Department profile
12 King's Bench Walk

Personal Injury: Industrial Disease

UK Bar Guide 2026 : All Circuits


12 King's Bench Walk

Rankings

Chambers Review

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Personal Injury: Industrial Disease - All Circuits

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

12 King's Bench Walk is widely acclaimed as "a leading set in asbestos disease litigation" with "unparalleled depth and breadth" across the practice area. The set's tenants are regularly instructed in complex mesothelioma claims arising from asbestos exposure. Members are also highly regarded for their expertise in large-scale group actions, and the team has significant experience handling claims for noise-induced hearing loss and non-freezing cold injuries brought by service personnel against the MoD. Recent work for the set includes Johnstone v Fawcett’s Garage, a potentially highly consequential low-exposure fatal mesothelioma case before the Court of Appeal.

Oliver Parkhouse is director of clerking.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The set has very helpful clerks.

    Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • The chambers has easily accessible, helpful and accommodating clerks.

    Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are all responsive and helpful.

    Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are always a pleasure to deal with. They respond to enquires very quickly and are always able to assist.

    Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Gemma Scott
    Band 1Gemma Scott

    Gemma Scott

    Gemma Scott is a junior barrister who is widely praised for her adroit handling of industrial disease claims and client-relationship skills. She often appears as sole counsel in high-value cases and has experience handling large group actions. She frequently acts for claimants suffering from lung cancer and mesothelioma.

    • She brings a meticulous and thoughtful approach to her cases, combining strong technical knowledge with clear, well-reasoned advocacy. She is a valuable asset on complex and sensitive matters.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Gemma is a first-class asbestos-claims specialist. She has represented claimants at the highest level and her technical knowledge and aptitude cannot be doubted.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Gemma is an absolute expert in the field of asbestos disease. She is thorough, approachable and has an excellent manner with clients.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Ivan Bowley
    Band 1Ivan Bowley

    Ivan Bowley

    Ivan Bowley has an enviable reputation for his expertise in industrial disease and workplace injury cases, including asbestos and silicosis claims. He is regularly instructed in group actions.

    • He has unrivalled experience with historical heavy-industry disease claims. His advocacy is first rate and he is excellent with clients in conference. His written advice is insightful and pragmatic.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • He inspires confidence and delivers clear, no-nonsense advice. Ivan is a highly effective cross-examiner who consistently brings clarity and precision to the most challenging cases.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Ivan is great on complex cases, where he can quickly cut through to the key issues. He is thorough in his analysis of volumes of evidence. His advocacy style is firm and unflappable.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Niall Maclean
    Band 1Niall Maclean

    Niall Maclean

    Niall Maclean is a highly regarded personal injury junior noted for his expertise in claims stemming from exposure to biological hazards, chemicals and noise. He is regularly instructed in complex asbestos cases involving tricky causation, liability and limitation issues.

    • Niall Maclean is extremely quick to analyse and advise in tricky quantum cases, in particular.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Niall Maclean has great attention to detail and is always a good man to have on your side.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Niall Maclean is exceptionally bright.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Patrick Kerr
    Band 1Patrick Kerr

    Patrick Kerr

    Patrick Kerr is an experienced personal injury barrister noted for his expert representation of mesothelioma victims in complex industrial disease claims.

    • Patrick's unique approach and way of thinking has helped achieve prompt resolution in many cases.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Patrick Kerr is very experienced in asbestos disease matters and shows good judgement in settlement negotiations.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • He is very sharp and confident in asbestos disease claims.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Patrick Kerr has a brilliant mind and displays the sort of empathy that makes clients immediately warm to him. He never shies away from technically difficult cases.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Patrick is a good advocate who establishes instant rapport with clients. He is surefooted and caring. He is tough with opponents.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2David Green
    Band 2David Green

    David Green

    David Green is noted for his disease practice. He acts on a range of issues, covering both asbestos and military-related claims. He is often instructed on group action matters.

    • David has a lovely manner with clients and has great attention to detail. His written advice is thorough and clear.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • His key strength is his knowledge and understanding of technical medical side. He is very good in conferences and good with clients.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • David gives clear and accurate advice and can turn papers around quickly when necessary.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2James Pickering
    Band 2James Pickering

    James Pickering

    James Pickering is regularly instructed to act on behalf of claimants in mesothelioma claims. He is also noted for his work in relation to group actions brought by military personnel suffering hearing loss and non-freezing cold injuries.

