Personal injury, industrial disease and insurance fraud in London Bar

Personal Injury, Industrial Disease And Insurance Fraud

Industrial Disease - Leading Silks

Andrew Hogarth QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Has the gravitas to impress any court, the knowledge to put any defendant representative in their place, and the skill of putting clients at ease.’

Michael Kent QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘Regarded with the utmost respect by peers and also by the judiciary.’

Matthew Phillips QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Very experienced in the field of asbestos litigation and has been involved in some of the most important cases in this field.’

David Platt QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘A real expert when it comes to dealing with complex medical and scientific issues and handling multiple experts on these issues.’

Michael Rawlinson QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Faultless knowledge of the law in the field of disease litigation.’

Steven Snowden QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘A persuasive but respectful advocate with a substantial practice.’

Harry Steinberg QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Able to fully grasp the pertinent facts and issues in a given claim with ease.’

Robert Weir QC - Devereux ‘An astute tactician who knows exactly where to set case trajectory and inspires supreme confidence.’

Insurance Fraud - Leading Silks

William Featherby QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Experienced in catastrophic injury claims.’

Personal Injury - Leading Silks

William Audland QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘At the top of the personal injury game. William leads the case whilst also developing the capabilities of the team around him. His advocacy style is a persuasive conversation, but adversarial where required.’

Neil Block QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A heavyweight silk for the highest value and most complex of cases. Extremely knowledgeable; excellent negotiator and strategist. He works as a true member of the team with insurers and solicitors.’

Gerard McDermott QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Able to put the client completely at ease, while addressing difficult issues and showing exceptional skill and aplomb in negotiation.’

David Platt QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘A real expert when it comes to dealing with complex medical and scientific issues and handling multiple experts on these issues.’

Andrew Ritchie QC - 9 Gough Chambers ‘He can see the strengths and weaknesses in the case as soon as he reads the papers. His preparation for any trial, interlocutory applications and joint settlement meeting is outstanding. He is thoroughly prepared and in my view is just awesome in court.’

Robert Weir QC - Devereux ‘An astute tactician who knows exactly where to set case trajectory and inspires supreme confidence.’

Benjamin Browne QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘A truly outstanding barrister with a widely respected national reputation.’

Edward Faulks QC - 1 Chancery Lane ‘Firm but always very charming. He is always approachable and good-humoured. There are no airs and graces.’

Robert Glancy QC - Devereux ‘Brilliant to have on board when the going gets tough.’

Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel QC - 1 Crown Office Row ‘A force of nature who has worked out the answer and moved on before most people have even registered the question.’

Stephen Killalea QC - Devereux ‘An exceptional advocate who rises to the challenge however formidable or complex the case may be and invariably with great success.’

Marie Louise Kinsler QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘A superb international lawyer, before whose inexorable logic opponents quail.’

Simeon Maskrey QC - 7BR ‘He is simply first class. As an advocate, I could listen to Simeon all day. An excellent tactician with a brilliant mind.’

Dominic Nolan QC - Hailsham Chambers ‘Has a calm and confident approach which is often disarming to an opponent, but is tenacious and steadfast when under attack.’

William Norris QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Clever, hard-working and enthusiastic, with an unparalleled knowledge of the PI arena.’

Julian Picton QC - Hailsham Chambers ‘An excellent and very forensic advocate in the catastrophic injury field.’

Susan Rodway QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘An exceptional PI silk. Very compassionate and calm with clients yet remains a tough opponent.’

Paul Rose QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Exceptionally strong in all areas - has a fine tactical awareness and is a warrior when necessary.’

Paul Russell QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘An incredible advocate who is uniquely well prepared and dominant in court.’

William Latimer- Sayer QC - Cloisters ‘Has an unsurpassed knowledge of catastrophic injury claims and how to maximise their value.’

Stephen Worthington QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Has a superb ability to boil complex cases down to a few key issues.’

Grahame Aldous QC - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Totally in command of the facts and absolutely committed to clients.’

Simon Browne QC - Temple Garden Chambers ‘A calm yet very persuasive advocate who has an extensive knowledge of personal injury litigation.’

Ben Collins QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Always calm in a storm, as well as being able to absorb huge amounts of data and speak to a variety of experts at their own level.’

Charlie Cory-Wright QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A deeply knowledgeable and very tactical advocate who retains a down-to-earth approachability.’

James Counsell QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A specialist barrister when it comes to the niche area of law covering sexual abuse.’

Nina Goolamali QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘A commercially-minded practitioner whose knowledge of catastrophic injury is second to none. A firm negotiator but with a pragmatic side that makes her a firm favourite with clients.’

Patricia Hitchcock QC - Cloisters ‘Handles both complex liability and quantum matters.’

