Carrie Mason (Formerly Sykes)
Carrie Mason (Formerly Sykes) BSc(Hons), PGDip(law) BVC.
Barrister at Law
Called 2004 (Gray’s Inn)
In recent years Carrie has built a very busy practice in family work, notably Children’s Act matters. Carrie deals with both public and private law matters. She acts for local authorities, parents and extended family members, and children through their guardian in many varied and complex cases. Her nursing background forms an ideal foundation with which she has built her expertise dealing with all manner of physical abuse/non-accidental injury where children have been severely disabled (including salt poisoning, severe head injuries, biting injuries, multiple fractures, and fabricated illness by proxy), and serious sexual abuse including (including alleged paedophile “rings”), together with serious neglect and emotional harm cases. She is able to adapt to the needs and sensitive issues that face all parties in such cases.
Carrie is particularly interested in matters involving younger parents including minors and all manner of abuse cases (physical and sexual).
Originally from the Midlands, Carrie qualified as an Orthopaedic Nurse in 1983. Around 1991, after her two sons were born Carrie was instrumental in the formation and running of a successful construction company, until later reading Computing at University of Wales (first class Hons) and converting at University of Glamorgan.
Carrie achieved ‘very competent ’at the Bar Vocational Course in University of West of England with some individual ‘outstanding ’on certain modules. She completed pupillage in chambers in London where she took tenancy with a mixed civil and criminal practice. She was awarded the Kallisher Scholarship Award (Runner-up) for Criminal Law.
Carrie later moved out of the City taking an employed Bar position in an advocacy unit in Bristol where she achieved Principle Associate and took instructions for many well-known insurer clients in mixed civil work mainly personal Injury, contractual and some criminal instructions. With her nursing background Carrie is ideally placed to deal with varied personal injury and clinical negligence matters. Her construction industry background is invaluable in disputes relating to construction cases.
She now lives in Cheltenham and is happy to take instructions within Wales, South West, Midlands and London. Carrie is instructed in various client conferences. Carrie is exceptionally computer literate and receives instructions and evidence in electronic form. Carrie also played a part in organising and judging local university mooting competitions.
Care Proceedings (Private & Public)
Caroline is taking instructions in both private and public care proceedings. Representing all parties within these matters she is able to provide a firm and reassuring approach to all parties in these often difficult and sensitive matters. Caroline takes instructions at all levels covering matters of physical and sexual abuse, neglect and emotional harm.
Caroline accepts instructions on matters of both timetabled and urgent emergency-listed matters including many varied injunctions within the realms of family matters. Caroline takes instructions on private residence and contact matters including complex issues.
Caroline deals with matters in relation to capacity, mental health difficulties, and drug and alcohol-related problems involving children and families generally. Caroline is particularly interested in matters involving younger parents including minors and all manner of abuse cases (physical and sexual).
Personal Injury
Caroline has built her practice acting for both Claimants and Defendants in road traffic claims (including Credit Hire, Low Velocity Collision and Fraudulent Claims), Animals Act, employers’ liability, occupier’s liability, highway tripping. Caroline has a particular interest and recent success in cost issues at Approval hearings (small claims argument and counsel fee). Notably reported case of “Diga v Waite”.
Caroline has considerable experience in advisory work, and pleadings.
She accepts instructions at all levels of the fast track and multi track and undertakes work at all stages of the litigation process from pre-issue advisory work, drafting and applications, through appeals.
Inquests
Caroline has considerable experience of acting at inquests in the Coroner’s Court for:
Claimants and Defendants in road traffic fatality cases.
The families of people believed to have died as a result of clinical negligence including Jury Inquests
Civil Litigation
Caroline is frequently instructed for Claimants and Defendants and advises in a range of:
Contract disputes including building and construction contracts
Misrepresentation
Breach of Contract
Sale of Goods Act, and the Sale and Supply of Goods Act.
Clinical Negligence
Caroline accepts instructions on clinical negligence matters.
Crime
Caroline has a wide range of experience acting for both Defence and Prosecution in a broad range of matters in both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.
Caroline is frequently instructed in matters particularly relating to road traffic matters and with an interest in the recent changes to the Road traffic Act with drivers facing charges of Death by Careless and similar.
At Bar School Caroline was awarded the runner-up Kallisher Scholarship prize
Insolvency
Caroline has experience in matters dealing with bankruptcy petitions, winding up petitions, setting aside statutory demands, possession orders and charging orders.
Significant cases
Vane v Baker (2004) On behalf of the Defendant successfully arguing a case dealing with the issue of part 36 costs following acceptance of an offer out of time.
Diga v Waite (2009) On behalf of an infant in receipt of settlement below the fast track value successfully arguing for predictive fee costs
Successfully conducting a case for misrepresentation on the purchase of a defective classic car followed by successfully defending the appeal on the same matter.
Four–day jury inquest for a patient who died whilst in the care of the Health Authority
Representing an elderly driver charged with Death by Careless in the criminal proceedings and inquest.
Education
2003- 2004 BVC, University of West of England Law School;
2002- 2003 Law Conversion Course, University of Glamorgan;
1999- 2002 BSc (Hons) First Class Computing, University of Wales;
1983 Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate, Coventry School Of Nursing.
Interests
Carrie is enjoys fitness, is a keen skier, enjoys travel and reading. Carrie has an interest in motor sport and is also a qualified BSAC Ocean Diver.
Caroline Jayne Mason is a barrister registered with Bar Standards Board of England and Wales. She is a sole practitioner and has professional liability insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Ltd., Bar Mutual Management Company, 90 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4ST www.barmutual.co.uk. Bar Mutual provides cover for claims brought anywhere in the world.
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