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Memberships

Law Society of England and Wales (1992)
Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Association (1994)
Isle of Man Law Society (1998)
Employment Lawyers Association
Commonwealth Lawyers Association
MCC

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Legal directory endorsements

"Practice head John Aycock leads on employment termination negotiations as well as contentious internal investigations."

Hall of Fame Ranked Lawyer - Legal 500 (2026 edition)

Band 1 ranked in employment as a leading expert on employment law

Chambers UK (2026 edition)

"John Aycock is one of the pre-eminent employment lawyers on the Isle of Man. The practice is well run, the advice is good."
Top Ranked Isle of Man employment lawyer with Hall of Fame status.

Legal 500 (2025 edition)

Ranked as pre-eminent employment lawyer

Chambers UK (2024 edition)

"John Aycock is approachable, knowledgeable and pragmatic. His advice has been extremely useful, and very worthwhile."

Legal 500 (2024 edition)

Ranked in top category for Isle of Man employment law.

Chambers UK (2023 edition)

'Practice head John Aycock has over 30 years of experience in the field and has represented clients in cases ranging from unfair dismissal to discrimination.' Top ranked Isle of Man employment lawyer with Hall of Fame Status.

Legal 500 (2023 edition)

Recognised in 'The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom' (2023 Edition) for employment law, litigation and professional malpractice law.

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom (2023 edition)

Ranked in top category for Isle of Man employment law.

Chambers UK (2022 Edition)

"Totally professional". Top ranked Isle of Man employment lawyer with Hall of Fame Status. "M&P Legal is uniquely positioned as the only employment specialist practice in the Isle of Man".

Legal 500 (2022 Edition)

Historic legal directory endorsements

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Articles and publications

Author of the Isle of Man chapter to "Business Transfers and Employee Rights" Lexis Nexis by John McMullen

Winner of the Isle of Man Law Society George Johnson Law Prize 2011 for an essay on: "In civil trials how should the court balance the need for expedition with the need for justice"

Extensively published in local media and the International Law Office as to employment law and litigation

'Case Note: Isle of Man Court takes Universal Approach to Cross Border Insolvency Matters' International Insolvency Law Review 2/2013

'Regulatory Developments in a Mature Jurisdiction'
The International Financial Services Report 2011

'The Introduction of Payment and Adjudication Provisions into the Construction Laws of the Isle of Man'
The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management Vol 73 No 3 August 2007 (co-authored with Richard Anderson)

'Deterrent, Delegation and Disqualification - The Manx Court Adjudges'
Journal of International Trust and Corporate Planning Vol. 9 No. 3 2002

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Significant cases

2025 Sample Work:
Advising senior finance sector manager on disciplinary proceedings; acting in Tribunal cases involving unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, whistleblowing and unlawful deduction claims; various estate work as executor.

2024 Sample Work:
Defending GP practice on clinical negligence claims; seafarer employment advice to offshore yachting business; Tribunal claims involving constructive dismissal and unlawful deduction claims; clinical negligence advice on cauda equina claim; various estate work as executor.

2023 Sample Work:
Advising on complex PHI settlement for senior manager unable to work; e-gaming sector advice on settlement agreements and redundancies; employment advice on substantial business acquisition (Isle of Man transfer law, which differs from UK); medical law advice on complex spinal claim; various estate work as executor.

Inquest re RCR (14-15 June 2022); Inquest into the death of 87 year-old who suffered myocardial infarction after dental extraction and bleeding. Issues involved interaction of anti-coagulant medication with dental extractions, relevant dental guidelines and the deceased's discharge from hospital the day prior to death. Coroner satisfied care was appropriate, Article 2 was not engaged and the deceased had significant comorbidities. Narrative verdict recorded.

Workplace Mediation (September 2021);
Appointed as mediator in long standing, multi party workplace dispute. Conducted extensive pre-mediation meetings then day long mediation.

