Year of Call: 1997
Practice Areas
Paul’s practice is generally split between the following main areas: insurance law (particularly motor), insurance fraud, personal injury / fatal accident, and consumer law. He also has considerable past experience of employment cases.
Insurance: Paul has significant and broad experience in this area. In relation to ‘pure’ insurance law issues, he has represented clients in relation to disputes between insurers, avoidance disputes between insured and insurer (including claims for contractual indemnity), disputes between insurers and third parties (e.g. issues arising under ss151-152 Road Traffic Act 1988), representations to third parties (such as the MIB, Financial Ombudsman Service, etc), and interpretation of insurance contracts and any resulting declaratory proceedings. His work has mostly been in connection with motor insurance, but he has also acted in cases involving disputes about life insurance and legal expenses policies. Mason v TNT and Groupama Insurance saw him acting for a successful insurer on a point of great significance to the industry: whether an insurer was liable for the ‘same damage’ as a tortfeasor for its (potential) breach of indemnity.
Paul also acts in insurance fraud cases (chiefly motor insurance). He has significant experience of drafting, advising and representing in the full range of fraud cases from the small opportunistic claims to large scale, nationwide, fraud rings. He also has considerable experience of declaratory proceedings, recovery actions (including tort of deceit), enforcement actions and committal proceedings. He was recently in the Court of Appeal in Hamid v Khalid and Co-Operative Insurance.
Personal injury / fatal accident: his work involves predominantly Multi-Track cases in the County or High Court and also includes appellate work in the High Court and Court of Appeal. He is also regularly instructed to attend mediations and JSMs. He has considerable experience acting for cruise companies and airlines in relation to personal injury claims arising from incidents at sea (involving jurisdictional issues and issues under the Athens Convention and The Merchant Shipping Act 1995) and on board aircraft.
Consumer: Paul is targeted as a leading junior for many of the most significant consumer law cases and has appeared in the County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. His work involves vast experience of credit hire cases, including those of the greatest value and / or significance, including the seminal case of Burdis v Livsey. His work also involves issues arising under the Consumer Credit Act, the Package Tour Regulations, the flight cancellation Regulations (EU Regulation 261/2004), the Sale of Goods Act, the Supply of Goods and Services Act and the Consumer Protection Act.
Employment: Paul still undertakes work relating to injunctions or proposed / threatened injunctions (restraint of trade, restrictive covenants, delivery up, etc) but has otherwise steered his practice away from employment to concentrate on the above mentioned areas. Paul has significant experience of employment litigation (mostly instructed by Respondents) and has made a great number of appearances in the Tribunal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. Paul continues to act in all manner of employment cases on behalf of Advocate (formerly known as the Bar Pro Bono Unit).
Lord Justice Holker major scholarship award from Grays Inn (1996)
Lee Essay Prizewinner (1995) (judged by Lord Mustill)
Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Award for Excellence (achieving top A Level mark in the country, 1993)
Paul is one of only five ‘Band 1’ motor fraud specialists in the country. He ‘demonstrates considerable expertise’ in the area. He has also been recommended for personal injury and credit hire claims. He has been noted as being a ‘robust’, ‘well-prepared’, ‘careful and considerate’ advocate. Chambers and Partners 2022/3
Paul is again recommended as a Leading Junior in the section Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Insurance Fraud. Legal 500 2022/3
Ranked in Band 1 in Motor Insurance Fraud and noted to be ‘a robust, well-prepared advocate’ and demonstrating ‘considerable expertise in a range of motor fraud cases, including those relating to exaggerated claims, fundamental dishonesty and staged accidents’. He was also noted for his strength in handling credit hire and personal injury matters. Chambers & Partners 2021
Recommended as a Leading Junior in the section Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Insurance Fraud. Legal 500 2021
Recommended as having a ‘considerable expertise in a range of motor fraud cases, including those related to exaggerated claims, fundamental dishonesty and staged accidents’ and noted for ‘his strength in handling fraud ring matters’. He is noted to have a ‘tremendously endearing court manner’ and that ‘Judges like him and he’s persuasive’. He is also praised as being a ‘great advocate who is excellent on technical points.’ Chambers & Partners, 2020
Recommended in Tier 1, ‘Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Insurance Fraud’ as “On top of his game – he is a leading expert in cases involving suspected fraud” Legal 500, 2020 (Band 1, Insurance Fraud)
‘He is a very good lawyer with a strong expertise in road traffic insurance law, personal injury and fraud work.’ Legal 500, 2019
“A persuasive advocate who is effective in his interaction with judges.” “A well-respected practitioner.” Noted as demonstrating “considerable expertise in a range of motor fraud cases, including those related to exaggerated claims, fundamental dishonesty and staged accidents. He is also noted for his strength in handling fraud ring matters.” Chambers and Partners, 2019
Recommended as demonstrating ‘considerable expertise’ in motor fraud cases and employing ‘enthusiasm and drive’. He is also noted to have an ability to ‘slowly take the opposition apart in an almost surgical fashion rather than in a theatrical style – he’s a silent assassin’ and to be ‘very strong both on paper and in court’, knowing ‘how to get the best result for the client’ and good at ‘understanding a large amount of information’. Chambers and Partners, 2018
Recommended in Tier 1, ‘Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Insurance Fraud’ as ‘Experienced in all manner of motor insurance fraud cases’. Legal 500, 2017.
