12 King’s Bench Walk is ‘a leading personal injury set’, predominantly handling high-value catastrophic injury, fatal accident and sport injury claims. Additionally, the set garners praise as ‘a heavyweight in claimant asbestos disease work’. The ‘formidable’ William Audland KC is ‘at the absolute top of his game’. Michael Rawlinson KC is highly regarded for his expertise in industrial disease claims. Turning to the juniors, Spencer Turner is well versed in advising on high-profile fatal accident claims, disputes concerning serious injuries in the military and professional sport areas, and asbestos claims. Recent developments at the set include John-Paul Swoboda KC taking silk in March 2025 and Simon Browne KC joining the team in April 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Position
Simon Browne KC “Always brilliant, he’s polished and prepared and is someone who has a great manner with clients. His advice is spot on.”
Simon is consistently recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading silk in the fields of commercial costs and litigation funding, catastrophic brain and spinal injury, and related areas of sports law, clinical negligence, insurance, and professional negligence and professional regulation.
In addition, Simon is at the forefront of the development of law and civil procedure in the Court of Appeal and High Court in cases such as:
- Part 36 regime in F & C Alternative Investments (2012) CA, Walker Construction v Quayside Homes (2014) CA, Yentob v MGN (2015) CA, Seabrook v Adam (2021) CA, and FKJ v RVT (2022) HC.
- Relief from sanctions/abuse of process in Mitchell v NGN (2014) CA, Cable v LV Insurance (2020) CA and CS LLP v HMRC (2024) Upper Tier Tax Tribunal.
- Costs budgets, the drafting of e-bills of costs, and QOCS in Henry v NGN (2013) CA, Bowman v Norfram and Ors. (2018) HC, and AKC v Barking and Havering Health Authority (2022) CA.
Simon is a qualified mediator and arbitrator. He is registered with the Bar Council to accept direct access instructions and at the higher level of conducting litigation.
Career
Call 1982 . Silk 2011
Memberships
- Personal Injuries Bar Association (PIBA).
- Association of Personal Injuries Lawyers (APIL).
- Law in Sport.
- Registered for instruction in Sport Resolutions SCMP Legal Advice Service.
Education
Qualified Mediator and Arbitrator.
Content supplied by 12 King's Bench Walk
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Oliver Parkhouse is a real star.'
- 'Oliver Parkhouse, Rob Palumbo, George Boggis and Isaac Ayliffe are outstanding.'
- 'Rob Palumbo is really on the ball and dependable. Knows his stuff.'
- 'George Boggis and Rob Palumbo are swift and well organised.'
- 'Oliver Parkhouse is excellent as Director of Clerking, overseeing a great team. I have most dealings with Tristan Whigham who without fail finds a way to address my requests and he does this very promptly, going the extra mile to find a solution. I also regularly deal with Daniella Evans and Lily Baker, who are also both excellent in their roles with a very friendly approachable manner. Client care and service are obviously top priorities for all the clerks.'
- 'The Clerks regularly allocate counsel without difficulty and at short notice. Matthew Dowdall is always helpful.'
- '12KBW is a brilliant set, with significant depth in all areas.'
- 'A great PI set.'
- 'The wealth of expertise and number of barristers specialising in industrial disease is unmatched.'
- '12KBW boasts a dedicated team of barristers specialising in disease-related matters.'