases in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. Charles [.]

Charles is an experienced advocate who appears regularly in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. Charles graduated from the LSE in mathematics in 1979. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1981 and practised for 20 years as a common-law barrister conducting a wide range of civil and criminal cases, taking a particular interest in regulatory crime, landlord and tenant and judicial review. He has appeared on many occasions in the Court of Appeal, both in London and in Gibraltar, as well as the House of Lords and the Privy Council. In 1990 Charles was called to the Bar in Gibraltar and visited regularly to appear in the Supreme Court. In 2000, Charles founded and became the head of Farringdon Chambers in London. Charles was approved by Lincoln's Inn as a pupil-master and has continued to devote himself to the comprehensive education and training of young lawyers, with a particular emphasis on professional ethics. He is the only lawyer in Gibraltar to undertake this role and has been commended by the profession for this work. In 2003, Charles established himself here permanently, joining Phillips in 2010 to lead and develop the litigation practice. He is the lead lawyer on many of the larger litigation cases while entrusting the day-to-day conduct to junior associates. He undertakes drafting, advising and advocacy where the case requires. In other matters he provides his junior colleagues with advice and support. Charles enjoys a good personal and professional relationship with several of leading barristers' chambers in London and where the client would benefit from specialist advice he is able to ensure that it is obtained from the most suitable counsel. Qualifications and Memberships:

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• Associate Chris Read Laws at the University of Law in London and Went on to Read for the Bar Completing the Bar Professional Training Course. [.]

Chris read Laws at the University of Law in London and went on to read for the Bar. On being awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Bar Professional Studies was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Chris was one of the first Barristers under the new legislation for lawyers to complete the Professional Certificate of Competence in Gibraltar Law at the University of Gibraltar, and was thereafter also admitted to the Bar of Gibraltar in 2016.

Job Titles:

• Consultant
• Member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association
• Member of the Wales Commercial Law Association

David was called to the Bar in Gibraltar and England & Wales in 1997 and (save for a year as a pupil in a London chambers, practised full-time in Gibraltar with Phillips until 2007. He now combines a full-time practice in United Kingdom and acting as an advocate in Gibraltar with Phillips. His practice at the Bar of England and Wales is carried on from chambers in Cardiff and London. David's Gibraltar practice is focused on Constitutional and Administrative law, and Defamation cases. He also has a strong interest in housing and mental health/mental capacity law. David was at the forefront of the development of Constitutional litigation in Gibraltar, appearing successfully in key cases that established the unconstitutionality of all-male juries, the obligation to provide legal assistance before the Mental Health Tribunal, the duty of the magistrates' court to give reasons for decisions and the Supreme Court's power to give remedies in Constitutional cases. David has published articles in professional media on the development of constitutional litigation in Gibraltar. In Wales, David has given evidence to the Welsh Assembly's Constitutional & Legislative Affairs Committee on proposals for a Welsh jurisdiction, on the Wales Act 2017, and on the impact on the Welsh Assembly of Brexit. Apart from Public Law Litigation, David undertakes a significant amount of Defamation work. In the UK, he also acts in more conventional commercial and civil litigation, including contractual disputes, partnership disputes and construction cases, professional disciplinary proceedings and an increasing amount of work before the Court of Protection He represents claimants suing police forces across England & Wales. He is an experienced advocate at both trial and appeal level. David is a Committee Member of the Wales Commercial Law Association, Public Law Wales and formerly of the British Spanish Law Association David is a Member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Administrative Law Bar Association, the Planning and Environmental Bar Association, the Police Action Lawyers Group, and Lawyers for Liberty

Job Titles:

• Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
• Partner Justin Read Laws at Kings College London and Was Called to the Bar in England in 2008 by Lincoln 's Inn. He Was Called to the [.]

Justin read Laws at Kings College London and was called to the Bar in England in 2008 by Lincoln's Inn. He was called to the Bar of Gibraltar in November 2008, after which he did his pupillage with Charles Salter, a Pupil Supervisor approved by Lincoln's Inn. Justin has specialised in litigation, particularly in advocacy. He appears regularly in the Magistrates' Court, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in Gibraltar. Justin has a recognised ability to form clear idea of the strengths and weaknesses of a case at an early stage which enables him not only to meet client expectations but also to ensure that, whenever possible, a positive outcome is achieved on the best possible terms for the client at the earliest possible stage. Justin is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and regularly attends APIL conferences in the UK in order to ensure professional development in his personal injury and clinical negligence practice, where he has had significant success, acting mainly for Claimants but also for Defendants. He has substantial experience in this area of litigation and has acted for protected parties and in cases involving catastrophic injuries. Justin also has expertise in Public Law litigation and has acted successfully in Judicial Review claims against various Government Ministries. He also acts as an advocate in other High Court civil litigation, including financial services and insurance litigation, high value divorce proceedings, professional negligence claims, and claims involving allegations of fraud and conspiracy. Justin is a member of the Bar Council of Gibraltar. Qualifications and Memberships:

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• Matthew Smith Senior Associate

Job Titles:

• Matthew Smith Senior Associate

-at-law Naomi was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2016 by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, graduating from Northumbria University MLaw [...]

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• Solicitor Steffan Graduated With a Degree in Psychology With Criminology Following Which He Completed the Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP Law School [.]