Paul Darling Explained

Paul Darling
Office:Chair, Horserace Betting Levy Board
Honorific-Suffix:
Minister:Oliver Dowden
Predecessor:Paul Lee
Termstart:1 April 2020
Successor:TBD
Termend:2 August 2024
Birth Name:Paul Antony Darling
Birth Date:15 March 1960
Nationality:British
Alma Mater:St Edmund Hall, Oxford
Occupation:Construction & Commercial Barrister
Website:https://www.pauldarlingqc.co.uk

Paul Antony Darling (15 March 1960 – 2 August 2024) was an English commercial law barrister, King's Counsel, and chair of the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

Early life and education

Darling grew up in Cleadon in County Durham and went to Tonstall School in Sunderland before attending Winchester College and then St Edmund Hall, Oxford.[1] His mother was a magistrate and his brother Ian Darling is a British circuit judge.[1] Darling's grandfather was Newcastle United player Jack Allen, who scored for Newcastle in the 1932 FA Cup final.[2]

Career

Darling was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1983, and in 1999 was appointed King's Counsel. He was also called to the Northern Ireland Bar.

In 2010, Darling became head of Keating Chambers where he remained until 2017. He then took the unusual step of moving chambers, joining general commercial set, 39 Essex Chambers.[2] [3]

His areas of practice included construction and engineering, procurement, domestic and international arbitration – areas in which he had been ranked at tier or band 2 levels by The Legal 500[4] and Chambers and Partners directories.[5] He was Treasurer of Middle Temple for 2024.[6]

Significant cases

Darling was instructed as lead counsel on several significant cases.

Horse racing

In 2006 Darling was appointed a non-executive member of the Horserace Totalisator Board or “Tote”.[11] [12] Between 2008 and 2014, he was a government-appointed member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board. He was chairman of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority between 2009 and 2015. He was appointed chairman of the Association of British Bookmakers in 2014.[13] In 2020 he was appointed chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, and was reappointed in July 2023.[14] [15] [16]

Personal life and death

Married to Camilla, Darling was chairman of Darling's Pharmacy, a family business established in 1905 by John Darling.[2] Paul Darling died suddenly on 2 August 2024, at the age of 64.[17] [18]

Publications

Darling wrote and edited several articles and books, and his cases and work have been described in learned and peer-reviewed journals. Examples include:

Honours

In the 2015 Birthday Honours, Darling became the third member of his family to be appointed to the Order of the British Empire. He was recognised for his services to sport safety and horse racing.[23]

Notes and References

  1. News: 17 March 2016. A hat-trick of OBEs for Cleadon family. The Shields Gazette. 21 November 2021.
  2. News: Wilks . Stuart . Obituary: leading construction lawyer Paul Darling OBE KC . 6 August 2024 . Construction Management . 6 August 2024.
  3. News: 8 August 2017. Global Arbitration Review. Construction Specialist Swaps Chambers in London.
  4. Web site: Paul Darling OBE QC, The Legal 500 Directory Entry.
  5. Web site: Paul Darling QC Chambers Directory Entry. chambers.com. 8 September 2020.
  6. http://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/governance/officers-of-the-inn "Officers of the Inn,"
  7. "Alfred McAlpine Construction Limited v Panatown Limited" . https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2001/485.html. EWCA. Civil. 2001. B/1996/0867; B/1996/0898. 5 April 2001. England and Wales. [2001] EWCA Civ 485.
  8. News: Alfred McAlpine v Panatown - Law Gazette. www.lawgazette.co.uk.
  9. News: 12 October 1997. The Independent. Law Reports:CASE SUMMARIES: 13 OCTOBER 1997. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/law-reports-case-summaries-13-october-1997-1235730.html . 25 May 2022 . subscription . live. 22 January 2021.
  10. News: 22 October 2011. The Independent. Friday Law Report: Professional judge's duty to give reasons. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/friday-law-report-professional-judge-s-duty-to-give-reasons-1073208.html . 25 May 2022 . subscription . live. 22 January 2021.
  11. News: Barber . Bill . Paul Darling Returns to Levy Board as New Chairman of Racing's Funding Body . Racing Post. April 1, 2020 .
  12. News: Trading Places. The Times, London. 13 June 2006. 22 January 2021.
  13. News: 28 March 2014. Darling to Chair the ABB. SBC News. 22 January 2021.
  14. Web site: Cabinet office Public Appointments. 9 September 2020.
  15. Web site: Secretary of State Appoints Paul Darling OBE QC as Chair... . www.gov.uk . 14 June 2020.
  16. Web site: Paul Darling and Anne Lambert Reappointed to HBLB . www.hblb.org.uk . 14 Jul 2023.
  17. News: Master Paul Darling OBE KC . 7 August 2024 . Middle Temple . 4 August 2024.
  18. News: Paul Darling KC obituary: charismatic figure in court and in racing . 7 August 2024 . The Times . 6 August 2024.
  19. Darling QC. Paul. 2010. Who Do You Want? Who Do You Get? Appointing the Right Arbitrator. Asian Dispute Review. 12. 19. 9 September 2020.
  20. 1 June 2005. Lafarge (Aggregates) Ltd v Newham London Borough Council. Arbitration Law Reports and Review. 2005. 1. 507–519. 10.1093/alrr/2005.1.507. 10 September 2020.
  21. Flood. John. Whyte. Avis. November 2008. Straight There No Detours: Direct Access to Barristers. University of Westminster Research Paper No. 09-05. 10 September 2020.
  22. Book: Wilmot-Smith , Richard . May 2021 . Wilmot-Smith on Construction Contracts . Oxford . Oxford University Press . . 9780198832805.
  23. Web site: A hat-trick of OBEs for Cleadon family. www.sunderlandecho.com.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Paul Darling".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.