G is for Groundbreaking – Griffin Law is an innovative law firm that breaks new ground in the law.
R is for Reasonable – Griffin Law offers its clients reasonably priced legal services.
I is for Intuitive – Griffin Law anticipates the goals of its clients and the developments in cases.
F is for Friendly – Griffin Law staff are welcoming and sympathetic to clients’ desires.
F is for Fast – Griffin Law is proactive, not reactive.
I is for Informative – Griffin Law shares its lawyers’ knowledge with its clients, helping them avoid future pitfalls.
N is for No-Nonsense – Griffin Law lawyers tell their clients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.
L is for Local – Griffin Law is proud to act for local residents of Hawkhurst, Sandhurst and surrounding villages in the High Weald.
A is for Accurate – Griffin Law lawyers show a superior level of attention to detail.
W is for Winners – Griffin Law is the kind of law firm that you want on your side, not acting against you.
There is nothing more traumatic than being bullied and not knowing where to turn. Children’s lives are ruined, workers resign rather than putting up with workplace harassment and sometimes those who are bullied are even tragically driven to self-harm and suicide.
Griffin Law stands ready, willing and able to help those who are bullied and harassed by those who cower behind anonymity or who believe that they can bully with impunity.
In October 2009, Griffin Law obtained the first ever order anywhere in the world that provided for a court injunction to be served on an anonymous cyber bully via Twitter. This landmark precedent-setting judgment – known as a Blaney’s Blarney Order and reported worldwide – means that celebrities, sportsmen and politicians cannot be impersonated online by anonymous stalkers with impunity.
More importantly it means that children who are bullied at school, or those who are bullied because of their race, religion, sexuality, disability, age or gender, can finally discover the identity of their tormentors – and seek damages from them.
Standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves and who do not know where to turn is at the heart of Griffin Law’s ethos. We are here to help if you or a family member or friend encounter any of the following.
- Stalking & Harassment
- Cyber Bullying & Harassment, including Facebook, Twitter, Websites, Blogs and Phone &Text Messages
- Workplace Bullying & Harassment
Today the High Court showed that while it may be steeped in tradition, it is certainly not behind the times by granting an order which allowed service of an injunction via Twitter.
The Order which is called a Blaney’s Blarney Order after the subject matter – a blog called Blaney’s Blarney (donalblaney.com) – requires an unknown Twitter user anonymously posting under the same name, and thus breaching the copyright and intellectual property of the blog’s owner, to stop posting and immediately identify themselves.
The Blaney’s Blarney Order is the first order ever to be served via Twitter and signals an end to anonymous breaches of the law on Twitter or any other internet site.
Griffin Law, the solicitors who dealt with the matter, are experts in the law of the internet and have successfully prevented internet impersonation before on Facebook and Blogger.
Matthew Richardson, the barrister who devised and won the Blaney’s Blarney Order, said: “The Blaney’s Blarney Order is a huge step forward in preventing anonymous abuse of the internet. People have to learn that they can no longer hide behind the cloak of anonymity the internet provides and break the law with impunity.”
Donal Blaney, the victim of the anonymous impersonation and the principal of Griffin Law, said: “This is an important step in dealing with online bullying. The scales of justice have been tilted in favour of innocent victims today.”
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What can be more worrying for a parent than their child’s future – and in particular their child’s right to a good education.
Griffin Law is experienced in helping parents whose children have been excluded from school, who suffer bullying and harassment from teachers or other pupils, or who do not get a place at the school of their choice.
We also help ensure students with special educational needs have those needs properly looked after and that when schools, colleges or universities seek to discipline students, they do so fairly and in accordance with the law.
Griffin Law also acts for students who seek to hold universities and students’ unions to account, in particular to prevent any unlawful expenditures or acts.
Lawyers who advise on areas outside their competence risk not only a sizeable claim in negligence but also the possibility of being disciplined by their local bar associations.
Just as no English solicitor should seek to give advice on the laws of France, China or even the British Virgin Islands, so it is the case that no prudent attorney in the United States, Canada or Australia should give advice on English law.
Griffin Law is able to provide formal opinions and memoranda of advice on specific aspects of English law, in line with instructions received from foreign law firms.
Those firms instructing Griffin Law may be firms with whom Griffin Law has had a longstanding relationship or first-time instructions. But whoever instructs Griffin Law can be assured to receive prompt, accurate, commercially astute and cost-effective advice.
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The word “offshore” conjures up an aura of mystique and fear in the minds of too many lawyers around the world.
Some of that fear and mystique, however, is deserved – for a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Griffin Law has considerable experience in dealing with offshore litigation, offshore companies and offshore trusts for individual, business or institutional clients and, through its network of offshore professionals, has access to the very best advice for foreign law firms and their clients in jurisdictions such as:
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Litigation is at the heart of Griffin Law’s work for its clients. The firm’s team has handled cases at all levels of the judicial system, as well as in various other jurisdictions ranging from the Isle of Man to the British Virgin Islands.
When dealing with any dispute, the firm is anxious to ensure that a client – be it a claimant or defendant – comes through the dispute resolution process (be it litigation, arbitration, mediation or alternative dispute resolution) in one piece. Dispute resolution can be costly, stressful and time-consuming if not handled professionally and proactively.
