Called to the Bar: 1989

Profile to follow

(Currently unregistered)

Shabnam was called to the Bar in 2005, having been awarded the Lord Denning scholarship of Lincoln’s Inn. 

Over the course of her practice, she specialised in personal injury litigation, acting for both claimants and defendants across a broad range of matters, with particular interest and experience in industrial disease claims. Her work also encompassed employers’ and occupiers’ liability, Highways Act claims, as well as road traffic accident claims (in particular those involving fraud, low velocity impact and credit hire). She has a particular interest in industrial disease litigation involving complex issues of causation. This interest is underpinned by academic work undertaken prior to pupillage at the University of Manchester, where she worked with the late Professor Margot Brazier, one of the leading medico-legal academics of her generation. During this time, she contributed to Professor Brazier’s work in her capacity as Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.

Shabnam is not currently accepting instructions, having moved into Bar education and training in 2023. She taught advocacy and professional ethics on the Bar Training Course at BPP University Law School, alongside substantial assessment and supervision responsibilities across both vocational and LLM programmes. She is now the Civil Course Designer at Inns of Court College of Advocacy, working as part of a specialist team responsible for the design and delivery of civil litigation and professional ethics training for the Bar, and at the forefront of the education and development of the next generation of barristers

 

Overview
Holly-Ann Shaw represents claimants in serious personal injury, housing disrepair, and clinical negligence claims. Known for her robust advocacy and rapid turnaround.

Key Practice Areas
• Personal Injury
• Housing Disrepair
• Clinical Negligence

Qualifications & Memberships
• Called to the Bar: 2009
• Northern Circuit; PIBA

Overview
Ethan Riley specialises in personal injury and landlord and tenant disputes, with additional experience in clinical negligence and commercial litigation.

Key Practice Areas
• Personal Injury
• Landlord and Tenant
• Clinical Negligence
• Commercial Litigation

Notable Cases & Experience
Junior counsel in group claims against psychiatric hospitals; successful settlements in clinical negligence cases.

Qualifications & Memberships
• Called to the Bar: 2021
• LLB; BPTC LLM

Overview
Ryan Gaskell practises in personal injury, credit hire, and housing disrepair. Known for pragmatic, detail-oriented advocacy.

Key Practice Areas
• Personal Injury
• Credit Hire
• Housing Disrepair
• Commercial Disputes

Qualifications & Memberships
• Called to the Bar: 2020

Overview

Doug Feery specialises in Adult Social Care law, with wide-ranging experience in the Court of Protection, Mental Health Review Tribunals, inquests, and both County and High Court matters. Known for his pragmatic advocacy style, Doug frequently advises on cases that intersect multiple jurisdictions—including whether matters fall within the Family Court, High Court Family Division, or Court of Protection.

Doug regularly acts for individuals and public authorities (including local authorities and NHS bodies) in complex public law matters, often involving judicial review. He also provides expert advice in civil cases involving Mental Health Act provisions, safeguarding, and detention, often arising from issues such as police arrest under section 136 or abuse within care settings.

Key Practice Areas
• Court of Protection
• Mental Health Review Tribunals
• Inquests
• Adult Social Care Law
• Public Law & Judicial Review
• Civil Claims with Mental Health Elements

Notable Cases & Experience
Doug has appeared in numerous high-profile and precedent-setting cases, including:

• R (D) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2003] 1 W.L.R. 1315 – Declaration of incompatibility re: parole rights.
• S v Airedale NHS Trust [2003] EWCA Civ 1036 – Established seclusion in psychiatric hospitals must be justified by necessity.
• G v E & Ors [2010] EWHC 621 (CoP); EWCA Civ 548 – Series of key rulings on deprivation of liberty and the powers of the Court of Protection.
• UXA v Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWHC 3455 (QB) – £2.3M Human Rights Act damages for abuse by a care co-ordinator.
• Dobson v Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police [2025] EWHC 272 (KB) – Police negligence claim.