“Recommended for personal injury, motor and credit hire work”. Legal 500, 2015
“Very well regarded for all things personal injury, motor and credit hire”. Legal 500, 2014
Paul McGrath is recommended as a leading junior for consumer law and described as being “noted for his ‘deep knowledge of the issues'”. Legal 500, Consumer, 2013
“Paul McGrath is praised for his ‘robust and sensible advice'”. Legal 500, Employment, 2011
University of London LLB (Hons)
Inns of Court School of Law (BVC)
Dishonest litigant sentenced to 5 months’ immediate custody for false personal injury claim. Paul McGrath and James Henry, instructed by Benjamin Leech of Keoghs LLP, secured a committal order of immediate imprisonment for 5 months for contempt of court against Mr Robert Hall. Paul McGrath appeared in the committal hearing, and James Henry acted at sentencing stage.
Claim for National Minimum Wage pursued by foster carer providing emergency foster care. Whether salaried worker, whether unmeasured worker, whether ‘on call’ was time at work.
Claim in the Admiralty Division for an accident aboard a tender vessel. The judgment considers questions of the scope of the Athens Convention along with whether liability was established for an accident aboard a third party’s vessel.
Alleged fraud case. Court of Appeal decision following an insurers appeal against a finding that an accident had been proven on a balance of probabilities. Guidance given on when an appeal Court can interfere, when an acquittal of fraud can be set aside and the factors to be borne in mind, adequacy of reasons and the role that proportionality might have to play in this and whether an adverse inference ought to have been drawn. Appropriate costs order when fraud pleading fails to be proven.
Whether an insurer’s admission made under the MoJ Portal is binding on insured in separate proceedings.
Tort of deceit case considering the appropriate award in a staged road traffic cases for exemplary damages, considering the relevant authorities and approaches in other Courts.
Instructed by a non-party to advise, and draft potential argument, on the significant points in relation to impecuniosity and whether insured benefits are to be left out of account in the assessment of compensation.
Four tests cases in the Court of Appeal dealing with multiple issues of fraud, consumer law (particularly in relation to the hiring of vehicles in credit), and practice on appeals in relation to the introduction of fresh evidence.
Successful appeal. The normal rule was to order that costs be assessed forthwith. Under the CPR particular regard was to be had to proportionality. There was an element of proportionality in having all the costs dealt with on one occasion: it would be quicker to assess the costs at one hearing. However, that was not a sufficient reason to displace the normal rule. C was entitled to have his costs assessed in detail at the present stage. It was not pragmatic to award him costs and interest at a later date.
Court of Appeal decision on apportionment in a road traffic case involving sudden braking.
Grievance procedures. Lengthy but intractable grievance was judged to frustrate the object of the statutory grievance procedure and thus not qualifying as a grievance and the claim was accordingly time-barred.
Whether an insurer can be liable to a tortfeasor to contribute for its alleged breach of indemnity in dealing with the consequences of the tort. Meaning of ‘same damage’.
Appeals in employment cases: time limits and required documentation.
Appeal against a finding of unfair dismissal. Appropriate test. Considering Sainsburys Supermarkets v Hitt.
The seminal case on credit hire and credit repair and the appropriate measure of loss in such cases. Direct loss and consequential loss.
1st June 2021
Please see link below to the latest TGC Fraud newsletter.
10th December 2018
Please see link below to the latest update from the TGC Costs Team.
2nd July 2018
Please see link below for Issue VIII of TGC Fraud Update, a publication we have set up with the stated aim of facilitating the sharing of information about decided claims involving issues of road traffic fraud and related matters.
17th May 2018
Please see link below to the latest TGC Costs Newsletter.
21st September 2017
Please see link below for Issue 6 of TGC Fraud Update, a publication we have set up with the stated aim of facilitating the sharing of information about decided claims involving issues of road traffic fraud and related matters.
12th April 2017
12th April 2017
12th April 2017
12th April 2017
30th May 2022
Paul McGrath (instructed by Nasreen Rehman of Plexus Law) succeeded in defeating a claim for c. £145,000 hire charges on the basis that the Claimant’s own vehicle had been driven illegally (without a valid MoT). The Judge (HHJ Lethem, Central London CC), in a reserved judgment, undertook a comprehensive review of the relevant authorities and accepted Paul’s submissions and dismissed the entire claim for hire charges on grounds of causation and illegality: Agbalaya (available on Westlaw).