With this in mind, Griffin Law has pioneered the production of Dispute Resolution Memoranda – detailed and fully costed case plans that can help litigants determine the most time and cost-efficient route, if any, to pursue.
In terms of funding disputes, Griffin Law is willing to countenance acting for clients not just on the standard, hourly rate basis but also on any of the following:
- Discounted Hourly Rate – whereby instead of charging our full hourly rates we will act on a discounted rate (ordinarily between 25% and 50%), recovering an enhanced hourly rate from the other side if and when the case is successful;
- Contingency Fee – we will act for your client on the basis of a percentage of any sum recovered from the other side without recourse to court proceedings (ordinarily between 25% and 40%);
- Conditional Fee – we will act for your client under a “no win, no fee” agreement where, if successful, we recover a considerably enhanced hourly rate from the other side while acting for your client for nothing (although your client is, as ever, compelled to pay any court fees and disbursements as a case progresses);
- Legal Expenses Insurance – provided your insurers consent and the terms of your insurance are acceptable, we will act for you with our fees being paid by your insurers.
In addition to these forms of litigation funding, we will also help your client obtain after-the-event insurance, if appropriate, so that your client is protected against the risk of being ordered to pay your client’s opponent’s costs.
Whatever the dispute, and whatever the forum, Griffin Law is the firm you want on your client’s side.
Wouldn’t you like the scales of justice tipped in your client’s favour for once?
The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 contain detailed and strict requirements for the registration and enforcement of foreign judgments in England’s courts.
As a specialist litigation practice, Griffin Law can advise foreign firms and their clients of the procedures that need to be followed – and the chances for recovery of any judgment debts – at any from before the commencement of proceedings in another jurisdiction to the time that that foreign judgment actually needs to be registered and/or enforced through the English courts.
Griffin Law provides prompt, commercially astute and cost-effective advice to foreign law firms and their clients. If you would like assistance in registering or enforcing a foreign judgment in England & Wales, please contact us.
For foreign businessmen and professionals looking to live and work in the United Kingdom, the process of obtaining permission to enter the UK from the British government is convoluted.
Griffin Law, working as appropriate with overseas consulates and London-based embassies and High Commissions, can help obtain the requisite immigration clearance to allow you and your family to live and work in Britain.
Griffin Law recognises that law firms often have the need for locum solicitors, temporary staff, maternity and paternity cover and other fixed-term contract support for specific projects or cases.
Griffin Law provides fellow practitioners with the ability to hire the services of experienced lawyers for fixed periods of time to help with a variety of tasks where permanent staff recruitment is not considered cost-effective or desirable.
Griffin Law provides a full range of PSL services to law firms including:
- Collating and disseminating know-how to fee earners;
- Developing and managing a set of precedents for lawyers and clients;
- Assisting with the co-ordination of your firm’s legal training programme and delivering elements of that training where appropriate;
- Preparing technical notes for both internal education and external marketing; and
- Assisting fee earners with pitch building and business development.
Instead of having your fee-earners spending their precious billable time working on non-billable matters, to the detriment of your bottom line, your firm can engage the services of Griffin Law to undertake those tasks ordinarily undertaken by PSLs – research, drafting, analysis, marketing and training.
By engaging the services of Griffin Law as your firm’s outsourced PSL provider, you will be able to control costs, monitor progress against agreed benchmarks and ensure that you obtain the precise level of professional support that your firm needs.
For further information as to how Griffin Law can help you free up your fee-earners to earn more fees, contact justice@griffinlaw.co.uk.
It is no longer good enough for lawyers to know the law. We all need to know how to communicate the law effectively.
Working with experienced journalists and skilled technicians, Griffin Law can offer theoretical and practical training in how handle print journalists, techniques in dealing with radio and television interviews, how to use the new media effectively and the secrets to effective public speaking.
Topics covered include:
- How to handle the print and broadcast media;
- Dealing with nerves;
- The ten secrets of effective public speaking.
The day rate for media training or public speaking is £1,995, while the rate for half a day is £1,495. These rates exclude VAT and disbursements (including, but not limited to, travel, room hire, accommodation, tapes and other consummables).
Having obtained an order or judgment for a client, the next step is to enforce that judgment. That can often be a time-consuming and non-lucrative process.
The last thing your client will want is to spend additional money unnecessarily. The last thing you will want is to spend additional time unnecessarily.
Griffin Law is willing to act as your enforcer. Through persistence, proactivity and creative use of the procedures available to judgment creditors, and by agreeing not to poach your clients, Griffin Law can deal with:
- Attachment of Earnings;
- Charging Orders;
- Garnishee Orders;
- Judgment Summons;
- Oral Examination;
- Warrant of Delivery;
- Warrant of Execution.
Griffin Law provides tailored, prompt and cost-effective legal advice to British expats living in mainland Europe, the United States, Canada and the Caribbean about their affairs back home.
British expats living overseas all too often complain that they do not have ready access to solicitors who can deal with their domestic needs back in the UK. By addressing that growing need, Griffin Law can help British expats with Wills, probate and other family related issues, including dealing with the sickness or death of UK-based relatives.
