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.
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Profile
Position
Spencer’s practice encompasses the full range of Chambers’ key specialisms, with a particular emphasis on international and travel, industrial disease, personal injury, sport, fraud and clinical negligence claims.
Spencer has developed extensive trial experience and his practice combines advisory work, drafting and advocacy in both the High Court and the County Courts. He appears at CCMCs, interlocutory hearings, multi and fast track trials on an almost daily basis. Spencer acts in high value personal injury litigation, both as sole counsel and junior counsel to silks. His practice includes acting unled in several fatal accident cases. He has particular experience in a range of claims brought under the Package Travel Regulations, the Montreal and Athens conventions and his international and travel work often involves complex questions of jurisdiction and foreign law. In the context of industrial disease litigation, Spencer has experience of acting for claimants in claims arising from exposure to asbestos as both sole and junior counsel. Spencer’s sports law practice encompasses personal injury claims suffered during sporting activities, anti-doping and athlete selection disputes. He is a contributor to several publications in his specialist areas.
Prior to joining Chambers Spencer worked in the personal injury department of an international law firm. He read law at the University of Bristol and was an Exhibition and Benefactors Scholar of the Inner Temple. During his pupillage he received the Jarman Award for Advocacy and he has recently been awarded an outgoing Pegasus Scholarship to the USA. He is also a member of the Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee. Spencer is committed to widening access to the Bar; he is part of the outreach team within Chambers and is regularly invited to speak on panels on the topic of social mobility.
Career
Called 2016.
Education
BPTC, University of Law, London
LLB (Hons), University of Bristol
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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.'