Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Personal Injury - Northern (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
Cobden House Chambers is noted for its effective representation of both claimants and defendants in a wide range of personal injury matters. The set's members are well regarded for their handling of complex and high-value disputes, as well as fast-track and multi-track claims. The areas of particular strength for the team include catastrophic injury, chronic pain and industrial disease cases. Interviewees highlight the "helpful clerking team and strength of senior juniors in personal injury" available at Cobden House. Recent work highlights include acting for the defendant's insurer in Cousins v Gilbert Agricultural Services, consulting reconstruction experts, in a liability only trial involving a severe TBI.
Martin Leech is the director of clerking.
Strengths
Cobden House has excellent clerking.
Cobden House Chambers has a strong, cohesive team. The clerks are efficient and support the barristers in an efficient way so that the barristers can focus on assisting client.
The set has very professional clerks who work together to achieve the best outcome.
The clerks, particularly Steven Tobias, are great.
Notable practitioners
Marc Willems KC is a leading personal injury silk who acts for claimants and defendants alike in heavyweight cases concerning catastrophic brain and spinal injury. He has dealt with many cases involving citizens of foreign countries.
Marc is superb. He is practical, talented and great to work with. His advice is comprehensive and enables me to quickly work through the matter so that it can be concluded as quickly as possible.
Marc is calm in conferences with difficult clients.
Marc is an excellent leader who is able to explain complex matters to lay clients clearly, whilst also setting out strategies in complex matters.
Michael Jones is principally instructed in severe brain injury cases, representing both claimants and defendants. He also undertakes a wide range of other work, including claims relating to industrial disease and chronic pain. He regularly acts on behalf of major insurers as well as government bodies. He is particularly experienced in the handling of group litigation claims.
Michael is slightly more in favour of the defence but is very hardworking and extremely pragmatic. He gets to the heart of things very quickly and is doing really high-calibre work.
Michael is my go-to senior junior. He is personable and sensible. He is excellent with clients and witnesses, and has outstanding advocacy. He gets results.
Michael is always well prepared for conferences, has good knowledge and is very confident.
Richard Hartley KC is a highly regarded personal injury silk. His practice focuses significantly on catastrophic injury cases, including sports injuries, as well as chronic pain conditions. He represents both claimants and defendants.
Richard Hartley KC is an extremely strong negotiator. His advocacy skills in court and ability to rapidly identify the key issues means that on large cases, he is a secure pair of hands.
He never disappoints and is always very charming to both his clients, the court and his opponents.
Richard is a fantastic leader. His skill and ability has resulted in positive outcomes on a number of matters which would not have occurred if it had not been for him.
He is creative in moving cases along and facilitating collaboration.
Anthony Mazzag is well regarded for his representation of both claimants and defendants in complex personal injury claims. He has experience handling cases involving brain and spinal injuries, amputations and fatalities.
He is approachable, knowledgeable and meticulous in his work. Anthony has a calmness that clients find welcoming and he is adaptable to changing tactics.
Anthony is a safe pair of hands. The clients love his personable yet robust approach.
Chloe Murray has experience in matters that cover a range of injury, ranging from eye injuries to traumatic brain injury. She mainly represents clients and is comfortable handling liability issues as well as quantum.
Chloe is extremely competent with dealing complex legal matters and significant injury cases, as well as providing clear advice to lay clients which regularly results in praise.
Chloe has a fantastic court manner.
Lee Nowland is regularly instructed in high-value and multi-track personal injury cases involving severe brain injuries and fatal accidents. He also has experience of acting in employers' and occupiers' liability claims. He acts for both claimants and defendants.
Lee has an easy approach with clients whilst explaining to them the intricacies of their case. At the same time, he is a strong advocate who will fight every point for his client.
Lee is an excellent advocate and has an excellent reputation. His skill and ability has resulted in positive outcomes on a number of matters which would not have occurred if it had not been for him.
Lee Nowland struck me as very knowledgeable and able.
