Jonathan is a Director at Watkins & Gunn, Head of Clinical Negligence and responsible for Client Care. He is a highly regarded personal injury and clinical negligence lawyer and, currently, our Head of Criminal Law. Jonathan oversees the criminal department and as a lawyer, deals with complex personal injury and clinical negligence matters for our clients across Wales and England. His based at our Newport office.
Experience
He is a solicitor, with a wealth of experience, qualifying in 1991 after training at Watkins and Gunn.
Personal injury and Clinical Negligence – He is a member of the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel as well as being a fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). has also dealt with numerous high value personal injury cases and a £5 million+ clinical negligence case for a girl left with severe brain damage following a failure to diagnose meningitis. He is recommended as a key lawyer in Wales for Personal Injury in the Legal 500 2024 – a directory of rankings that is based on independently researched client opinion and the regard of other legal professionals.
Criminal/ Road Traffic Law – He has 27 years of experience in criminal/road traffic matters . With regard to road traffic cases they represents 10% of his workload. He has acted in over 1000 motoring cases (contested and uncontested) ranging from speeding , totting up disqualifications, driving with excess Alcohol., Driving without Due Care , Dangerous Driving and offences before Road Traffic Commissioner. He has also led a number of high profile criminal cases, including two murder cases: one where we were able to persuade the Crown to accept manslaughter and; a £1.5 million+ criminal fraud trial recently involving 8 defendants and an 8 week trial at Southwark (the Defendant was acquitted).
General Litigation and Disciplinary issues – He is also experienced in general litigation matters, including sports law – with particular regard to disciplinary issues for local clubs. Jonathan also appeared before the Wales Rugby Union Disciplinary Committee to successfully defend a player accused of a stamp which caused a well known Welsh rugby player to lose the sight in his eye. Jonathan successfully defended the player before the WRU disciplinary tribunal and in the subsequent appeal before International Rugby Board Disciplinary officer, Roger Morris.
Professional Qualifications
- Jonathan holds an LL.B Hons and is a qualified Solicitor.
- He was a Duty Solicitor for 25 years and is able to help clients with criminal law matters
Professional memberships
- Member of The Law Society of England & Wales’ Personal Injury Panel
- Fellow of The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
Reported cases include:
- Donovan v Gwent Toys, House of Lords
- Targett v Torfaen Borough Council, Court of Appeal
Publications & Published Articles
Jonathan has appeared on Radio Wales (recently regarding drug driving laws and also regarding Nigel Meek, a rugby player convicted of an assault on rugby field). The interviews were part of a wider discussion re criminal offences and sport.
Outside of work
Jonathan has two sons aged 20 and 16.
He has always had a love of cricket, captaining Newbridge Cricket Club and playing for Monmouthshire Cricket Association. He is also a Level 2 Cricket coach. As well as his busy role in the firm, he is currently Chairman of the South East Wales Cricket League, the largest league in Wales and Secretary of Newbridge Cricket Club!
In addition to still playing 2nd team cricket , Jonathan also plays golf and is Past Captain of Bryn Meadows Golf Club.
He also loves skiing, and particularly Apres whenever he gets the chance!