Jacob Levy QC - 9 Gough Chambers ‘An all-round excellent advocate with a finger on the pulse of existing and developing personal injury law.’

Richard Lynagh QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘The perfect QC - a skilful advocate with an excellent knowledge of the law.’

Derek O'Sullivan QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘In high demand for cases of the utmost complexity and severity.’

John Ross QC - 1 Chancery Lane ‘His specialist knowledge in acquired brain injuries is superb.’

Howard Stevens QC - 3 Hare Court ‘Very personable but as and when required can also be very direct.’

Andrew Warnock QC - 1 Chancery Lane ‘A silk of choice for local authority and abuse-type claims.’

Jonathan Watt-Pringle QC - Temple Garden Chambers ‘Very impressive advocacy based on a clear and focused strategy.’

Christopher Wilson-Smith QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A real legend of the Bar who has a keen eye for details and enthusiastically engages with tricky issues and opponents.’

Henry Witcomb QC - 1 Crown Office Row ‘Deals with the most complex of cases and always hits the right spot.’

Alexander Antelme QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘Detailed and thorough analysis of complex legal and factual issues. Tremendous knowledge of personal injury and product liability issues.’

Charles Bagot QC - Hardwicke ‘An extremely strong, confident advocate, who is succinct and clear, and never knowingly fazed. Charles is able to consider issues from all angles and provide calm, clear advice.’

Edward Bishop QC - 1 Chancery Lane ‘Outstanding advocate. Clever and alive to innovative legal arguments.’

Patrick Blakesley QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘Charming manner whether with experts, witnesses or clients. Excellent advocacy skills in court or settlement meetings. Pragmatic and commercial.’

Sarah Crowther QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A leading expert on accidents abroad and jurisdictional issues.’

Joel Donovan QC - Cloisters ‘Quickly grasps issues and can develop sound arguments in unusual situations.’

William Featherby QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Experienced in catastrophic injury claims.’

John Foy QC - 9 Gough Chambers ‘John is fiercely intelligent, incredibly practical and extremely experienced. He has the gift of being able to explain complex concepts clearly and in plain English. He is unflappable and also very down to earth. All of these attributes combine to make him a privilege and an education to work with.’

Katharine Gollop QC - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'Katie is an extremely experienced litigator. Her analysis of the evidence is second to none, identifying and getting to the crux of the issue with relative ease. her drafting is exemplary and always perfect. She instills confidence and clients trust her implicitly. She works tirelessly to get the right result for the client. She is a star. '

Richard Hermer QC - Matrix Chambers ‘Extraordinary ability to grasp complex points of law.’

Andrew Hogarth QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Has the gravitas to impress any court, the knowledge to put any defendant representative in their place, and the skill of putting clients at ease.’

Theo Huckle QC - Doughty Street Chambers ‘An irrepressible advocate who really pushes his opponents around with his intellect and knowledge.’

Michael Kent QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘Regarded with the utmost respect by peers and also by the judiciary.’

Stuart Mckechnie QC - 9 Gough Chambers 'Stuart is absolutely masterful when it comes to marshalling the evidence on very high value claims. He is absolutely at the top of the tree when it comes to catastrophic injury claims. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge when it comes to case law, and is very highly regarded by opponents.'

Richard Methuen QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘An excellent mediator with an easy yet authoritative manner.’

Martin Porter QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘Has outstanding knowledge of and passion for cycling-related work, and never fails to add value to a case.’

Harry Steinberg QC - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Able to fully grasp the pertinent facts and issues in a given claim with ease.’

Insurance Fraud - 2019 Silks

James Todd QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Has a brilliant brain and exceptional manner.’

Personal Injury - 2019 Silks

Katherine Deal QC - 3 Hare Court ‘Extremely practical, has integrity with opponents, and always provides advocacy of the highest calibre.’

Jonathan Hand QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A true expert on equestrian matters with extensive knowledge and experience of all aspects of personal injury law.’

Robert Kellar QC - 1 Crown Office Row ‘Exceptional attention to detail in relation to the documents that are crucial to proving the case on liability.’

Giles Mooney QC - 9 Gough Chambers ‘A good communicator who grasps all the issues extremely quickly. Giles is a very personable, approachable, helpful and experienced barrister.’

James Todd QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Has a brilliant brain and exceptional manner.’

Personal Injury - 2020 Silks

Dominic Adamson QC - Temple Garden Chambers ‘A technically outstanding and tenacious advocate who always fights your corner.’

Marcus Dignum - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Highly experienced, capable, pragmatic and seasoned professional who never fails to deliver.’

Industrial Disease - Leading Juniors

Matthew Boyle - Crown Office Chambers ‘Always shows excellent attention to detail.’

Michael Brace - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Happy to undertake more difficult claims and skilled in dealing with them. He is robust and always contributes to a fair outcome for his clients.’