Various Covid-19 related claims (March 2020 onwards);
Frequent advice to employers and employees on the effect of the pandemic on employment contracts including: furlough (preparation of factsheet and template letters); the Isle of Man Salary Support Scheme and Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance; breach of contract claims resulting from reduction in salary; redundancy and unfair dismissal; constructive dismissal; change of contract terms; health and safety implications; UK employers with IOM offices; and employment settlement agreements through Manx Industrial Relations Service.

C (A minor by her litigation friend) v D (6 November 2019); Approval hearing for Periodical Payment Order in relation to personal injury claim whereby claimant needs continuous 24 hour care and support for life. Reference made to Section 36A High Court Act 1991 and recent secondary tax legislation enabling tax free status for periodical payments. ASHE 6115 approved as appropriate inflation-proofing scale.

Income Tax Act 1970 hearings (21 May 2019 and 18 June 2019); Isle of Man Tax Information Exchange Agreement reviewed with reference to section 104H Income Tax Act 1970 and the extent of the jurisdiction of the Deputy High Bailiff. English and Bermudan case law construed.

Inquest re AW (5 to 7 February 2019); Three day inquest into the death of a 32 year old woman in hospital after elective gynaecological surgery. Expert evidence provided as to cause of a post-operative cardiac arrest and possible link with pre-existing asymptomatic left bundle branch block. Coroner satisfied that pre-operative, operative and post-operative care was appropriate in the circumstances and that the cardiac arrest was sudden and unexpected. Coroner concluded that inquest did not need to be conducted as Article 2 compliant, but the same ground was in any event covered in the full and detailed inquiry into the facts. Narrative verdict recorded.

Inquest re MAC (30 May to 4 June 2018); Inquest heard over five days into death of nine month old infant following perinatal asphyxia at birth. Detailed medical evidence analysed certain failures and expert evidence received as to delivery timing and need for expedition. Narrative verdict with finding of neglect surrounding failures on day of birth, causative of the subsequent death. Nine Rule 34 Reports made by Coroner.

Inquest re RAW (18-20 October 2017); Article 2 inquiry into death of a 28 year old woman who was detained under the Mental Health Act. Substantial history of mental illness and self harm issues. Observation levels gradually reduced from eyesight to intermittent after clinical and risk assessments. Tourniquet self harm incident, CPR given but hypoxic related death followed five days later in hospital. Substantial evidence of previous similar incidents. Evidence given as to the importance of therapeutic engagement as part of observation. CCTV evidence of observations and movements. Coroner recorded open verdict with brief narrative as unable to determine the deceased's intentions.

Inquest re PJH (19-20 September 2017); Death of a 49 year old prisoner from Sepsis caused by peritonsillar abscess (quinsy), a rare condition. Initially treated for flu-like symptoms at prison healthcare then, on rapid deterioration, admitted to Emergency Department at hospital. During this process a temporary release licence was granted by prison. No mandatory empanelling of jury required as death was not while in prison custody. After hearing clinical evidence, Coroner satisfied that death was from natural causes and no evidence of sub-standard care. Accordingly Article 2 not engaged even though prisoner may have been in state detention (following Tyrrell v HM Senior Coroner County Durham and Darlington [2016] EWHC 1892 (Admin)). Verdict of death by natural causes recorded.

Inquest re PFAQ (3-5 & 12 April 2017); Four-day inquiry into the death of a 70 year old farmer a week after his admission to hospital with various chest pains, occasionally pleuritic. Diagnoses of acute coronary syndrome and pulmonary embolism ruled out by Troponin result and CTPA scan respectively. Working diagnosis of pneumonia. Second chest x-ray and further review of CTPA scan together with transthoracic echocardiogram and involvement of consultant cardiologist combine to give diagnosis of ascending thoracic aortic dissection. Death from irreversible cardiac arrest occurred before transfer to a tertiary centre could be effected. Expert cardiology evidence as to rarity of acute aortic syndrome and it being a classic mimicker of other conditions (acute coronary syndrome being 800 times more common). No contributory systemic failures or neglect found. Recommendation made by Coroner as to a review of radiology resourcing. Verdict of death by natural causes recorded.

Historic cases

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Languages

English and French