Department profile
No5 Barristers' Chambers

Personal Injury

UK Bar Guide 2026 : Midlands (Bar)


No5 Barristers' Chambers

Rankings

About

Provided by No5 Barristers' Chambers

No5 Barristers’ Chambers has one of the UK's leading Personal Injury teams, comprising over 60 specialist barristers, including several King's Counsel, supported by dedicated clerking teams across Birmingham.

Members act in the full spectrum of personal injury litigation on behalf of both claimants and defendants, from intermediate-track matters through to catastrophic and life-changing injury claims. The team is particularly recognised for its expertise in cases involving brain injury, spinal injury, fatal accidents, serious orthopaedic injuries, industrial disease, abuse claims, sports-related injuries and complex liability disputes.

The group represents insurers, local authorities, public bodies, major corporations and private individuals, delivering commercially focused and pragmatic advice at every stage of proceedings. Members are regularly instructed in high-value, technically challenging and nationally significant cases.

Known for its strength in depth, responsiveness and exceptional client service, the team combines leading advocates with talented junior counsel, ensuring clients have access to specialist expertise across all levels of complexity and value.

Members are supported by a dedicated and experienced clerking team across Birmingham, London and Bristol, providing commercial, strategic and client-focused support to both solicitors and counsel throughout the life of a case.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Personal Injury - Midlands (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

No5 Barristers' Chambers retains its position as the market-leading set on the Midlands Circuit for personal injury matters. It houses a deep bench of highly regarded senior and junior barristers who are regularly instructed in complex and high-stakes matters. Members act on behalf of claimants and defendants, and are adept at handling both fast-track and multi-track claims. Areas of expertise for the team include catastrophic and fatal injury claims, as well as cases involving psychiatric damage, amputations and chronic pain syndromes. Instructing solicitors note that barristers at this set "exhibit a profound understanding of personal injury law and consistently deliver excellent results." Recent highlights include acting for the claimant in a catastrophic injury case resulting in successful negotiation of a seven-figure settlement.

Pete Mottram and William Theaker are practice directors for the personal injury group.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • No5 Barristers' Chambers has a fantastic set of clerks who are well organised and calm when in the face of urgent requirements.

    Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • No5 clerks are always available and ready to assist with whatever is required from them.

    Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Tracey Witherford is exceptionally good. She is professional and can be relied upon to administer matters swiftly and smoothly.

    Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • This set provides outstanding service in all respects. The clerks and other support colleagues are professional, polite and incredibly efficient.

    Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • All clerks are responsive to emails and requests, and are always happy to assist. They have a great clerking team in the personal injury department.

    Personal Injury respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Chris Bright
    Band 1Chris Bright

    Chris Bright

    Chris Bright KC regularly assists claimants and defendants with catastrophic injury cases, especially those involving factual and legal complexities such as causation. He also has significant experience in RTA claims.

    • Chris provided excellent advice and knowledge which not only assisted myself, but guided the client though difficult decisions that needed to be made.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Chris is an exemplary silk. His preparation is always excellent and he is wonderful when dealing with our clients. He is fully supportive, offers practical, good advice and is a brilliant lead.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Chris is very knowledgeable in matters arising from catastrophic injury cases.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Esther Gamble
    Band 1Esther Gamble

    Esther Gamble

    Esther Gamble is a well-regarded clinical negligence and personal injury barrister. She is regularly instructed in catastrophic injury claims, ranging from severe brain injury to fatalities arising from RTAs.

    • Esther is excellent, forensic and thorough.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Esther is very good. She is very careful, diligent and persuasive.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • She has really good, focused preparation on cases and does not get hung up on the peripheral. Esther gets past that and focuses on what makes or breaks a case and is really well prepared.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Esther is very thorough and detailed in her approach. She is excellent in conference with experts and in getting clear answers out of experts and drawing out the information helpful to a claim.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Henry Pitchers
    Band 1Henry Pitchers

    Henry Pitchers

    Henry Pitchers KC has a strong personal injury practice centred on high-value and complex claims. He manages a diverse selection of cases, including those involving head and spinal injuries and amputations. He is also well regarded for his handling of severe psychiatric cases and fatal accident claims. He is regularly instructed in cases involving claimants who lack capacity.

