KENWORTHY'S CHAMBERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
Adam is an ideal reference point within any team with an encyclopaedic knowledge of current case laws and the CPR.
Adam Lewis qualified as a Solicitor in 2007, prior to qualifying as a Barrister. He began practice in a high street firm before moving on to leading national law firms, Keoghs and MTA Solicitors. Consequently, he has a unique understanding of the needs and requirements of both small firms and large commercial organisations.
Adam Lewis was called to the bar in 2013 and joined Kenworthy's Chambers in 2016, after two years at another Chambers.
Adam Lewis is a Civil Litigation Barrister who practices both claimant and defendant work across Credit Hire, Personal Injury and Costs.
Adam Lewis was responsible for the strategic planning and supervision of a credit hire department dealing with matters on behalf of a national credit hire organisation. It was because of his work in Credit Hire that Adam Lewis became well known within the legal industry.
Adam Lewis has experience conducting fast and multi-track trials, and detailed assessments together with various types of applications and appeals in the Civil Courts.
He regularly advises upon and prepares pleadings for fast and multi-track trials covering a broad spectrum of Personal Injury matters including road traffic accidents, employer's liability and public liability claims, credit hire issues and costs issues for both claimants and defendants.
Adam Lewis is happy to advise in conference. He accepts instructions on a broad range of common law matters and will conduct matters on a conditional fee agreement (CFA) where appropriate.
Adam Lewis acts for both claimants and defendants and has loyal, long-standing relationships with many of his instructing Solicitors.
He has particular interests in cases where tinnitus is a feature of the injuries sustained in road traffic accidents, fraud and LSI/LVI allegations, and credit hire, with significant experience handling cases involving profit-earning chattels.
Adam Lewis has experience in cases of mTBI (post-concussive injury) as well as cases involving chronic pain, including where there is a psychological aspect.
As a Personal Injury Barrister, Adam Lewis is happy to conference with clients and experts and has extensive experience dealing with costs budgeting, case management hearings, and issues relating to permission for expert evidence.
Adam Lewis has an LLM (Hons) master's degree in Law from The University of Liverpool
Job Titles:
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
George has immense experience and judgment, he is pragmatic and wise, and he has the trust and confidence of instructing solicitors and the judiciary. He is a veteran.
A very special thank you to Mr George Brown, Counsel at Kenworthy's Chambers, Manchester, a genuine giant amongst Immigration Counsel in the UK. I have had the honour of instructing Mr George Brown for over 20 years - and with no disrespect to other counsel - he is one of the finest I've ever instructed!
George Brown is recommended as a ‘Leading Individual' in the Legal 500 for his Immigration Law practice. His specialist work involves Asylum, Immigration and Nationality, ranging from first instance adjudication level, right up to the Court of Appeal.
The ever-changing nature of the jurisdiction in Immigration Law requires high levels of commitment, tolerance, and dedication. Through extensive work with clients over many years, George Brown has demonstrated these characteristics.
Immigration Barrister George Brown also takes an active interest in Human Rights Law, which is very often an integral part of his practice area.
He has advised on the cancellation of a Civil Penalty under Section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act Act 2006, regarding the ‘statutory excuse' which ultimately led to the cancellation of a £10,000 penalty.
George Brown has provided extensive immigration training in conjunction with bodies such as ILPA, GMIAU, ACT Project, JCWI and the British Council.
Job Titles:
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
I used Gita Patel as counsel and I am full of praise as she delivered 100%. She was approachable, provided guidance on matters where help was needed, and had empathy for our clients.
Gita Patel joined Kenworthy's Chambers in 1990 and has specialised in Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law since 2000. She previously practiced Family, Civil and Criminal Law. She speaks Gujarati fluently and understands Urdu.
Gita Patel is recommended in both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for her Immigration Practice.
She has specialised in Immigration and Asylum Law, following the advent of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the policy of dispersal of those seeking asylum accommodation in the UK, introduced by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
As an Immigration Barrister, Gita Patel is experienced in judicial reviews. She has handled judicial reviews on refusals to visit the UK, on preventing removal from the UK, and on human trafficking.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
- Criminal Barrister
John Richards is a Criminal Barrister with over two decades of experience in Crime and Administrative and Public Law.
John Richards obtained the Higher Rights of Audience (HRA) qualification in 2010, allowing him to provide representation in the Crown Court, Court of Appeal and senior civil courts. Whilst working as a Solicitor Advocate John Richards completed agency and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) work.
Since leaving private practice and being called to the Bar in 2015 John has expanded his practice, defending and prosecuting in Crown Courts across the North of England, North Wales and The Midlands.
John Richards specialises in Criminal Law having qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 and obtained his Higher Rights (HRA) to qualify as a Solicitor Advocate in 2010.
