Dr Christopher Wood

Year of call:

2008

Education:

2017 - Durham University, Hatfield College Ph.D - "Risk Assessment, UK Counter-Terrorism Law & Policy, A Human Rights Based Approach"

2010 - Durham University, Hatfield College LL.M Master of Laws

2008 - Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham Law School Bar Vocational Course - Very Competent

2007 - University of Derby, Derby Law School LL.B (Hons)

Career:

2011 - Pupil at Old Court Chambers, Middlesbrough

2013 - Tenant at Old Court Chambers, Middlesbrough

2014 - Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University, Newcastle

2020 - Old Court Chambers merges with PSQB

Appointments:

November 2019 - North Eastern Circuit Representative for Lincoln's Inn

December 2019 - CPS Panel - General Crime Grade 3

December 2019 - CPS Panel - POCA Specialist Grade 3

December 2019 - Serious Crime Specialist Grade 2

December 2023 - RASSO Grade 4

December 2023 - Serious Crime - Level 4

Memberships:

2013 - Present - North Eastern Circuit

2012 - Present - Criminal Bar Association

2010 - Present - Durham Human Rights Centre

2010 - Present - Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience

2013 - Present - Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

2015 - Present - Royal United Services Institute

Chris is an experienced criminal practitioner, dealing with prosecution and defence, which encompasses all parts of criminal law including serious violence, drug trafficking, firearms, and sexual offences. He provides a dedicated service to every case he is involved in and utilises his knowledge to analyse cases, prepare them and present them fully. He has experience of dealing with cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses and defendants.

He has a detailed understanding of Proceeds of Crime and is highly skilled in dealing with the complexities which arise in such cases. He is regularly instructed on applications to vary restraint orders, vary confiscation orders, enforcement proceedings and much more.

Chris has also appeared before the Court Martial, defending serving personal and is happy to travel to deal with such matters.

Between 2014 and 2018 Chris was involved in extensive research regarding biometric evidence in criminal cases. He specifically examined the way in which such evidence can be used cross-border and international mutual assistance arrangements to tackle serious organised crime, sexual offences and terrorism. His research contributed to the UK Parliament decision to become signatories to the Prüm Treaty. Chris has presented several papers at national and international conferences addressing topics on evidence and biometric evidence, criminal procedure and terrorism.

Chris is a Grade 4 Prosecutor in General Crime and POCA Specialist Panels, and Grade 4 on the Serious Organised Crime Specialist Panel.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Dan Foulger on 01642 232523

Claire Gibson on 01642 232523

Emma Gibson on 01642 232523

Notable Cases

R v Bashier – in a POCA s.22 Variation Application, secured a variation for £1.8m of the outstanding balance.

R v Hussain – secured a conviction for fraud when the Defendant misled a woman to believe they were in a relationship and secured money and car finance from her. Following conviction, a Confiscation Order was secured for over £45,000.

R v Sgt. M – client was a Sergeant in the British Army and being prosecuted for an Affray, however an acquittal was secured.

R v Jary – secured a conviction for a single punch attack which left the victim in a vegetative state.

R v Carter – secured an acquittal for the client who was alleged to have been involved in multiple burglaries within the Teesside area.

R v Barker – secured a conviction against the Defendant who obtain funds from the family business to fund his online relationships

Chris is regularly instructed in both, Public Law and Private Law matters.

Public Law

He has been instructed to represent the local authorities, parents, grandparents, children and interveners in care proceedings and other public law proceedings. He is regularly instructed in cases involving serious allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. He has experience of representing vulnerable clients and supporting them throughout proceedings and is similarly very good at dealing with highly emotional and volatile clients.

Private Law

Chris has predominantly represented parents and grandparents in a variety of private law matters. He has dealt with cases involving difficult and complex child arrangement issues, such as contact. He has been instructed to represent parents in private law finding of fact hearings as well as cases involving serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse.

Chris also has also previously been instructed in various Family Law Act applications including non-molestation orders and committal applications.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Dan Foulger on 01642 232523

Claire Gibson on 01642 232523

Emma Gibson on 01642 232523

 

Notable Cases

Re: S – represented mother during Finding of Fact Hearing and successfully obtained a finding that father had intentionally alienated the mother from her children when the parties separated.

Re: J, EM and MJ – represented the grandparents in public law proceedings where they were in a pool of perpetrators to have caused serious sexual harm to their grandchild, successfully arguing they should be excluded and obtaining a Special Guardianship Order.

Chris has experience of representing parties at hearings and conducting cases involving charging orders, Bankruptcy and Insolvency matters and breach of contract. He has experience of dealing with multi-track and fact track trials.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Dan Foulger on 01642 232523

Claire Gibson on 01642 232523

Emma Gibson on 01642 232523

Chris takes instructions in relation to all aspects of family property and finances which arise following marital separation and separation of cohabitees.

He often appears at First Directions Appointments, Financial Dispute Resolution Hearings and Final Hearings.

Chris has experience of dealing with cases that involve: Family Trusts, Foreign Property, Pensions and Interveners.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Dan Foulger on 01642 232523

Claire Gibson on 01642 232523

Emma Gibson on 01642 232523

Chris is experienced in dealing with personal injury claims including industrial disease and professional negligence. He has been instructed in RTA personal-injury cases and special damages claims, employer’s liability and credit-hire matters. He has experience in advising clients on liability and quantum. He is regularly instructed on Actions Against the Police and claims against the State for injuries or abuse sustained whilst in lawful custody.

As well as dealing with multi-track and fast-track trials, Chris also has experience of dealing with interlocutory and preliminary hearings, including set aside judgment, seeking summary or default judgment. He has also previously been instructed to deal with committal applications.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Dan Foulger on 01642 232523

Claire Gibson on 01642 232523

Emma Gibson on 01642 232523

Chris has an interest in Regulatory and Public Law matters. He has previously been instructed to give advice and draft applications seeking Judicial Review. His interests in public law and human rights practices were expanded into researching UK Counter-Terrorism Law and Human Rights through his Ph.D thesis entitled ‘Risk Assessment, Counter-Terrorism UK Law & Policy; A Human Rights-Based Analysis’ and continues to expand his interests within this field.

He has also represented Local Authorities in bringing prosecutions for various public safety and health regulation breaches. Chris has also previously defended those accused of animal cruelty in prosecutions brought by the RSPCA.

Chris has been instructed to represent clients at the Mental Health Review Tribunals.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Dan Foulger on 01642 232523

Claire Gibson on 01642 232523

Emma Gibson on 01642 232523

Notable Cases

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council v Farndale – prosecuted a farmer for failing to comply with EU Regulations on keeping up-to-date records of cattle and failing to dispose of cattle carcases appropriately – Click here for media coverage