Byrom Street Chambers > Manchester, England > Set Profile
Byrom Street Chambers Offices

Byrom Street Chambers
12 BYROM STREET
MANCHESTER
M3 4PP
England
Byrom Street Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Northern Circuit > Clinical negligence Tier 1
Byrom Street Chambers is ‘an excellent set‘ with a ‘very experienced clinical negligence team.’ Winston Hunter KC heads a Silk-heavy chambers which is also home to Christopher Melton KC, who has a thriving practice in cases involving catastrophic and serious injury, disease and death, and James Rowley KC, who has substantial experience acting in high value catastrophic birth injury cases. David Heaton KC acts for both claimants and defendants in catastrophic brain and spinal injury cases and Mary Ruck KC is also noted and focuses on clinical negligence cases involving serious personal injury and fatal injury. Claimant clinical negligence expert Stephen McNamara joined the set from Kings Chambers in June 2021.Leading Silks
2023 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Very high quality set for this kind of catastrophic injury work, with great strength in depth. Clearly the best in the North.’
‘They have a very experienced clinical negligence team. The training arranged by chambers has been great and I have recommended it to colleagues.’
‘Byrom Street has counsel with great expertise and there is generally a number of counsel who could assist and have good availability.’
‘Byrom Street Chambers is an excellent set with a broad range of counsel of high ability and fantastic clerking.’
‘Byrom Street has huge strength in depth for clinical negligence work, particularly at KC level, and is unrivalled in this field in Manchester. They offer training to solicitors through their annual day long training event coupled with regular shorter training sessions across the year. Their strength in depth means there is generally always suitable Counsel available.’
Clerking
‘ The clerks are very helpful indeed and great at suggesting others in chambers who may be able to assist if the particular barrister you want to instruct is not available. They always deal with matters promptly.’
Northern Circuit > Personal injury Tier 1
Byrom Street Chambers is praised for having ‘unrivalled strength in depth for personal injury work’ and its members have strong reputations in handling catastrophic injury and industrial disease cases. Head of chambers Winston Hunter KC handles insurance policy disputes for motor insurance claims, whilst Christopher Melton KC and David Heaton specialise in cases involving catastrophic and serious injury. Andrew Lewis KC is particularly experienced in involving exaggeration and fraud, and Rhiannon Jones KC acts for both claimants and defendants in cases concerning chronic pain, subtle brain injury claims and fatal accidents. Simon Kilvington KC has a strong practice which includes high-value asbestos litigation, and Peter Burns KC is also noted and is especially skilled in claims relating to motor insurance. Senior junior Darrel Crilley is also a noteworthy member.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘The Chambers provide a first-class service all round from the quality of leading counsel to the strength of their senior juniors. Chamber has counsel for any possible eventuality when it comes to catastrophic injury work.’
‘The set offers the all round package with outstanding counsel, both leading and junior, combined with good availability and regular training to solicitors.’
‘Top draw. Indeed, quite simply at the top of the excellence spectrum for chambers in Manchester. Their silks are utilised by both sides and are at the top of their game.’
‘Byrom Street has an enviable set of silks and market leading juniors – their members list reads like who’s who of insurance law specialists. Consequently, they are always able to offer first-class alternatives in the event that your chosen counsel is not available, and their training courses are second to none.’
‘Byrom Street seminars are the “must attend” event of the practitioner’s year in terms of keeping up to date of developments. The set has an unrivalled strength in depth for personal injury work.’
Clerking
‘A top-class clerking service from the team at Byrom Street, second to none in the Industry. They are known for their professional but friendly approach, always willing to go above and beyond assisting in any way they can. Steve Price leads an impressive team with Matt Tudor.’
Northern Circuit > Commercial litigation
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Clinical negligence Tier 1
Byrom Street Chambers is ‘an excellent set‘ with a ‘very experienced clinical negligence team.’ Winston Hunter KC heads a Silk-heavy chambers which is also home to Christopher Melton KC, who has a thriving practice in cases involving catastrophic and serious injury, disease and death, and James Rowley KC, who has substantial experience acting in high value catastrophic birth injury cases. David Heaton KC acts for both claimants and defendants in catastrophic brain and spinal injury cases and Mary Ruck KC is also noted and focuses on clinical negligence cases involving serious personal injury and fatal injury. Claimant clinical negligence expert Stephen McNamara joined the set from Kings Chambers in June 2021.Leading Silks
2023 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Very high quality set for this kind of catastrophic injury work, with great strength in depth. Clearly the best in the North.’
