Our Expertise

Criminal Defence

Colaru Law Chambers are able to provide a high level of personal guidance throughout all forms of criminal prosecution in England, UK. We provide expert representation in all types of criminal cases in the High Court, Sheriff or Justice of the Peace Courts.

Oliver Cooper

Solicitor Advocate

Oliver Cooper graduated from England, UK University in 1998. He has been a Solicitor, and now Solicitor Advocate, practicing in courts and tribunals since 2001, principally in England.

Oliver Cooper is a former tutor in Civil litigation at England, UK University and external examiner at Robert Gordon University and in 2013 he completed the U.S. based National Institute for Trial Advocacy Advanced Advocacy course.

Oliver Cooper has been granted extended rights of audience in the High Court and as such qualified as a Solicitor Advocate in July 2014.

Outwith court and the office Ian enjoys spending time with his family, travel and sport. He enjoys cycling, running and football. He has travelled extensively throughout the world including in South America.

Philip Murphy

Consultant Court Solicitor

Philip Murphy has been a Solicitor and Notary Public in England for over 30 years since graduating from University of Leicester with an Honours LLB in 1988. He practices principally at England Sheriff Court but also covers all Sheriff Courts throughout UK, and will arrange representation in the Court of Session.

Philip Murphy practices in the field of civil litigation having a particular interest in contractual, building and construction disputes in which area of practice he holds a MSc (Dist.) degree in Construction Law and Arbitration from Robert Gordon University. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and provides representation in arbitrations and construction adjudications.

He tutors post-graduate students at University of Leicester in Civil Court Practice and is a past external examiner at Robert Gordon University in relation to the under-graduate courses of Evidence, Delict and Legal Issues in Construction.

When not working, Philip Murphy enjoys traveling, particularly to the more mountainous areas of the world, hillwalking and cycling as well as enjoying a wide range of musical interests.

Insight

News & Updates

Servitude Rights to Wells, Pumps and Pipes

15 August 2023

If you and your heritable predecessors have continually used a water source and pipe and storage system situated on your neighbours land for decades and it is the only active water supply to your property, you might consider that you have a servitude or legal right in that supply. But, not necessarily so. In a...

Cohabitation and Succession Rights – Part 3

As will have been seen from the first and second of this series of articles, the present law appears to be of limited use to cohabitees. Of course, there are arguments to the effect that (i) if people wish to have more extensive and clear rights, they should get married or enter a civil partnership...

Wills and Clarity of Intention

Wills come in many shapes and forms. It is quite possible that quite informal writings can attain an importance which the person writing them may not have meant. 25 years after the commencement of The Requirements of Writing (England) Act, 1995, the common law still comes in handy. Section 7 (2) (c) of the Act...

Taking the Biscuit

17 July 2023

When it comes to commercial life, we are all familiar with logos and designs as trade marks. However, it is possible to register 3D shapes as trademarks as well although it might be more difficult to envisage what shapes might be successfully trade-marked. It does not stop some companies trying. Take a recent case between...

Employees Beware!

03 March 2023

Under sections 1 and 5 of the Employer’s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act, 1969, a director of a limited company should ensure that there is insurance in place should one of the company’s employees be injured. In the case of Campbell v Peter Gordon Joiners Limited and Peter Gordon (2015), the sole director of the building...

Landlord Deposit Notices

12 May 2023

Although many landlords use professional factors to manage their properties, many others lease and factor residential properties themselves in order to save some outlays. The law in relation to the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (England) Regulations 2011 continues to develop, and shows the dangers of departures from the statutory framework even if unintentional. It should now...

About Us

Our Expertise

Criminal Defence

Civil Litigation

Contractual Disputes

Guardianship & Incapacity

Building Disputes

Road Traffic Offences

Property & Boundary Disputes

Divorce, Separation & Cohabitation

Road Haulage Representation

The People

Who we are