Silas TaylorConsultant Mediator |
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| Solicitor | Shipping, including collisions salvage total losses personal injury Fishery disputes Professional negligence Boundary disputes Partnership disputes |
Silas was one of the first solicitors in the UK to be trained as a mediator, receiving accreditation in July 1991.
He has successfully acted as a mediator in litigious cases involving all areas of the law. Recent such cases include:
- Boundary dispute between farmers
- Solicitors' professional negligence dispute following fatal accident claim
- Shareholder dispute between Directors
- Dispute between partners as to financial liability upon dissolution of partnership
- Personal injury claim with three defendants, disputed as to both liability and quantum
Other shipping related cases have involved such matters as wreck removal contracts, dry dock accidents and charterparty liabilities as to seaworthiness. Silas has a particular involvement with the fishing industry and has mediated cases around the country in respect of such issues as repair disputes, fishing ground disputes and accident claims.
Educated at Bedford Modern School and graduated in Law from Hull University in 1974. He undertook articles in Hull which included (by special dispensation from the Law Society) a six week trip to the White Sea on board a deep water trawler. Admitted as a solicitor in 1977, Silas was instrumental in the development of is firm's Admiralty and Shipping department from its then complement of 2 fee earners to its present size of 10, one of the biggest shipping practices outside London. He became head of the department in 1990 and Joint Senior Partner in 2000.
Silas has a broad practice involving many areas of commercial litigation. His main specialism is in marine casualty work and general marine related litigation, where he has a broad client base of owners and insurers both in the UK and overseas. He has always had a particular involvement in all aspects of the fishing industry and acts for specialist insurers in respect of salvage, collision and groundings etc as well as total loss investigations. A significant proportion of his workload has always been in respect of personal injury claims. Significant reported cases include:
"The Harcourt" [1980] 2 Lloyds Reports 589 - relating to the criminal liability of a ship's master whilst off watch.
"The Ignition" - Jenkins v Godwin [1983] 1 Lloyd's Reports 382 - relating to the liability of a fishing vessel owner to provide self inflating jackets.
Clark v Perks and others [2001] 2 Lloyd's Reports 431 - whether a jack-up rig is a "ship" for statutory purposes. The Court of Appeal decision gave an entitlement to offshore workers to recover over £100m in overpaid tax.
Silas has been rated as a "leader" in his field by Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession for a number of years. Recent references include:
"An astute maritime lawyer, he's a realist but not afraid to knock heads together". A litigator with a fearsome reputation - "as soon as his name is dropped into the hat, people shudder a bit"" "A hands on lawyer able to dovetail with the needs of his clients".
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