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Lawyer of the Week: Jonathan Peddie
Linda Tsang
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div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited { color:#06c; } Jonathan Peddie, the director of litigation and special investigations at Barclays Bank plc, had responsibility for the bank charges litigation that arose out of an Office of Fair Trading investigation, where the Supreme Court ruled that bank charges are exempt from being assessed for fairness under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999.
What were the main challenges case and the possible implications?
For all involved, persuading our stakeholders that a test case was the right solution presented significant advocacy challenges. As it progressed, landing a public message that the legal issues at the heart of the case were not a fait accompli was difficult. As to implications, this case should not be underestimated for the economic and reputational risk it presented to the retail banking sector, especially given the climate that has prevailed since it started.
What was your worst day as a lawyer?
A Crown Court judge once stopped my submissions to point out that my client had urgent instructions. I turned round to see him holding up a sketch of me with an axe sticking out of my head. Honest performance feedback can be difficult.
What was your most memorable experience as a lawyer?
The defendant dropping dead of a heart attack five minutes into my cross-examination. I’d only asked him to open the bundle.
Who has been the most influential person in your life?
My wife, Jenny, and three late giants of the profession: Lord Hobhouse, who invited me to be his marshal when I was starting out; Michael Hill, QC, my head of chambers in the early days; and my father, Peter, whose career reminds me what can be achieved through a combination of technical excellence, breadth of knowledge and commitment over time.
Why did you become a lawyer?
I thought I should use creative and persuasive skills for something more long-term than Lego and sibling rivalry.
What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in law?
Get what you can out of today’s workload, resist institutional pressure to over-specialise and accumulate as wide a range of experience as possible, even if its long-term value is not yet obvious. Choice and fun will follow: fun is an essential ingredient in a job that has more than its fair share of serious stuff.
If you had not become a lawyer, what would you have chosen and why?
Engineer. They love the question “how do you get out of that?” They search for answers, rely on training, expertise, judgment and inventiveness, work with a range of stakeholders and they leave a mark for the benefit of wider society. Good lawyers should think like that.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Looking back and saying this was all good preparation for the really big thing that followed.
l_tsang@hotmail.com
Linda Tsang
Recommend?
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited { color:#06c; } Jonathan Peddie, the director of litigation and special investigations at Barclays Bank plc, had responsibility for the bank charges litigation that arose out of an Office of Fair Trading investigation, where the Supreme Court ruled that bank charges are exempt from being assessed for fairness under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999.
What were the main challenges case and the possible implications?
For all involved, persuading our stakeholders that a test case was the right solution presented significant advocacy challenges. As it progressed, landing a public message that the legal issues at the heart of the case were not a fait accompli was difficult. As to implications, this case should not be underestimated for the economic and reputational risk it presented to the retail banking sector, especially given the climate that has prevailed since it started.
What was your worst day as a lawyer?
A Crown Court judge once stopped my submissions to point out that my client had urgent instructions. I turned round to see him holding up a sketch of me with an axe sticking out of my head. Honest performance feedback can be difficult.
What was your most memorable experience as a lawyer?
The defendant dropping dead of a heart attack five minutes into my cross-examination. I’d only asked him to open the bundle.
Who has been the most influential person in your life?
My wife, Jenny, and three late giants of the profession: Lord Hobhouse, who invited me to be his marshal when I was starting out; Michael Hill, QC, my head of chambers in the early days; and my father, Peter, whose career reminds me what can be achieved through a combination of technical excellence, breadth of knowledge and commitment over time.
Why did you become a lawyer?
I thought I should use creative and persuasive skills for something more long-term than Lego and sibling rivalry.
What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in law?
Get what you can out of today’s workload, resist institutional pressure to over-specialise and accumulate as wide a range of experience as possible, even if its long-term value is not yet obvious. Choice and fun will follow: fun is an essential ingredient in a job that has more than its fair share of serious stuff.
If you had not become a lawyer, what would you have chosen and why?
Engineer. They love the question “how do you get out of that?” They search for answers, rely on training, expertise, judgment and inventiveness, work with a range of stakeholders and they leave a mark for the benefit of wider society. Good lawyers should think like that.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Looking back and saying this was all good preparation for the really big thing that followed.
l_tsang@hotmail.com
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