By working closely with your existing advisors and providing services to you in a prompt, cost-effective and commercial manner, Griffin Law can take away the worry of dealing with issues hundreds or thousands of miles back home.
By making a Will you are ensuring that your family and others specified in your Will are provided for. If you do not make a Will your estate will be distributed under the rules of intestacy as dictated by the Government; this is very unlikely to reflect your intentions and will probably increase the tax burden on your estate.
Griffin Law provides tailored, prompt and cost-effective legal advice to British expats living in mainland Europe, the United States, Canada and the Caribbean about their affairs back home.
British expats living overseas all too often complain that they do not have ready access to solicitors who can deal with their domestic needs back in the UK. By addressing that growing need, Griffin Law can help British expats with property-related matters such as:
- Buying/selling homes or investment properties;
- Planning issues; and
- Property disputes (particularly property disputes arising out of investments in the United States and Mediterranean).
By working closely with your existing advisors and providing services to you in a prompt, cost-effective and commercial manner, Griffin Law can take away the worry of dealing with issues hundreds or thousands of miles back home.
Griffin Law provides tailored, prompt and cost-effective legal advice to British expats living in mainland Europe, the United States, Canada and the Caribbean about their affairs back home.
British expats living overseas all too often complain that they do not have ready access to solicitors who can deal with their domestic needs back in the UK. By addressing that growing need, Griffin Law can help British expats with UK pension and insurance policy claims and disputes
By working closely with your existing advisors and providing services to you in a prompt, cost-effective and commercial manner, Griffin Law can take away the worry of dealing with issues hundreds or thousands of miles back home.
Have you ever received substandard service from a lawyer, accountant, architect, doctor or other professional?
If so, you may have a cause of action in negligence – and as professionals are ordinarily compelled to hold professional indemnity insurance, you would be suing a defendant with the deepest of deep pockets.
Griffin Law has experience in acting for and against professionals in negligence actions stretching back over twelve years. The firm, through its proactive and creative use of court procedures, litigation tactics and legal remedies, has a sound track record in pursuing those who have given negligent advice to their clients.
Griffin Law is always willing to explore acting for clients under discounted hourly rates, contingency or conditional fee agreements (”no win, no fee” agreements) or under a legal expenses or after-the-event insurance policy.
We are lawyers who you want on your side. We can help tip the scales of justice in your favour for a change.
Griffin Law has experience in dealing with issues relating to planning, environmental and licensing law.
Planning
Griffin Law can handle all aspects of the planning process, from consultations with planning officers to the submission of planning applications to appeals. As the firm is a renowned litigation practice, the firm is well able to deal with matters when they become contentious.
Environment
We can advise on a variety of environmental protection measures such as under the pollution prevention and control, waste management or contaminated land regimes, and statutory, public or private nuisances.
We can also advise on environmental statements and the management of environmental risks and liabilities, whether clients are purchasers or vendors of property, conducting activities requiring an environmental licence or permit, dealing with pollution to land, air, water or regulatory/enforcement action.
Licensing
Griffin Law can also handle work relating to the licensing of the sale or supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment and late night refreshment under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003, including applications to local authorities for personal and premises licenses.
Knowledge is power.
Whereas most lobbying firms in the UK have evolved out of the PR industry, Griffin Law’s lobbying and public affairs practice is part and parcel of the firm itself.
Working closely with a team of public affairs consultants located throughout the United States, Europe and Britain, Griffin Law offers the following services:
- Bid Support;
- Campaign & Coalition Building;
- Grassroots Outreach;
- Intelligence, Monitoring & Analysis;
- Issues Advocacy;
- Media & Presentation Training;
- National, Devolved, Regional & Local Government Relations;
- New Media Campaigns;
- Operational Reviews;
- Political Crisis & Reputation Management;
- Political Risk & Strategy Workshops;
- Public Policy Trends & Analysis;
- Reputation & Communications Audits;
- Select Committee Training;
- Stakeholder Briefing Programmes.
Of particular interest is the firm’s new media expertise. This means that the firm is able not only to provide its clients with rigorous analysis based on unrivalled intelligence but the firm is able to equip its clients to be able to run grassroots campaigns that will help ensure clients achieve the desired result.
Litigation is at the heart of Griffin Law as a firm.
Griffin Law is a well-known, respected firm that represents its commercial clients’ interest fearlessly. The firm has particular experience in the obtaining injunctions, interlocutory relief and pursuing defendants around the globe.
Griffin Law is rare among solicitors by actively considering the use of innovative and commercially attractive funding source for commercial clients involved in disputes including contingency and conditional fee agreements (“no win, no fee” agreements), discounted hourly rates and the use of after-the-event insurance as a means by which to reduce the risk of being ordered to pay the other side’s costs.
Griffin Law has also pioneered the use of Dispute Strategy Memoranda as a way of managing its clients’ case, thus reducing the costs payable by clients and leading to an earlier and less stressful resolution to commercial disputes.
If you are a business, no matter how large or small, and no matter how large or small your dispute is, Griffin Law can help.
We are the firm you want to be on your side, not against you.
