Latham & Watkins London lawyer reveals double life as castle-living Lord
Intellectual property specialist lives on a 3,500-acre estate
Charles Courtenay pictured in front of Powderham Castle
A high-flying City lawyer who resides in a 14th-century castle recently became the House of Lords’ newest hereditary peer.
Charles Courtenay is a barrister in Latham & Watkins‘ London office and leads the US titan’s intellectual property practice. According to his firm profile, he studied history of art at Cambridge and spent eight years at Latham’s Los Angeles HQ before returning to the UK.
What the online bio doesn’t tell you is that the 43-year-old is also the 19th Earl of Devon and was recently elected to the House of Lords.
The Eton-educated lawyer, who inherited the earldom following the death of Lord Devon in 2015, won a crossbench hereditary peers’ by-election earlier this summer by 12 votes to five. Courtenay was among 19 aristocrats who put themselves forward following the retirement of independent crossbencher Earl Baldwin of Bewdley.
Now, in an interview with The Telegraph (£), Courtenay has reflected on his life so far and the responsibilities that come with being the Lord of the manor — quite literally.
Courtenay splits his working week between Latham’s London office and Powderham Castle, the family’s 3,500-acre estate near Exmouth, Devon. Along with his wife Allison Joy, a former US actress who appeared in shows including Baywatch, the City lawyer has been managing the vast property since 2015.
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One of his first major undertakings as the new Earl of Devon was to host 50,000 festival-goers for Radio 1’s Big Weekend in 2016 (video below). He tells the newspaper: “The Big Weekend was the first event that I booked. We got to launch our stewardship to a bunch of teenagers.”
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never getting over @bbcradio1 #bigweekend
thank you guys so much for having me and @kygomusic in Exeter. Hope to see u next year!
A post shared by Parson James (@iamparsonjames) on May 29, 2016 at 6:06pm PDT
As well as restarting public tours of Powderham, the couple have launched a new farm shop that sells local produce and raised the profile of the castle through appearances on TV programmes like Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets. Courtenay continues:
“Powderham has always been a public building, but it is also a private home, so running the two tours allows us to focus on that. “We’re a bit of a hold-out in the respect of still having guided tours, but with a guide you can pitch the house to your audience.”
The house, which welcomed more than 39,000 visitors last year, has gone on to host concerts for artists such as Little Mix, Bryan Adams and Sir Tom Jones. “People say, why do you run a visitor business, it’s not profitable,” Courtenay says. “If you were being hard-nosed about it, you’d only open for big concerts and private functions. That may well be easier.”
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Sunrise at @powderhamcastle – the fairy-tale home of the Earl and Countess of Devon, with its towers, turrets and acres of ancient parkland. Photograph by @harry.crowder.
A post shared by Town & Country UK (@townandcountryuk) on Sep 22, 2018 at 2:24am PDT
But the Latham lawyer is keen to keep Powderham open and hopes it will one day pay for itself. “Then we’ll be in a position to reinvest in pictures, and roofs
and all the rest,” he tells the newspaper.
Courtenay completed his legal studies at the Inns of Court School of Law and was called to the to the bar by the Inner Temple. Prior to joining Latham, Courtenay was a member of 9 Old Square (now Maitland Chambers) where he remains a door tenant.
The post Latham & Watkins London lawyer reveals double life as castle-living Lord appeared first on Legal Cheek.
from Legal News https://www.legalcheek.com/2018/10/latham-watkins-london-lawyer-reveals-double-life-as-castle-living-lord/
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DEVON: Delightful, Edible, Variety, Outdoors, Nourishing.
Five words we can think of relating to our incredibly rich, tasty and hardworking county, but there are certainly many more words to describe the assortment of food and drink available to us from our waters, moors and everything inbetween.
The best way to be exposed to as many great producers as possible? Food and Drink festivals of course!
Here’s our round up of the upcoming 2018 Food Festivals in Devon as well as a couple from Cornwall. We’ve included website links for each festival as well as links to our review of the previous events for a feel of what you can expect.
This page will be updated constantly if other events pop up, or when we know more info has been released so do come back to double check if you’re looking for an event to visit. In the meantime, get the dates in your calendar!
