ALISON GRAHAM-WELLS

I am Alison Graham-Wells and among my many roles I’m a Barrister.

When growing up and looking at potential careers my mother, wisely as is a mother’s want, reminded me of the two certainties – we are born and we die, and advised me to “do something” that met the needs that arise in between*.

Law touches everything from cradle to grave (and beyond) and seemed to me the perfect “do something”

The choice of Barrister over Solicitor was an easy one – my mother was a Perry Mason addict, there was no choice – I had to be on my feet.

I think she had visions of a stellar career at the Criminal Bar – Perry Mason meets Marshall Hall meets Rumpole in female form with high heels and lip gloss. And I did that for nearly 10 years in London at the Independent Bar and as an Employed Barrister for HM Customs & Excise.

An affinity with money and an aptitude for finding it and taking it away from “bad guys” led me to tax, civil fraud and “shopping law” (corporate and personal) – which is what I do now. That, and the consequences of overspending, over gearing and sometimes just bad luck – insolvency (corporate and personal).

I am ranked Band 1 for Tax in the Regions by Chambers & Partners: 2015, 2016, 2017,  & 2018

Alison Graham-Wells of St John’s Chambers
Enjoys a strong track record in both advisory and litigation work. She receives instructions in cases concerning avoidance matters, commercial tax arrangements and trusts. Clients benefit from her previous experience as a customs officer.
Strengths: “She is good at explaining things. She has a very commercial mind and is able to identify complex issues and put forward pragmatic solutions.”
Recent work: Defended the appellant, a private individual, in a tax appeal against HMRC concerning issues surrounding the free movement of capital within the EU and double taxation.

I was listed in the Legal 500 in 2011 and 2012 (I was on sabbatical 2013 -14).

This Blog contains posts about various bits and pieces of law, practice and procedure that arise in my every day work as a Commercial/Chancery Barrister and which I think might be useful to others.

I very much appreciate feedback and you are welcome to leave it – please be constructive. One of the beauties of The Law is the exchange of ideas, information, knowledge and opinion it encourages. Its how we learn and improve.

If you want to instruct me, I accept instructions in the conventional way from Solicitors and from Licensed Access Professions and, at my discretion, by Direct Access.

My primary place of practice is St John’s Chambers in Bristol .

I can read a train timetable and have iMaps to guide me around the world.

The opinions expressed, experiences detailed and suggestions made in this Blog are just that, opinions, stories and suggestions and they do not bind me. If you decide to use the information I give or suggestions I make, you do so at your own risk and I will not be liable for any loss you suffer as a consequence. Instruct me and pay me and its a whole different matter.

*My mother is my greatest mentor and inspiration, what she actually said was: “Do something with your life, do it well if you can but DO something!”