Date of call:
1971
Maura was called to the Bar in 1971 by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and practised for 25 years from St James’s Chambers, Manchester. Since 1996 Maura has worked as a sole practitioner heading her own Chambers, St John’s House Chambers, Altrincham, and registered with Barristerweb in 2006.
Criminal Defence
Maura’s trade mark as defence counsel is thorough preparation, based on sound knowledge of the law, followed by case presentation and crossexamination which is fearless, forceful, sustained, and which backs up her client to the hilt.
Maura relishes Jury Trial work in the Crown Court and has defended all manner of charges before a Jury including a recent successful defence to a charge of causing death by driving without due care and attention – and Maura’s case work has included Assault, GBH / ABH / Affray, Indecent Assault, Robbery, Burglary, Theft, Deception, Handling, Pervert Course of Justice, POCA, Vat Fraud, together with appearances including recent appearances, in the Court of Appeal on Appeal against Sentence and Appeal against Conviction.
Road Traffic Work
Maura has particular expertise in road traffic work, having had many years experience in defending road traffic cases in the Magistrates Court. Over the past 5/6 years Maura has developed this expertise to a high level, with particular focus on all aspects of drink driving related defence work, most recently in March this year having successfully defended her client on a charge of driving with excess alcohol where a not guilty verdict was achieved following a two day trial.
Maura also has expertise and a fair amount of success, in defending speeding trials where it is frequently possible to raise technical defences, such as cases where the prosecution rely on laser / radar / gatsometer evidence – and trials where the Defendant is alleged to have failed to furnish driver identity information contrary to Road Traffic Act 1988 section 172, most recently in Warrington Crown Court in March this year where the Judge applied a previously decided case in holding that the Appellants had complied with their legal duties under the Act – and so allowed the appeal.
Family Work
Maura has very many years experience of family work across the full range – as can be seen from the case of “Cotgrave” above, one such case where Maura represented the husband in the Court of Appeal – and this work includes care proceedings, residence / contact, and all aspects of ancillary relief work. Maura would particularly wish to be of service to those parents who have the misfortune to become embroiled in care proceedings.
Personal Injury Work
Maura undertakes the full range of civil work including personal injury work, having obtained successful results in fast track liability and disposal hearings, and having substantial recent experience in the preparation of advices on quantum of damages by reference to JSB Guidelines 10th Edition 2010, and the latest cases in Kemp v Kemp updated by references to the Retail Prices Index.
Consumer Credit
Maura has experience of Consumer Credit work including claims relating to goods on Hire Purchase – that is, claims made under Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 section 10(2), which implies a term into contracts of Hire Purchase that the goods will be of “satisfactory quality.” Such claims can be technical, since, inter alia, the measure of damages varies depending on whether the Claimant has affirmed the contract or not – and can even vary mid trial depending on when the question of affirmation of the contract is determined by the court!
Bankruptcy
Maura has successfully represented debtors on a number of occasions, on their applications to set aside a statutory demand, made on a Creditor’s Petition in Bankruptcy under Insolvency Act 1986. Such cases afford real satisfaction to the defending advocate and indeed to all concerned except possibly the Creditor.
Police Actions
Maura is well placed to represent those who issue civil proceedings against the Police, since she has extensive experience in both the criminal and in the civil courts and such actions require expertise in both. Maura has experience of such actions.