Jeremy Crowther - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Pragmatic approach, getting to the very heart of all the issues.’

Stephen Glynn - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Very thorough and supremely well-prepared. Super manner with clients, and a devastatingly calm advocacy style.’

Peter Houghton - Crown Office Chambers ‘Peter is hardworking and studious. He has an excellent eye for detail and his drafting skills are superb. Takes on work at short notice that others might fear to touch.’

Patrick Kerr - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘An outstanding barrister in the field of claimant asbestos litigation who is undoubtedly destined for the top.’

Niall Maclean - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘An outstanding barrister and one of the leading juniors without a doubt in the field of claimant asbestos litigation.’

Alexander Macpherson - Crown Office Chambers ‘Able to navigate through difficult issues in an effective and pragmatic way.’

Robert O’Leary - Crown Office Chambers ‘Has extensive experience and is frequently almost as knowledgeable on the medical aspects of this as the medical experts instructed.’

Gemma Scott - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Has been involved in some of the most high profile cases in the area of asbestos litigation. Always super prepared and brings complex issues down to an understandable level due to her in-depth knowledge.’

John-Paul Swoboda - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Intellectually astute and both determined and dedicated.’

A. John Williams - Crown Office Chambers ‘A very knowledgeable counsel who can relied upon to deliver and achieve good results in tough situations.’

Insurance Fraud - Leading Juniors

Sadie Crapper - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Bright; willing; fierce in your favour; meticulous.’

Alex Glassbrook - Temple Garden Chambers ‘Has a formidably forensic mind and is able to marshal huge amounts of evidence into a powerful case.’

Paul Higgins - Crown Office Chambers ‘Extremely knowledgeable, strategic and commercially astute when advising upon fundamental dishonesty - a force to be reckoned with in this field of expertise.’

Edward Hutchin - Temple Garden Chambers ‘Strong on fundamental dishonesty matters.’

Henry Morton Jack - 2 Temple Gardens ‘An excellent advocate, with a very sharp mind beneath the charm, who has particular experience in defending fraud-related claims.’

Anastasia Karseras - 2 Temple Gardens ‘Anastasia is meticulous and consistently strives for perfection. She will examine all documentation forensically. A technically astute barrister who always works collaboratively to ensure the best result for clients.’

James Laughland - Temple Garden Chambers ‘A gifted advocate who provides very well prepared and polished advice in a down to earth and thoughtful way.’

Paul McGrath - Temple Garden Chambers ‘A leading advocate with a huge depth of experience on civil fraud.’

Lionel Stride - Temple Garden Chambers ‘A formidable advocate who takes no prisoners and is detailed yet concise on paper.’

Gemma Witherington - Hardwicke ‘A thorough and balanced barrister who maintains a calm presence and ensures all angles are thoroughly explored.’

Personal Injury - Leading Juniors

Laura Begley - 9 Gough Chambers ‘A well-prepared barrister who does not shy away from difficult cases and always has a complete mastery of the issues at play.’

James Bell - Temple Garden Chambers ‘A detailed and thorough approach to complex cases whilst recognising the important issues. Excellent commercial awareness and incisive views. Has a wonderful grasp of brain injury claims.’

Christian Du Cann - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A great advocate with an excellent brain.’

Henry Charles - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Able to comfortably converse with a variety of medical experts on their specialist topics, as well as grasping and articulating complex personal injuries matters clearly.’

Andrew Davis - Crown Office Chambers ‘Undoubtedly one of the standout senior juniors in personal injury.’

Bernard Doherty - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Very knowledgeable on conflicts of law in a personal injury context and tactically astute when applying foreign law arguments.’

Shaun Ferris - Crown Office Chambers ‘A no-nonsense high quality barrister that gets the job done with a minimum of fuss.’

Marcus Grant - Temple Garden Chambers ‘Has in-depth understanding of the medicine in the highly specialised fields of subtle brain injury and chronic pain conditions. Marcus has an excellent empathetic manner with clients sometimes lacking from the bar. He impresses with his experience of medico legal issues and legal knowledge whilst remaining highly effective on his feet.’

Nicolas Hillier - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Has a very good way of dealing with foreign language clients and is very forensic in any approach to analysis of a case.’

Daniel Lawson - Cloisters ‘An outstanding advocate, especially when it comes to complex public liability cases.’

Nigel Lewers - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘A very persuasive advocate who punches at QC level. Tenacious and good attention to detail.’

Julian Matthews - 7BR ‘Julian is deeply respected by opponents and colleagues alike, his forensic attention to detail combined with a light touch and easy delivery make for a superb combination. One to have in the trenches with you.’

Christopher Russell - 2 Temple Gardens ‘Has forensic attention to detail and an excellent understanding of the approach to take in relation to settlement negotiations.’

