The Legal 500

United Kingdom > Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Personal injury and clinical negligence

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Byrom Street Chambers is the ‘standout set for personal injury and clinical negligence work’, and its senior clerk Terry Creathorn is a ‘real asset’. Raymond Machell QC will ‘spot an “uncrossed T” a mile off’, has ‘impeccable judgement and is unrivalled in his meticulous preparation’. David Allan QC is an ‘absolutely superb advocate’ and ‘takes a very cerebral and considered approach to matters’: he is particularly recommended for industrial disease matters having taken several asbestos cases to the Supreme Court. James Rowley QC is a ‘brilliant lawyer both academically and forensically’, and is ‘heartily recommended’ for both complex PI and clinical negligence matters. David Heaton QC is a ‘very solid all-rounder’, and Geoffrey Tattersall QC is ‘exceptionally thorough’ and ‘a most persuasive advocate’. Christopher Melton QC is ‘fastidious in his preparation leaving no stone unturned and, despite his obvious intelligence and first-class understanding of the law, is prepared to listen and take on board comments of others’. Winston Hunter QC’s ‘reputation is richly deserved’, and he is a ‘leader who has mastered the difficult blend of dealing with complex issues in a way that clients can comprehend’. Mary Ruck is ‘compassionate, yet strong’, and is an ‘exceptional barrister with both the intellect to deal with the complex issues arising in clinical negligence cases and the interpersonal skills to deal with clients in very stressful circumstances’. Darryl Allen is ‘very client focused, personable and technically excellent’. Sally Hatfield provides a ‘high-quality, top-notch service for solicitors and clients’, and has particular expertise in inquests. Richard Pearce is recommended for his ‘calmness, speed of thought and acuity of insight’. Peter Burns, who recently joined the set from Deans Court Chambers, is ‘comfortably as good as any QC’.

Deans Court Chambers’ ‘top quality’ Stephen Grime QC is recommended for clinical negligence instructions, and Patrick Field QC for high-value catastrophic injury claims. Jonathan Grace heads up the PI team; David Boyle is a popular junior for high-value claims; and Richard Whitehall, Simon McCann and David Eccles are also recommended. Daniel Paul is a ‘naturally unassuming and modest character in private, but a sharp and persuasive intellect in his professional role’.

At St Johns Buildings, Michael Redfern QC is ‘tenacious, shrewd and has vast experience’. Jeremy Roussak’s ‘medical qualifications allows him to get to the heart of the medical issues on these cases’. Peter Harrison has ‘in-depth, up-to-date technical knowledge of complex industrial disease claims’. John Ratledge handles the full spectrum of road traffic and workplace-related accidents. Richard Norton ‘manages difficult conferences superbly, is utterly reliable and technically on the ball’. John McNeill is recommended for maximum severity cases, Andrew Bridgman for dental matters, and Darrel Crilley for specialist disease claims.

Kings Chambers’ Dr Nicholas Braslavsky QC is ‘excellent, thorough, a great advocate and good with clients’. Michael Rawlinson QC is widely recognised on circuit as a leading silk for disease work: one client believes he is ‘one of the few counsel who is really willing to fight very difficult cases’. The ‘innovative and enthusiastic’ Nigel Poole is a ‘first-choice junior for clinical negligence at the Manchester Bar’. Sarah Pritchard is praised for her ‘technical ability, interpersonal skills and good bedside manner’. Stephen Maguire, a former clinical negligence solicitor, is ‘bright, approachable, a born advocate, and delivers an absolutely first-class service’.

Lincoln House Chambers’ Ivan Bowley is a ‘first-rate advocate and always has complete control of his case’; he has a strong occupational disease practice.

At Cobden House Chambers, the ‘excellent’ Richard Hartley QC and Marc Willems are highly regarded on circuit. Anthony Mazzag, Michael Jones and David Kenny are also recommended.

9 St John Street’s Brian McCluggage handles high-value catastrophic claims and is one of the ‘best juniors in Manchester for PI’. Matthew Snarr is recommended for brain injury work, and Michael Lemmy for occupational disease. Nicholas Hinchliffe QC is strong on the industrial disease front, and is ‘very impressive on his feet with a dogged determination to win’. Gerard Mcdermott QC handles high-value claims and has extensive cross-border experience.

At 18 St John Street Chambers, Alastair Forrest is ‘brilliant at immediately identifying the crux of a case, and is willing to “push boundaries”’. Mark Laprell is ‘tenacious and fearsome’, and Simon Kilvington is ‘hugely impressive in his clear and calm approach to difficult legal issues’.

Exchange Chambers’ claimant-focused Bill Braithwaite QC is a ‘truly exceptional Queen’s Counsel’. Gerard Martin QC is ‘a favourite, going back many years, for his decisive judgement calls that stand the test of time’. William Waldron QC is an ‘extremely capable advocate and technician with an affable personality’; he handles ‘serious personal injury cases, particularly involving aviation accidents, which he understands well’. New silk Amanda Yip QC is highly rated and is a ‘force to be reckoned with’. Christopher Barnes’ service is ‘consistently impressive’, and David Knifton always provides ‘concise and soundly reasoned advice’.

Atlantic Chambers’ head of chambers Scott Donovan has a busy clinical negligence practice, and the ‘highly intelligent’ Ivan Woolfenden has a strong PI practice, including occupational and industrial disease work. Michael Armstrong is also recommended for PI and RTA work.

At Liverpool Civil Law, Alan Sellers and John Entwistle are very popular PI practitioners.

At 7 Harrington Street, Andrew Moran QC is widely regarded on circuit as a leading senior and is ‘extremely dedicated and hardworking’, and has ‘an amazing capacity for detail’.

India Buildings Chambers’ Simon Holder handles trade union and industrial disease work. Matthew Stockwell has recently been involved in several high-value, complex PI and clinical negligence claims. Charles Feeny, Douglas Cooper and Wendy Owen recently joined the team from Liverpool Civil Law.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2012 www.legal500.com