Jonathan has led Bolt Burdon Kemp (BKK) in successfully campaigning to change the law in a number of areas, including access to public transport & courtrooms for disabled people. The firm has recently released its Manifesto for Injured People. He talks to NLJ about his inspirations & challenges
What was your route into the profession?
A fairly traditional one—I studied law at Lancaster University, went on to Law College in Chester, and then articles in a big legal aid firm in Liverpool (which was later closed down for fraud). Actually, that was one hell of an introduction!
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
Filling Lynne Burdon’s shoes as the firm’s second managing partner. She loved her Jimmy Choos! Every day is different and everything a challenge—but in a good way.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Oh gosh, there are so many! Roger Bolt for believing in my hare-brained scheme to set up a department specialising in child abuse cases back in the late 90s. His unfailing good humour, Xerox-like knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules and his business acumen featured in bite-size lessons for me every day.
Currently in his 80s, he has homes in England and the South of France and he still plays rhythm guitar in a funky blues band. That’s what I aspire to when I retire. Once, when I asked him if I could sing in his band, he retorted: ‘Over my dead body.’ Fair enough—at least I knew where I stood on that one! And let’s face it, that was another one of his excellent decisions.
Who else? Anne Heseltine, a former boss of mine, for amazing leadership qualities within a firm and a profession dominated by men; Lord Etherton and Master McCloud for butting against the limits of diversity and inclusion in the judiciary; Lizanne Gumbel KC for her unwavering work ethic and support for seriously injured claimants; and everyone who works at BBK for making me look good!
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternative career?
I always wanted to be an actor. I suppose that’s why I love litigation so much and the thrill of the court room. The nearest I got professionally was treading the boards of the Royal Courts of Justice.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
John Travolta’s character in A Civil Action. He plays Boston attorney Jan Schlichtmann, who bankrupts himself and his firm in a dogged pursuit of justice for his clients. I keep telling myself it’s fiction!
Or the entire cast of This Life—which dates me but, what can I say?!
What change would you make to the profession?
We need urgent funding to tackle the delays to cases coming to court—in the criminal and civil courts, and for inquests too. Justice delayed is literally justice denied as the stress of waiting takes its toll on witnesses, memories fade and the quality of evidence degrades. This is just one of the calls we are making in our Manifesto for Injured People: we want politicians and policy makers to sit up and listen to the 16 million people who are disabled in this country. We are calling for improved safety for children, users of the NHS and people on our roads, and we have ideas to improve the lives of workers, armed forces’ veterans and people with life-changing injuries.
How do you relax?
Whisky.
Jonathan Wheeler is managing partner at Bolt Burdon Kemp.
