Commercial & Chancery Litigation Profile

• What-the-Directories-Say

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  • Ed is featured in the 2019 Chambers & Partners directory as a leading expert in commercial dispute resolution and employment law. He is also ranked in the Legal 500 2019 as a top-tier practitioner in employment law. Ed has been described in the directories as:

    • "A fantastic barrister who is technically astute and commercially savvy in equal measure.", "He handles the case in a really sensible and intelligent manner." and"He gives clear, robust and commercial advice." - Chambers UK 2019
    • “Unflappable and hardworking.” - Legal 500 2019
    • "He's very responsive, sensible, pragmatic and always makes himself available." "He's very cool, calm and collected and very good with restraint of trade instructions." Chambers & Partners (2018)
    • "His advice was clear, concise and direct. I was particularly impressed by the commercial emphasis to his advice, balancing the risks with the overall commercial objectives to deliver pragmatic results." "He's efficient, helpful and always available. His strength is his ability to look at a situation from every angle - and also to talk to everyone on a good level." Chambers & Partners (2018)
    • “He has a fine analytical mind.” Legal 500 (2017)
    • "He's probably the go-to barrister for restraint of trade cases in the Midlands." "He's good in front of clients, always gets great results, is super-easy to deal with and he knows the law backwards." Chambers & Partners (2017)
    • "He is a very good advocate and a very effective cross-examiner; he is able to be forceful and also be in control without being aggressive. He is very composed." "He is exceptional in tribunal; he will not get the judge's back up and due to his presentation skills, he makes everybody listen." Chambers & Partners (2017)
    • “A specialist employment barrister handling discrimination and commercial employment matters.” Legal 500 (2016)
    • “Every bit as good as the leading senior juniors in London.” Legal 500 (2015)
    • "He has an ability to master complex briefs and is able to give a firm steer on a case." "He's extremely experienced, thorough, pragmatic and he's very good with clients." Chambers & Partners (2016)
    • "He has extremely good advocacy skills and is also very good with the clients. He builds a rapport and is very approachable." "He is good at communicating advice to clients in a way that makes the legal issues clear, and he sees the strengths and weaknesses of a case." Chambers & Partners (2015)
    • "He is charming with sensitive clients. He's a confident and excellent advocate." Chambers & Partners (2014)
    • "He has superb attention to detail." Chambers & Partners (2014)
    • “Seen as a “go-to-guy” by numerous solicitors working in commercial litigation. He is recognised widely as a highly approachable barrister whose academic talents are matched by his ability to manage and communicate effectively with clients.” Chambers & Partners (2013)
    • “The “utterly charming” Edmund Beever is a highly respected figure at the Employment Bar. One particularly impressed source was keen to highlight his ability as a cross-examiner, saying, “you would be hard pressed to find anyone who is as skilled” in this regard. Chambers & Partners (2013)
    • “… brings an "analytical mind and a great work ethic" to his cases. He has impressed numerous people in the region, not least because he is considered to be "a really good guy to work with." Interviewees praise his work on contractual and employment claims.” Chambers & Partners (2012)
    • His "thorough preparation and outstanding court performances" place him among the top juniors in the field. Chambers & Partners (2012)
    • “…valued for giving "unambiguous, realistic advice" and "doing it with good humour." His commercial and employment expertise has come to the fore in recent cases where he has been involved in some high-value directors’ breach of duty and information claims.” Chambers & Partners (2011)
    • “Clients say that he has a good rapport, communicates clearly and is an effective cross-examiner." Chambers & Partners (2011)

• Recent-Experience

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  • His experience in includes:

    • Junior Counsel in an complex breach of fiduciary claim in the insurance industry sector, including dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, and insolvency issues arising from acting against the Trustee in Bankruptcy
    • Financial derivatives, in the context of directors’ negligence and constructive dismissal employment tribunal proceedings
    • Freezing Injunctions and commercial pre-emptive remedies
    • Advice in commercial Sale and Purchase in the context of warranty claims and deferred consideration
    • Commercial dispute in the manufacturing sector; involving substantial TUPE and insolvency issues

• Reported-Cases

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  • Ed’s reported cases:

    • Templeton Insurance v Brunswick and others [2012] EWHC 3319: - fiduciary duty- directors’ liabilities – breach of trust – knowing receipt – bankruptcy- fraud
    • Millwood v Birmingham City Council [2012] EqLR – Discrimination – burden of proof – effect of inadequate explanations
    • Re Infinity Lifestyles Ltd: [2009] BPIR 290: s.8 of CDDA - provisional liquidator - winding up of the company in the public interest. Directors of a Company engaged in money circulation schemes
    • A F Blakemore & Son Ltd (2) Trustees of the A F Blakemore & Son Ltd Staff Retirement Scheme v (1) N D Machin (2) J H [2007] EWHC 963 (Ch) - Compromise Agreements; Findings of Fact; Oral contracts; pension benefits; pensions ombudsman; effect of compromise with employer on former employees’ right to complain about pension administration
    • Wightman v Bennett [2005] BPIR 470: High Value property development - misfeasance on a contributory’s application pursuant to s.212 of IA 1986
    • SSTI v Blunt [2005] 2 BCLC 463: directors’ disqualification. Misappropriation and dishonesty.
    • Tarmac plc. v Wimpey plc.: £9 million indemnity claim arising out of business swap arrangement between two of the UK’s largest residential property developers - summary determination
    • Jaddoo v Birmingham City Council [2004] AER (D) 410: unfair dismissal, disability and race discrimination claim - covert surveillance - long term losses. The liability and remedies hearings lasted 16 days. President of EAT, Burton J - quantification of loss, career long losses and the use of the Ogden Tables in employment cases.
    • Wright v Bilton School [2002] ICR 1463: disability discrimination - the extent of the employer’s knowledge of disability - duty to make reasonable adjustments.

• Specialist-Areas

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  • Edmund Beever is a member of the following specialist practice groups where detailed CV’s can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

    • General Commercial
    • Restraint of Trade

• Qualifications-and-Appointments

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  • • Merton College, Oxford: BA (Hons)
    • Member of Attorney General Panel of Counsel (re-appted 2007; 2012)

• Professional-Associations

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  • • Chancery Bar association
    • Midland Commercial and Chancery Bar Association
    • Employment Lawyers Association