John Meredith-Hardy

He is very responsive, thorough and a good tactician." "He is hugely reliable, very consistent with his advice and truly exceptional in his attention to detail.

Chambers and Partners 2021

John Meredith-Hardy

  • Called in 1989

Commercial

John is instructed in commercial contract and product liability disputes; Unregulated commercial lending; Sale of services including mortgage broking; Company directors and duties; Building disputes involving the construction of domestic housing and commercial property, Property disputes involving shops, hotels and farms and the Sale of goods including Engines and Mechanical devices.

Complex issues of causation of loss and quantification of damages arise in the work undertaken by John.

 Examples of cases undertaken:

TRW Pensions Trust v Whirlpool & others – acting for the manufacturer of components for dishwashers in a product liability claim following a fire at commercial premises in England

Butler Farms v Vickery Ltd – acting for the successful defendant in a contractual dispute concerning the provision of dairy & farming services; following a trial the claim was dismissed

C v Hanson Quarry Products Europe Ltd t/a Hanson Aggregates – supply of sub-standard tarmacadam topping for tennis courts and consequential loss

Nusantara Energy Ltd v Healey – Commercial Court trial – breach of director’s duties, director’s negligence and breach of fiduciary duty

SWT Ltd v Hind & Steel – TCC trial – issues concerning liability for trees by an occupier and the duty of care owed by a tree surgeon to third parties

Briggs v Quore ­­- dispute over meaning & effect of a share purchase agreement in the telecoms space (mobile phones)

James v E.H. Whybrow & Co Limited – claim for trespass relating to building works undertaken by a neighbour

Ferguson v Ossett Brewery Pub Co Ltd – nuisance claim concerning land slip and damage to neighbouring land

Baker v Phillips – County Court trial – easements & water access dispute resolved in favour of the Claimants at a trial

Shurmer v Council of the City & County of Swansea – nuisance claim following collapse of an embankment

UK Acorn Finance Limited v Vincent – agricultural mortgages & a claim for Consumer Credit Act 1974, s.140B relief

Acorn Country Capital Limited v Walker – High Court trial – agricultural mortgages & a claim for Consumer Credit Act 1974, s.140B relief and breach of fiduciary duty

Pilcher v Stan & others – advance fee fraud, freezing injunctions and recovery of ‘money had & received’

Penna PLC v Huawei Technologies (UK) Co Ltd – breach of contract in the employment recruitment field

Jawaheer v AIB GROUP (UK) P.L.C. – breach of contract by a bank following a business restructure

Hankey v Sealine International Ltd – County Court trial – action against Sealine International for engine failure 5 years after purchase

Gewefa UK Ltd v Saro Engineering (Merthyr) Ltd – quality and fitness for purpose of specialist machine tools supplied to an engineering company

May v Motortech Marine Engineering Ltd – County Court trial – action against engine supplier for engine failure

 

Also see under ‘Insurance’ for other claims concerning commercial law

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Notable Cases

Tynefield Care Ltd & others v New India Assurance Ltd
Instructed by insurers where claims avoided for inter alia breach of duty of fair presentation of risk; insured’s claims dismissed and declarations ordered that all six policies avoided from inception

Keogh v Shakier & others
Acting for the MIB by its alleged Article 75 insurer where another insurer was stated to be on cover and Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.49 & 50, CIDRA 2012 & ICOBS were in issue

TRW Pensions Trust v Whirlpool & others
Acting for the manufacturer of components for dishwashers in a product liability claim following a fire at commercial premises

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Edmunds v W.L. Vallance Ltd
High Court trial on liability and quantum with regard to an accident at work allegedly resulting in brain injury; acting for the defendant & the claim was dismissed

NIG v Hussain & others
Recovery claim pursuant to Monk v Warbey, Article 75, the Road Traffic Act 1988, s.151 and the MIB Uninsured Drivers Agreement

AAA by her litigation friend BBB v MIB & another
Settlement of £4 million plus interim payments of £357,725 for a brain injury sustained in an RTA when age 2 & age 21 on date of settlement.

