Prashant Popat KC KC > Chambers of Charles Gibson KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
Henderson Chambers Offices
Henderson Chambers
2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS, TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 9DB
England
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Prashant Popat KC KC
Work Department
Product liability, negligence, contract, health and safety, inquests/inquiries.
Position
In the field of product liability his substantial group action experience encompasses litigation concerning: the NOx Emissions issue; Covid-19 vaccine; metal-on-metal hip implants; PIP breast implants; Benzodiazepines; Norplant; blood transfusions; MMR; Sabril; and Seroxat. His commercial product liability practice includes litigation and arbitrations concerning products ranging from gastric bands to fuses and fire appliances to helicopters to motor vehicles. He has been involved in leading reported cases in this field, including appellate and CJEU decisions. Over 3 decades he has also represented defendants in major manslaughter and health and safety cases (and associated inquiries and inquests) arising from incidents such as the railway disasters at Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield, Potters Bar and Lambrigg, the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot, the Pembrokeshire Oil Refinery, the Atherstone upon Stour fire and the Glesion Mine flooding and the helicopter crash at the Leicester City FC ground. He represents interested persons in connection with ongoing investigations, including the Didcot power station collapse, the Grenfell fire, the Covid Inquiry and the Cranston Inquiry. He has previously been nominated for, and twice recognised as, the Chambers UK “Health and Safety Silk of the Year” and also awarded the Legal 500 award for “Corporate Crime” silk of the year.
Career
Called 1992; Silk 2008; Bencher of Gray’s Inn; University scholar, Baker and McKenzie international scholar; Gray’s Inn scholar; judicial assistant to the Master of the Rolls; publications: ‘Civil Advocacy: A Practical Guide’ (Cavendish Publishing Ltd); contributing editor ‘Halsbury’s Laws Civil Procedure’; ‘International Product Law Manual’ (Kluwer).
Memberships
Health and Safety Lawyers Association; COMBAR.
Education
Oxford (1990 MA First Class Honours).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Product liability
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Henderson Chambers is lauded for vast experience across the full spectrum of product liability claims, with members frequently acting in high-profile cases such as proceedings arising from the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the “Dieselgate” litigation. With his practice extending to commercial and insurance-related work, Charles Gibson KC is well-known for his expertise in pharmaceutical matters. Recent noteworthy instructions of the team include Prashant Popat KC leading James Williams in VC v AstraZeneca regarding claims of injuries and death caused by its Covid-19 vaccine, Geraint Webb‘s instruction for Qatar Airways regarding a £2bn commercial claim against Airbus in relation to alleged design defects in Airbus’ A350 aircraft.
London Bar > Group litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2A pre-eminent set for group litigation, Henderson Chambers is equipped to advise on a variety of claims, including those related to product liability, environmental law, and human rights abuse. With numerous members – including Charles Gibson KC, Oliver Campbell KC, and Geraint Webb KC – continuing to act in a variety of emissions-related proceedings, the set is also lauded for providing clients with noteworthy knowledge of commercial funding and mass settlement mechanisms. Prashant Popat KC is instructed for AstraZeneca regarding claims issued by people claiming injuries and death caused by the company’s Covid-19 vaccine. Adam Heppinstall KC acts in a modern slavery group action against Tesco in relation to garment manufacturing in Thailand. Ognjen Miletic‘s busy workload extends to representing the claimant group that alleges deceit, unlawful means conspiracy and negligence regarding a property development scheme for leasehold properties intended to be sub-let for use as holiday and student accommodation.
London Bar > Inquests and inquiries
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Prashant Popat KC – Henderson Chambers ‘Without doubt the absolute premier inquests and inquiries barrister. Thorough, forensic, amazing presentation of complicated issues with unrivalled expertise in picking experts to pieces.’
With ‘an impressive array of specialist barristers at all levels‘, Henderson Chambers ‘is in the forefront of the field of inquests and inquiries’. Prashant Popat KC is instructed for AstraZeneca in module four of the Covid-19 inquiry, investigating vaccines and therapeutics, alongside extensive inquests work. Oliver Campbell KC acted for Siderise, manufacturers of part of the cladding system, in the Grenfell Tower inquiry. James Purnell regularly acts for companies and public bodies in inquests, while Abigail Cohen is experienced in healthcare and health and safety inquests
London Bar > Health and safety
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Prashant Popat KC –Henderson Chambers ‘A premier health and safety barrister. He has a forensic eye and unrivalled expertise in picking experts apart.’
Henderson Chambers is ‘a fantastic health and safety set‘, with ‘significant strength‘ in handling a broad spectrum of high-profile, complex cases. Oliver Campbell KC has an excellent track record in advising on high-profile corporate manslaughter and fatal accident prosecutions. Prashant Popat KC recently acted for a bar operator in a Health and Safety at Work Act case after a young woman was crushed to death while queueing to enter a busy venue. Toby Riley-Smith KC is sought after by clients in, among other areas, the retail, energy, construction, life sciences, oil and gas and education sectors.