Billhar is the principal of the firm and is recognised as the leader in the field of claims for historical child abuse compensation. Billhar specialises in civil litigation, complex personal injury claims, group litigation (both as lead and co-ordinating solicitor), welfare benefits, human rights and Public Law claims.
Billhar was the first solicitor to bring claims on behalf of former residents of a Children's Home for abuse and maltreatment suffered in a residential setting. It all began in the early 1990's when he acted for a number of Claimants who brought proceedings against Leicestershire County Council after they had suffered sexual and physical abuse at the hands of Frank Beck who was in charge of 3 Council run Children's Homes; the matter came to the Court in 1996 and the Claimant's won their case obtaining compensation for the abuse and subsequent effects. The Leicestershire claims were the first claims of this nature to reach the courts and to attract the level of publicity that they did. The Leicestershire claims are arguably the start of all the claims to follow and the considerable development of the law and rights of those that have been abused whilst in care.
In 1996 Billhar was part of the 3 member steering committee in the North West Child Abuse Actions, then guiding and developing the knowledge of the firm then running those actions, namely, Abney Garsden McDonald.
During 1997, Billhar was the co-founding member of ACAL (The Association of Child Abuse Lawyers) subsequently resigning from the organisation feeling that the ACAL failed to lobby the interests of the victims ahead of their own.
Between 1997 and 2000 Billhar was involved in the North Wales Tribunal of Inquiry (also known as the Waterhouse Report) which looked at widespread abuse and maltreatment of children within Children's Homes in North Wales, which included infamous homes such as Ty-r-Felin, Bryn Estyn and the Bryn Alyn Community of homes and he subsequently acted for Claimants who successfully sued for compensation.
In October 2000 Billhar established Uppal Taylor Solicitors, a niche firm of solicitors with objective of specialising in claims involving child abuse and maltreatment. The firm has met this objective and has conducted successfully claims against Children's Homes and Local Authorities in North Wales, South Wales and many parts of England.
Billhar has been the Time Lawyer of the Week and has contributed greatly to the development and understanding in this very sensitive and demanding area of the law.
Away from the Office, Billhar is a private family man, living in Nottinghamshire with his wife and children, he enjoys reading, walking and clay pigeon shooting, but his greatest love is his family.
