Meet the Team

John Blackburn

John is the Principal of Blackburn & Co. and is a specialist in clinical negligence and personal injury litigation, whilst having considerable experience in other areas of litigation.

Areas of Practice

John qualified as a solicitor at Wedlake Saint in London in 1994.

John has a specialist interest in clinical negligence and high value personal injury claims.

John has conducted both fatal and non-fatal clinical negligence.

John also has extensive experience in other areas of litigation, including Landlord and Tenant litigation in the Court of Appeal, Contract, Debt Recovery, Boundary and Will/Trust/Property disputes.

What clients say about John Blackburn

The wife of a severely injured accident at work victim commented “really good job done, cannot fault him, he was friendly, approachable, brilliant, just what you need in difficult situations…”.

A clinical negligence client described John as “caring, patient and thorough, he was marvellous and I have recommended him to lots of people…”.

Parents, who brought a fatal clinical negligence claim on behalf of their late baby, found that John was “thorough, pleasant, very approachable, charming, endearing, helpful, patient, passionate, genuine and sincere…”.

Education

Hurstpierpoint College, West Sussex (Exhibition Scholarship)

Reading University, BA (Hons) History

Holborn Law Tutors, CPE/PG Diploma in Law (placed 2nd= in 1st year exams)

College of Law, York, Law Society Finals Examination (Pass)

Interests

Sailing, motorbikes (proud owner of a Suzuki RF900), SCUBA diving, reading and music.

John lives with his wife, Denise, and their two dogs in Dorset. Between them, they have three children.

Christine Harley

Christine qualified in 2006 and has worked exclusively in the Private Client field since that time.

Her work includes the usual Wills, probate and administration of estates, and creation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney. Christine is particularly interested in the administration of Trusts, whether they are Will Trusts, or lifetime trusts, including trusts created to receive personal injury awards.

Christine has experience of Court of Protection work, including applications for appointment of a Deputy and applications by Deputies for further Court orders. She has also made a number of applications for Statutory Wills.

Christine has been a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) since 2009. She also holds the STEP Advanced Willwriting Certificate.

Christine is presently a member of STEP’s Mental Capacity, Contentious Trusts and Estates, and Cross-Border Estates special interest groups.

She has been a full member of Solicitors for the Elderly since 2010 and last year became a full accredited member. This additional accreditation demonstrates the use of “soft skills”, in addition to technical knowledge.

In addition, she is a student member of both the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists and the Chartered Institute of Taxation.