Jerome Wilcox

Jerome is essentially a litigator. A large majority of Jerome’s practice involves representing lay clients (individuals, partnership and corporate) under the Direct Access Scheme. Jerome has been authorised to conduct litigation for many years now and therefore can replace solicitor involvement entirely - in most instructions he is able to run a case from beginning to end saving significant solicitor costs and providing the client a continuing point of reference throughout including out of hours.

Jerome’s practice centres around the following areas of work:

1. general contract work with a particular emphasis on building and property related claims including lease, rent and possession disputes as well as vintage and high value car claims particularly where elements of fraud or bad faith are involved – claims often include partnership disputes, claims for and against insurers and solicitor negligence cases and the more frequent ‘romance scam’ claims often involving the recovery of life savings. Recently involved in a protracted High Court trial involving a dispute between two Egyptian businessman arguing over a profit share/loan agreement in respect of a multi-million pound development scheme which had the additional complexity of forensic IT expert evidence in relation to historic emails central to the evidence. Injunction work of all types.

2. bankruptcy and insolvency work of all types – recently directly instructed by a former Russian oligarch and owner of multiple Russian banks and pension funds resisting a trustee’s application to suspend his discharge from bankruptcy (involving proof of debts of nearly £2billion) – acting against CMS solicitors in one of the largest bankruptcy proceedings currently (and possibly ever) in the UK - Kevin Hellard, Nicholas Nicholson and Robert Starkins (joint trustees in bankruptcy of Anatoly Leonidovich Motylev) – ICC Judge Mullen (8/3/23) (unreported).

3. Tribunal work of all types - including successfully representing a property developer in a case seeking the modification of a restrictive covenant in an exclusive private housing estate involving nearly 100 other private residences to enable a multi-million pound property development to progress to fruition.

4. Claims involving disputes over both public and general rights of way/access, boundary and general neighbour disputes in commercial and residential matters. Recently involved in a historical rights of way/parking case between a garage business owner and a multi-million pound residential developer with the potential demolition of part of the development – concerning complex issues of easements over the business park.

5. TOLATA type claims including a recent claim on behalf of an elderly lady in dispute with her deceased ex-partner’s two children over the former family homes both in the UK and in Cyprus.

Jerome also acts for a number of high net worth individuals and businesses on an ongoing advisory basis including recently acting for a property developer wishing to apply for planning in respect of a multi-million pound development in the heart of Fulham.

He will also deal with general debt claims, personal guarantees including (most importantly) their successful enforcement as well as enforcement of UK judgments overseas, planning related matters, licensing of premises and associated enforcement issues and appeals. Jerome is experienced in conducting mediations on behalf of clients to find solutions to disputes.

HEALTH & SAFETY MATTERS

Jerome has also specialised in prosecuting and defending large, medium and small businesses including company directors at risk of personal liability. Jerome has previously been retained over a number of years as lead Counsel to Surrey County Council and its Trading Standards Authority which includes cases (and appeals) concerning:

1. prosecutions of companies and directors/individuals under the Fraud Act 2006;
2. restraint orders, applications under POCA 2002, and confiscation and enforcement that may follow prosecutions;
3. Improvement and prohibition notices;
4. Fire Safety regulations (under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) including all forms of commercial/retail premises & the personal liability of directors that may arise;
5. Prosecutions under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 & The Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 and formerly the Trade Descriptions Act 1968;
6. Prosecutions under the Trade Marks Act 1994;
7. Animal health and welfare legislation including the Animal Health Act 1981 and the associated plethora of regulations;
8. Food safety/hygiene and labelling;
9. Rogue traders and “sting” operations;
10. Enterprise Act 2002 prosecutions including the injunctive and committal aspects of such matters;
11. Acting for police authorities in relation to police misconduct hearings.

Jerome is up to date with his continuing professional development obligations. Jerome is competent in French. He is a skilled golfer, skier and squash player amongst his many varied interests and loves sports cars and travels widely when time permits.