Christopher Webb

Practice Areas

Having been called in 2002 Christopher has spent the last 22 years practicing as a Commercial and Civil Litigation Advocate and regularly appears before first instance and Appellant Courts in the isle of Man and has also before the Privy Council in London.

Employment

Christopher regularly appears before the Employment and Equality Tribunal in the Isle of Man and has represented clients in both Arbitrations and mediations and having qualified as a CEDR accredited mediator he has acted as mediator in a number of disputed on the isle of Man. His employment dispute practice sees him acting for individuals and firms in cases before the Employment and Equality tribunal and or negotiating settlements on behalf of individuals in respect of redundancy and other matters relating to individuals exiting a business. He is currently acting for several firms in disputes both before the Employment and Equality Tribunal and individuals in respect of Whistleblowing /protected disclosure cases and also in respect of a dispute regarding the nonpayment of monies due to a company’s CEO. He regularly advises firms and individuals regarding restraints of trade poaching and claims in respect of intellectual property claims.

Commercial Litigation

Christopher represents Companies individuals and Local authorities in respect of Commercial disputes before Isle of Man High Court and Appeal courts. Christopher current workload consists of contractual disputes, Regulatory work asset-tracing and injunctive remedies, shareholder minority oppression disputes and acting for parties in winding up and bankruptcy proceedings. Christopher is currently acting for a local CSP in respect of a dispute with Liquidators and Receivers and in respect of a dispute with a former Director of a CSP who on his departure sought to extract clients from the entity in breach of his contract. He represents individuals in Regulatory disciplinary matters.

Civil Litigation

Christopher acts for both builders and their clients in building disputes and consequential loss. Christopher has acted and is acting for several individuals in disputes regarding the ownership of land and boundary disputes and has appeared before the Land Registrar and Land Commissioner. He acts for a local firm of Estate Agents in respect of disputes emanating from the portfolio of rented properties they manage.

Trusts Disputes.

Christopher regularly appears before the High Court and advises on matters relating to Trust disputes and the seeking of relief under section 61 of the Trustees Act 1961. He has advised and appeared before the High Court for several Time share entities in respect of their reorganization and Trust structures.

Career

Christopher joined MannBenham Advocates in April 2015 as Head of their Litigation Department having spent time a s a Litigator and director at Quinn Legal and Simcocks Advocates and as a Litigator at Gough and Co having trained under the current Attorney General while at Cains.

Prior to qualifying as a Manx Advocate Christopher spent 19 years in the London insurance and reinsurance market as a Lloyd’s Insurance broker.

Professional Memberships

Member of the Isle of Man Law Society

Member Isle of Man Law Society Council

Chair Isle of Man Law Society Professional Indemnity and Insurance sub-committee

Associate of the Charted Institute of Arbitrators

CEDR Accredited Mediator

Non-Executive Director St John Ambulance Isle of Man

Personal

In addition to being a Director and Head of Litigation at MannBenham Advocates, Christopher is a Non-executive Director of St John Ambulance in the Isle of Man.

Chris supports QPR Football Club, a legacy acquired from his grandfather and Bath Rugby Football Club and can be found in the crowd supporting his son’s band.

Work Highlights

Liquidation of Global Steel Holdings Limited (Isle of Man) (GSHL)

Advising the Trustee in Bankruptcy of the main shareholder and director of GSHL in this long-running Liquidation.

Robert Sutton v Creechurch Capital International Limited

Christopher acted for Mr Sutton in this high-profile whistleblowing case at first instance and on the two Appeals brought by Creechurch. Mr Sutton was ultimately successful, and the claim was for a period the single biggest award made by the Employment Tribunal in the Isle of Man at over £600,000.

Banners Broker International Limited (In Liquidation)

Christopher acted for the Joint Liquidators in obtaining an Order for the transfer of the liquidation from the Isle of Man to Canada. This was the first application of its type in the Isle of Man.

Bellemy v Forster

Christopher acted for Mr Forster in this long-standing dispute regarding ownership of some land. This case began when Christopher defended Mr Forster’s position in the first ever reported Status Quo claim brought in the Isle of Man under the new Manx rules of court.

This is a unique Manx remedy, relating to the returning of the Land in question to how it was before the dispute, Christopher was successful at first instance and Appeal in defeating the claim of Mr Bellamy.

Blackshaw v Viking Restoration and Peter Lunt

This case concerned an attempt to pierce the corporate veil by Blackshaw to import a personal duty of care on the sole Director of Viking Restorations. Christopher was successful in getting the claim struck out and costs awarded for his client.

Awards