XP v (1) Compensa Towarzystwo SA (2) Bejger
High Court trial relating to, inter alia, apportionment of damages following consecutive road traffic accidents, the first in Poland followed two years later by an accident in the UK.

Nusantara Energy Ltd v Healey
Breach of company director’s duties, director’s negligence and breach of fiduciary duty.

Jesmin v WH Smith Retail Holdings Ltd
Chronic pain claim for substantial damages dismissed after a trial and damages awarded for minor soft tissue injury.

UK Acorn Finance Limited v Vincent
Agricultural mortgages & a claim for Consumer Credit Act 1974, s.140B relief.

SWT Ltd v Hind & Steel
Issues concerning liability for trees by an occupier and the duty of care owed by a tree surgeon to third parties.

Bardsley v Dovehaven Nursing Home
Successful defence of a claim for negligent care by a nursing home.

D v CICA
CICA claim for a victim of child abuse resulting in brain injury and spastic quadriplegia.

Carmichael & Sons (Worcester) Ltd v NIG
Insurance indemnity claim successfully defended following a land slip.

Pilcher v Stan & Others
Advance fee fraud, freezing injunctions and recovery of 'money had & received'.

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If you would like to instruct John Meredith-Hardy or would like help or advice in doing so, please call and talk to our excellent clerking team, led by Chief Executive/Director of Clerking, Paul Cray. Our phone number is +44 (0)20 7583 9241. Alternatively, please email us at chambers@farrarsbuilding.co.uk

For more information about our clerking team, please click here for the clerks page.

Appointments & Memberships

Professional Negligence Bar Association
Personal Injury Bar Association
Western Circuit

 

Education & Qualifications

1987 MA (Hons) History & International Relations (St. Andrews)
1988 Diploma in Law (Central London)

 

Testimonials

“John Meredith Hardy is one of the best commercial counsel I have come across. He is truly exceptional with a deep understanding of insurance law. He has a keen eye for detail and leaves no stone unturned in his quest for an answer to a client’s problem. He is simply the best.”

 

Directory Quotes

John is ranked as a Leading Junior for Personal Injury in both Chambers UK and Legal 500. Testimonials include:

“John is very thorough and compelling in high-value and demanding claims.” Chambers UK

“John is very thorough, organised and capable. His technical skills are superlative. He is just the person to instruct in a complex quantum dispute.” Legal 500

“John is incredibly intelligent and grasps details quickly. However, his advice is always accessible to clients.” Chambers UK

“John is the safest of hands. He is extremely responsive and accommodating.” Chambers UK

“John is incredibly bright and tactically astute.”  “He has notable experience in cross-border claims.” Legal 500

“He is very strong on technical matters and very commercially aware as well.”

“John’s attention-to-detail is second-to-none and he is an excellent advocate.” Legal 500

“His attention to detail is fantastic and his advice on high-value claims is always sound.” Chambers UK

“Faultless in terms of his knowledge on motor policy coverage issues.” Chambers UK

“Once instructed he immerses himself completely in the case, considering all aspects so as to best advise.” Legal 500

“He is very responsive, thorough and a good tactician.” “He is hugely reliable, very consistent with his advice and truly exceptional in his attention to detail.”

“Very good technical counsel in relation to both specific laws and regulations and also figures, but marries that to very strong practical and pragmatic advice.”

“He is very thorough, hard-working and possesses an incisive intellect”

“He shows meticulous attention to detail”

“He has great attention to detail and makes sure no stone is unturned”

“He has an excellent legal mind, and a charming and natural rapport with clients”

“He is great on drilling down into the details, has a robust but sympathetic approach with clients and prepares excellent schedules of loss”

 

Personal Interests

  • Motor cycling
  • Sailing
  • Mountaineering & ski touring
  • Paragliding and other adventure sports