Joshua is a leading junior in costs, professional negligence, construction, commercial litigation and insurance. For professional negligence, Legal 500 2023 state that “‘Joshua is top class! He has detailed and extensive knowledge in this area and can quickly identify strengths and weaknesses which not only guides our strategy and advice to clients, but also gives us confidence that we are giving the client first-class legal, commercial and practical advice. His advice/opinions are persuasive, and his pleadings are accurate and succinct ...Both professional and approachable, which is a rare combination.”. For Costs, Chambers UK 2023 writes that “Joshua Munro is commercial, client-friendly and a brilliant advocate.”
Joshua has a very busy costs practice in the SCCO and elsewhere. He has acted in costs litigation at all levels including the House of Lords. He is described in the Legal 500 as having a “masterly knowledge of the case law.”
Cases include:
Joshua is well known in the market as a robust and persuasive advocate, and someone who gives thorough and commercial advice. He most frequently acts in claims against solicitors, IFAs and surveyors.
Cases include:
Joshua is well known for his knowledge of insurance law and his commercial advice in this field.
International Energy Group v Zurich [2015] 2 WLR 1471, Joshua represented International Energy Group with Antonio Bueno KC and Patrick Limb KC in the Supreme Court in a coverage dispute, the effects of which were said by the British Association of Insurers to be worth in the region of £10billion.
Joshua has particularly strong interest in coverage disputes, particularly regarding liability policies, professional indemnity policies, all forms of construction insurances including all-risks, and all types of legal expenses insurances, BTE and ATE.
Joshua is head of chambers’ well regarded Commercial Litigation Group. Joshua has strong expertise and interest in a wide range of commercial disputes. This covers litigation and arbitration. It often involves contractual and property disputes and sometimes overlaps with Joshua’s construction law practices.
Recent cases include:
Joshua is licensed to practice in the Isle of Man and has cases there involving insolvency, investment trusts, alleged frauds, remedies against company directors, sale and purchase agreements.
Joshua has a strong interest and wide experience of construction issues. This includes the gamut of disputes, and encompasses, amongst other things: professional negligence claims, insurance issues, defects and remedies, account claims, contract termination issues and remedies, fraud, injunctions, and solvency issues.
"A superb advocate and a risk taker, Joshua is exceptionally likeable." Chambers UK, 2025
"He's a deep thinker and is really measured; when you receive his advice you know that he has thought about it." Chambers UK, 2025
"Joshua is responsive, commercially-minded barrister whose advocacy skills are impressive." Chambers UK, 2025
"His advice is fearless and commercially very sound. Clients find him very easy to engage with." Legal 500, 2025
"Joshua gives measured advice and is a very competent and assured advocate." Legal 500, 2025
"Commercial, client-friendly and a brilliant advocate." Chambers UK, 2023
"Josh gives clear and competent advice and is very reliable." Chambers UK, 2023
"Joshua Munro is commercial, client-friendly and a brilliant advocate." Chambers UK, 2023
"Joshua is top class! He has detailed and extensive knowledge in this area and can quickly identify strengths and weaknesses which not only guides our strategy and advice to clients, but also gives us confidence that we are giving the client first-class legal, commercial and practical advice. His advice/opinions are persuasive, and his pleadings are accurate and succinct. Joshua is very easy to work, very user-friendly and has an excellent bedside manner with clients. " Legal 500, 2023
"Client friendly, concise advice and statements of case, natural advocate." Legal 500, 2023
“Joshua is exceptionally talented, knowledgeable and confident. Both professional and approachable, which is a rare combination.” Chambers UK, 2022
“He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in these cases. He takes matters seriously, prepares very well in advance and remains focused on the case.” “Joshua gives masterclass performances in court” and “gives the instructing solicitor confidence and assurance.” Chambers UK, 2022
“Joshua has a good knowledge of all matters costs and is able to explain complex issues to the client in a very straightforward and understandable manner.” Legal 500, 2022
“His legal analysis is excellent, and he delivers practical advice in a readily approachable way.” Legal 500, 2022
“Very analytical and patient, he provides brilliant, sensible advice.” Legal 500, 2021
‘”Joshua is collaborative, hardworking and sharply intelligent. An absolute delight to work with, able to establish a firm bond with clients, be they hardened professionals or laypeople. Tactically astute, nimble on his feet and an excellent technical lawyer.” Legal 500, 2021
“A leading junior and a very capable barrister. The paperwork and pleadings he’s produced show he clearly knows what he’s talking about when it comes to costs.” Chambers UK, 2021
“Knowledgeable and very good on his feet, he’s a man who gives the instructing solicitor a lot of reassurance. You feel confident that you’ll get the best outcome possible with him on board.” Chambers UK 2021
