Following graduation in law from Bristol University, where he was also Vice-President of the University Debating Union, admitted as a solicitor in January 1983. He was a senior assistant solicitor at Lovells, and subsequently a partner at Lawrence Graham. Partner at Pettman Smith (now Child & Child) since 2001.
Duncan has over 25 years experience in commercial litigation with emphasis on company and partnership disputes. He also regularly undertakes a wide range of matters for banks and other lenders including the interpretation and enforcement of banking instruments and securities. He also practices in insolvency, employment, general contract matters and substantial personal injury matters. Duncan is experienced in injunctive and urgent litigation remedies and asset tracing.
Amongst many leading cases he has conducted, in 2010 Duncan acted for the successful third party interveners in the landmark case of A, B and C -v- Ireland heard before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. For his work in this case he featured as ‘Lawyer in the News’ in the Law Society Gazette on 6 January 2011.
In February 2011 Duncan again acted successfully for interveners in another major case, BPAS -v- Secretary of State for Health, heard at the Administrative Court in London. Following this he was named by The Times newspaper as “Lawyer of the Week”.
A link to both articles can be found in the Child & Child In The News section.
Duncan frequently speaks publicly. He has addressed the Annual Dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Cambridge Union. He also speaks annually in the Houses of Parliament. His book “The Morello Letters” was named Number 1 bestseller for humour-parody on Amazon in December 2006. The sequel book, More Morello Letters, was published to stellar reviews in October 2011.
Memberships:
- Guild of International Bankers
- Security and Defence Forum
- Thomas More Institute
