Who we are
The Advocates of Old Court Chambers, tracing its origins back over thirty years, are acknowledged leaders in their fields. The depth and breadth of the firm's client base has supported the evolution of a premier Manx offshore and domestic firm.
Old Court Chambers is a new incorporated Isle of Man legal practice, formed by the merger of two well-established local firms. With the former firms Moroneys and Mannin Chambers joining forces in May 2011, the considerable expertise and reputation of two of the Island's prominent legal players have now been brought together under the same banner.
Old Court Chambers provides professional legal services to clients in the Isle of Man and internationally. Most of our lawyers hold multi-jurisdictional legal qualifications.
Our advocates have expertise across a broad spectrum of practice areas. Our clients include local and multinational corporations, leading international law firms and high net worth individuals.
High standards, and personal service of the highest quality, are the aims of the team at Old Court Chambers.
Louise Byrne LL.B. (Hons)
Advocate (Director)
+44 (0) 1624 641580One of the leading litigation practitioners on the Isle of Man, Louise has acted in a number of major civil and criminal trials over the last 20 years. Louise is particularly known for complex, high net worth financial relief divorce cases, which she combines with her role as Director. Louise was previously Principal of Moroneys.
Contact Louise"Principal Louise is one of the Isle of Man's leading litigators, and has considerable experience of appearing at all levels, including the Privy Council, where Moroneys has acted in a number of appeals in recent years. Louise is particularly known for complex, high net worth financial relief divorce cases, which she combines with running the firm."
Legal 500
- Called to the Manx Bar (1988)
- Admitted as Notary
- Admitted as a solicitor (England & Wales) (1999) (non practising)
- Family and divorce
- Civil & commercial litigation
- Private Client
"In the matrimonial and family cases that I almost exclusively work, I very strongly try to promote an outcome that does not involve going to Court, but where at all possible resolving a case through mediation. I have done this in a good number of cases with a surprisingly successful outcome. It is much quicker and cheaper than going to Court and takes away all of the uncertainty of the Court process as the client has benefit of being a part of the decision that is being made rather than having something imposed on them by the Court with which they may be very dissatisfied."
Louise Byrne
Reported cases
- A and B - Application to Adopt (ADP2012/5)
- B –v- B - Application for financial provision (2010/209)
- G –v- K – Civil aspects of international child abduction – Hague Convention (2010/276)
- G –v- K – Hague Act Convention – Guardian (2010/276)
- A –v- B – Application to relocate residence (2010/337)
- P –v- P June 2012 - Financial Provision (2010/373)
- Simpson & others v Light House Living Limited & another (2DS / 2010) (Staff of Government Division) (insolvency set-off)
- T –v- B – Application to remove child from jurisdiction (2009/137)
- Clarkson & Clarkson v DoI (CP 2009/18) (Chancery Procecure) (amendment of pleadings)
- S –v-S - Entitled to property within matrimonial proceedings – Pension Fund (2008/117)
- S v S (2008/117) (Family Business) (title to pension fund)
- MacLeod v MacLeod [2008] UKPC 64 (Privy Council) (divorce & financial relief)
- Devo v R (2DS / 2007) (Staff of Government Division) (trade marks)
- T v B (2009/137) (Family Business) (removal of child out of jurisdiction); (2004/273) (Family Business) (stay of proceedings)
- Cook v Norlands [2001] UKPC 52 (Privy Council) (contract)
- Todd v R (1993-95) MLR 330 (Staff of Government Division) (importation of controlled drugs)
Paul Beckett M.A. (Oxon.)
Advocate (Director)
+44 (0) 1624 641580Paul is one of the leading specialists in company and trust law on the Isle of Man. He brings some 30 years' professional experience to Old Court Chambers, including recently as Head of Mannin Chambers.
Contact Paul- M.A. (Worcester College, Oxford) (Open Scholar, 1975 to 1978)
- Admitted as a Solicitor (England & Wales) (1981)
- Called to the Manx Bar (1990)
- Commissioner for Oaths (Isle of Man) (1996)
- Admitted as Notary Public (1996)
- Solicitor, Irish Republic (1998) (non-practising)
- Solicitor, Northern Ireland (2006) (non-practising)
- Company and Commercial
- Trust and Private Clients
- Pensions
Memberships
- Solicitor Judges Division of the Law Society of England and Wales (2012)
- International Bar Association (1981 to 2011)
- English PEN (an international association of published writers) (2006)
- Law Society of Northern Ireland (2006)
- The Society of Legal Scholars (2002).
- Irish Law Society (1998)
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (1993)
- Isle of Man Law Society (1990)
- Law Society of England and Wales (1978)
- Oxford and Cambridge Club, London
Addtional information
Public Duties
- Chairman, Collective Investment Schemes Tribunal (2013 to date)
- Chairman, Financial Services Tribunal (2011 to date)
- Deputy Surveillance Commissioner (Isle of Man) (2007 to 2009)
- Spokesman on Human Rights for the Isle of Man Law Society (2007 to 2009)
- Member and Acting Chairman, Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (Isle of Man) (2006 to 2009)
- Deputy Chairman, Interception of Communications Tribunal (Isle of Man) (2006)
- Chairman, Education Committee of the Isle of Man Law Society (2004)
- Chairman, Legislation Committee of the Isle of Man Law Society (2001 to 2004; 2006 to 2008)
- Member, Isle of Man Law Society Council (2001 to 2004; 2006 to 2008)
- Chairman, Isle of Man Data Protection Appeals Tribunal (1989 to 2006)
- Honorary Representative, Isle of Man Government in Switzerland (1992 to 1994)
Publications
- International Insurance Law and Regulation (Isle of Man chapter) (Published by Sweet & Maxwell, London first published 1998, updated annually)
- Limiting Liability of Professional Partnerships (Co-author) (Published by Jordans, London 1998)
- Offshore Trusts (Contributor) (Published by Kluwer Law International, 1996)
- European Cross-Border Estate Planning (Isle of Man chapter) (Published by Sweet & Maxwell, London, first published 1995, updated annually)
- International Bank Secrecy (Isle of Man chapter) (Published by Sweet & Maxwell, London, 1992)
Jim Travers LL.B. (Hons)
Advocate (Director)
Jim is a senior criminal litigation practitioner on the Island. Jim appears in proceedings before both the Summary Courts and at the Court of General Gaol Delivery on a wide variety of cases. Jim also has considerable experience in Licensing law, Coroner of Inquest cases and Health and Safety Law.
