Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Personal Injury - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Combining the strength of two former leading personal injury sets, Deka Chambers is truly a force to be reckoned with in the market, noted as providing "real strength and depth across the board." While the set is particularly well regarded for its representation of claimants, its barristers are also regularly called upon to handle high-value work on behalf of major insurers and other defendants. Members are well versed in catastrophic brain and spinal injury, fatal accident, amputation and psychological injury claims, and offer significant expertise in matters involving complex issues of public and employers' liability. Claims arising from historic sexual abuse are also a key area of practice, and the barristers are frequently called upon to handle extremely sensitive cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses. The set is routinely involved in the most high-profile and complex cases in the market, and its members have experience appearing before the courts at all levels, up to and including the Supreme Court. Recent work includes Davies v Taylor, a high-profile case involving a claimant who was seriously injured by a young driver who was texting and videoing himself at the wheel.

Michael Goodridge is the director of clerking.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

S
Edward Faulks KC
S
Senior Statespeople

Edward Faulks KC is an expert in personal injury matters. He is highly regarded for his handling of historic abuse cases. His broad practice also includes human rights, clinical negligence and police work.

Edward is my go-to person for appeals. He is excellent.

Laura Begley
Star Individuals

Laura Begley is routinely instructed in the most complex, high-value personal injury litigation. She is commended by interviewees for her detailed understanding of tricky quantum matters, and is recognised as a leading expert in criminal injury compensation and spinal and brain injury claims.

Laura's legal knowledge and expertise is outstanding. She is wonderful with clients. She is highly technical and always on hand to talk through tricky issues. She is a real pleasure to work with.

Laura Begley is a brilliant lawyer. She is technically very able and hugely personable.

Laura is a really first-rate barrister. She is good to deal with and insightful on the work she handles. She is very good in court and can make complex matters seem straightforward.

Laura has a very reassuring, empathetic and sympathetic manner with clients but is not afraid to tackle difficult issues head-on. She has an excellent in-depth knowledge.

1
Andrew Warnock
1
Band 1

Andrew Warnock KC is a prominent defence counsel for serious historic sexual abuse cases, often involving multiple claimants and famous defendants. He is also a regular feature in the most complex and precedent-setting public liability cases. His broad personal injury expertise also encompasses psychiatric, brain and spinal injury claims. He is a go-to choice for many clients from the public sector.

Andrew is a versatile and capable KC who works well in a team and who quickly identifies and addresses client needs and strategy. He is a delight to work with.

He is a Rolls-Royce advocate; he is very good at what he does.

He is an excellent all-rounder.

Andrew is a very knowledgeable KC who breaks matters down for a lay client to understand.

1
Bruce Silvester
1
Band 1

Bruce Silvester is a hugely experienced senior junior with an enviable caseload of catastrophic injury instructions, predominantly from claimant solicitors but also from defendant insurers. He is experienced in cases concerning a variety of circumstances, including fatal accidents, brain damage and spinal cord injuries. His practice includes trial advocacy, mediation and advisory work.

Bruce is brilliant at dealing with complex issues in personal injury and explaining these to clients in a very straightforward approach.

He is very good in conference and an excellent negotiator.

Bruce is a great trial advocate. He has an incredibly good forensic eye. He could find a needle in a haystack.

Christopher Stephenson
1
Christopher Stephenson
1
Band 1

Christopher Stephenson has an excellent grasp of technical medical points and routinely takes instructions in both clinical negligence and personal injury matters. Claimant solicitors regularly choose him for high-value catastrophic injury cases, often resulting from motor accidents. He also has experience handling employers' liability claims.

He provides excellent client care. He is a charismatic, skilled advocate who is approachable and responsive. He goes above and beyond.

Christopher is an outstanding barrister. He is personable and understanding in very difficult situations for clients. He is well able to see through the issues and find a pragmatic way through.

Chris is fantastic. He puts nervous clients at ease even when having to have difficult conversations. Any written work is always completed to the highest standard.

Christopher Stephenson is an excellent barrister who has a relaxed and easygoing manner with clients which belies the steel he presents in court and in cross-examination and negotiations.