Criminal Barrister John Richards is a qualified level 3 prosecutor. He also has expertise in serious fraud, burglary, assault, drugs conspiracies, and sexual offences.
John Richards has an extensive history of working on Prison Law cases for many Solicitors involving prisons across the country.
He is experienced in representing life and IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) offenders in parole hearings, adjudications, applications for recategorization of a prisoner release, and recall hearings following a breach of license condition.
If you have an Administrative and Public Law case call our Clerks Courtney Richards or Daniella Howarth on 0161 832 4036, email Courtney@kenworthys.co.uk, Daniella@kenworthys.co.uk or fill out our contact form.
Job Titles:
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
- Employment and Immigration Judge
- Immigration Barrister
Jonathan Greer was a Solicitor with Higher Rights of Audience in Civil Proceedings, advising in all areas of Personal and Business Immigration, Asylum, Nationality and Human Rights Law, from initial applications to Higher Court proceedings.
Between 2008 and 2012, Jonathan worked as an accredited Immigration Caseworker in the voluntary sector and in private practice, regularly representing appellants in tribunal hearings.
Immigration Barrister Jonathan Greer has experience in Asylum cases based on gender or sexual identity involving European Free Movement Law, and cases involving historical injustice.
Jonathan Greer accepts instructions from privately funded clients, legal aid clients and is available to advise and represent on a pro bono basis in appropriate cases.
Jonathan Greer provides advocacy in cases before the First Tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal and in the Higher Courts. He represents individuals resisting removal from the UK on Human Rights Grounds, most frequently under Articles 2, 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Immigration Barrister Jonathan Greer has collaborated with Freedom from Torture, Manual Bravo Project, British Red Cross, and other voluntary groups in numerous legally aided and pro bono cases. He has successfully assisted individuals in appeals against refusal of legal aid funding and in applications for exceptional case funding (ECF).
Jonathan Greer delivers training courses in Immigration and Human Rights Law to internal and external delegates.
Job Titles:
- Head of Civil and Costs Teams
- Head of Civil Litigation
Margaret is an experienced specialist in Costs litigation.
Margaret McDonald is the Head of Civil Litigation and Costs at Kenworthy's Chambers. She is a Deputy District Judge and a Mediator, specialising in costs mediations.
Margaret practices exclusively in costs. She is ranked as a Tier 1 Leading Junior in Legal 500 2022 "Margaret's preparation and thoroughness has to be a huge asset and strength in her achieving considerable success at costs hearings. She is very personable and always willing to assist on an ad hoc basis even if she is not directly instructed on a matter."
She is nationally ranked in Chambers and Partners 2022 which says "Margaret is robust in her submissions and has excellent attention to detail; her written advice and notes following hearings are second to none. It is abundantly clear from the outcomes she achieves, and her post-hearing notes that she is meticulous in her preparation. She's very thorough, misses nothing and provides methodical and logical advice."
She is renowned for her prowess in fact-heavy costs cases, her level of preparation and attention to detail. She is pro-active, pragmatic and realistic.
As a Mediator, she is able to facilitate costs resolution in the most challenging cases. As Counsel she also attends Mediations and Round Table Settlement Meetings.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
Mark Schwenk successfully represented an EEA national in an attempt to deport him following a conviction for a criminal offence.
Mark has been to Greece three times, most recently in Autumn 2021, as a volunteer on projects advising asylum seekers and migrants.
Mark Schwenk is constantly in demand as an Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Barrister to represent clients in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, particularly in the Upper Tribunal where he has been involved in several country guidance cases. He also has extensive experience of Court of Appeal and High Court work, including obtaining injunctions.
Mark Schwenk's experience as a Solicitor in a legal aid practice, both in the private and voluntary sectors, means that he has a good understanding of the issues facing Immigration Solicitors, particularly legal aid practitioners.
He has provided representation in several high-profile cases. First, Carter, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 2603 (Admin), which was a successful challenge to the Secretary of State's policy on fee waivers. Second, Novoselova, R (On the Application of v SSHD [2014] EWHC 4274 (Admin), which was a case concerning protection from domestic violence for unmarried partners of EEA nationals.
Immigration Barrister Mark Schwenk retains strong links with the voluntary sector and undertakes many cases for voluntary sector organisations. He has a thorough knowledge of his practice area and is known for his meticulous preparation and tenacity.
Mark Schwenk also acts for commercial clients, particularly employers wishing to bring employees to the UK. He has also been involved in defending employers against the imposition of civil penalties for employing illegal workers since the inception of the scheme.
Mark was a founder member of the Greater Manchester Law Centre Management Committee.
Mark Schwenk has provided extensive immigration training in conjunction with bodies such as ILPA, GMIAU, ACT Project, and JCWI.
