Stephen Bishop specialises in commercial, property and employment law. He came to the bar after 20 years in industry, within engineering and IT, where he held appointments to Director level. He combines this commercial and technical experience with the trial skills and experience gained in a range of different forums, (including criminal courts) to give pragmatic advice and effective advocacy.

He is highly IT literate after years working at IBM and is a Certified Cyber Forensics Professional EU. He has advised HMRC on search operations and the issue of Legal Professional Privilege in respect of seized materials. This makes him well placed to deal with commercial fraud, eDiscovery and cases involving confidentiality and privilege.

Within Stephen’s broad property practice, he also has experience of cases involving sham trusts and deeds, professional negligence in property transactions, and estate agent fees and duties.

Key cases

  • Kingsgate Development Projects Ltd v Jordan & Anor [2017] EWHC 343 (TCC) – This was one of a few cases to date in the Shorter Trials Scheme. It was an easement and boundary dispute between a developer and a retired couple involving interpretation of a 1960 conveyance and plan, along with expert evidence as to contemporaneous aerial photography. Stephen succeeded on the physical extent of the right of way as granted, the boundary and that electric gates in this case did not amount to a substantial interference of the right of way.
  • R. v Williams (Orette) [2012] EWCA Crim 2162, [2012] EWCA Crim 3100- Appeal and certified point of law concerning the reverse burden of proof contained in s.1(5) of the Firearms Act 1982 and art.6(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights 1950.

Areas of expertise

Stephen deals with all aspects of Property law from leases to adverse possession, trespass, boundary disputes and restrictive covenants. He also has experience of introducers’ commission on finance for residential property development.

He has experience of service charge disputes, for both landlords and residents as well as(TOLATA) Trusts of Land and Appointment Trustees Act 1996 disputes.

Stephen also acts in Estate Agents cases in respect of commission disputes, both for agents and for principals.

Stephen has experience of HMO cases in the FTT, County court and the criminal courts.

Stephen brings a pragmatic approach, having been both an employee and a director with experience from the shop floor to the boardroom in different countries and business cultures, blended with advocacy skills honed in the criminal courts. He has employed and dismissed staff, and understands the realities of business and employment.

Stephen represents claimants, including a director of multinational company, and respondent companies, in the ET, EAT and High Court. He has particular experience in the teaching sector both teachers and schools. He has also represented a PCS Union official at a 10-day hearing for unfair dismissal.

Stephen has experience in the High Court of injunctions dealing with confidential information, team moves, restrictive covenants and computer imaging orders.

Stephen is also highly IT literate after years working at IBM and is a Certified Cyber Forensics Professional EU. This makes him well-placed to deal with fraud or breaches of confidentiality by employees and eDiscovery. In a number of cases Stephen has been able to show that documents have been falsely created or represented in litigation by claimants and respondents.

Employment Tribunal/EAT:

Unfair dismissal

Discrimination: race, sex (orientation and harassment), disability, and age

Victimisation

Redundancy

Psychiatric personal injury resulting from harassment involving cross-examination of expert witnesses

High Court:

Restrictive covenants including injunctions

Intellectual property including computer imaging orders and injunctions

Team Moves