Joseph Mahon

Joseph is building a broad commercial practice in line with Chambers’ expertise. He has acted at trial, in interlocutory applications, and at the written stage, both for claimants and defendants. He is as confident in multi-track litigation as in small claims.

His recent experience includes:

• Acting at trial for a financial services company in a breach of contract claim relating to the provision of tax services. Obtaining an indemnity costs order against the Defendant.
• Settling the pleadings in a multi-track construction dispute relating to the provision of faulty goods.
• Acting for a national energy company, drafting a defence to a claim involving credit referencing and the unlawful sharing of information with credit agencies.
• Acting for a London Hospital Trust in proceedings relating to the crossover between bankruptcy, the extension of credit, and liability in contract.
• Obtaining strike out of a contractual/negligent provision of services claim against a local authority.
• Acting both at trial and in interim applications for a leading property management company.
• Appearing in numerous winding up petitions, bankruptcy petitions and related proceedings.
• Assisting in the advisory stage of a multi-million pound application to lift a stay of proceedings granted on forum non conveniens grounds.

As pupil to Roger Laville, Joseph gained considerable experience in banking and finance litigation, with notable exposure to cross-border claims involving jurisdictional questions. He dealt with alleged breaches of fiduciary / directors’ duties, including breaches of trust and other obligations, applications to amend the register of companies, as well as other company law procedures.

As pupil to Shane Crawford, Joseph experienced a range of employment law proceedings, covering unfair and wrongful dismissal claims, discrimination, whistleblowing and harassment. This experience spanned both the public and private sector.

Joseph has appeared in the county court and the property tribunal on a range of property matters. He is confident acting both for tenants and landlords. He has given seminars on social housing law and welcomes further invitations as to the same.

His recent experience includes:

• Acting for a leaseholder in a 1.5 day service charge trial in the property tribunal, challenging service charges in the region of £80,000.
• Representing a private landlord at the trial of a s21 claim for possession.
• Obtaining summary judgment against a claimant in a claim against a London Borough Council for unpaid care fees and housing benefit, then successfully defending an application to set that judgment aside.
• Acting for a leasehold tenant, settling a defence to unlawful sub-letting proceedings. Relatedly, advising on privity of contract, privity of estate, and the emergence of new tenancies.
• Acting for a range of private and social landlords in possession and demotion proceedings, including in relation to forfeiture, as well as applications to suspend/set-aside.
• Acting in, drafting pleadings for, and advising on disrepair and dilapidation claims.
• Numerous anti-social behaviour injunctions (with and without notice), access and works injunctions, and related applications.
• Frequently acting in committal and breach proceedings.

• University College London (UCL), Master of Laws (LLM): Distinction – distinction in every module, ranked among the top of his year, dissertation published
• BPP University, BPTC: Very Competent
• BPP University, GDL: Distinction
• Edinburgh University, Theology (MA (Hons))

• Lincoln’s Inn: Lord Denning Scholarship; Accommodation Award
• BPP University: Advocacy Scholarship, BPTC

Joseph has published articles for the UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence (‘Humanitarianism within Statist Boundaries: a systemic interpretation of Art. 1F Refugee Convention in light of terrorist concerns’, Vol 8(2), 2019), the Lincoln’s Inn Student Law Journal (‘Religion in the Balance: Constitutionalism, Autonomy and Identity in the CJEU’, 2019), and on the website Keep Calm Talk Law.

He has also spent time abroad, working with the leading women’s rights organisation in Palestine. While there, he assisted in submissions to UN Treaty Bodies and wrote speeches that were delivered at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. He later acted as a consultant for the organisation in a similar capacity.

Before converting to law, Joseph gained notable financial experience, principally in the investment trust section of a leading market-making firm.