Jacob Levy
1
Jacob Levy
1
Band 1

Jacob Levy KC is an accomplished and able advocate with an industrious and personable approach to personal injury litigation. He devotes the majority of his time to representing claimants in hard-fought cases involving brain and spinal injuries, amputations and other forms of harm. Many of his instructions stem from motor accidents. He is the current head of chambers.

Jacob is just an outstanding leader in his field.

He is a superbly efficient heavyweight counsel. His meticulous preparation makes him a strong and reliable advocate. He has clear commercial vision both for his own case work and chambers as a whole.

Jacob's talents know no bounds; he is simply a first-class operator and a joy to work with. He is always across the detail; he has great wisdom and expertise, but without ego.

Jacob Levy is my go-to counsel for the most complex of matters. An absolute delight to work with, Jacob displays incredible attention to detail and provides second-to-none client care.

Jeremy Ford
1
Jeremy Ford
1
Band 1

Jeremy Ford is a noted senior junior who predominantly acts for claimants. His expert handling of catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims elicits broad market praise. He is sought after for cases with complex causation and liability points. His broad personal injury practice also encompasses MIB claims.

Jeremy Ford is a no-nonsense lawyer who has a real instinct for a case and is straightforward with the client.

Jeremy Ford is an outstanding barrister with the skills and ability to take on any silk and win.

Jeremy is very thorough and well versed in the area of MIB claims.

Jeremy Ford is an outstanding all-round advocate and always well prepared.

Jeremy Ford is an exceptional barrister who is extremely knowledgeable. He is calm, pragmatic and responsive.

1
Simon Brindle
1
Band 1

Simon Brindle has a depth of experience in fatal accident and catastrophic injury claims arising out of workplace and road traffic accidents. He has appeared in numerous trials with highly contested liability and quantum issues, and receives accolades for his charming manner in court.

A fierce advocate, Simon is incredibly intelligent and not afraid to be direct. His schedules of loss are a work of art and he has a firm grasp on all quantum issues.

Simon Brindle is a real go-to. He is amazing at drafting and amazing with clients. He really puts them at ease even when giving difficult information.

He is a wonderful barrister with brilliant technical and procedural knowledge.

He has a friendly manner which puts clients at ease. He is able to tailor his communication to clients from all backgrounds.

Stuart McKechnie
1
Stuart McKechnie
1
Band 1

Stuart McKechnie KC is heralded as a true specialist in quantum and regularly appears for claimants in multimillion-pound cases. His expansive knowledge spans the full spectrum of catastrophic injuries, and he is well known for his command of maximum severity brain injury claims. Sources appreciate his grasp of complex medical issues.

Stuart is always totally on top of the detail, very easy to work with and has a very open, down-to-earth and friendly style which clients love. He is a pleasure to work with.

He is an all-round excellent silk in catastrophic personal injury. He is always extremely knowledgeable and well prepared. He has great attention to detail and consistently achieves superb results.

Stuart McKechnie is absolutely at the top of the tree when it comes to very high-value complex cases.

He sets the standard. He is an effective strategist, innovative, smart and really passionate about his work.

Stuart is truly excellent and his preparation and skill in this area is unbeatable. He always goes the extra mile.

2
Edward Bishop
2
Band 2

Edward Bishop KC maintains an impressive, multidisciplinary practice comprising catastrophic personal injury, clinical negligence and police law. He is regularly instructed in cases wherein the victim makes allegations against the state regarding its failure to protect against criminal acts. He has a deep knowledge of psychiatric damage claims. He is regularly instructed by both leading claimant and defendant firms.

He is steely, well prepared and clients warm to his engaging manner.

Edward is very experienced and skilled in dealing with life-changing injury claims at the highest level of severity and complexity. He cuts through the issues in a case very quickly and pragmatically.

Edward Bishop grapples with technical issues effortlessly.

Edward Bishop is a safe pair of hands, and a nice person to work with. He is empathetic with clients and considerate.

