Paul Stone
Position: Partner
Paul is a senior litigation partner based in the Leeds office. In addition to his wide-ranging experience of corporate and commercial litigation, he also acts for a significant number of public sector clients, advising on public law issues including judicial review, freedom of information and human rights issues as well as advising on internal corporate governance, risk management and dispute avoidance in connection with major projects.
Paul has consistently been listed as one of the leading litigation lawyers in Yorkshire by both Chambers and The UK Legal 500 over the last 10 years. He is described by Chambers as a "forceful litigator" who has "won plaudits for his judicial review, procurement litigation and human rights practice" and who has a "talent for coming up with ideas that others would not think of". Paul has recently been awarded 'Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year' at the Yorkshire Lawyer Awards 2006.
Paul focuses on heavyweight commercial and corporate disputes. He has acted for a range of public sector clients, advising them on public law and judicial review-related claims and issues, as well as advising on internal investigations, inquiries by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons and district auditor inquiries.
Paul advises on corporate disputes involving shareholder actions, fraud investigations and warranty claims. He also has considerable experience advising on expert valuations and related issues following on from corporate transactions.
Paul also advises on media and defamation matters, product liability litigation and on crisis management. He is an experienced negotiator and litigation tactician who is committed to achieving early solutions to his clients’ problems. Paul has considerable experience of preparing for and representing clients in mediation at all stages of the litigation process.
Key experience:
Public law
- Acting for the Mayor of London and Transport for London in successfully defending judicial review proceedings brought by Westminster City Council in relation to congestion charging in London.
- Advising the Mayor of London and Transport for London on risk management issues relating to the development of the Mayor's Transport Strategy and the making of the Central London Congestion Charging Scheme Order. Also coordinating general legal advice on issues relating to the scheme including competition law, data protection, intellectual property, planning, street signage, enforcement and other issues.
- Acting for the NHS National Programme for Information Technology on a wide range of issues including successfully defending a judicial review challenge relating to a major procurement exercise brought by Fuji Film UK Limited, as well as advising the National Programme on a wide programme of other contentious issues.
- Leading the team acting for Rockware Glass Limited in relation to a judicial review challenge against Chester City Council and Quinn Glass Limited regarding the construction of the largest combined bottle manufacturing, filling and warehousing facility in Europe. This has involved advising on both legal proceedings and political lobbying and campaigning.
Corporate and commercial
- Acting for Argyll Group Plc in its claim against Guinness Plc and others following the Distillers takeover.
Commercial litigation
- Assisting George Staple (former head of the Serious Fraud Office) and acting as the DTI inspector in the affairs of Aldermanbury Trust Plc.
- Preparing and presenting the Law Society's submissions on the General Product Safety Directive to the House of Lords Select Committee on EC Affairs.
- Advising the Baby Products Association in the case of R -v- Liverpool Trading Standards - a judicial review in relation to the safety of baby walkers.
- Appearing with the Vice-Chancellor of Huddersfield University before the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons.
Pensions litigation
- Handling a significant number of professional negligence and related cases against actuaries and lawyers advising on pension-related issues.
- Advising on a range of pension-related disputes concerning pension transfer values and similar issues arising in connection with corporate transactions.
Professional Qualification
- Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
Specialist Areas:
- Commercial Litigation
Legal 500