Stephen Goodfellow BSc Hons, Physiology (Bristol)

Stephen moved to East Anglian Chambers from London in 1999 and is recognised for his wealth of experience in civil matters, being able rapidly to grasp complicated cases and for his forceful litigation skills.  He regularly appears in the High Court, County Courts, Employment and other tribunals.  He accepts work on a public access basis. 

Stephen is Chambers' Head of Centre in Chelmsford and also a Pupil Supervisor.

Contract and Commercial

Legal500 recommended - "Stephen Goodfellow is 'tactically skilled and approachale' with 'an attention to detail that is second to none'." 

Stephen appears in the County Court, High Court and Technology & Construction Court on a wide range of commercial disputes, from contract, general and professional negligence, and building disputes to the obtaining of worldwide freezing injunctions.  He recently successfully obtained judgment for company debts owed under personal guarantees, in Paseana Ltd v Letrex Holdings Ltd, after the Court of Appeal remitted it to the County Court.  Stephen has been involved in a broad range of cases and has extensive experience of dealing with and cross-examining expert witnesses.  Stephen is sought after by solicitors for his rapid turnaround of both advisory and drafting work.

Employment

After obtaining his Bar qualifications Stephen provided voluntary assistance in the area of employment law to Hackney Law Centre.  He now regularly acts for both Claimants and Respondents, ranging from individuals and small organisations up to large-scale employers, including Norfolk County Council in Balls v Downham Market High School & College [2011] IRLR 217.  Stephen frequently advises on cases involving unfair dismissal, redundancy and breach of contract, as well as regularly appearing in the Employment Tribunals and the County Court on employment-related matters, including complex equal pay claims.  He accepts instructions under the Bar's Public Access Rules. Stephen is able to use his extensive PI knowledge to advise on more complicated employers’ liability matters, together with his experience in obtaining injunctions in the High Court relating to breach of non-competition clauses.  Stephen is currently representing a member of parliament in the Court of Appeal on the issue of bias, procedural irregularity, admission of fresh evidence and costs, having successfully opoosed the appeals against and EAT Registrar and the ET decisions to strike out the case and award costs.

Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence

Legal500 recommended for his "sound advice".  Stephen is leader of the personal injury practice group.

Instructed by large national Claimant and Defendant solicitors, he manages a diverse practice, including advising in writing and/or conference, drafting pleadings, and of course to provide representation at court.   His skill in negotiations and mediations is respected.  He recently achieved a substantial financial settlement for his client, with reference to the principles set out in Langford v Hebran and Clarke v Maltby.  He has extensive experience of employer’s liability and is frequently instructed where issues of public liability arise. Stephen receives instructions from across East Anglia and beyond, and his flexible approach provides solicitors with a fast turnaround of paperwork. His innovative thinking offers alternative solutions such as working at solicitors’ offices if requested. Stephen accepts and undertakes a significant amount of CFA work. He also advises on professional negligence cases, including those concerning allegations of clinical and solicitors’ negligence.

Land, Tenancies and Housing

Stephen has a wealth of experience in land, tenancies and housing, undertaking work for a number of local authorities as well as private clients.   Most recently, in March 2012, he appeared in the Court of Appeal in relation to the terminating of a licence of a mobile home at a mobile home park, Telchadder v Wickland (Holdings) Ltd (judgment still awaited).  He regularly represents clients in boundary disputes both in the County Court and before the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry, through to assessment of damages in the High Court in respect of encroachment of roots from neighbouring property.  Stephen undertakes a substantial amount of paperwork advices in relation to tenancy problems where he is commended for his pragmatic approach and ability to find solutions and obtain favourable settlement in long running business tenancy disputes.

Recent Cases of Interest

Telchadder v Wickland (Holdings) Ltd (Court of Appeal, judgment awaited) : Appeal upon the issue of the validity of the notice before action, in respect of its duration and content, and upon the judge’s discretion in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Equality Act 2010.

Balls v Downham Market High School & College [2011] IRLR 217 (EAT) : Represented Norfolk County Council on an appeal over the extent of the discretion and case management powers of the ET it respect of striking out claims.

Milledge v Cronshey (2011) : Successfully mediated a substantial personal injury claim arising from a road traffic accident, with reliance on the principles set out in Langford v Hebran and Clarke v Maltby.

Paseana Ltd v Letrex Holdings Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 1539 : In this case the Court of Appeal considered the discretion and interpretation of Part 13 of the CPR, regarding setting aside judgments in default.

Mullet v Shell (UK) Ltd (2009) : Successfully established, after a two day trial, that the Claimant was a lawful visitor, not a trespasser, by virtue of an implied license arising from the occupiers conduct and therefore entitled to significant damages.

Ozbek v Ipswich Borough Council [2006] EWCA Civ 534.  Determination of 'local connection' with regard to local housing authorities' powers & homelessness duties.

Interests

When Stephen is not spending time with his three small children he enjoys Running (member of Woodford Green Athletics Club) & martial arts (black belt instructor)