    • Henry is an excellent KC, both in conference with clients and on his feet. His knowledge, expertise and experience shines through and his client care is exceptional.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Henry is excellent all round. Notwithstanding his thoroughly deserved seniority, he has kept his feet firmly on the floor. He is modest, approachable and liked by all clients.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Henry offers excellent advice and is a strong support in my catastrophic and complex claims. He is very strong on his feet, and clearly well liked and respected by his peers.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Henry is a dream to work with. He is superb with experts, clients and great to have in your corner. He takes a pragmatic approach and sticks to his advice. Opponents really take notice.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Henry is very good counsel and prepared for a fight. He is all about clients and all about getting the result. He is our go-to counsel.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Jonathan Jones
    Band 1Jonathan Jones

    Jonathan Jones

    Jonathan Jones KC is a highly esteemed silk with particular expertise in quantum and catastrophic injuries. He also has vast experience in employers' liability and RTA claims. He is frequently instructed in cases involving novel points of law and difficult medical issues.

    • Jonathan Jones KC is exceptional leading counsel. He is responsive and thorough.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Jonathan is a standout KC and a leader in his field. He is excellent with clients, providing support and reassurance and is able to explain complex issues in a straightforward manner.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Jonathan was very good with the clients and was able to manage the client relationship in what was a tumultuous time. He read everything and was on top of the material. He is a good collegiate worker.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • He is a first-class brain and a really good personal injury and clinical negligence silk. Jonathan is definitely a Rolls-Royce silk.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Malcolm Duthie
    Band 1Malcolm Duthie

    Malcolm Duthie

    Malcolm Duthie is a strong senior junior who regularly handles complex brain and spinal injury and amputation claims. Much of his work is high-value in nature, and he has considerable experience representing children and protected parties. He is also well regarded for his expertise in gross disfigurement claims.

    • Malcolm is a shrewd operator who achieves excellent outcomes for his clients. He is an impressive trial advocate.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Malcolm is a highly respected and extremely experienced member of the chambers. He is trusted to deal with complex matters and particularly challenging factual circumstances.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Paul Evans
    Band 1Paul Evans

    Paul Evans

    Paul Evans is experienced in numerous different personal injury issues including orthopaedic injuries, brain and spinal injuries and amputations. He represents both claimants and defendants, and is regularly instructed in cases involving injury arising from motorcycling or cycling accidents. He is also well regarded for his handling of employers' and public liability claims.

    • Paul is a true leader in his field. His ability to take complex issues and present them to clients in a straightforward and reassuring manner is second to none.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Paul has been a tower of strength to the claimants at such a critical time in the case. Paul continues to be a calming hand on these cases.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Paul Evans provides excellent client care. He is approachable, responsive and has a high level of attention to detail. He is also pragmatic, experienced and knowledgeable.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Paul is tenacious and a good operator.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Paul is an excellent and thorough barrister. He is very good at summing up the issues and advising on the best approach to take tactically.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Robert Smallwood
    Band 1Robert Smallwood

    Robert Smallwood

    Robert Smallwood acts for both claimants and defendants in a wide variety of catastrophic injury claims. He is regularly instructed in brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and pain disorder cases. He is adept at handling cases involving complex medical evidence and difficult quantum issues.

    • Robert is very strong. He is an all-round experienced senior junior who is clear in his advice. He is a great all-rounder.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Robert is very good trial counsel and is very good with experts in conference. He also has a first-class attention to detail.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Robert Smallwood has a dynamic approach and is hugely experienced.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2David Tyack
    Band 2David Tyack

    David Tyack

    David Tyack KC specialises in high-value serious injury cases, and his matters typically feature catastrophic brain injuries or fatalities following RTAs.

    • David is very bright and a good operator.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • David is extremely experienced, great with clients and strong tactically. He is extremely thorough.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • He is an excellent and knowledgeable chap.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Jamie Gamble
    Band 2Jamie Gamble

    Jamie Gamble

    Jamie Gamble is an experienced senior junior who is well regarded for his expertise in personal injury and clinical negligence work. He has a particular focus on cases involving catastrophic injury and death.