‘They have a very experienced clinical negligence team. The training arranged by chambers has been great and I have recommended it to colleagues.’
‘Byrom Street has counsel with great expertise and there is generally a number of counsel who could assist and have good availability.’
‘Byrom Street Chambers is an excellent set with a broad range of counsel of high ability and fantastic clerking.’
‘Byrom Street has huge strength in depth for clinical negligence work, particularly at KC level, and is unrivalled in this field in Manchester. They offer training to solicitors through their annual day long training event coupled with regular shorter training sessions across the year. Their strength in depth means there is generally always suitable Counsel available.’
Clerking
‘ The clerks are very helpful indeed and great at suggesting others in chambers who may be able to assist if the particular barrister you want to instruct is not available. They always deal with matters promptly.’
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Personal injury Tier 1
Byrom Street Chambers is praised for having ‘unrivalled strength in depth for personal injury work’ and its members have strong reputations in handling catastrophic injury and industrial disease cases. Head of chambers Winston Hunter KC handles insurance policy disputes for motor insurance claims, whilst Christopher Melton KC and David Heaton specialise in cases involving catastrophic and serious injury. Andrew Lewis KC is particularly experienced in involving exaggeration and fraud, and Rhiannon Jones KC acts for both claimants and defendants in cases concerning chronic pain, subtle brain injury claims and fatal accidents. Simon Kilvington KC has a strong practice which includes high-value asbestos litigation, and Peter Burns KC is also noted and is especially skilled in claims relating to motor insurance. Senior junior Darrel Crilley is also a noteworthy member.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘The Chambers provide a first-class service all round from the quality of leading counsel to the strength of their senior juniors. Chamber has counsel for any possible eventuality when it comes to catastrophic injury work.’
‘The set offers the all round package with outstanding counsel, both leading and junior, combined with good availability and regular training to solicitors.’
‘Top draw. Indeed, quite simply at the top of the excellence spectrum for chambers in Manchester. Their silks are utilised by both sides and are at the top of their game.’
‘Byrom Street has an enviable set of silks and market leading juniors – their members list reads like who’s who of insurance law specialists. Consequently, they are always able to offer first-class alternatives in the event that your chosen counsel is not available, and their training courses are second to none.’
‘Byrom Street seminars are the “must attend” event of the practitioner’s year in terms of keeping up to date of developments. The set has an unrivalled strength in depth for personal injury work.’
Clerking
‘A top-class clerking service from the team at Byrom Street, second to none in the Industry. They are known for their professional but friendly approach, always willing to go above and beyond assisting in any way they can. Steve Price leads an impressive team with Matt Tudor.’
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Commercial litigation
Byrom Street Chambers > Set Profile
Byrom Street Chambers is a unique and specialist set practising within the heart of Manchester situated in close proximity to the Civil Justice Centre. According to the legal directories, “Byrom Street have an impressive number of top KC’s many of whom I use for high value and complex cases. They are known for their professionalism and those who rely upon their input can be secure in the knowledge that their clients are in safe hands.” “All of the clerks are super responsive and cannot do enough to help.” “Clerks are second to none; completely adept at balancing the solicitors needs and demands with Counsels commitments and requirements.” “Steve and Matt are both exceptional.” “They outshine all other chambers around the country.”
The set: Byrom Street Chambers is a forward-thinking set with traditional values, exclusively dedicated to the work of leading and senior junior counsel, who have extensive expertise in high-value and complex cases. Chambers provides a highly individual and personalised service, focusing on clients’ needs, combined with a friendly and open approach to clerking.
Chambers’ premises are modern, purpose-built, DDA-compliant and architecturally designed with particular attention to the needs of both professional and lay clients. Facilities include large comfortable conference rooms, video-conferencing suites, the latest information technology with wireless connection and an extensive online library.
