Andrew Evans > Chambers of Sara Lewis KC > Birmingham, England > Barrister Profile

Andrew Evans

0121 246 7015 personalinjury@st-philips.com View profile

Work Department

Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence & Licensing

Position

Andrew’s practice encompasses three specialist areas: Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Licensing.

Andrew is Head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Groups in Chambers.

Andrew is instructed in personal injury matters on the multi-track, a significant proportion in the High Court. The value of his normal caseload is usually between £100,000 and £1m. Recent cases have involved:

• A fatal accident in which a man fell to his death from a hotel window.
• A severe abdominal/bowel injury suffered in a RTA.
• A variety of digital amputations and hand injuries to industrial workers.
• A severe upper limb injury to a construction worker who fell from scaffolding.
• Lower body crush injury to a manager supervising the unloading of a lorry, 4 defendants.
• Fractured spine with lifelong neurological consequences.
• A fatal accident in which a warehouse supervisor fell to his death from a for- lift truck.
• Multiple severe injuries from motorcycle accidents.
• Brain injury.
• Holiday illness claims – gastric illness, cardiac injury from secondary infection.
• Fundamental Dishonesty / Fraud /Contempt – allegations going to loss of QOCS protection and contempt proceedings.

As part of St. Philips’ commitment to providing continuity of service through a case from the earliest advice on prospects to trail, if required, Andrew regularly appears in CCMCs in both the County and High Court. Andrew understands the importance of fighting for the directions that allow a case to be resolved justly on behalf of a claimant, and the importance to that of a costs budget being set that allows sufficient funding to be in place for expert evidence and solicitors work to see that the case is litigated properly. In the earliest part of his career Andrew accepted instructions in specialist costs work, drafting and arguing points of dispute and replies, and attending hearings (including before Masters and Costs Judges in the Senior Courts Costs Office in London). This early training has always ensured that Andrew is comfortable with costs negotiation and arguments before the Courts. The budgets Andrew tends to work with are in the £100,000 to £400,000 range. Andrew’s philosophy for Costs Budgeting is to know the case thoroughly and be pragmatic in the hearing, being careful to achieve the best overall result on the budget from the particular judge. Regular appearances before the more senior District Judges in Birmingham and the Midlands, help to ensure that he knows their approaches and idiosyncrasies to the advantage of his lay and professional clients.

Andrew has an established practice in clinical negligence cases built on his earlier experience in personal injury work. His growing reputation sees him instructed by some of the leading national law firms in this highly specialised field, where his client care, attention to detail and ability to identify how cases can be won are appreciated and in demand.

Andrew receives instructions to draft statements of case and schedules, advise and appear in applications, provide advice in writing or conference with expert witnesses in attendance and provide representation at trial.

Andrew has a particular interest in recent years in cosmetic surgery cases.

Over the last 20 years Andrew has developed an established reputation in licensing as a result of his wide-ranging experience in this ever-developing area. Andrew acts for the trade, local authorities and responsible authorities (where separate representation is required).

Best known for his alcohol and entertainment licensing, Andrew Evans also advises on and provides representation for disputes arising from the licensing of taxis and in other more esoteric areas of licensing. He is especially noted for the thoroughness of his preparation, his eye kept on the bigger picture and his courtroom acuity.

Andrew regularly appears before local authorities, the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and Administrative Court in licensing matters. Andrew receives instructions in matters relating to the Licensing Act 2003 from major pub operators, hotel chains and local authorities across England and Wales to provide specialist advice and advocacy on a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious matters.

Career

Called 2000; Lincoln’s Inn.

Treasurer of the Midland Circuit.

Memberships

PIBA; AvMA; Institute of Licensing; Midland Circuit.

Education

Birmingham University (LLB, law); Inns of Court School of Law; Hardwicke Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn.

Leisure

Historic motor racing.