    • Jamie navigated the issues with the claimants with great sensitivity at a very difficult time, which enabled a satisfactory outcome for the claimants.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Jamie Gamble is a leading junior in clinical negligence and has fantastic legal skills. He is very approachable and a go-to advocate.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Jamie is an excellent personal injury barrister who combines excellent client care with a pragmatic approach to the case. This is coupled with excellent legal knowledge.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Nicholas Xydias
    Band 2Nicholas Xydias

    Nicholas Xydias

    Nicholas Xydias has a broad range of expertise encompassing catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims. He is particularly well regarded for his handling of cases arising from RTAs and accidents at work. He acts for both claimants and defendants.

    • Nick is technically very competent. He is very effective at looking at the bigger picture in order to achieve results.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Nick is great in conference, super efficient with paperwork and concise. He is to the point, direct and great at cross-examination. He is also honest and approachable.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Nick has a great manner with clients and quickly gains their confidence. He is a pragmatic and objective barrister but he is not afraid to run difficult arguments.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Nick is a great barrister. He is very approachable, very quick to respond and builds up a good relationship with clients. He is very solid in his advice and very clear for clients.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Paul Bleasdale
    Band 2Paul Bleasdale

    Paul Bleasdale

    Paul Bleasdale KC is highly experienced in challenging catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims stemming from RTAs or accidents at work. He also has expertise in industrial disease cases. He acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants.

    • Paul is a first-rate silk with decades of experience behind him.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Richard Moat
    Band 2Richard Moat

    Richard Moat

    Richard Moat handles a broad range of personal injury matters including fatal accident, chronic pain, brain damage and psychiatric claims. He acts for both claimants and defendants. He is also experienced in handling matters concerning loss and ongoing care requirements.

    • Richard Moat is very good on his feet. He gets to the nub of the issues and is a tenacious barrister.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Cutting straight to the heart of any issues in the case, Richard uses his skills as a concise tool to handle, advise and guide a client through the case.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Alexander Mellis
    Band 3Alexander Mellis

    Alexander Mellis

    Alexander Mellis' personal injury practice is accompanied by knowledge of employment law. He has experience taking instruction in a variety of workplace incidents, often involving contested liability. He acts for both claimants and defendants.

    • Alexander is very approachable and personable. He is excellent at communicating with clients. He's a strong advocate and is not afraid to take cases to trial.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • The depth and breadth of Alexander's knowledge and tactical vision is very impressive.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Alexander Mellis is very collaborative and able to cut through issues. gets on with the matter and knows good from bad arguments. He knows the strengths of a case and will build on those.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Lucy Coulson
    Band 3Lucy Coulson

    Lucy Coulson

    Lucy Coulson is known for her personal injury work with a public liability focus. She represents clients in matters made complicated by causational disputes and conflicting expert testimony.

    • Lucy is a brilliant barrister. She is very analytical and thorough. She will tackle any legal issue head on, making even the most complicated issue manageable and methodical.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Lucy Coulson is brilliant.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Steven Fisher
    Band 3Steven Fisher

    Steven Fisher

    Steven Fisher takes on complex personal injury cases, representing vulnerable individuals and bereaved dependants. He is instructed on behalf of both claimants and defendants on cases with complex liability questions.

    • Steven is very helpful and is always open to a discussion about a case and is happy to talk things through in the most efficient and practical manner.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Steven Fisher works collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for clients.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Steven is a technically strong counsel with a unique, down-to-earth approach that puts clients at ease.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Teresa Hargreaves
    Band 3Teresa Hargreaves

    Teresa Hargreaves

    Teresa Hargreaves has represented claimants and defendants in a range of personal injury matters. Her caseload features severe brain injuries following RTAs, complex causational questions and serious workplace injuries.

    • Teresa is very prompt with paperwork and offers very solid and reasoned advice. Her advocacy is second to none.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • She has an incredible perspective. Everything she does is measured and intelligent.

      Personal Injury respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at No5 Barristers' Chambers (16)

Midlands (Bar)

Members

Provided by No5 Barristers' Chambers

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