If you know of a great food or drink event we haven’t included, then feel free to message us on any of our social media platforms, or email
[email protected]
April
14th April: Cullompton Springfest
Check their Facebook page for further info.
A food, craft and music festival; there will be a Farmer’s Market, plus a range of food producers selling their food products as well as cooked food to sell on the day. Local restaurant, The Bakehouse, will be hosting an Indian Cuisine night and there is a special meal at The Walronds on the night (ticket only), with a celebrity chef doing the honours.
May
5th, 6th and 7th May: Exeter Food and Drink Festival
Check their website for further info.
Last years write up: Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink 2017
In our opinion, the largest event in the South West and based in Exeter city centre in the grounds of Exeter Castle. An excellent festival including evening music events, live music during the day, beer tent, kids cookery and activity tents, farm animals, plenty of food to eat, producers and no shortage of tasters – come hungry! Demo kitchen, chef’s Q&A, wine tasting as well as a VIP option with an extra room full of treats and a place to rest your weary legs.
6th May: Salcombe Crab Fest
Check out their website for further info.
Last years write up: Salcombe Crab Fest 2017
A free one day festival spread around Salcombe quay and town is a celebration of crab and seafood – with demos from chef and restauratuer Mitch Tonks, crab picking tuition, commercial crab fishing talk, crab pot making, music, wine tasting and more. The programme of events will be available on their website from March.
26th – 27th May: River Cottage Spring Fair
Check their website for further info.
On the grounds of the famous River Cottage HQ at Axminster, this festival is full of food, music and producers in a fantastic setting, albeit not as accessible as some, so do check access if you have prams or wheelchair needs etc. Cookery line up includes Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tom Kerridge, Guy & Geetie Singh-Watson and Gill Meller, to name a few, with more to be announced. There are workshops to book, tours to venture on as well as various kids activities. Additional activities do cost a bit extra so be sure to take plenty of cash or prebook through the website to ensure a place.
27th – 28th May: Dartington Food Fair
Check their website for further info.
Our write up from 2016: Dartington Food Fair 2016
A free event, with a small parking charge, the food fair is held in the grounds of the Shops at Dartington. This fab food fair includes a demo tent, large food producers tent, plenty of food to eat, along with a few kids activities. On top of that you can enjoy the deli, the kitchen shop, toy shop as well as the drinks shop. A great excuse to visit this lovely ‘shopping village’ which champions local food and drink.
June
1st – 3rd June: Plymouth Flavour Fest
Check their website for further info.
Now in it’s 15th year, Plymouth Flavour Fest is quite a large food festival spread out through Plymouth city centre. Food stalls, producers, drinks marquee and chef demo tent with the star chef for the event being Masterchef Judge, John Torode who will be cooking on the Saturday. Extended trading times, evening entertainment, children’s engagement programme and a continental market also feature this year. 2018 details are yet to be released fully.
2nd June: Ottery St Mary Food and Families Festival
Check their website for further info.
Now in its 6th year, this event is aimed at foodies and all the family, encouraging healthy eating and showcasing local produce and restaurants. More info is yet to be released but last year over 5,000 people joined in the fun at local eateries, enjoyed tasting local produce from the food stalls and the children were well entertained inside and out.
9th – 10th June: Crediton Food Festival
Check their website for further info.
Now in it’s 10th year, this event is held in the town centre and is great for food stalls, music and demos.
16th – 17th June: Q’fest BBQ Competition, Festival and Camping
Check their website for further info.
Held at Red Rock Brewery in Bishopsteignton, this newbie to the food scene is now in it’s second year. Driven by the increased interest in UK BBQ’ing, smoking and outdoor cooking, the event features a major BBQ competition. For visitors there will be camping, product stalls, BBQ cooking demos, bouncy castles for the kids, food and drink of course, live music in the barn as well as the opportunity to taste some of the best BBQ in the country.
July
15th July: Pen’Grillie’ BBQ Festival
Check out their website for further info.
Held at Pentillie Castle, to the east of Plymouth, this event is now in it’s 3rd year and is a lovely event consisting of BBQ competitions, live music, chilli eating competition, kids activity tent, food and product stalls, smoking and grilling demos, all in a beautiful setting.
