Commercial premises — Units leased for storage — Claimant and defendant occupying neighbouring units — Fire started by unknown third party causing damage to claimant’s property — Whether defendant owing duty of care Whether standard for proof depending upon specialist knowledge — Whether defendant breaching duty of care — Claim allowed
SJ Berwin is to lose the founding member of its planning and environmental practice.
Pat Thomas OBE, who has been a partner at the firm for 18 years, will leave at the end of June to concentrate on other law and practice roles in the town planning sector.
She will entrust the planning and environment group to Simon Ricketts and Duncan Field, both of whom she recruited into the firm.
Thomas’ new ventures include working with ATLAS, part of English Partnerships, on a research project into procedures to facilitate the response of local planning authorities to major planning applications.
She will also complete her term as chair of the Law Society’s planning and environment committee, remain involved with the British Property Federation, and continue as a trustee of the Town and Country Planning Association and the Theatres Trust.
References: EGi Legal News 06/06/06
