The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - The Bar > London Bar > Travel law (including jurisdictional issues)

1 CHANCERY LANE houses 'some of the big-hitters in international injury law and can rightly be proud of its track record in this area'. The set specialises in overseas accident litigation and has significant experience in complex foreign clinical negligence, catastrophic injury, and abuse-related personal injury claims. Jack Harding was involved in the highly publicised holiday sickness claim, Bondarenko v TUI. Supreme Court case, Brownlie v Four Seasons, which is a leading case on agency liability, was a key matter for Matthew Chapman QC and John Ross QC.

2 Temple Gardens is a 'brilliant set' for complex, cross-border personal injury claims and it stands out for its expertise in private international law; it is considered a 'go-to set for cross-border litigation' by clients. Lungowe v Vedanta is a key case for Marie Louise Kinsler QC, a large group claim regarding environmental damage and personal injury arising out of copper mining in Zambia. Howard Palmer QC and Kinsler QC were instructed by the defendant before the Supreme Court in Brownlie v Four Seasons, a high-profile claim arising out of a fatal accident in Egypt.

3 Hare Court is an 'exceptional set of chambers in relation to cross-border claims'. Its members are regularly engaged on complex and high-profile claims involving accidents or illness abroad; Howard Stevens QC is involved in Whitehead & Whitehead v Co-Op Group Travel, Thomas Cook Tour Operations and Others, which involved claims by a couple who suffered severe injuries following a minibus crash in Mexico. Katherine Deal QC is acting for the claimant in ES v Groupama, which involves the death of a successful energy trader in a road accident. Here, the assessment is taking place under principles of French law.

Quadrant Chambers is 'highly regarded' for cross-border disputes and its members are regularly involved in high-profile aviation and shipping-related mandates. Matthew Reeve advised Captain Wayne Bayley on his recent application, commenced in the Administrative Court, for a judicial review of the CAA’s position in respect of the prohibition for commercial pilots flying over the age of 64. Tim Marland appeared in Court of Appeal test case, Gahan v Emirates, Buckley v Emirates, which examined the applicability of EC261 in missed connection cases involving non-EU carriers.

12 King's Bench Walk has an 'enviable reputation' for international personal injury and travel law matters, where it has 'superb senior and junior counsel'. Noble Caledonia Ltd v Air Niugini is a notable case for William Audland QC, as is X v Kuoni Travel, which examines the contractual and vicarious liability of a tour operator for sexual assault; the case was referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union in July 2019. Harry Steinberg QC was instructed by the claimant in Alistair Inglis v Ministry of Defence, which was a test case regarding noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by exposure to noise while serving in the Royal Marines.

39 Essex Chambers is 'one of the leading sets in personal injury work' and it is 'extremely well-regarded for international claims'. Neil Block QC successfully defended the government in Kimathi and others v Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a significant claim brought by 40,000 Kenyans relating to the alleged actions of the British colonial administration in Kenya during the state of emergency in 1952. The travel practice was recently bolstered by the arrival of Michael McParland QC , who joined the set in November 2018 from Quadrant Chambers.

Fountain Court Chambers is a 'fantastic set' which is experienced in aviation and regulatory matters. Akhil Shah QC, who is noted for his regulatory experience, was involved in Blanche v easyJet, a second appeal and test case of a passenger claim for compensation under EU Regulation 261. Rosalind Phelps QC is acting as the external legal adviser to the CAA Panel deciding a contested case about the use of aircraft parts and their impact on the airworthiness of passenger aircraft; Volare v Civil Aviation Authority.