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)

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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

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Chris Bright
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Chris Bright
1
Band 1

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.

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.

Chris is very knowledgeable in matters arising from catastrophic injury cases.

Esther Gamble
1
Esther Gamble
1
Band 1

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.

Esther is very good. She is very careful, diligent and persuasive.

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.

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.

1
Henry Pitchers
Head of Personal Injury
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Band 1

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

1
Jonathan Jones
1
Band 1

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.

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.

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.

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

Malcolm Duthie
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Malcolm Duthie
1
Band 1

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.

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.

Paul Evans
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Paul Evans
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Band 1

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.

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.

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.

Paul is tenacious and a good operator.

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.

Robert Smallwood
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Robert Smallwood
1
Band 1

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.

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

Robert Smallwood has a dynamic approach and is hugely experienced.

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David Tyack
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Band 2

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.

David is extremely experienced, great with clients and strong tactically. He is extremely thorough.

He is an excellent and knowledgeable chap.

Jamie Gamble
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Jamie Gamble
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Band 2

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.

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

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.

Nicholas Xydias
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Nicholas Xydias
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Band 2

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Paul Bleasdale
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Band 2

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.

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Richard Moat
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Band 2

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.

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.

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Alexander Mellis
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Band 3

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.

The depth and breadth of Alexander's knowledge and tactical vision is very impressive.

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.

Lucy Coulson
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Lucy Coulson
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Band 3

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.

Lucy Coulson is brilliant.

3
Steven Fisher
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Band 3

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.

Steven Fisher works collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for clients.

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

3
Teresa Hargreaves
3
Band 3

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.

She has an incredible perspective. Everything she does is measured and intelligent.

Ranked Barristers at
No5 Barristers' Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

Midlands (Bar)

Personal Injury

Chris Bright KC
1
Chris Bright KC
1
Band 1
1
Henry Pitchers KC
Head of Personal Injury
1
Band 1
1
Jonathan Jones KC
1
Band 1
2
David Tyack KC
2
Band 2
2
Paul Bleasdale KC
2
Band 2

Juniors

Midlands (Bar)

Personal Injury

Esther Gamble
1
Esther Gamble
1
Band 1
Malcolm Duthie
1
Malcolm Duthie
1
Band 1
Paul Evans
1
Paul Evans
1
Band 1
Robert Smallwood
1
Robert Smallwood
1
Band 1
Jamie Gamble
2
Jamie Gamble
2
Band 2
Nicholas Xydias
2
Nicholas Xydias
2
Band 2
2
Richard Moat
2
Band 2
3
Alexander Mellis
3
Band 3
Lucy Coulson
3
Lucy Coulson
3
Band 3
3
Steven Fisher
3
Band 3
3
Teresa Hargreaves
3
Band 3

Members

Provided by No5 Barristers' Chambers

Adam Farrer

Afiya Amesu

April Lamai

Charles Crow

Charlotte Robinson-Jones

Denise Owen

Dr Louisa Sherlock

Eamonn Hurley-Flynn

Elliott Clifton-Thompson

Emma Hogan

Francesca Martin

Gareth Compton

Grace Gwynne

Heather Dardis

Henry Pitchers

Head of Department

James Leslie

James Stoll

John Harper

Jonathan Derrington

Lisa Nasselevitch

Louis Austin

Louisa Denning

Lucie Penn

Mark Radburn

Maxwell Cope

Melanie Mills

Nicholas Ferrari

Peter Dean

Reiss Palmer

Richard McLoughlin

Richard Adams

Richard Cooke

Richard Oakes

Roger Giles

Ruth Costello

Stephen Goodfellow

Steven Smith

Thomas Beasley

Timothy Newman