August
12th August: Rockfish Crab Fest, Dartmouth South Embankment
Check their website for further info
The Rockfish Crab Festival is now in its 7th year, championed by restaurateur Mitch Tonks, it celebrates all that is great about our British crab. Enjoy music, local crab, children’s crabbing competition & the best-dressed table competition – that’s the table not the guests! Bring bunting, table linen, flowers, candelabra, whatever you fancy. Guaranteed fun & guaranteed weather-proofing with a marquee! This is a ticketed event, and further info will be released in due course on their website.
September
1st September: Nourish Festival, Bovey Tracey
Check their website for further info.
2015’s write up by Editor, Chris, can be read here.
Bovey Tracey’s Fore Street gets transformed for this music, food, craft festival and Devon Street Food Awards. There will also be two evenings of concerts. More info to be released soon.
2nd September: Clovelly Lobster and Crab Festival
Check their website for further info.
A unique and beautiful place, Clovelly celebrates its famous lobsters and crabs sustainably caught by its fishermen with a great day out for all the family. This year is its 10th Anniversary.
7th, 8th & 9th September: Topsham Beer and Bacon Festival
This little festival is not all fancy and big – it’s perfectly formed and organised by the guys at The Pig and Pallet/Good Game. A beer tent, some bacon and pork based food stalls, a side loader truck opened up for the live music to perform on, and right in front of The Lighter Inn on Topsham Quay. If you’re local, be sure to pop down for a good time.
8th: Ashburton Food & Drink Festival
Check their Facebook page for more info.
This free festival offers a full day of local foodie delights and entertainment. There’ll be over 60 stalls and music and entertainment together with talks, wine tasting and cooking demos.
16th – 17th: Plymouth Seafood Festival
Check their website for further info.
The website states “The Barbican and Sutton Harbour will come alive on Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 September, with a celebration of locally sourced and sustainably caught, high quality seafood.”
With Plymouth having the second largest fish market in the UK, events spread across this harbourside city includes cookery theatre with well known regional chefs, food stalls, crabbing competition, and a cardboard boat race amongst other activities!
22nd – 23rd September: The Great Food & Drink Show
Check their website for further info.
This is a brand new show, being held at Westpoint in Exeter, featuring some serious food heavyweights such as chefs Tom Kerridge and Jean Christophe Novelli. The weekend will include workshops, South West food and drink producers as well as a selection of restaurants and eateries. More information being released gradually but having spoken with the organiser, it sounds like it’s going to be a very exciting, large event. When you buy a ticket, you can also opt in to be in with a chance of winning a place on their Ready, Steady, Cook challenge!
Date TBC: Taste of the Teign and Teignmouth Harbour Festival
Check their website for further info.
A week long food event that will include Smokeinteignhead, a newly added BBQ competition. Various events are held and venues and include Tea on the Teign, jam making workshops, an evening in the orchard, Fry Up Friday, street food market, farmers market and culminating with a food fair.
October
6th – 7th October: Powderham Food Festival
Check their website for further info.
Last years write up: Powderham Food Festival 2016.
Held inside Powderham Castle and around the beautiful grounds, this fabulous festival includes a Theatre of Fire and Smoke, food stalls, producers, drinks, items for sale, free cookery classes for kids by Fun Kitchen, demo kitchen with local great chefs including Exeter Cookery School and some live music.
19th – 21st: Dartmouth Food Festival
Check their website for further details.
Held all along the harbour with plenty of street entertainers, food stalls, products, children’s activities and demos to be enjoyed as well as special offers in restaurants.
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Some of the above events we have visited and some we haven’t so it’s a mix of knowledge, opinion and information gathered from the websites. Please check websites or organisers directly regarding prices, parking and accessibility. Feel free to tag us on social media if you visit any!
2018 Devon Food and Drink Festivals for your Diary DEVON: Delightful, Edible, Variety, Outdoors, Nourishing. Five words we can think of relating to our incredibly rich, tasty and hardworking county, but there are certainly many more words to describe the assortment of food and drink available to us from our waters, moors and everything inbetween.
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