Northern Circuit
Exchange Chambers is ‘a leading chambers for clinical negligence and has extensive strength in depth’. David Knifton KC has ‘exceptional forensic rigour and a huge wealth of experience with clinical negligence catastrophic injury claims’, and continues to act for claimants in obstetric negligence cases. Gerard Martin KC has extensive experience in advising on spinal cord and brain injury claims concerning both children and adults. Recent instructions for the group include the ‘stellar advocate’ Chris Barnes KC advising on a wrongful birth claim. At the junior end of chambers, Chris Gutteridge specialises in cases concerning anaesthetic negligence, and the ‘very effective, analytical, balanced, and reasonable’ Kevin Naylor is sought after by defendants and claimants for his specialist focus on clinical negligence claims. Bill Braithwaite KC retired from practice in March 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Work Department
Personal Injury; Clinical Negligence
Position
Chris completed pupillage at Exchange Chambers in 2007. Since then he has established a strong practice in personal injury and clinical negligence work, principally for claimants (but with experience of acting for defendants).
He works exclusively in multi-track litigation including cases involving catastrophic injury and undertakes all aspects of advisory and court work.
He prides himself on good relationships with solicitors, quick turnaround of paperwork and flexibility in addressing case management issues. This coupled with determined court advocacy has resulted in Chris being a much sought after advocate.
Career
Called 2006.
Memberships
- Personal Injury Bar Association
- Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
Education
- Law LLB (Class I, 2002 - 2005), University of Durham
- Bar Vocational Course (Very Competent, 2006), Nottingham Law School
- Inner Temple BVC Exhibition
Content supplied by Exchange Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The service provided by the clerks' room is of exceptional quality. Sarah Rotherham and Rachel Williams are professional and effective in everything that they do.'
- 'Sarah Rotherham and Leigh Daniels are very approachable and accommodating clerks. Their turnaround time is impressive.'
- 'The clerks at Exchange are all brilliant. Sarah Rotherham has excelled in the business development role. Leigh Daniels and Olivia Cleere all offer a first class clerking service, without fail.'
- 'Fantastic clerks.'
- 'Exchange Chambers are a superb set. They provide a high quality service without any fuss. They are supportive and understanding.'
- 'A reliable set.'
- 'This set has many talented individuals. I’m never short of first class counsel with this set.'