Bruce Silvester - Devereux ‘Prepared to fight the toughest of cases and exudes confidence and belief.’

Patrick Vincent - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘A very experienced and persuasive advocate, who judges respond well to. Always excellently prepared and realistic with advice.’

Charles Woodhouse - Old Square Chambers ‘He is just about the best barrister. An extremely effective advocate who has the ability to hold the attention of the court. He is charming, eloquent and razor sharp. He is as good as any silk.’

James Arney - Temple Garden Chambers ‘An excellent and empathetic advocate who always provides tactically brilliant and structured advice.’

Richard Cartwright - Devereux ‘Has superb judgement and an ability to take a step back from a case and look at the issues in the round.’

Lee Evans - Farrar's Building ‘Highly regarded by insurer clients and very good with experts in conference.’

Jeremy Ford - 9 Gough Chambers ‘He delivers very sensible advice and has an extremely impressive knowledge of the law. He is very experienced, and always cuts to the heart of a matter. Excellent on his feet.’

Emily Formby - 39 Essex Chambers ‘An impressive junior. Very personable and thorough, as well as being a good strategist.’

Catherine Foster - Crown Office Chambers ‘Someone you want fighting your corner. Faultless expertise, practical, analytical style and great responsiveness and ability to adapt to client needs.’

Richard Furniss - 42 Bedford Row ‘A first-rate practitioner for high-value personal injury work.’

Stephen Glynn - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Very thorough and supremely well-prepared. Super manner with clients, and a devastatingly calm advocacy style.’

Hugh Hamill - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Has an amazing eye for detail and brings strategic excellence. Very strong on employers' liability claims.’

Katherine Howells - Old Square Chambers ‘Has a very sharp tactical mind and is able to anticipate where opponents may be looking to take their case.’

Simon King - 7BR ‘Very thorough, helpful and knowledgeable.’

Justin Levinson - 1 Crown Office Row ‘Has unparalleled knowledge and experience when it comes to child abuse litigation.’

Alexander Macpherson - Crown Office Chambers ‘Able to navigate through difficult issues in an effective and pragmatic way.’

Scott Matthewson - 42 Bedford Row ‘Has a keen instinct and is able to hone in on the points of fact and law on which a case is likely to turn.’

Andrew Roy - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Knowledgeable, bright and advises with a great deal of common sense.’

David Sanderson - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘An effective negotiator and a superb trial advocate.’

Harry Trusted - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Gives clients huge confidence through thorough preparation and depth of knowledge.’

David White - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Has an eye for details and a questioning, analytical mind.’

A. John Williams - Crown Office Chambers ‘A very knowledgeable counsel who can relied upon to deliver and achieve good results in tough situations.’

Judith Ayling - 39 Essex Chambers ‘One of the best senior juniors around and she is destined to become silk. Technically excellent and very good on causation points.’

Rehana Azib - 2 Temple Gardens ‘Achieves excellent results through remorseless hard work and exceptional attention to detail.’

Nicholas Baldock - Six Pump Court ‘Has excellent judgement and is good with clients.’

Matthew Boyle - Crown Office Chambers ‘Always shows excellent attention to detail.’

Ben Bradley - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Excellent with clients, particularly those with brain injuries, and has an amazing work ethic.’

Simon Brindle - 9 Gough Chambers ‘An astute tactician who is an excellent choice for complex claims.’

Sadie Crapper - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Bright; willing; fierce in your favour; meticulous.’

Romilly Cummerson - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Romilly is a very cool customer, calm under pressure, very well prepared and organised and always finds the sweetspot on Court positioning. Always willing, she is very easy to work with as part of a coordinated defence.’

Niazi Fetto - 2 Temple Gardens ‘Has a quiet determination to succeed which is realised.’

Peter Freeman - Temple Garden Chambers ‘Exudes charisma and is an extremely eloquent and persuasive advocate.’

Perrin Gibbons - 9 Gough Chambers ‘A truly remarkable barrister with great flair and an eye for detail.’

Richard Gregory - 42 Bedford Row ‘An incredibly thorough barrister who shows phenomenal attention to detail.’

Roger Harris - 2 Temple Gardens ‘Brings a very calm, cool and forensic excellence to difficult and high-value cases.’

Laura Johnson - 1 Chancery Lane ‘A complete class act.’

Harry Lambert - Crown Office Chambers ‘Very bright and capable of presenting and dealing with the most complicated issues and cases.’

James Laughland - Temple Garden Chambers ‘A gifted advocate who provides very well prepared and polished advice in a down to earth and thoughtful way.’

Alison McCormick - Outer Temple Chambers ‘One of the most astute and effective communicators at the Bar.’

Timothy Meakin - 7BR ‘Personable and careful at the same time, with a superb client manner.’

