Sub Committees

We have a number of specialist sub committees responsible for looking at particular subject areas, initiating a response to consultation papers and raising matters of concern within and without the region.

Civil Litigation (Civil, Commercial and Employment)

Chaired by Paul Brown
Contact: (Costs) - Seamus Kelly
Contact: Lewis Fairfax
Contact: Fiona Graham

All matters concerning civil courts (excluding family) and tribunals including consultations, court practice and procedure and IT. Links with the Business and Property Courts Forum and representatives on the civil court practitioner groups.

In House and Commerce & Industry

Chair: TBC

A new committee tasked with increasing the links between private practice and in house solicitors

Education

Chaired by John Bates
Contact: Jonathan Fuller

Identifying areas where seminars and presentations might be useful for members on an ongoing basis. Sourcing speakers. We hold seminars on both black letter law and legal practice and welcome approaches from persons interested in making presentations to Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society members.

Diversity & Inclusion

Chaired by Georgie Redshaw
Contact : Naadiya Tariq

Legal Aid

Chaired by Elspeth Thomson

Issues relevant to both criminal and civil legal aid.

Crime

Magistrates and Crown Courts

Chaired by Tim Gregory
Contact: Ben Haigh

Specialist issues arising in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts including listing, prisons, hearings, IT, consultations and the development of the criminal law estate in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham. Representatives on criminal court user groups.

Family

Public and Private Law, Children Law and Ancillary Relief

Chaired by Christine McVay (Private Law)
Contact: Naadiya Tariq (Public Law)
Contact: Jonathan Fuller (Local Authorities)

All matters concerning the family courts including development of the new civil court estate in Newcastle upon Tyne. Consultations, listing, IT and remote, hybrid and attended hearings.

Local Government & Associated Bodies

Contact: Jonathan Fuller

Liaison between the Society and local government in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham.

Membership & Benefits for Members

Georgie Redshaw and Nathan Maddison (young solicitors)
Lesley Fairclough (large firms)
John O'Neill and Mark Pentecost (medium and small firms)

Any articles to be considered for inclusion in our monthly digital magazine – Newcastle News – should be emailed to mail@newcastlelawsociety.co.uk. Additional advertising enquiries to
Baskerville eMedia Ltd
0151 203 0440 simon@baskerville-e.media

Non Contentious

Residential and Commercial Conveyancing, Private Client Wills and Probate

Chaired by Lesley Fairclough
Contact: (Private Client) Rachael Leathley
Contact: John O'Neill
Contact: Russell Hewitson
Contact: Nathan Maddison

All matters concerning property and conveyancing including CQS and panels. Wills, Probate and Trusts.

Professional Purposes

Ethics, Regulation and Practice Management

Chaired by Rachel Swinburne
Contact: Michael Macgregor
Contact: Law Society of England and Wales Council Members: Allan Devine and Guy Goodings

This sub committee deals with issues arising from the SRA Handbook and changes in regulation. COLP, COFA and LeO. Professional Indemnity Insurance. Regular consultation responses and input in relation to practice matters on a local regional and national scale.

Public Relations and Parliamentary Liaison

Please contact Sanchia Coatsworth

Social

Chaired by Sanchia Coatsworth
Organisation of the Society’s social events.

Junior Lawyer Division

Chaired by Pete Black

The Newcastle and North East Junior Lawyers Division provide one representative who attends Newcastle Law Society Standing Committee meetings as an observer and acts as liaison between the respective organisations.