Three members of chambers currently sit as Deputy Judges of the High Court, seven members sit as Recorders, one member sits on the Mental Health Review Tribunal, one member sits on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal and two members sit as Deputy Coroners.
In keeping with their traditional business plan Chambers recently welcomed experienced Counsel Lauren Sutherland KC (Scot) to the Byrom Street team.
Types of work undertaken: Chambers has a reputation for quality and service. Members offer advice and advocacy in a range of specialisations and can provide the depth of cover necessary to conduct litigation in the most complex of cases. They practise regularly in the fields of personal injury (with an emphasis on catastrophic cases, group and class actions, clinical negligence and disease litigation), health and safety, professional negligence, financial services, commercial, human rights and civil fraud.
Members are highly experienced in core areas, including delayed diagnosis and surgical negligence. The barristers advise on complex and high-value claims, including birth trauma caused by negligent obstetric care, and demonstrate a strong command of cerebral palsy cases. The set’s members also boast strong expertise in claims regarding spinal and orthopaedic injury and amputations. They offer experience of matters involving fatal accidents and human rights issues, and chambers’ seasoned advocates are well-placed to argue highly significant medical cases that reach the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Sample cases
Supreme Court: Armes v Nottingham County Council; Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board (Scotland); International Energy Group Ltd v Zurich Insurance Plc UK Branch; Dunhill v Burgin; Woodland v Essex CC; Sienkiewicz and Willmore.
House of Lords: Fairchild v Glenhaven; Tomlinson v Congleton.
Court of Appeal: Raspin v Taylor & Liverpool Victoria Insurance; Swift v Carpenter; Cable v Liverpool Victoria Insurance Co Ltd; McDonald v Dept for Communities; Huscroft v P&O Ferries; Thompstone v Tameside; Sowden v Lodge; Heneghan v Manchester Dry Dock Ltd.
European Court of Human Rights: RK & AK v Oldham NHS Trust.
Inquiries: Manchester Arena; Shipman; Alder Hey; Hillsborough; North Wales Child Abuse.
Former members of chambers include Sir Brian Leveson, Dame Janet Smith, Sir David Clarke, Dame Caroline Swift, Sir Timothy King, Sir Stephen Stewart and HHJ Richard Pearce.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Senior clerk | Steve Price | steve.price@byromstreet.com | 0161 829 2100 |
Deputy senior clerk | Matt Tudor | matt.tudor@byromstreet.com | 0161 829 2100 |
Head of Chambers | HUNTER KC, Winston (1985) (KC-2000) | ||
Deputy Head of Chambers | MELTON KC, Christopher (1982) (KC-2001) | ||
Members of Chambers | MYERSON KC, Simon (1986) (KC-2003) | ||
Members of Chambers | ROWLEY KC, James (1987) (KC-2006) | ||
Members of Chambers | HEATON KC, David (1983) (KC-2008) | ||
Members of Chambers | LEWIS KC, Andrew (1985) (KC-2009) | ||
Members of Chambers | HATFIELD KC, Sally (1988) (KC-2013) | ||
Members of Chambers | ALLEN KC, Darryl (1995) (KC-2014) | ||
Members of Chambers | JONES KC, Rhiannon (1993) (KC-2015) | ||
Members of Chambers | KILVINGTON KC, Simon (1995) (KC-2016) | ||
Members of Chambers | BURNS KC, Peter (1993) (KC-2019) | ||
Members of Chambers | SUTHERLAND KC, Lauren (1996) (KC-2016 Scot) | ||
Members of Chambers | RUCK, Mary (1993) | ||
Members of Chambers | LEMMY, Michael (1994) | ||
Members of Chambers | CRILLEY, Darrel (1996) | ||
Members of Chambers | WELLS, Jason (2007) | ||
Members of Chambers | MCNAMARA, Stephen (2008) |
Barrister Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Darryl Allen | King’s Counsel specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence litigation. Personal Injury… | View Profile |
![]() | Darryl Allen | King’s Counsel specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence litigation. Personal Injury… | View Profile |
![]() | Peter Burns | Peter specialises in complex catastrophic injury and large loss claims, with particular… | View Profile |
![]() | Peter Burns | Peter specialises in complex catastrophic injury and large loss claims, with particular… | View Profile |
![]() | Darrel Crilley | Personal injury, industrial disease and clinical negligence in serious injury claims. Acts… | View Profile |