Colin Mendoza - Devereux ‘Very approachable and provides extremely thorough explanations to clients.’

Colm Nugent - Hardwicke ‘Calm but also very tenacious which is a fantastic combination when fighting tough cases.’

Jeremy Pendlebury - 7BR ‘Good on the detail and not afraid of a difficult case.’

Patrick Sadd - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Fantastic with both lay clients and expert witnesses - a true expert in the field.’

Paul Stagg - 1 Chancery Lane ‘Has a brain the size of a planet and clients appreciate how intelligently claims are approached. His paperwork is meticulous and detailed and he is also a very forceful and persuasive advocate.’

Daniel Tobin - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘An outstanding advocate who presents cases in a straightforward and eloquent manner.’

Christopher Walker - Old Square Chambers ‘Always takes a practical and pragmatic approach to cases allied with good judgement.’

Richard Wilkinson - Temple Garden Chambers ‘Measured and meticulous, as well as being reassuringly calm and assured in conference.’

James Aldridge - Outer Temple Chambers ‘An unflappable barrister and superb advocate who acts with great sensitivity with vulnerable clients.’

Geoffrey Brown - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A tough negotiator with a first-class analytical mind.’

Camilla Church - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A clever barrister who is kind, careful and willing to work hard.’

Jamie Clarke - Crown Office Chambers ‘Jamie is annoyingly good as an opponent. Confident, assured and very reliable. Is always very well-prepared and enthusiastic about his instructions.’

Peter Edwards - Devereux ‘Has a great understanding of the medical and legal complexities in high value cases which ensures exceptional results.’

Quintin Fraser - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A personal injury junior of the highest quality, whose strengths include rigorous attention to detail and exceptional analytical skills.’

Roger Hiorns - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Very quick to deal with papers, always provides clear and helpful advice. Extremely thorough and responds promptly to queries.’

Robert Hunter - Devereux ‘Always adds value to a case and is particularly strong in fatal accident claims.’

Christopher Kemp - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A strong negotiator who bring a measured approach and considers a case from all angles.’

Paul Kilcoyne - Temple Garden Chambers ‘Has a thorough and detailed knowledge of personal injury law and how it is applied to service personnel.’

Simon Levene - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Excellent for asbestos-related matters.’

Mark Stephen Lomas - 3PB ‘Provides high quality, well considered and cogent advice in all cases.’

Niall Maclean - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘An outstanding barrister and one of the leading juniors without a doubt in the field of claimant asbestos litigation.’

John Meredith-Hardy - Farrar's Building ‘Very good technical counsel in relation to both specific laws and regulations and also figures, but marries that to very strong practical and pragmatic advice.’

Jasmine Murphy - Hardwicke ‘She is a highly capable Junior with a solution for any issue, and novel ideas to put the other side off guard. Ability to plead in considerable detail whilst never losing a simple mastery of the key points.’

Angela Rainey - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Forensically analytical and shows great passion about each case. Very firm approach and confident in opinion.’

David Rivers - Old Square Chambers ‘Tactically shrewd and not scared to run cases to trial.’

Dan Saxby - 3 Hare Court ‘Provides strong technical arguments.’

Shahram Sharghy - 9 Gough Chambers ‘An excellent, hard-working advocate. An excellent ability to forward plan so that final outcomes always maximise damages. A true star.’

Christopher Stephenson - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Has the rare qualities of quickly engaging people from all walks of life and distilling complex points to simple and pragmatic advice, as well as being a steely negotiator.’

Lionel Stride - Temple Garden Chambers ‘A formidable advocate who takes no prisoners and is detailed yet concise on paper.’

Adam Walker - 7BR ‘Has an unparalleled knowledge in relation to claims against the MoD and the intricacies that arise out of service careers.’

Guy Watkins - Farrar's Building ‘Intelligent, immensely hard working and very good with details.’

Andrew Wille - Farrar's Building ‘Tactically very astute and technically very able.’

Angus Withington - Henderson Chambers ‘Incredibly experienced and a huge asset in every claim.’

Andrew Young - 3 Hare Court ‘Has a detailed, pragmatic and commercial approach.’

Andrew Bershadski - 2 Temple Gardens ‘A conscientious barrister with a very good work ethic.’

James Burton - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Brings a meticulous approach, and is very bright and kind with clients.’

Jonathan Butters - Devereux ‘Very sharp, quick thinking and highly intelligent.’

Daniel Clarke - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Has a quietly effective style and adopts a pragmatic and collaborative approach.’

Laura Collignon - Thomas More Chambers ‘Has a brain the size of a planet which can be turned to almost anything and is utterly fearless. Her attention to detail is fantastic and it is evident she cares tremendously about the clients.’

Stephen Cottrell - Devereux ‘Knows how to talk to opponents and set out a client's case forcefully but without alienating opponents.’

