Ben Chapman

Ben is a Civil and Family Barrister who has appeared in courts of all levels up to the Court of Appeal. His civil practice is broad ranging and unique, encompassing regulatory prosecutions, commercial, debt, housing, TOLATA, personal injury, RTAs, credit hire and inquests. His family practice includes financial remedies (ancillary relief), domestic abuse and private children law. His children work regularly includes complex features such as relocation and parental alienation.

Ben was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 2015 as a Major Scholar. His impressive academic background includes a First Class LL.B in Law from the University of Hull, an LL.M with Merit in International Human Rights Law and Practice from the University of York, and multiple Outstanding grades on his BPTC at Nottingham Law School where he was also awarded a scholarship. He won a number of advocacy and negotiation competitions, and received an academic prize for his work in the University of Hull Legal Advice Centre.

He is committed to work involving human rights elements and champions access to justice. He supports Advocate, the Bar’s Pro Bono charity, and continues to accept such instructions via them. He was a co-founder of the pro bono legal education programme ‘inFrinGeMent’ raising awareness of FGM.

Ben completed a Civil and Family Pupillage under the supervision of James Carter.

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Ben is instructed in a wide variety of civil and public law matters. He is an experienced trial and application advocate, regularly appearing for both claimants and defendants in Fast Track and Small Claim trials, tribunal hearings, high value CCMCs, interim application hearings and disposal hearings.

He has appeared in the Court of Appeal with success acting as Junior led by Tom Russell in a Defective Premises Act matter.

Ben also undertakes drafting and advisory work across the civil and public spectrum.

He has particular experience working with vulnerable individuals and acting for public bodies. His manner is such that he is often sought after where the other party is a litigant-in-person.

His areas of work include:
– Regulatory, acting as Presenting Officer on behalf of the TRA prosecuting teachers for professional misconduct.
– Commercial.
– Debt.
– Property.
– TOLATA.
– Housing.
– Personal Injury.
– Credit Hire.
– Inquests.

Ben undertakes a financial remedy (ancillary relief), private children and domestic abuse work from early directions hearings through to final hearings. He is an experienced trial advocate and is regularly instructed in Finding of Fact hearings with difficult and emotive subject matter, including rape and abuse towards children.
Clients value Ben as a robust, emotionally sensitive and pragmatic practitioner. They appreciate his approachable manner. His background in working with vulnerable people makes him particularly suitable for vulnerable clients and emotionally sensitive work.

His civil practice makes him particularly suitable for financial remedy work. His practice includes Schedule 1 Children Act applications.

Ben accepts instructions on both a publicly funded and private basis.

Rogerson v Bolsover District Council [2019] EWCA Civ 226 (Court of Appeal)
Instructed as junior representing Claimant in a Defective Premises Act matter. The CoA used the opportunity to re-confirm the law in this area. Available on BAILII here.

T v T (2019)
Multi-day fact finding hearing undertaken via 4-way video link with no witnesses or parties physically present at court.

J v J (2019)
Responding to application for Occupation Order representing significantly disabled party.