2
Jeremy Crowther
2
Band 2

Jeremy Crowther is a highly regarded personal injury barrister with enviable experience in a range of proceedings, including RTA claims, employers' liability and industrial disease cases. His knowledge of catastrophic and subtle brain injuries, chronic pain and amputation matters makes him a popular choice to instruct.

Jeremy is an excellent advocate who oozes charm and eloquence with clients. His legal knowledge is impressive and preparation for conferences is thorough.

Jeremy is an exceptional barrister. His knowledge of the law and tactics within a personal injury claim are exceptional. His client care is also fantastic.

Jeremy is an excellent advocate. He gives clear and sound advice. His personal style with clients puts them at ease. He is able to cut through to the heart of any issue clearly and swiftly.

Jeremy Crowther is unflappable and an excellent advocate. He is excellent at simplifying things for clients.

2
John Ross
2
Band 2

John Ross KC has tremendous experience of handling catastrophic head injury claims. He is noted for his specific expertise in acquired brain injuries, as well as cases involving foreign travel. He is instructed by both claimant firms and defendant insurers.

John Ross is fantastic.

John Ross is at the top of his game. He is excellent at cutting through the issues and making the complex seem understandable.

2
Laura Johnson
2
Band 2

Laura Johnson KC has a respected claimant practice focusing on spine and brain injuries. She also routinely acts for the defence in sex abuse, public liability and stress at work cases. She has an excellent understanding of personal injury claims that intersect with human rights law. She draws on additional expertise in clinical negligence matters when handling cases involving complex medical evidence.

Laura Johnson is a masterful advocate and a great tactician.

Laura is technically detailed, thorough and an excellent tactician. She is a great team player, easy to work with and, importantly, fantastic with clients and their families.

Laura Johnson KC is very approachable and easy to work with. She was excellent throughout and recommended for complex brain injury claims.

Laura is a formidable advocate who approaches her work with care and compassion. She is incredibly intelligent and a real team player. She is a truly outstanding KC.

Laura has a fantastic mind. Her clarity of purpose makes her stand out among her peers. She is superb with clients and a great communicator.

2
Stephen Glynn
2
Band 2

Stephen Glynn is routinely called upon by claimant solicitors in motor accident cases. He also has experience in employers' liability cases, especially those that concern industrial disease. He is recognised for his deftness of touch with vulnerable clients.

Stephen Glynn is the go-to counsel for asbestos claims. He is smart, personable and approachable. He delivers a great service and value for money.

A safe pair of hands, Stephen consistently achieves excellent results for clients.

Stephen is a real leader in his field. His advice is always excellent. He is pragmatic in his approach and focused on achieving the best possible outcome for those he represents.

Stephen is so calm and it is impossible to ruffle his feathers. He enjoys complex legal argument and is brilliant at a JSM. He is a solicitor's dream to work with.

Adam Dawson
3
Adam Dawson
3
Band 3

Adam Dawson has a personal injury practice that includes fatal accident, brain and spinal injury cases. This broad base of expertise also serves his predominantly claimant clients extremely well in areas such as EL/PL claims and RTAs. He is well versed in claims with a complex dependency angle.

Adam Dawson is a truly exceptional barrister, with unrivalled client care and rapport.

Adam is charming, unflappable and an excellent negotiator.

Adam has a natural ability to distil complicated legal issues into clear, straightforward advice, making him an invaluable asset to our team.

Adam Dawson is wonderful with clients while delivering direct advice. He is brilliant to work with and have on your team.

Giles Mooney
3
Giles Mooney
3
Band 3

Giles Mooney KC regularly acts for both claimants and defendants, and is one of the foremost experts for cases involving injuries caused by animals. He has vast experience in multimillion-pound catastrophic injury claims, which often involve complex liability issues.

Giles Mooney's advocacy skills are second to none, and he’s not afraid to take on a fight and win.

Giles possesses an amazing ability to absorb the most complex detail and articulate a convincing argument within moments.

Giles is an excellent KC who is approachable, technically brilliant and excellent with the claimant.