Thomas Crockett - Hailsham Chambers ‘A brilliant technical expert and an innovative strategist.’

Jeremy Crowther - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Pragmatic approach, getting to the very heart of all the issues.’

Robert Cumming - 2 Temple Gardens ‘A brilliant lawyer and a formidable cross-examiner. A strong advocate who gets results.’

Brian Cummins - Old Square Chambers ‘Good at seeing the big picture in cases and always shows empathy for claimants.’

Adam Dawson - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Shows a good eye for detail and is skillful in conference with clients.’

Lisa Dobie - 1 Chancery Lane ‘An excellent barrister who is fair, knowledgeable and reliable.’

Jim Duffy - 1 Crown Office Row ‘Thinks innovatively on cases and is able to provide succinct advice to clients whilst respecting the particular sensitivities of their case.’

Christopher Edwards - Old Square Chambers ‘Excellent with clients, always well prepared, superbly knowledgeable and robust.’

Deirdre Goodwin - 7BR ‘Has long experience and in-depth knowledge of brain injury claims.’

Nicola Greaney - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A confident, grounded and highly intelligent practitioner who is able to convey complex arguments in a persuasive and simple way.’

John Greenbourne - Crown Office Chambers ‘Inspires total confidence with very thorough preparation and drafting skills.’

Robert Horner - 9 Gough Chambers ‘A great team player who can always be relied upon to provide sound and clear advice.’

Anna Hughes - 2 Temple Gardens ‘One of the best cross-examiners I have seen of juniors at her call. Has a first-class grasp of detail and the ability and tenacity to apply it to good effect in negotiations.’

Henry Morton Jack - 2 Temple Gardens ‘An excellent advocate, with a very sharp mind beneath the charm, who has particular experience in defending fraud-related claims.’

Arun Katyar - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘A strong, formidable advocate who is good with clients, and always well prepared.’

Michelle Marnham - 3PB ‘A persuasive and effective advocate who is particularly skilled in dealing with claims involving complex issues.’

Iain O’Donnell - 1 Crown Office Row ‘Committed to cases and builds an excellent rapport with lay clients and solicitors - very experienced and expert in the area of abuse.’

Johnathan Payne - 9 Gough Chambers ‘Offers a truly exceptional standard of client care.’

Catherine Peck - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Catherine is technically excellent, with a wide ranging knowledge of case law and recent decisions which enables her to advise on any novel situation which she faces. A fabulous empathetic bedside manner - great for vulnerable seriously injured clients.’

Andrew Peebles - Farrar's Building ‘Puts the case forward in a straightforward and firm manner.’

Angus Piper - 1 Chancery Lane ‘A robust advocate who puts witnesses at ease and prepares for trials very thoroughly.’

James Pretsell - Farrar's Building ‘Clear, concise and thorough.’

James Purnell - Henderson Chambers ‘An impressive junior who is clever and hard-working.’

Liam Ryan - 7BR ‘Has an excellent knowledge and understanding of occupational stress claims.’

Henry Slack - Hardwicke ‘A quick thinker who can win tough cases. Good with younger members of the team of solicitors in helping bring them on.’

Charlie Sparling - Old Square Chambers ‘Has a fantastic manner with clients and a very balanced view of cases.’

James Sullivan - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘A confident advocate who can argue difficult points.’

Colin Thomann - 39 Essex Chambers ‘An exceptionally bright and thoughtful specialist.’

Simon Trigger - 1 Chancery Lane ‘Simon is approachable with a real eye for detail. His advice is always practical and timely. He is excellent with nervous clients in conference and always goes the extra mile.’

Richard Viney - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Has a great ability to distil complex indemnity disputes down to their core issues - always gives clear and understandable advice.’

Bella Webb - Old Square Chambers ‘Knowledgeable, professional and courteous to clients.’

James Weston - 7BR ‘A tenacious barrister with good knowledge of the law in some specialist areas. Quickly picks up the relevant points and challenges.’

Simon Wheatley - 7BR ‘Pragmatic when pragmatism is the right course, a very good orator. Exudes an air of confidence which clients find reassuring without being intimidated.’

Gemma Witherington - Hardwicke ‘A thorough and balanced barrister who maintains a calm presence and ensures all angles are thoroughly explored.’

Lucy Wyles - 2 Temple Gardens ‘ She brings a combination of high intellect, specialist knowledge and pragmatism to her cases with the result that clients receive an excellent level of representation. Can sum up a case, identify the important issues and provide an opinion almost without having to look up the law and practice at all.’

Personal Injury - Rising Stars

James Beeton - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Has excellent attention to detail and is good in conference with clients, putting them at ease and fully engaging with them.’

