Christian Lynch

As Lead Fee Earner, I was responsible for the day-to-day running of the team, to include supervision of other fee earners and the performance of the team generally. We were contracted mostly by local authorities, housing associations and housing co-operatives, with a caseload spanning predominantly disrepair and possessions. In July 2024, in the lead up to the firm's contract expiring with its lead client, a London-based local authority, I was able to demonstrate, across disrepairs matters of which I had had sole conduct, roughly 58% cost saving to the Authority based on settlement figures, comprising both costs and damages, in relation to files that I had settled and those of which the Authority had retained conduct, all of a similar level of complexity. The Authority was persuaded to grant an extension of the contract (while its initial plan was to take conduct of all disrepair files) and the firm was consequently able to retain conduct of all existing files and be passed new instructions.

I joined the Authority as a locum disrepair paralegal and was quickly promoted to holding sole conduct of all disrepair files following a restructuring of the team. I settled meritless claims quickly and took a pragmatic view on settling those where liability had been confirmed on the face of expert reports and other Council documents. In effect, the Authority was impressed with the settlement figures that I was able to produce, particularly as I was skilled in negotiating costs and drafting robust Points of Dispute if necessary.

My first role working within a local authority setting where I had conduct of my own caseload of disrepair files. I was noticed for my ability to settle matters quickly and learned in my time in the role how to negotiate costs and draft Points of Dispute if necessary.

Received instructions from law firms across the country. Led several white-collar investigations, a couple of which would later be passed to the Serious Fraud Office for further investigation. Primary focus was the gathering of high quality evidence within a short timeline, and ensuring the evidence was admissible in a court of law.

Have a background in housing disrepair and personal injury claims, often against a social housing provider. From taking instructions from my client to securing a higher-end settlement, I am extremely efficient and am known for being able to wrap up cases quickly. Am highly conversant with the Civil Procedure Rules and the relevant pre-action protocols and with this knowledge can usually overturn the other side's defence. Have a demonstrated working history of picking up unnecessarily protracted cases from solicitors and securing a pleasing settlement for the client very soon after instruction.

Received instructions from predominantly law firms but members of the public too. I had conduct of varied caseload, spanning matrimonial matters to serious fraud investigations. Promoted to Lead Investigator in January 2022.