Giles is an absolute standout, particularly in tricky liability cases. He is prepared to fight for the client even in the face of very aggressive denials of liability. His advocacy is a joy to watch.

Gurion Taussig
3
Gurion Taussig
3
Band 3

Gurion Taussig is a respected junior barrister who is well known for his command of catastrophic brain injury claims. He predominantly represents claimants in matters arising from motor accidents and accidents at work.

Clients are reassured by his clear advice and willingness to spend as much time as is needed to explain points or concerns. He is excellent at getting to the heart of the case.

He is very good, very approachable and very straight-talking. He understands the needs of our business.

Gurion is an exceptional barrister. His attention to detail in complex matters, as well as his personable but direct approach in litigation, is noted by clients and leads to fantastic outcomes.

Gurion is a master tactician in his cases and a brilliant negotiator.

3
Helen Pooley
3
Band 3

Helen Pooley's personal injury practice covers a broad range of matters including psychiatric injuries and amputations. She has further expertise in cases regarding injuries caused by animals.

Helen really is a leading junior who is capable of dealing with highly complex, catastrophic claims and holding her own against leading counsel.

Helen Pooley is an excellent junior. She is really efficient, and her kindness and clarity always shines through.

Helen is a exceptional junior who excels in advocacy, joint settlement meetings and client-facing conferences. She is meticulous with her preparation of cases and leaves no stone unturned.

3
James Byrne
3
Band 3

James Byrne has a growing personal injury practice that focuses on catastrophic injuries. He is as comfortable with claims arising out of road traffic accidents as he is with accidents at work, and also has experience in class actions.

James combines high-quality advice with gravitas.

He is unflappable in court and highly prepared. He is always pushing for the best outcome for this clients.

James Byrne is hard-working and well prepared. He fights very hard for his clients.

3
Paul Stagg
3
Band 3

Paul Stagg KC demonstrates notable skill in catastrophic personal injury cases, particularly those containing state care or with EL/PL elements. He acts for both sides in litigation and also handles workplace accident cases. He has extensive experience in defendant-side historic sexual abuse cases, particularly those involving complex arguments considering the scope of local authorities' duties of care.

Paul is extremely strong all round. He is personable and approachable while providing excellent advice effortlessly. He is a true leader in the field of historical abuse litigation.

He is very impressive.

Paul has been formidable throughout, providing clear advice and guidance for a very tricky case.

Paul Stagg KC is assured and excellent.

Sabrina Hartshorn
3
Sabrina Hartshorn
3
Band 3

Sabrina Hartshorn impresses with the scope of her personal injury practice. She is adept at acting on public and employer liability cases of all grades of severity. She is widely commended for her expert client management.

Sabina Hartshorn is an exceptional barrister. Clients warm to her instantly. She is calm and pragmatic and someone one can trust implicitly.

Sabrina is great in conference with clients and experts. She is a formidable advocate.

Sabrina is an extremely astute barrister who is a pleasure to work with. She is very thorough and always well prepared.

Sabrina is excellent with clients and can marshal the evidence in complex cases. She is a top negotiator who has secured some excellent results at joint settlement meetings.

Sabrina is excellent at complex liability cases. She is very hard-working and hugely committed. She does not waiver from her commitment to a case.

Holly Tibbitts
4
Holly Tibbitts
4
Band 4

Holly Tibbitts has an established claimant practice both in personal injury and in clinical negligence. She specialises in the most serious of cases, acting both led and unled. She has experience in such matters as brain injuries, assault and spinal injuries.

Holly is a real asset. She gives good advice and is able to find the best possible way through any issues with ease. Her client care is excellent.

Holly is a superb advocate and she provides measured, sensible advice.

Holly was excellent and addressed the multiple complexities of the case.

4
Ian Clarke
4
Band 4

Ian Clarke overwhelmingly represents defendants in personal injury claims. He has particular expertise acting on behalf of public bodies, including local authorities and the police, in actions concerning psychological and physical injuries.

A commercially savvy junior who quickly gets to grip with thorny issues in claims, Ian is a pleasure to work with.