Tier 1 sets

12 King's Bench Walk

12 King's Bench Walk continues to 'lead the way in personal injury and disease litigation'. This 'phenomenal set' is known for attracting 'established practitioners specialising in historic disease claims', and remains the 'go-to for asbestos-related illness work'. 'Chambers lead the way in mesothelioma claims and with Michael Rawlinson QC and Harry Steinberg QC supporting the juniors as they move through the ranks, they are all highly knowledgeable or know who to bring into a case and at what stage if required'. William Audland QC represented the defendant in the Supreme Court case X v Kuoni, a claim for damages incurred due to the rape of the claimant by an employee of the Sri Lankan Hotel where she was staying while on a package holiday, which raises issues of breach of contract and vicarious liability. Also of note, Marcus Dignum took silk in 2020. The future of chambers looks bright with James Beeton highlighted as a rising star of the PI Bar.

39 Essex Chambers

39 Essex Chambers is an 'elite set for personal injury work' which offers 'some of the best counsel both at junior and silk level'. Members of this 'polished and professional set' are 'regularly seen in difficult international injury cases', as well as acting in catastrophic injury cases, and, increasingly, historical abuse claims. Neil Block QC represents the defendant in the largest group personal injury case of its kind, which involves a claim by 42,000 Kenyans against the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Block QC also continues to advise several high-profile individuals on allegations of historic abuse.

9 Gough Chambers

9 Gough Chambers is a 'leading set for personal injury with an enviable reputation' which 'has successfully attracted barristers who are exceptionally good and yet truly approachable'. This 'fantastic set' offers 'unparalleled expertise' across 'the full spectrum of cases', with a particular focus on representing claimants in serious brain and spinal injury matters, along with severe psychological injuries. Andrew Ritchie QC is representing all the claimants in Richards & 83 others v TUI, following the attack in Tunisia in which 34 British citizens were murdered by a lone gunman. Industrial disease is another key area of expertise for this set, as illustrated by John Foy QC's involvement with Beall v Euro Construction Scaffolding Ltd, a fatal asbestos exposure case.

Tier 2 sets

2 Temple Gardens

With its 'strong track record of recruiting highly talented individuals at the junior end', the 'consistently excellent' 2 Temple Gardens offers 'an excellent range of barristers at all levels', who have 'their own particular strengths and specialities'. These include sports expert Nina Goolamali QC and Marie Louise Kinsler QC, who has particular expertise in multi-jurisdictional matters. Kinsler QC is instructed on behalf of the claimant Zambian citizens in the landmark Supreme Court case Lungowe and Others v Vedanta Resources plc, which examines the the jurisdiction of the English court to hear a claim against a UK-domiciled parent company in relation to alleged environmental abuses and personal injury abroad.

Crown Office Chambers

Crown Office Chambers is the 'go-to set in London for key insurer clients' due to its 'unrivalled expertise in the field of occupational disease' and its reputation as 'the leading defendant personal injury set'. In an illustration of this, David Platt QC is instructed for the defendant in Westgate v British Airways, a primary claim alleging that neurotoxic injury and death was caused by the composition of cockpit cabin air, which now proceeds as part of a group litigation consisting of over 200 claims against five airlines. Paul Higgins, who recently joined the set from Deans Court Chambers, offers particular expertise in fraudulent matters.

Devereux

Devereux has 'a wealth of experience in personal injury and industrial disease' and offers 'superb barristers at every level', showing particularly 'significant strength and depth in the field of catastrophic injury claims'. Robert Weir QC was successful for the claimant, the chair of the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum, in the Supreme Court in Dring v Cape Intermediate Holdings Ltd. Weir QC's other recent highlights include representing an insurer claimant in the Court of Appeal case Liverpool Victoria Insurance Co. v Khan, which challenges the sentence handed down to a medical expert held guilty for contempt of court.

Outer Temple Chambers

Outer Temple Chambers' 'excellent reputation' comes from its 'huge breadth of expertise relating to accident and injury types', along with its offering of a 'great number of silks at the top of their game' and 'juniors who complete work well beyond their call'. The set is also valued for showing 'particular capability in the less mainstream work areas', including equestrian claims, which are a particular specialism of Jonathan Hand QC, and historical abuse matters, which are frequently handled by James Counsell QC. In other highlights, Gerard McDermott QC continues to act for over 200 claimants following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Matthew Phillips QC is noted for his industrial disease expertise, specifically asbestos-related claims. At the junior end, Ben Bradley is noted for his expertise in both historical abuse and catastrophic injury cases.

Tier 3 sets

1 Chancery Lane

Practitioners at 1 Chancery Lane are regarded as specialists in several key areas of personal injury work, in particular, it offers 'experts in local authority litigation' and 'unrivalled senior juniors doing travel injury work'. The former focus is illustrated by Edward Faulks QC and Paul Stagg's recent involvement with the Supreme Court case CN v Poole BC, which examines whether social workers owe duties of care to children in investigating allegations of abuse and neglect. Faulks QC also acted in the important vicarious liability case Barclays Bank v Various Claimants.

