Chris Royle
Called in 2009. Chris joined chambers after practising as a tenant at a prestigious Midlands set. He acts in a variety of matters on relation to local authorities, including:
* Employment (particularly unfair and wrongful dismissal, redundancy claims, and
discrimination)
* Non-domestic rating
* Bailiff and seizure law, and the law relating to parking penalties
* Commercial and contractual disputes
As a former computer security professional, Chris is able to provide specialist advice on cases involving IT disputes, including (for example) network and/or internet misuse, and contractual disputes surrounding computer systems. Having been an employer in his previous career, Chris is well placed to understand the position of employers both day to day, and once a claim is issued.
Chris has an extensive practice in bailiff and seizure law and has successfully represented local authorities, bailiffs and bailiff companies faced with allegations of strangulation, warrant forgery, and other more general forms of alleged misconduct.
Recent Cases
* S v P Ltd (2012): Successful defence of constructive dismissal claim in which the
claimant had in fact left to set up in competition with his former employer.
* A v A Council (2011): Successfully represented a local authority on appeal; issues
included warrant forgery and alleged failure of the authority to prepare warrants of
execution under CPR Pt. 75 once authorised by the Traffic Enforcement Centre.
* H v E Ltd (2011): Successful defence of an unfair dismissal claim in which the
employer had dismissed a long-standing employee with a clean disciplinary
record for taking a 30 minute unauthorised rest break.
* M v B (2011): Successful defence of a bailiff on a Form 4 complaint where the
primary allegation was one of strangulation whilst executing Council Tax liability
orders.
* F v M & A Council (2011): Successful defence of a bailiff company (as
co-defendant with local authority) on appeal in relation to injunctive relief in
relation to vehicle seizure pursuant to a warrant drawn under Pt. 75.
Chris is a full member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
