Northern Circuit
Exchange Chambers has an excellent reputation for its ‘strength in depth’ in the personal injury area. The team of ‘expert’ barristers is very well known for representing claimants and defendants in high-value, complex claims; for example, head of chambers William Waldron KC has a solid track record in acting for claimants in cases involving catastrophic injuries, and Gerard Martin KC is highly regarded for his expertise in handling amputation and chronic pain claims. Christopher Barnes KC represented the claimant in Owens v Lewis, a High Court case concerning the approach to take when there are multiple allegations of contributory negligence in personal injury litigation. At the junior end of chambers, Andrew Ward is defending the Ministry of Defence against an ongoing claim relating to 400 cases regarding non-freezing cold injuries sustained by soldiers during their military service. Helen Rutherford is active in cases involving the Animals Act 1971 and brain injuries. In March 2025 Bill Braithwaite KC retired from practice.
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Work Department
Personal Injury; Clinical Negligence
Position
Chris is head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence department and a Deputy Head of Chambers. His personal injury caseload primarily involves catastrophic brain, spinal and amputation injuries. As a junior he had a longstanding niche specialism in military claims.
Significant cases include:
Owens v Lewis [2024] 3 WLUK 280 – Successful liability trial with consideration of the approach to take with multiple allegations of contributory negligence
Hadley v Przybylo [2024] EWCA Civ 250 – Lead case on the recovery of costs for solicitors attending rehabilitation meetings.
Abbott v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 2839 (KB) – Representing over 5,000 claimants and 18 firms of solicitors in successfully opposing the application for a Group Litigation Order in the military noise induced hearing loss litigation.
GJH v ORP & RPT [2024] EWHC 15 (KB) – Successful liability trial.
Hetherington v Blythe [2023] EWHC 41 (KB) – liability trial for catastrophically injured pedestrian
EXN v Alder Hey Children’s Hospital [2021] EWHC 2989 (QB) – Recovery of damages with a capitalised value of £27,300,000 for a child following the Defendant’s failure to identify, and treat, the herpes simplex virus.
Re. CICA (1.22) – Highest ever award under the CICA Scheme for an applicant shaken whilst a baby.
Hill v Gill [2018] EWHC 2703 (QB) – Catastrophic injury claim for young boy injured crossing the road.
Aurora Brown v Lisa Alexander [2018] 7 WLUK 716 – Lead case on the disclosure of rehabilitation records to medico-legal experts
Fry v McFaull (High Court, Manchester DR, 12.6.18 HHJ Bird) – Consideration of Coles v Perfect.
Serita Shone v British Bobsleigh (11.5.18) – Successful claim for professional heptathlete who suffered a spinal injury while training for the British Bobsleigh team. Shortlisted for PI Case of the Year 2018.
Colin Crooks v Hendricks Lovell Ltd. [2016] EWCA Civ 8 – Lead case on the interaction of Part 36 and the recovery of social security benefits by the DWP.
Lillington v Ministry of Defence [2015] EWCA Civ 775 – Successful respondent to an appeal relating to a loss of promotion following injury.
Ifede v Ministry of Defence [2015] EWHC 3835 (QB) – Interaction of the AFCS and limitation.
Birch v Ministry of Defence (2012) EWHC 2267 (QB) and (2013) EWCA Civ 676 – Catastrophic injury claim for Royal Marine injured in Afghanistan.
Bradlaugh v Ministry of Defence (Lawtel, 29.4.10) – Significant award for NIHL/tinnitus.
Recent settlements include:
£10,000,000 for a claimant injured in utero, resulting in lifelong epilepsy.
£8,000,000 plus provisional damages relating to syringomyelia for a paraplegic claimant injured in a training exercise.
£11,400,000 for a C4 tetraplegic.
£13,250,000 for a C5 tetraplegic.
£3,300,000 lump sum and periodical payments (capitalised value in excess of £10,000,000) for a young child brain injured in an RTA.
Settlements of £4,300,000 and £4,750,000 for separate below-knee amputees.
Career
Called 2000 (Silk 2006)
Junior Counsel to the Crown (2011)
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Testimonials
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- 'Rachel Williams is worth her weight in gold.'
- 'Sarah Rotherham and Ben Kierman are both professional and very reliable clerks. Their communication is outstanding.'
- 'Sarah Rotherham and Rachel Williams are clerks who are professional and effective in everything that they do.'
- 'Leigh Daniels is a great clerk, very accommodating, a clear communicator and keeps you updated.'
- 'An excellent set that goes above and beyond in the level of service.'
- 'A superb set.'
- 'A strong set.'
- 'Great strength in depth for this area of work.'