Temple Garden Chambers

Temple Garden Chambers is a 'great set with an abundance of talented barristers' who are also 'approachable, professional and very well organised'. As well as acting in all areas of personal injury law, including subtle brain injuries and chronic pain cases, practitioners of this set also have particular expertise in motor insurance fraud. Marcus Grant is representing the claimant in Mustard v Flower & Flower & Direct Line Group, which centres around the admissibility of covert recordings in injury claims. Also of note, Dominic Adamson QC is a recent silk appointment.

7BR

7BR offers a 'good depth of counsel' who match 'technical expertise' with 'a friendly but forthright attitude'. This 'fantastic set' is well regarded for 'a variety of specialisms', ranging from maximum severity brain and spinal injury claims to historical abuse work. For military personal injury cases, Timothy Meakin is the key name to note, while sports injuries are an area of particular focus for Jeremy Pendlebury. In a recent example of the group action cases which the also set handles, Simeon Maskrey QC is acting in Ian Chown v Ministry of Defence, which examines the use of the anti-malarial drug Lariam.

Old Square Chambers

Old Square Chambers has 'a reputation for able and honourable barristers', and the set has 'really bright sparks emerging especially in the younger generation'. As well as handling catastrophic injury claims, practitioners are also instructed in international group litigation and psychiatric injury work. In addition, Paul Rose QC and Ben Collins QC have a particular focus on representing severely injured service personnel. Brian Cummins acts for the largest core participant group in the Infected Blood Inquiry, a significant statutory inquiry into the infection of a haemophiliac and other patients with contaminated blood products. Also at the junior end, the 'excellent' Charles Woodhouse is 'just about the best barrister in the PI business' and 'at the top of his game'.

Tier 4 sets

1 Crown Office Row

The 'wealth of experienced and respected barristers' at 1 Crown Office Row have 'great collective knowledge'. This 'exceptional set' comprises both 'pre-eminent silks and very talented juniors' who provide expertise across the full gamut of personal injury work, particularly when dealing with quantum issues in catastrophic injury cases. Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel QC and Robert Kellar QC represent the claimants in the Supreme Court case Various Claimants v Barclays Bank, in which it is alleged that Barclays is vicariously liable for assaults committed by a general practitioner who was performing occupational health checks for the bank.

3 Hare Court

At 3 Hare Court, practitioners are particularly adept at handling travel-related and international personal injury matters. The set offers expertise in the full range of work, from fast track cases to the most substantial and complex disputes, involving serious head and spinal injuries, as well as catastrophic and fatal accidents. In recent work of note, Howard Stevens QC is representing the Hertz UK & Probus Insurance Company DAC, an interested party, in the London Bridge and Borough Market terrorist attack inquest.

Cloisters

Cloisters is a 'strong set' with a 'good reputation for personal injury work'. The 'experienced barristers' at this set are particularly skilled at dealing with complex liability and quantum issues. William Latimer-Sayer QC is instructed as lead counsel on Pandemrix multiparty action v GSK and the Department of Health, which over 80 claimants are bringing on the basis of injuries caused by the administration of the swine flu vaccination. In other highlights, Joel Donovan QC acts for the claimant in Hadley v LB Redbridge, a high-value workplace bullying case against a former teacher.

Farrar's Building

Farrar's Building has a 'long-established reputation for personal injury work' and offers 'a range of call and experience to suit the case', as well as 'an efficient and well-run clerking service'. Along with very high-value claims, the set also frequently handles matters relating to fundamental dishonesty and other fraudulent matters, and international group actions. Lee Evans regularly acts in catastrophic personal injury cases, with an emphasis on severe brain injuries, serious spinal injuries, and amputation and chronic pain cases. Occupational disease is a key focus for John Meredith-Hardy.

Hardwicke Chambers Limited

Hardwicke has a 'strong presence' and is 'a go-to set for personal injury of all types'. Practitioners are noted for their 'consistency, hard work and diligence', as well as their ability to come up with 'novel ideas to put the other side off guard'. Charles Bagot QC is instructed for the defendant in Hoff (a child) v Langley Design & Ors, a catastrophic brain injury claim valued at over £25m. Alongside dealing with a wide variety of injury work, including brain damage, fatalities, and Animals Act and Montreal Convention claims, the set also handles matters relating to fraud, where the key name to note is the 'very approachable' Gemma Witherington. The 'tenacious' Colm Nugent is earmarked as 'a future silk', while 'passionate advocate' Jasmine Murphy is highlighted as being able to 'discern a novel approach to most issues'.

The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - The Bar > London Bar > Personal injury, industrial disease and insurance fraud

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