The person
John Cato has been working as a solicitor for over 30 years and is qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate allowing him to represent Clients in Court when appropriate.
Meet John
Cato
Solicitor-Advocate
John started working as a Trainee Solicitor at a firm in London in Lincoln’s Inn. After qualifying, he practiced as a Commercial Litigator in a leading law firm based in South East of England
In 2004, John decided to set up his own practice because he felt that working as a partner in a multi-partner practice left him unable to provide a dedicated focus to his clients’ interests, and his own, highly effective, law and Court tactics. John’s clients followed him to his new practice.
In a multi-layered larger firm the ability to give objective and considered advice is difficult; advice can be influenced by high billing targets and management and political considerations.
This freedom allows John to honour the high level of trust and confidence which people used to repose in their own Solicitor.
Larger departmentalised practices with huge overheads often use a standardised, expensive and pre-determined process, including the overuse of trainees and part qualified staff, who progress cases without the experience to see the ‘whole wood’. Low competence levels can hide in a large firm but within a specialist practice, you live by reputation alone.
Giving strong advice is often avoided in this litigation assembly line by giving client’s recommended options which they have to navigate and decide between on little more than instinct.
John is regularly instructed by other firms of commercial solicitors to deal with their complex litigation requirements.
John’s method is to try to get to the heart of the problem and find a legal solution from the start with the potential to save thousands of pounds.
What can you expect?
- Easy communication (you get your fee earner’s mobile number as a matter of course).
- Proactive
- Commercial direction
- Care – our reputation is only as good as our last case
As highly competent Solicitor advocate John has;
- A proven track record of developing strategies and tactics for cases of any complexity
- An excellent ability to forge strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Excellent administrative skills and keen attention to detail with a flexible and responsible approach
- Excellent communication skills, accuracy and efficiency in dealing with work
- Management of client instructions in an assertive and timely manner
- Analytical, initiative, motivated – client’s say he has a “can do” attitude