“He’s very convincing: unlike others, who have a theatrical style, he is very calm and also very nice.” Chambers UK, 2020
“He’s very knowledgeable, approachable and client-friendly.” Chambers UK, 2020
“He very obviously knows what he is talking about and is very level-headed and practical in his thinking.” Chambers UK, 2020
“He is good on costs disputes and very client-friendly.” Chambers UK, 2020
“An excellent advocate with a sharp mind” Legal 500, 2020
“Highly rated” Legal 500, 2020
“Very hard-working, knowledgeable, responsive and easy to deal with” Chambers UK, 2019
“He is unflappable””Very analytical and offers eminently sensible advice” Chambers UK, 2019
“Consistently wins on costs matters” Legal 500, 2019
“Excellent” Legal 500, 2019
“Really knows his stuff and is very analytical. He provides brilliant, sensible advice” “A brilliant advocate. He is exceptional at trial” “He is clear, robust and willing to back his argument. He is also very personable and good at dealing with difficult clients” Chambers UK, 2018
“Very bright and very industrious” “Approachable, reliable, consistent and accurate” Legal 500, 2017
“He’s a firm and persuasive advocate who shows attention to detail and has a really good manner with the court.” Chambers UK, 2017
“He has an acute sense of the limits of any case and has a great ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses in it.” Legal 500, 2016
“He fights his client’s case tooth and nail.” “He’s an engaging, warm individual with good client care skills.” Chambers UK, 2016
“A fluent and engaging advocate whose legal research and analysis is of a high order.” Legal 500, 2015
“He always fights his client’s corner robustly and tenaciously.” Legal 500, 2015
“Mr Munro…as he puts it, with beguiling advocacy…” per Hughes LJ in Kynaston v Carroll [2011] EWCA Civ 1699 at para [5]. “Deals with key points quickly, gives sound advice and is realistic.” Chambers UK, 2014
Salfiti v Seedo [2022] EWHC 1712 (Ch). Interesting dispute involving alleged frauds in purchase of commercial property, forgeries, constructive and resulting trusts and limitation defences.
Nieman v Withers: [2022] EWHC 2237 (QB). Rare trial of allegations of professional negligence against solicitors instructed in respect of settlement of financial resolution proceedings arising from divorce.
EXN v East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust [2022] 4 W.L.R. 70: Important appellate authority on relief from sanctions for failures in respect of notices of funding.
Deepchand v Sooben [2020] Costs L.R. 1633. Court of Appeal victory for Joshua overturning an erroneous costs order arising from a wasted costs order application. Joshua also successfully resisted the wasted costs order application in the High Court.
Mann and others v Transport for London [2018] 1 W.L.R. 5104. Court of Appeal victory for Joshua dealing with the effect of non-part 36 offers in group litigation.
Riordan v Moon Beever [2018] EWCH 1452 (QB) Appeal from costs judge refusing to conduct solicitor/client assessment and staying the same because of threatened professional negligence proceedings.
Robinson v EMW [2018] EWCH 1757 (Ch) High Court appeal victory for Joshua from decision in SCCO failing to give effect to an implied retainer.
Andrew Fryatt v Preston Mellor Harrison (a firm) [2015] EWHC 1683 (ch) Joshua successfully resisted a claim, on causation grounds, against solicitors found to have made errors in conveyancing in respect of an option to purchase land for property development.
Regina v Griffin [2015]. Joshua acted for the Crown and taxpayer, successfully resisting Dave Lee Travis’ claim for costs of around £350,000 relating to counts on which he was acquitted. The costs allowed were restricted to only travel and subsistence expenses. Reported in various mainstream media.
Saigol v Thorney [2014] 4 Costs L.O. 592, CA. Joshua’s successful appeal against adverse costs order arising from non-part 36, time-limited offer.
Haynes v Department for Business, Innovation and Skills [2014] 3 Costs L.R. 475 Interpretation of multi-party costs orders.
Joyce v Darby [2014] EWCA Civ 677, CA. Joshua’s successful appeal regarding damages for negligent conveyancing.
French v Carter Lemon Camerons [2013] P.N.L.R. 2, CA. Solicitors’ liens over papers.
Tulisa Contoslavos v TNT Magazine [2013] EWHC 4026 (QB). Joshua acted for the X Factor star and successfully recovered costs of an injunction against the magazine for her.
Minkin v CKFT [2012] 3 All E.R. 1117. Joshua acted for the successful appellant in the Court of Appeal in a case described by the Law Society Gazette as a “landmark” decision on costs consequences following alleged wrongful termination of solicitors’ retainers.
Gossage v Bishton [2012] EWCA Civ 717, CA
Letts v Royal and Sun Alliance Plc [2012] 3 Costs LR 591, HC
Scurfield v HMRC [2011] UKFTT 532 (TC)
Lake v Hunt Kidd LLP [2011] 6 Costs L.R. 948
Halliwells v NES [2011] P.N.L.R. 30
Education: Joshua took the highest First in his year at Oxford University for BA Hons in English and Modern Languages before studying for the Bar on the CPE and BVC.
Personal: Joshua is interested in all things Italian, including art, music, literature, food & wine, and visits Italy whenever possible. He speaks fluent Italian.
Joshua Munro generally provides his services via Joshua Munro Limited, a company registered in England.
ICO Data protection registration number: Z7718944.
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