![]() | Sally Hatfield | Sally has for many years specialised in medical law. Her principal area… | View Profile |
![]() | Sally Hatfield | Sally has for many years specialised in medical law. Her principal area… | View Profile |
![]() | David Heaton | Acts for both claimants and defendants in catastrophic, complex and high value… | View Profile |
![]() | David Heaton | Acts for both claimants and defendants in catastrophic, complex and high value… | View Profile |
![]() | Winston Hunter | Personal Injury: Winston Hunter is routinely instructed by both Claimants and Defendants… | View Profile |
![]() | Winston Hunter | Personal Injury: Winston Hunter is routinely instructed by both Claimants and Defendants… | View Profile |
![]() | Rhiannon Jones | The full range of personal injury work for Claimants and Defendants, in… | View Profile |
![]() | Rhiannon Jones | The full range of personal injury work for Claimants and Defendants, in… | View Profile |
![]() | Simon Kilvington | Catastrophic, serious and complex personal injury, including catastrophic brain and spinal injuries;… | View Profile |
![]() | Simon Kilvington | Catastrophic, serious and complex personal injury, including catastrophic brain and spinal injuries;… | View Profile |
![]() | Michael Lemmy | Michael specialises in high value and catastrophic personal injury litigation. He is… | View Profile |
![]() | Andrew Lewis | Andrew has vast experience of all areas of personal injury and clinical… | View Profile |
![]() | Stephen McNamara | Stephen practises in clinical negligence and serious personal injury, acting for Claimants… | View Profile |
![]() | Christopher Melton | Personal injury, clinical negligence Recent contested cases include: Alabady v Akram (2021)… | View Profile |
![]() | Christopher Melton | Personal injury, clinical negligence Recent contested cases include: Alabady v Akram (2021)… | View Profile |
![]() | Simon Myerson | Human Rights/Group Litigation: lead counsel on the Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation (Kimathi… | View Profile |
![]() | Simon Myerson | Human Rights/Group Litigation: lead counsel on the Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation (Kimathi… | View Profile |
![]() | James Rowley | Personal injuries: Moreira v Moran and others [2021] EWHC 1800 (CA); Faisal… | View Profile |
![]() | James Rowley | Personal injuries: Moreira v Moran and others [2021] EWHC 1800 (CA); Faisal… | View Profile |
![]() | Mary Ruck KC | Specialises in complex clinical negligence, medical law, human rights and healthcare (including… | View Profile |
![]() | Lauren Sutherland | Lauren has advocacy experience gained over 30 years in both personal injury… | View Profile |
![]() | Jason Wells | View Profile |
Diversity/Community
Chambers is committed to the Equality Guidelines as per the Bar Standards Board Handbook.
Chambers is committed to promoting a culture where the individual is fairly treated and respected.
We also promote a culture where diversity is appreciated.
Chambers is committed to ensuring, both individually and collectively, that it does not practise or permit any form of discrimination, whether direct, indirect, or by way of victimisation, against any person, or any harassment of any person.
Chambers will make reasonable adjustments where a practice, policy or procedure, or physical feature of premises, make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to make use of a service.
Diversity
Chambers is committed to the Equality Guidelines as per the Bar Standards Board Handbook.
Chambers is committed to promoting a culture where the individual is fairly treated and respected.
We also promote a culture where diversity is appreciated.
Chambers is committed to ensuring, both individually and collectively, that it does not practise or permit any form of discrimination, whether direct, indirect, or by way of victimisation, against any person, or any harassment of any person.
Chambers will make reasonable adjustments where a practice, policy or procedure, or physical feature of premises, make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to make use of a service.
- Northern Circuit > Clinical negligence
- Northern Circuit > Personal injury
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Northern Circuit > Commercial litigation