Law

I wrote the company's Contract of Supply and the Employment Contract. I read all purchasing contracts and provided legal commentary to help others understand the issues. I negotiated with customer's solicitors directly including London Underground Limited, Network Rail and many other companies. I examined the issues of escrow agreements and how they do and do not protect purchasers and suppliers of software and also looked at the issue of whether transport information could be considered intellectual property. It cannot. I have read and understood many statutes and statutory instruments.

Overall less than 10% of my time went on legal work however where there were specific legal issues I could be doing 100% legal work for a few weeks at a time. I do not aspire to be a lawyer though I have worked with many.

I drafted the NAL Contract of Supply issued to regular customers and the Employment Contract. I read all purchasing contracts handed to us and provided legal commentary to help others understand the issues. I negotiated with customers solicitors directly including London Underground Limited, Network Rail and many other Train Operating Companies. I read all office leases and picked up on things often missed by solicitors employed to do this job. I examined the issues of escrow agreements and how they do and do not protect purchasers and suppliers of software and also looked at the issue of whether transport information could be considered intellectual property, it cannot.

I have read through many statutes and statutory instruments, most recently "The Data Protection Act 1998". This act is peculiar in that its intention is to bring us into line with European law which it failed to do case law had to step in. Finally I drafted the main body of the Sale and Purchase agreement for the sale of half NAL to Patrick.

I cannot claim to be familiar in detail with any of the acts below but simply have had to use them from time to time. I do often find myself disheartened by some of the legal profession who also seem unfamiliar even in their specialist areas.

Reading

"Intellectual Property" by David Bainbridge published by Pitman Publishing.
"The Law of Contract" by G. H. Treitel published by Thomson Sweet & Maxwell.
"Tort Law Text and Materials" by Mark Lunney and Ken Oliphant published by Oxford University Press.

Statutes Examined

Companies Act 1985
Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Competition Act 1998
Employment Rights Act 1996
Employment Relations Act 1999
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Legal Work Outside NAL

1987 - I was introduced to Law by Gloucester LEA when they tried to claim my student grand back as I had received book royalties in my third year. I went to the law library for the first time and proved that I was correct and owed them nothing.

Jun 2008 - Jul 2009 Representing my self in my divorce for a year in which I faced two lawyers and a barrister, the judge coming firmly down in support of my case that the ancillary relief claim against me was entirely unjustified, leading to a consent order from the other side.

I have also provided extensive legal help and had a major impact on a couple of cases through statements and letters provided to courts.

I have a general interest in conflict resolution.