COBDEN HOUSE CHAMBERS – OPERATIONAL UPDATE 

First and foremost we would like to thank all our clients for their continued support and understanding during these unprecedented times. 

In accordance with government guidelines regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic chambers remains closed and all staff are working well from home. We continue to review our position regularly and will announce in due course when we are to reopen our doors. Preparations and plans are in place to ensure that when we do reopen we do so safely and in accordance to government recommendations.

Whilst we have physically closed our doors we are continuing to operate remotely in order to help all our professional and lay clients. Our phones will still be answered and emails will be responded to, we are operating very much on a business as usual basis as much as we can do.

Instructions

We continue to ask that instructions to counsel are sent by email ideally in a single paginated/bookmarked PDF format.

For Criminal matters please continue to invite counsel on the DCS. Should you need to send hard copies of any material, please discuss in advance with the clerks.

Conferences and JSMs

Conferences, JSMs and mediations have been successfully taking place by telephone, Skype or Zoom during the last few months and we actively encourage that to continue. The clerks can provide counsels’ direct contact details or Skype / Zoom details.

We acknowledge that there may be occasions and scenarios that require in person conferences to take place. To assist our valued clients, in these circumstances we are happy to accommodate these in chambers by specific arrangement with the appropriate social distancing measures and guidelines used by all attendees. Please contact the clerks in the usual way.

Court Hearings

Whilst some live hearings have slowly started to be resumed, the majority of hearings are currently being heard remotely by telephone and by the various video methods. The current position seems to be that Skype / Teams and Cloud Video Platform – The MOJ’s new bespoke system – are the likely methods. Here is a link to the MOJ’s website which provides official guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hmcts-telephone-and-video-hearings-during-coronavirus-outbreak

Please contact the clerks to discuss further.

Making payments

Wherever possible, please make all payments via BACS. Our BACS details are contained on all fee notes. The clerks can assist if you should need any information.

We are grateful to all our clients during this difficult time and if there is any way we can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact the clerks.

Making Contact

Whilst our phones will still be answered in the usual way if you would like to bypass our reception and speak to one of our clerks direct please feel free to do so. We actively encourage communication by email also.

Please see comprehensive list of contact details below:

CLERK CONTACT DETAILS

Martin Leech: 07791 519124 [email protected]

(Director of Clerking)

Dan Monaghan: 07980 671 017 [email protected]

(Deputy Director of Clerking)

Andy Oakes: 07920 024856 [email protected]

(Senior Criminal clerk)

Steven Tobias: 07583 019834 [email protected]

(Senior Civil Clerk - PI)

Avais Saleem: 07717 477353 [email protected]

(Civil and Family Clerk - Commercial)

Jamie Conwell: 07731 964211 [email protected]

(Deputy Senior Criminal Clerk)

Daniel Gray: 07920 740645 [email protected]

(Civil Clerk PI)

We thank you for your support and patience in these difficult and unprecedented times. We believe it is vital that all professionals within the legal industry collaborate to ensure that the wheels of justice continue to turn. If there is any way we as a chambers can assist you to continue to operate please do not hesitate to contact us.