Search orders and supervising solicitors

Our highly experienced team of search order supervising solicitors responds quickly to enquiries and is ideally placed to deal with multiple or simultaneous search sites at both domestic and business premises. The team have a combined experience of over a dozen search orders where we have acted as supervising solicitors and many more where we have acted for one of the parties involved in a search. We can react very quickly if a claimant needs to appoint one or more supervising solicitors to oversee the execution of a search order and can assist the claimant's solicitors in the consideration of critical search order practicalities.

The search order supervising solicitors' team comprises of three partners, Paul Jonson, David Brown and Melanie McGuirk, senior associate James Thackray and associate Anushka Stone. Paul Jonson is recognised as an expert by The Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and both Paul and Melanie McGuirk hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Commercial Intellectual Property Law and this knowledge can be hugely helpful in supervising search orders that involve alleged infringements of IP rights. Paul and James have spoken on search order practicalities at a number of seminars. Prior to be being made a partner Melanie was appointed by the court to act as the supervising solicitor on two occasions.

The team includes two female lawyers/partners as a female member of the supervising solicitors' is often a key requirement where domestic premises are being searched.

Our search order supervision solicitors are hugely experienced in handling the legal and practical issues that can arise during the course of supervising a search order, and of the various types of orders a court might make, such as doorstep disclosure and computer imaging orders.

Members of the supervising solicitors' team specialise in fraud cases and the misuse of confidential information (in addition to IP disputes) which often assists in the supervision of a search order where the defendant is alleged to have stolen confidential information or carried out fraudulent acts.

We have bespoke costs software, designed by our in-house litigation costs analyst, which means you can engage us with the benefit of complete costs transparency. We can provide your client with detailed costs budgets at the outset of a case and are prepared to fix our fees.

The search team is based in Manchester but regularly carries out the supervision of search orders at locations across the UK. Solicitors instructing the search order team include national law firms and specialist firms:

[The Pannone team] were invaluable in co-supervising with us 2 search orders at premises in London. The searches lasted 21 days and together we resolved many of the issues that arose during the search such as the scope of the orders, the documents that fell to be disclosed and privilege. It was refreshing to work with solicitors who also had an in-depth knowledge of search orders and how they should be conducted.

Anthony Riem, Partner, PCB LLP

We have standard documentation ready to file at court at very short notice, including affidavits and CVs setting out the relevant experience of the individual members of the search order team.

In addition to the independent supervision of search orders, the team also has extensive experience in acting for claimants and defendants in making applications for search orders or responding to the same.

Pannone LLP represented and advised the defendant in the leading case C Plc -v- P [2007] EWCA Civ 493. This case concerned the right of privilege against self-incrimination. The case was heard by the Court of Appeal and the decision has important implications for a defendant facing a search order.

We have prepared a case update which is available for download here (PDF).

We are able to give both claimants and defendants involved in a search experienced and practical advice regarding the preparation of evidence in support of or in response to a search order, the form of the search order itself, and the pitfalls of execution of the order.

We give seminars which are CPD accredited regarding search orders, and would be happy to talk to you about presenting to you.

Our supervising solicitors team sheet is available for download here (PDF).

To speak with a member of the search order team, or if you want advice in relation to applying for or defending a search order, please call 0844 980 1437 or send an email.