Job Titles:
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
- Deputy Head of Kenworthy 's Chamber
- Member of the Criminal Bar Association
- Represents Doctor in 4 - Day Remote Hearing before MPTS Panel
- Successfully Represents Doctor at Interim Panel Review
Patrick Cassidy is the Deputy Head of Kenworthy's Chambers. He is an expert in Criminal Law, Inquests, Regulatory and Professional Discipline.
The cases Patrick Cassidy has been involved in reflect the changing social and racial landscape of the Northwest over the last 40 years and his interest in cases where citizens encounter the power of the state, whether it be the Miners, Printers, Animal Rights Activists, or the Asian communities of Oldham or Burnley.
Patrick Cassidy has been recommended for his Inquest practice by Legal 500 since 2012. He is recognised as a Regulatory Barrister with experience and flair in jury cases of national prominence.
Patrick Cassidy has developed a specialty in representing properly interested persons in Inquests arising out of their alleged default. He has expertise in deaths arising from the criminal justice and education sectors often raising issues of Article 2's applicability. He has significant experience in ‘death in custody' cases and in representing Probation Officers managing prisoners who kill on licence.
In February 2022, Patrick Cassidy was appointed as her majesty's Assistant Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde.
His niche is in providing Senior Managers protective advice and representation particularly when there is a potential conflict that emerges with their organisation. He also works with families who require a thorough and wholehearted search for the truth.
Patrick Cassidy is the go-to Barrister for death in custody cases, as well as failures in the medical treatment of care home and hospital patients.
As an Inquests Barrister, Patrick Cassidy has a significant amount of experience in Article 2 Inquiries. He is familiar with the high emotional temperature of Inquests and the presence of a jury, whether by reason of Article 2 issues or by application of Section 7 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
Patrick Cassidy has a wealth of experience and national reach in reputation management. He has represented Doctors, Headteachers and Deputies, Senior Social Workers, and Nurses before disciplinary bodies.
His interest in Professional Discipline began when representing numerous professionals such as Teachers, Nurses and Train Guards in gross negligence manslaughter cases. Specifically, when he realised how work environments can expose individual professionals to the full force of the law and how the individuals concerned can feel very alone.
Working with Solicitors both nationally and across the Northwest, Patrick Cassidy has built up a varied Regulatory practice which includes regular appearances in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal. Patrick often represents professionals at Inquests and thereafter in Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).
He has represented a Registrar who attended an interview for a Consultant position without having passed one of the examinations. He has provided advice for a Radiologist who faced criminal allegations and then was referred to a Tribunal because of his guilty plea to sexual offences.
Other noteworthy cases Patrick Cassidy has worked on have involved safeguarding issues for the children of the GPs and a Registrar set to conduct an amputation without fully reviewing the consent issue.
Many of Patrick's Inquests, Regulatory and Professional Discipline cases highlight the need for early assessment as early remediation work is vital in avoiding impairment or further disciplinary sanctions.
Patrick Cassidy has been recommended for his Criminal Law practice by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners since 2012. He is recognised as a Criminal Defence Barrister with experience and flair in cases of national prominence and seriousness.
His track record in murder and manslaughter cases has resulted in over 20 not guilty verdicts. These cases reflect gangland assassinations to gross negligence manslaughters on behalf of workers who are alleged to have made bad errors of judgement that have resulted in the death of persons to whom they owed a duty.
He has been prominent in defending young people caught up in Manchester gangland culture over the last 30 years. Many of Patrick Cassidy's cases have involved firearms and other offensive weapons. Recently he has represented several ‘encrochat' cases, reflective of his serious crime profile.
He also defends serious sexual allegations, fraud and proceeds of crime.
He established a groundbreaking four-day Health and Safety Course with Salford University in 2007 and has lectured extensively on the subject including a lecture for the local government association's annual conference on corporate manslaughter.
Patrick Cassidy started Kenworthy's annual lecture series in 1997 and he is passionate about professional development culture.
Patrick Cassidy is a member of the Criminal Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- a Deputy District Judge
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
Extremely reassuring and personable. Richard achieves outstanding results and can be depended upon. Has exceptional advocacy skills and an approach that exudes experience in a calm, down to earth and very effective manner.
Richard Lees is a Barrister at Kenworthy's Chambers who specialises in Civil Litigation, and Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence. He also accepts direct public access.
He was appointed as a Deputy District Judge by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable Lord Burnett of Maldon in 2022.
Richard Lees is an established Civil Litigation practitioner who accepts instructions on behalf of both claimants and defendants.
As a Civil Barrister, Richard Lees has expert knowledge in both Civil, Criminal and Employment Law. This knowledge of multiple areas of law has proved beneficial to clients.
