Joseph Edwards

Joseph has experience in the county court, high court, and specialist tribunals in this area.  His practice includes boundary disputes, landlord and tenant (both commercial and residential), rights of way and easements, disputes relating to the sale of land, and trespass/nuisance.  He has experience seeking and opposing interim injunctions.  Joseph also has experience in leasehold enfranchisement, and proceedings seeking vesting orders.

He is also frequently instructed in building disputes.

Recent instructions include advising an American company in relation to right of way issues at their Welsh manufacturing site, defending mortgage possession proceedings on undue influence grounds, and advising a local authority in relation to an agreement to develop land.

Joseph has extensive experience in commercial disputes.

Recent instructions include the recovery of a six figure peer-to-peer disputed loan, a professional negligence claim against an insurance broker, and a lead case on the proper measure of damages recoverable by the contractor against third party motorists under a large scale highway maintenance contract (Highways England v Tesco Insurance and Booth).  Joseph also has experience in insolvency and company law.

Joseph is ranked as a Band 1 junior in this area by Chambers and Partners.

“Joseph Edwards is a barrister with a noteworthy practice covering chancery and property-related matters. He is instructed by both claimants and defendants on contractual disputes.”

(Chambers UK Guide 2024)

Joseph’s experience in this area includes construction claims, challenges to testamentary capacity, and undue influence.  He also has experience in Inheritance Act claims.

Recent cases include:

• Claim for the rectification of a will
• Re Thomas [2021] EWHC 937 (Ch); “put up or shut up” order obtained

Joseph acts for employers and employees in employment-related disputes in the Employment Tribunal and the civil courts, including in cases where there is a potential ‘career loss’ claim.

He has also appeared in the EAT.  His practice encompasses small and large businesses, as well as local government and national government employers.

Recent work includes:

• Appeared for the MoD in a ten-day race and age discrimination hearing
• Remedies hearing in “career loss” claim for a civil servant who had been subject to disability discrimination
• EAT appeal relating to the proper approach to dismissal where there had been long-term sickness absence: Edwards v MoJ UKEAT/0049/20/BA.

Joseph also has experience of discrimination actions in the County Court.  He has also represented individuals before professional disciplinary hearings.

Joseph has appeared in substantive judicial review hearings relating to immigration decisions, and appears for the Home Office in interim relief hearings relating to accommodation for asylum seekers. He also has experience defending unlawful detention claims against the Home Office.

He has a thorough understanding of the Welsh devolution settlement, and is currently engaged as junior counsel to the Welsh Government in the Covid-19 Inquiry.

Other recent work includes:

• Defending a claim alleging that the Welsh Government had erred in a decision relating to agricultural subsidy payments
• Appearing for a local authority at a public inquiry into the proposed stopping up of a footpath
• Advising the Welsh Government as to the extent of their powers under the current devolution settlement in relation to employment legislation affecting the public sector in Wales.

“A very capable barrister and advocate.”
(Chambers UK Guide 2025)

“Joseph Edwards is a barrister with a noteworthy practice covering chancery and property-related matters. He is instructed by both claimants and defendants on contractual disputes.”
(Chambers UK Guide 2024)

• Highways England v Tesco Underwriting Ltd and Booth [2020] EW Misc 24: Joseph acted for Highways England’s contractor Kier Highways Ltd, in the lead case on the correct approach to property damage claims, where damages were to be recovered from negligent motorists on the Claimant’s behalf by their contractor.

• 2019: Appointed to Attorney General’s Regional B Panel of Counsel
• 2021: Re-appointed to Welsh Government’s Panel of Counsel

• Oxford University (Jesus College) – BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics (2:1)
• Oxford Brookes University – Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)
• Kaplan, London – Bar Professional Training Course (VC)

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