Contact Jim- Legal Practice Course (1998)
- Called to the Manx Bar (2002)
- Criminal litigation
- Licensing law
- Health and safety
- White collar crime
- Coroner of inquests cases
Memberships
- Isle of Man Law Society (2001)
Addtional information
- Lecturer to Manx Bar students (on criminal law)
- Member, Isle of Man Sports Council (2006)
Reported cases
- R. v. Lewin et al. 2012 - led by Anthony Berry QC, represented fifth defendant Marc Bonser. Following legal argument, before commencement of jury trial, dealt with by way of 'nolle prosequi'. This meant that no caution or conviction was recorded against the Defendant.
- R. v. Proctor and O'Neill 2012 - successful defence of O'Neill at jury trial on counts of Assault ABH and Affray, after submission of 'no case to answer' was upheld at close of prosecution case.
- R. v. Smith-Williams 2012 - defendant found 'not guilty', on count of GBH with intent, after trial by jury.
- R. v. Patterson and Barber 2012 - not guilty verdict on count of GBH with intent for defendant Barber after trial by jury. Found guilty of, lesser, GBH offence.
- R. v. Woods and Rowson 2012 - representing the defendant Rowson, 'not guilty' verdict by jury on count of handling stolen goods, however, 'guilty' of conspiracy to burgle.
- Coroner of Inquests cases - Collister 2013, Jones May 2013.
- Health and Safety disputes - acting for major High Street retailers.
- White Collar Crime
Steven Coren M.A. (Cantab.), LL.M.
Advocate & Barrister*
* Non-practising
Steven is a civil litigator, who specialises in all areas of public law. Steven appears at all levels of courts, and at tribunals and inquiries, and has acted or advised in a number of notable Manx public law and planning cases. Steven also handles commercial and employment disputes, and acts as a mediator.
Contact Steven- M.A. & LL.M. (Downing College, Cambridge)
- E.C.S. Wade Prize for Constitutional Law (University of Cambridge)
- Jules Thorn Scholar & Harmsworth Exhibitioner (Honourable Society of the Middle Temple)
- Called to the Bar of England & Wales (2007)
- Called to the Manx Bar (2011)
- Civil & commercial litigation
- Company & commercial
- Employment
- Environmental law (landfill & water pipelines)
- Media & information law
- Public & administrative law
Memberships
- Isle of Man Law Society
- Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
- Administrative Law Bar Association
- Human Rights Lawyers Association
- Tallis Consort
Addtional information
- Member, Isle of Man Data Protection Tribunal (2010 - 2013)
- Appointed Deputy Surveillance Commissioner (2009)
- Former volunteer, Public Law Project
- Fluent in French (former translator for European Court of Justice)
Reported cases
- Clarkson & another v DOI (2011/43) (Chancery Procedure) (judicial recusal / leave to file doleance claim out of time)
- X v HMAG (2DS / 2010) (Staff of Government Division) (permission to appeal to Privy Council)
- Murphy v Templeton (2010/23) (Ordinary Procedure) (appeal against Employment Tribunal decision)
- DoI v Clarkson & others (2010/107) (Chancery Procedure) (section 92(7) of Highways Act 1986)
- O’Hare v St. Christopher’s Fellowship & another (Employment Tribunal) (2008) (unfair dismissal)
- Inquiry into Waste Management Facilities at Archallagan, Turkeyland and Point of Ayre (2008)
- Commission of Inquiry into the Care of Young People (2006)
- Inquiry into the Exercise of Certain Functions By Braddan Parish Commissioners (2005)
Daithi O'Regan M.I.I.L.Ex.
Legal Executive
+44 (0)1624 641580Daithi has over four years' experience in criminal litigation. Before joining Moroneys in 2010, Daithi worked in the criminal litigation department of a firm of Dublin solicitors and was involved in a number of high-profile criminal cases heard before Ireland's Circuit Criminal and Central Criminal Courts.
Contact Daithi- Dip. Professional Legal Studies (Ireland) (2009)
- Certificate in Civil and Criminal Law (Ireland) (2005)
- Civil & commercial litigation
- Criminal litigation
- Family & divorce
- Wills and Estates
- Liquor Licensing
Memberships
- Admitted to the Irish Institute of Legal Executives (2010)
Addtional information
Having served with the Irish Defence Forces, Daithí contributes some of his spare time to the community as an instructor in the Isle of Man Army Cadet Force.
Old Court Chambers is the trading name of Old Court Chambers Limited:
an incorporated legal practice in the Isle of Man with registered number 118952C.
