John Dickinson
Call 1995 (Middle Temple)
Qualifications BA Comb Hons (Exon.) ACA ( Qualified as a Chartered Accountant 1991) Dip. Law (Distinction)
Professional Membership Chancery Bar Association, Professional Negligence Bar Association, Western Chancery & Commercial Bar Association, Financial Services Lawyers Association
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Areas of Practice
John Dickinson is a barrister specialising in commercial litigation with an emphasis on banking, insolvency and company disputes.
Before joining the Bar, John practised as a Chartered Accountant for 5 years, latterly at Coopers & Lybrand in its litigation support department. He was seconded to the Serious Fraud Office to assist in the BCCI investigation. He also spent a number of months (2002/3) acting as counsel assisting Lord Penrose’s Inquiry concerning Equitable Life.
Banking
- Charges and debentures
- Cheques and bills of exchange
- Guarantees
- Restitution and subrogation
- Commercial and consumer credit (cases include Bristol & West plc v. Bartlett (HC) 2/11/02)
Contracts
- Sale of goods
- Restraint of trade
- Retention of title
Company
- Shareholders’ disputes
- Directors’ duties
Financial Services
Fraud
- Tracing and other equitable remedies
Injunction and Equitable remedies
- Freezing injunctions
- Search orders
Insolvency
- Bankruptcy
- Liquidation
- Administration
- Receiverships
Partnership
- Accountants
- Farming
- Solicitors
Wills Trusts and Probate
- Construction of wills
- Challenges to wills (cases include Smith v. Springford [2009] WTLR 705)
- Inheritance Act Claims
- Pensions: alteration of benefits, trustees and employers’ duties, complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman and claims against professionals in relation to pension advice
Property Litigation
- Commercial and residential (cases include Foley Farms Ltd v. Rigby Sporting Ltd LTL 25/01/05)
- Conveyancing disputes
- Easements
- Landlord & tenant
Professional Negligence
- Solicitors
- Accountants
- Financial institutions
Recommendations
Chambers UK 2010
- Chancery: John Dickinson is another of the chambers’ prominent chancery practitioners, recommended for his banking and insolvency specialism. “Unassuming and lacking in pomposity, he is good with clients and always thorough in everything he does.”
- Commercial Dispute Resolution: John Dickinson is an “extremely thorough, very reliable” individual, who is described as “an utter gentlemen” by his clients. An accountant by training, Dickinson has a strong grasp of financial details, which means he regularly receives instructions in more mainstream commercial litigation as well as chancery work. His recent caseload includes a number of shareholder and directors’ disputes for corporate clients. His court style is said to be “very measured and professional; he presents his argument clearly and builds up a good rapport with the judges.”
Chambers UK 2009
- Chancery: At St John’s Chambers, John Dickinson is a much sought-after junior. Peers describe him as “solid and up for a fight, but not in an unpleasant way.” Solicitors favour him as he is “calm under pressure, analytical and empathetic with clients.”
- Commercial Dispute Resolution: Clients are keen to endorse John Dickinson, describing him as “an extremely reliable individual who pays great attention to detail.” His background in accountancy means he is particularly useful on financial matters, and he is renowned for his expertise in shareholder disputes.
Legal 500 2009
- ‘reliable and incisive‘
