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Jonathan Cook

Senior Associate

Nottingham

jonathan.cook@brownejacobson.com

+44 (0)115 976 6150

Nottingham

Jonathan has worked in the local authority defendant litigation sphere for many years cultivating a successful method of representing local authorities faced with civil litigation claims, predominantly involving highways, occupiers’ liability, workplace and housing disrepair legislation.

Jonathan works with insurers and insurance teams in local authorities across the country direct.

Jonathan handles a substantial civil litigation caseload, dealing with all matters arising from pre-litigation issues and then during the litigation process from initial instruction to resolution at trial or otherwise. He also has considerable advocacy experience before district judges in complex interlocutory hearings.

He has immersed himself in local authority claims and risk management and is the primary contact for many clients. He also thrives on investigating claims, which brings him into regular contact with local authority claims managers and handlers, as well as local authority employees at all levels and from varied client departments.

Jonathan is an active member of the Browne Jacobson ‘claims club’, which is targeted at local authorities and through that has developed many contacts working in the London local authority area. This affords him the opportunity to meet with colleagues from risk management and claims handling departments of authorities on a regular basis.

Jonathan engages with the firms involvement with Alarm, predominantly in the London area, but also at national level.

He is also an active member of our community action group, participating in pro bono activities as well as being on our sports and social committee, which regularly organises social trips and activities for the benefit of fellow colleagues.

Expertise

Featured experience

Highway maintenance

Defence of a claim for alleged inadequate removal of highways chippings after road re-surfacing.  It was accepted at trial that our client’s processes and working practices were reasonable and proportionate.

Highways – successful defence on causation

Demonstrated at trial that a Claimant did not fall on a dangerous defect on the highway – the Court accepted our position that the accident did not occur as alleged and dismissed the claim.

Occupiers Liability – obvious hazard

Successfully defended an occupier of a shopping centre against allegations of a defective cycle shelter. The “defect” was deemed to be obvious and there to be seen, with no liability on the client.

Stately home – Occupiers Liability

Successfully defended a slipping case on original steps at a stately home.  The Court accepted our position that the steps, whilst worn due to age, were not hazardous having been in situ for many centuries without incident.