Profile

Conrad Gadd

Barrister: Gray’s Inn
Called to the Bar: 2016
Direct Access Barrister Authorised to Conduct Litigation

Conrad Gadd brings over four decades of legal experience to his practice, having first qualified as a solicitor in 1980 before requalifying as a barrister in 2016. His career has encompassed criminal defence, civil litigation, professional negligence, personal injury and regulatory work, giving him a breadth of experience rarely found within the modern Bar.

Conrad studied in London and Bristol before being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1980. During the early years of his career he worked within general legal practice, gaining practical experience across a wide range of disciplines including conveyancing, probate, matrimonial law, commercial matters and criminal litigation. It was, however, criminal advocacy that became his principal focus.

After joining a specialist criminal defence practice, Conrad established his own firm, Gadd & Co, which later became Gadd & Partners. Under his leadership the practice grew into one of the largest specialist criminal defence firms in the South West of England, operating from offices in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Bristol. For a significant period the firm undertook approximately half of all criminal defence work in Gloucestershire and employed a substantial team of solicitors and paralegals devoted exclusively to criminal litigation.

Between 1984 and 2010 Conrad specialised almost exclusively in criminal defence work. He had conduct of 23 murder cases and developed extensive experience in serious sexual allegations, organised crime, large-scale drug importation and supply conspiracies, fraud and other grave offences. During that period he worked alongside many of the leading advocates of the day, including the late George Carman QC and, more recently, William Clegg KC.

His career has included involvement in a number of unusual and high-profile matters. He acted in one of the earliest cases involving allegations of multiple sexual offences said to have been committed abroad. He also became involved in a lengthy legal battle before the Supreme Court of Cyprus concerning a suspicious death. The proceedings culminated in what is understood to have been the first exhumation order ever granted by a Cypriot court, enabling further investigation into potential homicide allegations. He later advised in connection with an appeal arising from a gangland murder in Cyprus.

Having retired from practice in 2010, Conrad soon discovered that retirement did not suit him. He returned to the profession, qualified as a barrister and was called to the Bar in 2016. Since then he has maintained a substantial advocacy practice, combining criminal and civil litigation.

Throughout his career Conrad has retained a particular interest in motoring law. He has represented motorists, transport operators, professional drivers and companies for more than forty years and has dealt with virtually every category of road traffic offence. His experience extends to allegations of dangerous driving, causing death by dangerous or careless driving, drink and drug driving, tachograph offences, licensing matters and proceedings before the Traffic Commissioners. He has developed an in-depth understanding of the scientific and technical issues arising in road traffic litigation and regularly works with leading forensic toxicologists, accident reconstruction experts and specialists in enforcement technology.

Conrad has also developed a substantial civil litigation practice. Whilst still practising as a solicitor he was instructed in relation to the banking “interest rate swap” mis-selling scandal before it became widely recognised. Through detailed investigation and litigation against a major high street bank he secured substantial settlements for commercial clients, recovering sums approaching £1 million.

His professional negligence work has included successful claims against solicitors arising from defective advice and transactional failures. In one notable case he recovered damages approaching £390,000 for a client whose funds had become embroiled in sanctions-related issues following negligent handling by professional advisers.

Conrad also acts in actions against police forces. His recent work includes representing clients who were wrongfully arrested and detained on serious allegations relating to indecent images of children following a police error. The claim resulted in substantial damages being awarded for wrongful imprisonment and psychiatric injury.

His personal injury practice includes serious and catastrophic injury litigation. He has represented claimants in claims arising from road traffic collisions, institutional negligence and failures by public authorities. His work has included obtaining substantial compensation for clients who have suffered life-changing injuries and significant psychiatric harm.

Known for his meticulous preparation, strategic thinking and determination, Conrad is frequently instructed in cases where other lawyers have struggled to identify a viable route forward. He combines the practical experience of a former solicitor with the advocacy skills of a barrister and offers clients direct access to specialist legal representation from the outset of a case.

Current Practice

Conrad now practises independently as a Direct Access Barrister authorised to conduct litigation.

His principal areas of work are:

• Privately funded Crown Court trials and appeals.
• Police misconduct proceedings and disciplinary hearings.
• Motoring law and Traffic Commissioner matters.
• High Court and County Court litigation.
• Professional negligence claims against solicitors and other professionals.
• Actions against police forces involving wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and breaches of human rights.
• Complex civil disputes requiring strategic case management and advocacy.

Conrad accepts instructions directly from members of the public, businesses, police officers, professional drivers and commercial organisations throughout England and Wales.