Chambers of Benjamin Browne QC
TEMPLE, LONDON, EC4Y 9AY, ENGLAND
- Tel:
- Work 020 7822 1200
- Fax:
- Fax 020 7822 1300
- DX:
- 134 LONDON CHANCERY LANE WC2
- Web:
- www.2tg.co.uk
- Email:
Howard Palmer QC
- Tel:
- Work +44 20 7820 1200
- Email:
Position
Clinical negligence, insurance and reinsurance, technology and construction contracts, cases involving complex technical problems. Presently involved in the employer’s liability trigger issues litigation due for trial in 2008. Two recent House of Lords appeals are Haward v Fawcetts and Harding v Wealands. Acting for the NHSLA in the foetal anti-convulsant syndrome (FACS) litigation; policy disputes (Bolton MBC v Municipal Mutual); multi party actions for environmental flood damage (Arscott v The Coal Authority); and admitted ad hoc to the Bar of Brunei acting for the liquidators of Amedeo Development Corporation, Brunei. Insurance recovery actions in case with complex technical element (eg flooding, electrical malfunctions, fires (see Arscott v The Coal Authority and Bybrook Barns v Kent CC)). Recently been instructed to give expert evidence on English law of insurance to the US courts. Experienced in court control of arbitral proceedings under domestic and international regimes (see Birse Construction Ltd v St David’s Ltd, Jones v Thyssen and John Mowlem v Carlton Gate). Private international law (see Knauf UK GmbH v Fritz Peters KG – attempt to bring suit in UK forum rather than Germany; insurance disputes (Hamill v Hamill – Spanish insurers of British driver in Spain); employer’s liability disputes (W Moore (a patient) v HCI (Kent) Ltd – employer suing third party over scaffold accident in the Netherlands); and motor accidents (Harding v Wealands – questions of applicable law and the proper application of foreign law of quantum). Experienced in the application of the Brussels Regulation, the Rome Convention, the Private International Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995 and the Contracts (Applicable Law) Act 1990. Has appeared at disciplinary tribunals for a variety of professions. See Gray v TP Bennett; Kensington and Chelsea v Wettern Composites; George Fischer v Multi Design and DLE; John Mowlem v Neil F Jones; Haward v Fawcetts.
Career
Called 1977; Inner Temple; tutor at King’s College, London 1977-78; QC 1999; Recorder 2006.
Languages
Basic German.
Member
Tecbar.
Education
Eton; University College, Oxford (1980 MA Jurisprudence).
Leisure
Cricket, field sports; member MCC.
Practice Areas
Clinical negligence - either side; Litigation - insurance/reinsurance; Construction
