What our clients say about CPD Training (UK)

 Timothy Powell / Partner, Potter Clarkson

“Peter Lyons is the most highly skilled trainer I have encountered in more than 30 years of professional life. His preparation is flawless and his knowledge deep. He has an approach to course delegates that puts them at their ease, regardless of ability or experience level.  As a result the learning process is both enjoyable and highly effective, even when the concepts and techniques taught are advanced ones or are unrelated to one’s previous experience.”

Richard Jackson / Managing Partner, Carpmaels & Ransford

“Peter Lyons has a wealth of knowledge and anecdotes which he willingly shares with the course participants, thereby making the whole experience fun and enjoyable.  At the same time, attorneys at all levels benefitted from the challenging scenarios presented to them and went away better advocates.  I would happily recommend this course to others.”
 

Sarah Grenfell / Partner & Solicitor Advocate, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP

"I undertook my Higher Rights of Audience training with Peter Lyons in late 2016 and highly recommend both Peter and his team at CPD Training. Peter is a truly gifted teacher and a fount of knowledge on the topic of advocacy. Straightforward, enthusiastic and generous in his approach, he is an absolute pleasure to learn from. Peter’s training will appeal to anybody keen to sharpen their advocacy skills."
 

Arnaud de La Cotardière / Partner, Global Head of Commercial, Linklaters LLP, Paris

“I am very impressed with Peter Lyons' ability to teach a subject matter such as cross-examination, which is difficult at the best of times. Peter made it easy, enjoyable and interesting for everyone in our team. Even after 20 years of practising advocacy, Peter has proved to me that there is always something new to learn."

David Kavanagh QC / Global Co-Head, International Litigation and Arbitration, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP

"Peter Lyons taught me Higher Rights of Audience for 6 days. I have been practising for many years but I still learned new things about advocacy.
He kept it fresh, interesting and I relished the opportunity to develop and hone my advocacy techniques. He stresses the importance of Case Analysis and I agree wholeheartedly.
I then hired CPD Training to teach arbitration advocacy to my team at O'Melveny and Myers. The course was excellent.
When I moved to Skadden Arps to head up Arbitration and Litigation in Europe, I called on Peter Lyons again. He delivered an intensive and valuable skills course to a team of highly-talented arbitration lawyers which culminated in a mock arbitration hearing before a former High Court judge.
My team were very happy with what they learned and found that the course stretched them, improved them and made them think. We intend to get CPD Training and Peter Lyons back again very soon."

Anne-Karin Grill / Counsel, Schoenherr

"I greatly enjoyed working with Peter Lyons! He is an experienced advocate and a sharp observer, and while his feedback may at times be challenging, it is always constructive and to the point. Through Peter Lyons' tailored training I have improved my interrogation skills considerably. Even as a lawyer coming from a civil law background, I will now easily be able to take on about any opposing witness in cross-examination."

Jaroslav Kolkowski / Partner, Weil Gotshal & Manges, Complex Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration and Trade

"If you think you know everything about advocacy, you haven’t met Peter Lyons. If you think common law techniques can be of little use in civil law courts, you haven’t met Peter Lyons… and you’re arrogant too.
I have had an opportunity to learn from Peter twice. Each time I had a great feeling of improving; I am completely sure I will ask for more opportunities.
One might thus say that he is a good salesman, but I’d rather say that he is a very good teacher."

Dr Stuart Dutson / Partner, International Arbitration and Litigation, Eversheds

“We were keen to do an excellent advocacy course that was focussed on arbitration. Despite our best endeavours we struggled to find one. However, in serendipitous conversations with contemporaries in the international arbitration community Peter Lyons' name was mentioned as the man who could deliver.
We did Peter's course and will be back for more. It was an excellent training session for all arbitration practitioners. I would highly recommend Peter and his excellent colleague Elish.”

Will Thomas QC / Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

"Peter scoped and delivered a brilliantly bespoke Fast Track training session for the Higher Rights assessment, tailoring it perfectly for a seasoned arbitration practitioner - with substantial advocacy experience but in serious need of re-visiting the White Book and English rules of evidence. ‎I would thoroughly recommend Peter to anyone in similar circumstances." 

