This week, our spotlighted barrister is Chris Pearson.
Tell us a little about yourself and your practice.
“I handle intellectual property disputes in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) of the Chancery Division, the general Intellectual Property List of the Chancery Division, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) and the Court of Appeal. IP is everywhere. Awareness of its value, and of the need to protect, defend and enforce it, is ever increasing. I work with talented creators and business people across the spectrum of the arts and media, entertainment and business worlds, either directly or as part of a team with their solicitors or attorneys. My background is creative and scientific, which fits well with my practice. I was born in Belfast and grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, which I suspect gave me some of the stoicism you need for this job.”
What is your first memory of wanting to be a barrister?
“It was in my second year at Durham University. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a long-distance lorry driver in the USA. I had this romantic notion of endless straight roads stretching out in front of me, sunsets and chilled beats, and arriving each day in a new place. Then I discovered electronics, and learnt how to design, etch and build my own printed circuit boards for my tech-creations. By the end of school, I wanted to design microprocessors on giant light-tables in Silicon Valley. So what happened?! I was good at mathematics, which made for a happy degree choice, but I didn’t see myself taking it further. On the other hand, I had often found myself in public-speaking and leadership roles, and had enjoyed a bit of theatre acting. I needed something with a lead performance element, social interaction, an occasional thrill and enough intellectual demand to keep it interesting. So I chose barrister.”
Is there a certain case that stands out to you in your career? If yes, why?
“Every case leaves its mark because it involves a high personal investment. It’s true that some cases make a bigger impression than others. Some years ago, I represented a former British army corporal from the Parachute Regiment who had worked as a security consultant for a defence contractor in Iraq during the Iraq War, providing security support services to the body responsible for managing the reconstruction program. He published a website containing videos allegedly showing personnel of the defence contractor shooting indiscriminately and without warning at Iraqi civilian vehicles. The defence contractor sought an urgent High Court injunction to take down the website, alleging among other things breach of confidence, passing off and copyright infringement. The urgent injunction was granted, of course. Technically, the law was on the side of the defence contractor, and not the whistleblower, my client. Morally, it was a different story. The case sticks in my mind for a couple of reasons. Firstly, as a reminder that the legal merits and moral justice don’t always coincide. Secondly, as a reminder that the legal merits and moral justice almost always coincide. Which is one of the reasons why our beloved legal system is world class.”
What’s your favourite thing about being a barrister?
“The independence. Barristers talk about “being their own boss”, but in reality, that’s not how it is. The “deadline” is boss. The commercial deadline, the filing deadline, the service deadline, the hearing deadline, the limitation deadline, that critical-moment-in-negotiation deadline… Once you make peace with that constraint, the working flexibility is a joy and a privilege. Can I add a second favourite thing? The sense of belonging. To the Bar, to the Inn, to my chambers. I am lucky to be a member of an outstanding set, Lamb Chambers, alongside friends and colleagues who are a group of exceptional barristers and staff. When I am there, I feel at home.”
What do you do to relax?
“I write thrillers. My first, Proof of Death, featuring a barrister (not me!), is about a fight over a mathematical proof worth billions for its code-cracking powers. It has been a Kindle bestseller in a number of countries. My second, Propaganda, is a conspiracy/race-against-time thriller about a secret sect that recruits people off the streets to spread fake news on the internet to incite hatred and violence in real life. My third is in progress. Otherwise, I spend time with my family and friends, travel, listen to all kinds of music, read, watch films, mostly thrillers and comedies. I am a former competitive swimmer, so I get back in the pool whenever I can. I am also a foodie, so eating is high on the list too.”
If you weren’t a barrister, what would you be?
“I’m already living the dream, but it would probably be full-time thriller-writer, travelling the world in search of exciting new settings. And film producer. Because every good thriller needs a movie adaptation.”
