“Chris Brooks has been a trusted adviser to our business for multiple years, he always makes time to listen to our concerns and issues while thoroughly researching our options to resolve the issue we face.”
Legal 500, 2026
Background
Chris is an experienced Manx advocate specialising in commercial litigation and employment law and is the most senior lawyer in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution department.
Chris read Law at Magdalene College Cambridge and came to the island in 2000. He trained at Cains and qualified in 2002, thereafter spending two years working in the property and private client department. He moved to Mann and Partners in 2004 to pursue a career in litigation and employment law. Appointment as a director followed and for many years, Chris dealt with a variety of civil and commercial litigation and employment matters, although he continued to use the experience he had gained in commercial property and private client.
During this period, amongst other things, he acted for the regulator (FSC) in a series of cases and in a major medicine importation case. On the employment side, he developed a significant employment practice at a time when many Advocates did not specialise in this area – a highlight was obtaining an injunction to prevent two consultants being suspended from the local hospital. Outside of his usual workload, he also developed a special interest in asbestosis and mesothelioma cases and voluntarily assisted Merseyside Asbestos Victim Support Group.
Chris joined Simcocks in May 2019 as a Consultant to the Litigation & Dispute Resolution department. As the most senior advocate in the department, recently, Chris has worked mostly on a succession of major commercial litigation matters involving a range of subject matter from challenging a planning strategic plan by judicial review/doleance proceedings, through regulatory work, minority oppression, international commercial disputes to tax litigation (having recently successfully appealed a multi-million pound VAT charge arising out of the disposal of a super yacht). Chris is regularly engaged in shareholder disputes and sanctions related work arising out of the corporate service sector. Chris takes pleasure in finding bespoke solutions to difficult problem situations of all kinds.
His workload includes:
Commercial disputes – both local and international
– Injunctions
– Shareholder disputes
– Contract disputes
– Regulatory issues and director’s duties
– Doleance (judicial review) matters
– Cross-border enforcement of judgments and insolvency
Employment disputes
– Unfair dismissal
– Unlawful deduction
– Discrimination
– Contract disputes
– Whistleblowing
Civil disputes
– Trust, wills and estate litigation
– Property disputes
Chris is highly approachable and committed to using his experience and judgment to obtain the best possible resolution for his clients whether they be international commercial clients or domestic private clients. He enjoys grappling with points of law and bringing his academic training to bear on legal problems while remaining focused to deliver practical solutions for his clients. In pursuit of those solutions, Chris is dogged and determined and highly supportive of private clients through what can be a difficult time.
A testimonial from independent directory, Legal 500 2025: “Christopher Brooks is very responsive and commercial. Sensible in his tactical approach and has an excellent record in his advocacy.”
Chambers & Partners 2025 stated that Chris “Chris is always aware of the bigger picture and has a great intuition for what his clients want and how to get there.” and “He is very thorough and comes out with responses beyond client expectations.”
Chris also authored the Isle of Man section of Enforcement of Foreign Judgments for many years.
Commissioner for Oaths
Admissions
- Admitted Isle of Man 2002
Education
- Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (LPC) 2000
- Magdalene College, Cambridge (Law) 1999
Memberships
- Isle of Man Law Society
News & Articles
- Essay Competition 2026 Launch
- Simcocks Success in Seized Bitcoin Case
- Chambers & Partners UK Ranking 2026
- Fierce Competition for Writers
- Essay Competition 2025 Launched
- Easier Approach to Paying Legal Fees for Sanctioned Clients
- Simcocks Success in Superyacht Case
- Essay Competition Winner
- Essay Competition Launched
- Bitcoin Fraud: Tulip Power to the Rescue
- Reflections on the Ranson Whistleblowing Case
- Where there’s a will there’s a way
- When is an employer liable for the acts and omissions of a worker?
- Paying the price
- Simcocks acts for RDI Reit in multimillion pound sale
Contact
Telephone: +44 1624 690309