Guy Pendell / Head of Dispute Resolution, CMS Cameron McKenna

"CMS is a regular user of Peter Lyons and his team for advocacy and other contentious training. Peter is able to bring out the best in our delegates no matter what their level of experience. His teaching techniques are tried and tested and have proven to make a difference."

Dr. Torsten Loercher / Head of Arbitration for CMS Hasche Sigle

"We have repeatedly worked with CPD Training and we will do so again in the future. I can strongly recommend them as they provide really top class training on the full range of advocacy skills, required by arbitration lawyers."

David Foster / Head of Arbitration, O'Melveny and Myers LLP

"I was impressed by Peter Lyons' genuine enthusiasm for the subject, as well as the content of the courses he has arranged and taught. Everyone in our team, no matter how experienced, learnt a lot from them. The courses were very productive as a team building exercise, and everyone commented that they found them well suited to arbitration advocacy, as well as being very enjoyable."

Saverio Lembo / Partner, Bär & Karrer AG

"I very much enjoyed the CPD Training organised by Peter Lyons and his team; educational, challenging, professional and entertaining. I can only warmly recommend it, especially to continental law firms practising international arbitration."

Mark Ziekman / Partner, CMS Derks Star Busmann

"Continental lawyers involved in international arbitration need to be thoroughly familiar with all aspects of cross examining a witness or an expert, otherwise they might lose the case only because they are just not familiar with it. The intensive programme of Peter Lyons and his team really made us realise how effective a good cross examination can be. His practical exercises are fun and realistic."

Charles Ferguson, Solicitor Advocate / Finalist, Scottish Criminal Lawyer of the Year

"I've been appearing in court on a daily basis for 20 years. I needed someone to sharpen an already fine blade. Lots of people can teach you the basics, but if you’re looking for more than that, if you’re looking to become the best you can be, then you need to work with Peter Lyons."

Patrick Robinson / Partner, Burges Salmon LLP

“The training relates well to planning inquiry advocacy. We have used the training to improve and refine the skills of both junior and senior planning advocates to great effect, which has included success in nationally significant cases.
We were particularly impressed by the depth of concentration on individual's ability to make and improve on their submissions and in all areas of advocacy for having provided firm guidance to all attendees on how to progress.”

Gary Soloman / Partner, Burges Salmon LLP

“I am delighted to say that CPD Training’s advocacy course has given me renewed enthusiasm and confidence in this area.
The subject matter proved to be challenging yet enjoyable and certainly helped demystify what is regarded as a black art, which can so often prove to be barrier to undertaking advocacy with any degree of success. I would recommend the advocacy training to anyone who needs this skill.”

Emma Zymanczyk / Lawyer at Dentons

"I attended Peter Lyons' Higher Rights Course as a newly qualified solicitor in our dispute resolution team. As we largely rely on barristers to represent our clients at court, I was not sure that I would have much opportunity to use the skills acquired on this course. However, Peter's course was brilliantly targeted so everyone got a lot out of it.
Peter taught us to think like advocates; this is particularly useful when putting together instructions for Counsel, which I often do. As well as covering the ground work for achieving our higher rights qualification, Peter spent time with each of us to focus on our individual needs.
It is hugely beneficial to have someone with a wealth of experience analyse how you present yourself.  As well as giving us specific things to work on, Peter was able to provide immediate fixes to our "tics" - we all had at least one! 
Since attending the course, I have been better able to provide assistance to Counsel in advance of hearings and  I am more confident when articulating myself. I highly recommend the course to all - whether you’re likely to speak in the Higher Courts or not."

Dominic Harris / Partner, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP

"As well as teaching practical advocacy skills and guiding me through the assessment; Peter also succeeded in making the course relevant to my own pensions practice.  I would have no hesitation in recommending the course to anyone – providing, as it does, skills that can be used both inside and outside the courtroom."

Sunil Gadhia / Commercial Litigation Partner, Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton. Former CEO, Stephenson Harwood 2003-2009

“Peter delivers advocacy training in a very thoughtful, interesting and enjoyable way. I was particularly impressed by his understanding of what different people need and his ability to adjust the pace of the training to suit individual needs and their competing work pressures.”