Joanna Corbett-Simmons

Significant Experience

• Joanna regularly advises local authorities and educational establishments in relation to Special Educational Needs or Additional Learning Needs appeals and disability discrimination claims, from early resolution to appeals to the Upper Tribunal.
• Joanna advised the Welsh Government on Supreme Court proceedings originating from the Mental Health Tribunal for Wales of a decision which has wide-ranging implications on the jurisdiction of Mental Health Tribunals in both England and Wales.
• Joanna also successfully defended an application for an injunction against the Welsh Ministers commenced by the Billy Graham Evangelistical Association in relation to the cancellation of their UK Tour date at the International Convention Centre Wales. WM applied to strike out the claim which resulted in settlement.
• Joanna is currently advising a client in relation to an appeal to the Court of Appeal relating to post-completion dispute for breach of warranty and negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation. She has significant experience of advising clients in the care, aviation and renewable energy industries, in relation to shareholder and other corporate disputes and avoiding issues arising as a result of corporate restructuring exercises.
• Joanna has successfully dealt with a wide variety of disputes relating to the infringement of intellectual property rights (primarily trademarks, design rights and copyright) on behalf of clients in the security, visual arts, electronics, cosmetics, agricultural machinery, facilities management, food and furnishings industries. She frequently deals with disputes relating to the breach of confidentiality and misuse of confidential information and spent many years advising a NHS Local Health Board on proceedings against a former employee threatening to disclose confidential patient information. She has recently advised numerous directors and former shareholders in relation to cease and desist letters demanding undertakings in relation to obligations of confidentiality and allegations of trademark infringement.
• Early on in her career she was successful in taking an injunction application to the Court of Appeal on behalf of a national Plc concerning a Post-Completion Dispute and has recently assisted in the recovery of £1.9 million owed to clients as Deferred Consideration following the sale of their company to a multi-national, pursuing the contractual expert determination procedure.
• She has also dealt with a number of professional negligence claims on behalf of companies against their former legal advisors and financial advisors, successfully recovering damages from the insurers.
• Joanna led a team with the procedural aspects of a multi-disciplinary claim for declarations from the High Court of the rent to be paid for a significant redevelopment site. The sums involved amount to tens of millions and the calculation of the rent was in dispute.
• Joanna advised former shareholders of a successful care home company in relation to a Completion Account dispute and alleged breaches of warranty. The claim settled at mediation prior to the CCMC.
• Joanna represented a Welsh local health board in High Court injunctive proceedings brought by a suspended employee in relation to the disciplinary procedure being followed.