Ian was excellent on his feet in the course of the trial.

Ian is incredibly responsive and approachable. He is lovely. He gives high-quality advice, and the clients have been happy with it.

4
Jack Harding
4
Band 4

Jack Harding has a varied practice that includes the intersection between personal injury and local authorities, as well as data protection. He often acts for defendants and has expertise in handling novel duty of care cases and actions arising out of occupational stress.

Jack is impressive and very knowledgeable.

Jack Harding is a future leader in every respect. Jack is an outstanding junior. He is an exceptional barrister who is approachable and easy to work with.

He has shown himself to be an expert in his field, to understand the complexities of client interests against a sensitive subject area and to be a leader in the field of Human Rights Act claims.

4
Linda Nelson
4
Band 4

Linda Nelson is a respected barrister and regularly represents both claimants and defendants in catastrophic injury cases, including head injuries and amputations. She is particularly noted for her expertise in cases arising in a maritime context.

She is brilliant at explaining highly complex legal arguments in clear, digestible advice to clients.

Linda is a highly skilled advocate with a great eye for detail. She grasps complex medical issues and arguments quickly and has the ability to present them in a clear and persuasive way.

Linda has excellent communication skills with vulnerable clients and immediately establishes relationships of trust. Linda is a persuasive advocate and formidable in court.

4
Lisa Dobie
4
Band 4

Lisa Dobie is a respected junior with a broad personal injury practice. She is particularly noted for her work relating to historic sexual abuse claims. She has experience acting for both claimants and defendants.

Lisa Dobie is very thorough, has a good eye for detail and is excellent with clients. I would highly recommend her on serious brain injury claims.

Lisa is wonderful with clients, and we really value her input and expertise. She has a keen eye for detail and always knows the case well.

Lisa is definitely one to watch. She is a rising star.

Robert Horner
4
Robert Horner
4
Band 4

Robert Horner has significant experience in the personal injury and clinical negligence fields. He is regularly called upon to act for claimants and defendants in fatal accident claims as well as cases involving brain and psychiatric injury.

Rob is incredibly bright and analytical. He leaves no stone unturned and is excellent in joint settlement meetings. He is brilliant to work with and always on hand to talk things through.

Rob is always keen to help and to make himself available for conferences at short notice. He is extremely thorough and always well prepared to deal with technical complex issues.

Robert Horner is very thorough with meticulous attention to detail. He is astute and always well prepared. He takes a kind and open approach with clients.

4
Roger Hiorns
4
Band 4

Roger Hiorns is a respected barrister with considerable expertise in industrial disease, accident at work and RTA claims. He has experience dealing with the full range of injuries and is well versed in technical medical points.

Roger Hiorns knows his stuff. I don't think I can fault him.

Roger was friendly and easy to engage with.

Roger Hiorns is reassuringly efficient and an expert in his field.

Ranked Barristers at
Deka Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Personal Injury

S
Edward Faulks KC
S
Senior Statespeople
1
Andrew Warnock KC
1
Band 1
Jacob Levy KC
1
Jacob Levy KC
1
Band 1
Stuart McKechnie KC
1
Stuart McKechnie KC
1
Band 1
2
Edward Bishop KC
2
Band 2
2
John Ross KC
2
Band 2
2
Laura Johnson KC
2
Band 2
Giles Mooney KC
3
Giles Mooney KC
3
Band 3
3
Paul Stagg KC
3
Band 3

Juniors

London (Bar)

Personal Injury

Laura Begley
Star Individuals
1
Bruce Silvester
1
Band 1
Christopher Stephenson
1
Christopher Stephenson
1
Band 1
Jeremy Ford
1
Jeremy Ford
1
Band 1
1
Simon Brindle
1
Band 1
2
Jeremy Crowther
2
Band 2
2
Stephen Glynn
2
Band 2
Adam Dawson
3
Adam Dawson
3
Band 3
Gurion Taussig
3
Gurion Taussig
3
Band 3
3
Helen Pooley
3
Band 3
3
James Byrne
3
Band 3
20 of 28 results