Qualifications & Memberships
• Called to the Bar: 2000
• BVC – Manchester
• PGDL – Manchester
• BA (Hons) Social Work
• Diploma and Certificate in Social Work
• PGCE
• Court of Protection Bar Association
• Administrative Law Bar Association
• Human Rights Lawyers Association

Teaching & Publications
Doug regularly delivers training to postgraduate students, clinicians, and legal professionals, including:
• AMHP and Approved Clinician programmes at UCLan, Leeds Beckett & Sheffield Hallam
• CPD training on mental capacity, safeguarding, deprivation of liberty, and public law
• Articles in legal and academic journals, including:

• ‘Self-Harm and the Law’ (2007)
• ‘Seclusion, Lord Steyn’s Lament’ (2006)
• Social Work Education: The International Journal (2002)

Overview
Michael Krebs specialises in residential housing, personal injury, and general common law. With over 25 years at the Bar, he is a highly experienced advocate, having appeared in courts across the country up to Court of Appeal level. Known for his relaxed yet effective advocacy style and skill in cross-examination, Michael is especially adept at building rapport with judges and parties alike. He also has a niche practice in Japanese knotweed litigation and is an accredited mediator.

Key Practice Areas
• Residential Housing
• Personal Injury
• Common Law
• Mediation

Notable Cases & Experience

• Molodi v Cambridge Vibration (2016)
• Niven v LMH (2010) – Known as “Liverpool’s worst antisocial behaviour neighbour” (national press coverage)
• Woodward v Bennell and Crewe Alexandra (2004) – Historic whistleblower case linked to the football sex abuse scandal
• Riaz v Fowler and MIB (2009) – Court of Appeal

Qualifications & Memberships
• Called to the Bar: 1999
• Member, Gray’s Inn
• Member, Royal Society of Mediators
• Member, ADR-ODR International

Additional Background
Michael’s background spans a broad range of civil litigation including RTA, credit hire, industrial disease, clinical negligence, and antisocial behaviour litigation. He now primarily represents tenants in landlord and tenant disputes, while also accepting instructions from landlords.

Teaching & Publications
Michael regularly delivers in-house training and has lectured for the Liverpool Law Society on various topics. He has also published extensively in the legal press, including the Law Society Gazette.

Community
Michael is a foundation governor at his children’s primary school.

Overview
David Pilling specialises in clinical negligence and multi-track personal injury claims. Known for his skilled trial advocacy and work on catastrophic injury claims.

Key Practice Areas
• Clinical Negligence
• Personal Injury (Multi-Track)
• Industrial Disease
• Product Liability

Notable Cases & Experience
Senior junior in major psychiatric group litigation and high-value claims.

Qualifications & Memberships
• Called to the Bar: 1999

 

Overview
Daniel Finlay specialises in housing disrepair, personal injury, and general civil litigation. Known for his personable manner and commonsense advocacy, he is particularly skilled at representing vulnerable clients.

Key Practice Areas
• Housing Disrepair
• Personal Injury
• General Civil Litigation
• Breach of Contract

Notable Cases & Experience
Experienced in complex procedural litigation, including cases involving allegations of fraud and liability disputes.

Qualifications & Memberships
• Called to the Bar: 2022
• First Class LLB (Hons); LLM (Distinction); BPC – Very Competent

Overview
George Murray specialises in housing, police law, and personal injury. Known for his forensic advocacy, he acts in complex and high-profile matters including appeals and jury trials.

Key Practice Areas
• Housing Conditions and Disrepair
• Civil Actions Against the Police
• High-Value Personal Injury Claims

Notable Cases & Experience
Acted in Jillians v Red Kite on Fitness for Human Habitation, and in White v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care mesothelioma litigation.

Qualifications & Memberships
• Called to the Bar: 2013
• BPTC & GDL, Kaplan Law School
• BA (Hons) History, UCL
• Public Access Accredited