He has represented clients across the country from Cornwall to Newcastle in a variety of forums from High Court, County Court and Employment Tribunals.
Richard Lees can provide advice on Credit Hire, Fraudulent Claims, and Civil Procedure Rules. He can represent clients for Road Traffic Accidents, Highway Act Claims and building disputes.
St Pancras Inquest (2015) - Seven-day jury Inquest into the death of a prisoner in Pentonville prison. There was conflict between Officers of differing ranks as to the sequence of events on the ACCT document.
Rochdale Inquest (2011) - A five-week-long jury Inquest into a restraint death at a secure hospital. Representing a staff member who had been one of a number in a struggle with the patient shortly before death through asphyxiation.
Job Titles:
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
- Data Diversity Officer
- Expert
Sarah is an excellent Barrister. She was amazing and very quickly sorted everything out. We are extremely happy with the outcome of the hearing.
Sarah Johnson is recommended as a leading individual in Legal 500 for her Family practice. She also has experience in Education and Coronial law.
Before coming to the Bar in 2001, Sarah Johnson worked as a Solicitor which gives her insights into both sides of the profession.
Sarah Johnson is also the Data Diversity Officer for Kenworthy's Chambers.
Sarah Johnson deals with all aspects of private and public children's proceedings, acting for Local Authorities, parents and children.
She has handled multiple shaken and dead baby cases, as well as cases in which children have suffered non-accidental injuries and sexual abuse.
Described as ‘very astute and knowledgeable', she has experience dealing with applications for adoption, parental responsibility, contact and residence.
Sarah Johnson is an expert on child abduction cases and Hague Convention proceedings.
As a Family Barrister Sarah Johnson can assist you with child arrangement orders, prohibited steps orders, special guardianship orders, non-molestation and occupation orders, and care proceedings. She regularly handles cases involving deprivation of liberty, female genital mutilation, and forced marriage protection orders.
Job Titles:
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
Shazia Khan has an impressive practice and her fluency in fluent in Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi is notable.
Shazia has a very good knowledge base and understanding of the subject matter. She is prompt to respond and provide advice and is very approachable and easy to communicate with.
When I came to Leeds in 2020, my supervising solicitor recommended Shazia Khan and I am so thankful that she did because it is a pleasure working with her and learning from her.
Shazia Khan is an Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Barrister at Kenworthy's Chambers who also specialises in Administrative and Public Law. Shazia Khan is fluent in Urdu, Punjabi and popular Hindi and can conduct legal interviews in these languages.
Shazia Khan is recommended as a ‘Leading Individual' by the Legal 500 and is ranked ‘Band 1' by Chambers and Partners for her Immigration, Asylum and Nationality practice.
Before joining Chambers in January 2008, she worked as an Immigration Counsellor with the Immigration Advisory Service in Leeds where she regularly presented immigration and asylum appeals before the Tribunal.
Shazia Khan also worked for the Refugee Legal Centre in Leeds as an Appeals Caseworker. Following this, Shazia qualified as a Barrister with No.6 Chambers in Leeds and continued her work in the Tribunal whilst also developing her practice in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
As an Immigration Barrister, Shazia Khan is experienced in dealing with cases in the Tribunal, the High Court, and the Court of Appeal.
She presents appeals at the first instance and reconsideration stage, has experience in judicial review work, and is willing to draft grounds for reconsideration to the Tribunal.
Shazia Khan also has experience applying for emergency injunctions to duty High Court Judges over the telephone and has drafted grounds and appeared in cases in the Court of Appeal.
Shazia Khan has experience in judicial review work and is willing to draft grounds for reconsideration to the Tribunal.
She also has experience applying for emergency injunctions to duty High Court Judges over the telephone and has drafted grounds and appeared in cases in the Court of Appeal.
Job Titles:
- Barrister at Kenworthy 's Chamber
- Civil Litigation Barrister
Yasser Iqbal is experienced in dealing with all types of Civil Litigation cases, from simple small claims trials to complex multi-track cases.
He has a balanced practice and is instructed by both claimants and defendants for matters ranging from Stage 3 hearings and disposals to Costs and Case Management Conferences (CCMCs) and trials.
As a Civil Litigation Barrister, Yasser Iqbal has expertise in handling Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) and Credit Hire cases, and he is regularly instructed for trials by both claimants and defendants. He has considerable experience and expertise in cases involving taxi Credit Hire and is highly sought after in these types of cases.
Yasser Iqbal is happy to discuss cases with Solicitors on an informal basis without the need for formal instructions.
Yasser Iqbal has a keen interest in politics and is an elected Councillor having first been elected at the age of 23.
Yasser Iqbal was elected Mayor of his town becoming one of the youngest Mayors in the country during his term.