Outer Temple Chambers has 'a very strong clinical negligence offering' with 'high quality counsel'. The team routinely handles a broad range of matters, including surgical errors and severe brain and spinal cord injuries. Nathan Tavares KC is 'thorough on liability and superb with quantum'. Robert Dickason has been kept busy advising on large-scale matters involving novel causation arguments and duty of care issues, while Harriet Jerram acts as sole counsel in high-value brain injury claims. Recent developments at the set include Harry Lambert joining the team and Ben Bradley KC taking silk in February and March 2025 respectively.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Profile

Work Department

Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Health and Safety, Group Litigation, Product Liability

Position

Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Health and Safety, Group Litigation, Product Liability.

Career

Called, 2007; Member of Law Commission Criminal Law Team, 2007-08; Judicial assistant to Lord Chief Justice, 2009; Barrister at Outer Temple following successful completion of pupillage, 2009+; Attorney-General’s Panel Counsel, 2015+ (C Panel, 2015-2020; B Panel, 2020-2024; A Panel, 2024-2029).

Robert specialises in clinical negligence and has particular experience in personal injury, health- and injury-related group litigation, product liability, and health and safety.

Appointed to the Attorney General’s A Panel, Robert regularly represents the UK Government in those fields, as well as at inquests and public inquiries, and in claims concerning human rights and national security. Current Governmental instructions include:

The Contaminated Blood Products Group Litigation; The UK Covid 19 Inquiry; Covid-19 care home discharge litigation; Representing the Ministry of Defence in relation to Gulf War Syndrome/Illness claims by military veterans following Gulf War deployment in the 1990s.

Robert has been consistently ranked as a Leading Junior in Clinical Negligence since 2016. He acts for patients, Trusts, private providers and individual clinicians alike in civil claims and at inquests. His practice spans the full clinical spectrum. He is instructed in the most complex liability and quantum disputes. He is good with clients and can be relied upon to turn papers around promptly.

Robert has extensive experience in group litigation and product liability matters, particularly in the healthcare and personal injury spheres. Current and recent cases include those arising from vaccination; chemoprophylaxis medication; hormonal pregnancy tests; medical treatment (infected blood); and public health management of infectious disease (Swine Flu, Covid 19).

He has extensive experience of personal injury litigation, both individual and group claims, at all levels of severity. He also has experience in contempt of court proceedings arising where clinical negligence and personal injury claims have been tainted by dishonesty.

Robert has an established health and safety practice, having appeared in several high profile and complex cases from 2012 to date (e.g. Grenfell Tower Fire, Lakanal House Fire, Sterecycle manslaughter, Warwickshire Fire). He has particular expertise in health and safety matters arising in healthcare, medical and care settings, both public and private. He undertakes the full range of contentious and advisory work, representing public authorities, care home providers, large conglomerates, small and medium businesses, and individual directors and employees in civil and criminal litigation, and in inquest and regulatory proceedings.

Memberships

Attorney General’s A Panel (2024-2029), PNBA, PIBA, HSLA, LCLCBA

Education

Cambridge University (MA Hons, 1st Class, Classics and Law), Colchester Royal Grammar School

Content supplied by Outer Temple Chambers

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Paul Barton is fantastic - a master at organisation with a real can-do attitude.'
  • 'Paul Barton is absolutely top drawer. An elite clerk.'
  • 'Paul Barton and Harry Gamble provide excellent clerking.'
  • 'Harry Gamble goes the extra mile to assist clients.'
  • 'Outer Temple is a key player in the clinical negligence sphere.'
  • 'Very experienced clinical negligence set.'
  • 'A leading chambers for clinical negligence with extensive strength in depth.'