18th May 2022
Paul McGrath represented the respondents in an action brought by a former employer / competitor business for restraint of trade and delivery up (instructed by Vienna Kang Advocates). The respondents denied liability but agreed undertakings to avoid further litigation. The parties disagreed about costs. The High Court accepted the respondents’ submission that the approach of the former employer was ‘on the over-heavy side’ and accepted that there was an important public policy to encourage settlement:
Read more26th January 2022
We are delighted to announce that Paul McGrath has been appointed as a Recorder. Paul will continue to practise as a barrister and anticipates sitting as a Recorder for c.30 days per year.
Read more1st June 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of the TGC Fraud Update.
At the time of our last Update we were in the midst of the pandemic, a vaccine was a distant dream, and only a handful of remote hearings had led to findings of fundamental dishonesty and the exposure of insurance fraud.
As the cases reported in this edition of the Update demonstrate, the assessment of credibility through the medium of a remote video hearing has evolved into a practice with which representatives and judges are now familiar.
There does not appear to have been a downturn in the incidence of false claims, and there does not appear to have been a downturn in the exposure of those claims at trial. Those observations seem to be validated by the IFB’s estimations that, notwithstanding 3 national lockdowns, there have been 170,000 motor insurance claims in the last 15 months suspected to have been linked to crash-for-cash networks.
The way that we deal with cases may have changed, but those statistics and the current backlog of cases in the County Court certainly suggest that insurance fraud lawyers will be kept busy for the foreseeable future. It is important, however, to recognise that the time for the implementation of the whiplash reforms has finally arrived. It is an opportune moment to focus on the pressing questions for the industry: how will they work, and how will they affect us all? Will they achieve their stated aims of reducing whiplash claims while maintaining access to justice for genuinely injured parties? Will the mechanisms hinder or help the detection and prevention of fraud? We may not have all the answers right now, but Robert Riddell’s article ensures we are in the best position to be ready when the first cases cross our desks.
Read more3rd December 2019
Paul McGrath and James Henry, instructed by Benjamin Leech of Keoghs LLP, secured a committal order of immediate imprisonment for 5 months for contempt of court against Mr Robert Hall. Paul McGrath appeared in the committal hearing, and James Henry acted at sentencing stage.
Read more10th December 2018
Please see link below to the latest update from the TGC Costs Team.
2nd July 2018
TGC Fraud Update July 2018, a publication we have set up with the stated aim of facilitating the sharing of information about decided claims involving issues of road traffic fraud and related matters.
Read more13th June 2018
Temple Garden Chambers has appointed Paul McGrath as its Pro Bono Champion. Pro Bono Champions are Chambers’ representatives working closely with the Bar Pro Bono Unit to champion pro bono work and to encourage active participation in pro bono work within Chambers.
Read more17th May 2018
Please see link below to the latest TGC Costs Newsletter.
13th March 2018
Paul McGrath acted for the successful Appellant in an appeal before Mr Justice Foskett. The Master had refused the Defendant a retrospective extension of time to file and serve his orthopaedic evidence.
Read more18th January 2018
Paul McGrath appears before Court of Appeal concerning a dispute over whether a contract foster carer was paid the National Minimum Wage. Paul McGrath was acting pro bono.
5th December 2017
Paul McGrath highlights when defendants should consider obtaining an order and/or assessment of costs.
27th November 2017
Paul McGrath appeared before the Court of Appeal on 23 and 27 November concerning whether a Claimant had proven that a cruise company was a contractual carrier or a performing carrier, whether a tender vessel was part of ‘course of carriage’ and whether the Claimant had proven fault or neglect on the part of the carrier(s).
Read more21st September 2017
TGC Fraud Update September 2017, a publication we have set up with the stated aim of facilitating the sharing of information about decided claims involving issues of road traffic fraud and related matters.
Read more4th July 2017
Welcome to the very first edition of TGC’s Costs Newsletter! Costs has been a huge part of our practice at TGC for as long as it has been recognised as a discrete area of law. Whilst the team has naturally changed and evolved over that time, it has retained phenomenal strength and depth from its leadership right through to its most junior members. We pride ourselves on being leaders in the field and being able to offer a client service level second to none. We remain extremely grateful for our Directory recognition, and through 2017 we’ve reinvigorated our energy levels as a team being ever ready to serve!
Read more10th April 2017
Paul McGrath appeared in the Court of Appeal in the case of Hamid, which gave guidance in relation to appeals concerning fraud allegations.
Read more10th November 2016
Admission made in MoJ Portal and claim settled – was this binding on insurer’s driver who later wanted to bring her own proceedings – could she apply to withdraw the admission – consideration of conflicting cases of Ullah v John and Malak v Nasim. Held: admission was binding and the admission could not be withdrawn given settlement; case struck out. Paul McGrath appeared for D1. Lionel Stride appeared for D2
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