'A strong set with an established pedigree in group litigation', Henderson Chambers is routinely instructed in a wide range of high-profile claims. Multiple members of the set - including Charles Gibson KC , Prashant Popat KC, Kathleen Donnelly KC and Patrick Green KC among the senior end of chambers, and Thomas Evans, Celia Oldham and Rachel Tandy among the juniors - continue to act in emissions litigation. Product liability and environmental-related claims are core areas of instruction for the group. Lucy McCormick has 'a good strategic instinct and a strong eye for detail', and the 'extremely responsive' Ognjen Miletic 'properly knows the group action space'.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
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Profile
Position
Thomas has a broad commercial practice. He is ranked in Tier 1 for Group Litigation (Legal 500) and in Band 3 for both Product Liability and Group Litigation (Chambers UK), and is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown.
Thomas’ ongoing and recent cases include: Qatar Airways v Airbus (commercial dispute concerning the A350 aircraft); Novitas Loans v AmTrust Europe (£55m claim arising out of a failed litigation funding scheme); the VW NOx Emissions Group Litigation Nos. 1 and 2 (now part of the Pan NOx Litigation, and instructed by Volkswagen); and Minol v FireAngel (commercial dispute concerning fire detection apparatus). He has also recently acted in high value cases concerning agricultural machinery, maritime vessels and plant equipment.
Thomas has a particular expertise in costs and litigation funding, including in the context of group litigation (in respect of which he is authoring the costs and funding chapters of the latest edition of Hodges on Multi-party Actions). Allied to this, Thomas has a particular depth of experience in consumer protection matters arising out of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (both regulatory and contentious). He has contributed to the Journal of International banking and Finance Law.
Career
MA (Oxon), Christ Church Oxford; Cholmeley Studentship (Lincoln’s Inn); Hardwicke Award (Lincoln’s Inn); Called to the Bar 2008.
Memberships
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR); British Insurance Law Association (BILA); London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association (LCLCBA); Health & Safety Lawyers’ Association (HSLA); South Eastern Circuit (SEC); UK Constitutional Law Association (UKCLA).
Education
MA (Oxon), Christ Church Oxford
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are always super responsive and super helpful. They offer a gold standard service for a gold standard set.'
- 'All of the clerks are responsive, reasonable and knowledgeable. They are a pleasure to deal with.'
- 'The clerking team are excellent - they are helpful and supportive.'
- 'Engaging and attentive clerks, led by the excellent Jason Housden.'
- 'Great set for group litigation.'
- 'The strongest bench for Claimant group litigation at all levels.'
- 'Absolutely top tier for group litigation.'
- 'Henderson Chambers have a number of excellent and talented barristers.'