    • James has a Rolls-Royce brain and eye for detail.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • James Pickering is very reliable. He is thoughtful, thorough and extremely good in conference when advising clients on highly sensitive and emotive subjects.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • James is unbelievably brainy and very good at distilling difficult issues into simple, clear digestible notes and advice.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • James Pickering has excellent command of the area. His attention to detail is phenomenal and he is very good with clients.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Michael Brace
    Band 2Michael Brace

    Michael Brace

    Michael Brace has vast experience handling a wide range of cases across the areas of industrial disease, clinical negligence and personal injury. He has a particular focus on asbestos disease claims, specifically those concerning mesothelioma and pleural plaques. He attracts praise for his tact when representing employees in sensitive matters.

    • Michael knows his stuff in asbestos-related cases and has a very pragmatic approach.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Mike has a total understanding of all aspects of asbestos-related disease litigation, huge attention to detail and a very quick turnaround time.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Michael Brace has great communication skills with clients.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Michael Brace is a very knowledgeable asbestos disease practitioner. He deals with problems in hearings calmly. He is very pleasant to work with and a solid asbestos counsel.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Rachit Buch
    Band 2Rachit Buch

    Rachit Buch

    Rachit Buch primarily acts for claimants on asbestos-related cases. His experience extends to noise-induced hearing loss claims.

    • Rachit is an outstanding barrister. He has strong attention to detail and a great bedside manner with clients.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Rachit is very experienced and this is demonstrated by his attention to detail and concise advice about what steps need to be taken to overcome any issues. His client care skills are second to none.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Rachit Buch is a pleasure to work with and consistently delivers excellent results. His strategic insight and calm, confident advocacy make him highly effective in achieving successful outcomes.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Steven Snowden
    Band 2Steven Snowden

    Steven Snowden

    Steven Snowden KC is a prominent lawyer who acts for both claimants and defendants in the most complex and high-profile occupational disease cases. He is experienced in cases where claimants have been exposed to toxic substances, have been left with occupational asthma or have suffered from upper limb disorders.

    • Steven is the leading silk in industrial disease and personal injury. He has fantastic advocacy skills and nothing fazes him in court. His attention to detail is second to none.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Steven is extremely strong in asbestos disease claims. He is incredibly and disarmingly polite.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingCressida Mawdesley-Thomas
    Up and ComingCressida Mawdesley-Thomas

    Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas

    Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas is a rising talent at the industrial disease Bar. She often acts for claimants regarding asbestos-related disease, including in claims regarding mesothelioma and benign asbestosis. She has experience acting unled.

    • Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas is knowledgeable, efficient and very pleasant to deal with.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Cressida has a pleasant manner with clients, and her written advice is thorough and clear.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Cressida is a real up-and-coming junior with the willingness to take on difficult cases and fight them. She is building a reputation for herself as a fierce advocate and has a real eye for detail.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingHelen Waller
    Up and ComingHelen Waller

    Helen Waller

    Helen Waller is an up-and-coming junior with a strong focus on industrial disease claims. She regularly handles a variety of cases concerning asbestos-related disease. She has experience in appellate cases as well as in fatal mesothelioma claims. Waller predominantly acts for claimants.

    • She is a joy to work with and exceptional with clients. She has prepared very detailed and complex schedules in cases and taken the lead in complex industrial disease cases.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Helen is a real up-and-coming talent. She has a lovely manner and is always very responsive to questions.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingSpencer Turner
    Up and ComingSpencer Turner

    Spencer Turner

    Spencer Turner is a rising talent with experience handling disease claims. He is regularly instructed on mesothelioma claims, including those with secondary exposure. He is also developing expertise in a broader range of industrial disease categories, including hearing loss and non-freezing cold injuries.

    • Spencer Turner is very clever and has a great touch.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • Spencer's written work is strong.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksJohn-Paul Swoboda
    New SilksJohn-Paul Swoboda

    John-Paul Swoboda

    John-Paul Swoboda KC's broad practice encompasses clinical negligence matters and asbestos litigation. He is particularly adept at handling low-level exposure mesothelioma claims and is also well regarded for his ability to deal with cases involving complex quantum issues.

    • John-Paul has a calm and reassuring manner with clients, and his written advice is through and clear. He is a competent and confident lawyer.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • He provides a forensic attention to detail when analysing evidence and brings real tactical insight to every case. A clear and confident advocate, he communicates complex issues easily.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • John-Paul is a definite go-to counsel on complex and difficult asbestos matters. He is extremely experienced and has worked on leading cases.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar
    • John-Paul Swoboda has fantastic advocacy skills and is one of the lead barristers in asbestos disease litigation.

      Personal Injury: Industrial Disease respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 12 King's Bench Walk (13)

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