Direct Access Barrister

Christopher Paul Agace

I am a general practice Barrister with thirty years experience, specialising in assistance to SMEs and business owners in all aspects of their commercial life from setting up to exit. I have particular expertise in ownership issues, contracts generally and construction.

I am also an accredited independent mediator of disputes.

I have a passion for helping business-owners survive and thrive amongst the competition and to realise the fruits of the hard-yards they put in every day. I aim to build long-term relationships with clients, dealing with all and any issues that matter to their business.

Area of Law

Business and Corporate

I am very experienced in dealing with most business finance issues, shareholder (dis-) agreements and investments and exits, private SME business exits and acquisitions and SME business re-organisations. I work with start-ups, growth businesses and established, family and multi-generational businesses on all aspects of their business lifecycle.

Commercial

I cover all aspects of business contract relationships where the applicable law or jurisdiction is that of England & Wales.

Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure

Drafting, negotiation and dispute resolution of all types of private construction contracts and construction professional services contracts in England & Wales - often these will be based on standard NEC or JCT terms but my work also encompasses (1) non-JCT/NEC contracts between customers, professionals, main contractors and subcontractors, such as those adopted as their own standard terms of service or those which originate from a professional's professional body or a subcontractors' professional association.

Landlord and Tenant

I help businesses/business-owners negotiate their relationships with their landlords and sub-tenants.

Partnership and Joint Ventures

A particular strength of mine is in drafting, negotiating and resolving issues between business partners, partnerships, agents, referrer/referree agreements and joint venturers in general commerce, including professional services and LLPs.

Shipping and Maritime

My main experience here is limited to private yacht ownership. Yacht racing is a passion of mine. I am a member of RORC and the RYA and can help yacht (sail & motor) owners resolve incident (insurance), ownership, management and commissioning issues.

I have also helped dinghy and other small vessel facilities/holiday providers with their customer and other business issues.

I will be a useful mediator in leisure vessel disputes.

What sort of work do I do?

I work on pretty much everything that a business or business owner usually encounters during an economic cycle. My legal career began with the fall-out from recession and the resulting bankruptcies and insolvencies but since then has covered pretty much every phase of business that SMEs, family-owned, start-up/growth and entrepreneurial businesses - and their investors and lenders - typically encounter. I have developed a particular expertise in construction contracts through my loyal client base in that field.

My mediation practice is necessarily independent of my clients - it is aimed at helping anybody avoid the stress of drawn-out disputes and benefit from the morale boost that can come from the satisfactory resolution of tricky issues.

Who do I work for?

Businesses, business owners, lenders and investors.

Parties to a dispute interested in a mediated resolution as a good alternative to the judgment of a court or tribunal.

Send enquiry