About

Provided by Outer Temple Chambers

Our specialist Travel Law barristers advise on all manner of cross-border legal issues and are experts in jurisdiction and applicable law. We advise on the correct approach to obtaining and using foreign law expert evidence, including as it relates to assessment of damages. We act for claimants and defendants.


We handle a wide variety of cases, including:

  • Package travel claims
  • Vehicle accidents abroad
  • Direct claims against insurers
  • Athens Convention claims
  • Group actions


Our work often crosses over with our other specialisms, such as clinical negligence, product liability, commercial, and sports law. We are also experts in aviation claims, including PI actions under the Montreal Convention and liability arising from aircraft crashes.


Recent cases:

  • Brownlie v FS Cairo (Nile Plaza) LLC, Supreme Court decision on meaning of the tort gateway and the application of the “default rule” on proof of foreign law.
  • Moreno v MIB, Supreme Court decision on correct approach to the assessment of damages in a claim arising from a RTA in Greece caused by an uninsured driver.
  • Cox v Ergo, Supreme Court decision on correct approach to the assessment of damages in a fatal accident claim under German law.
  • Johnson v Berentzen, the scope of article 15(h) of Rome II.
  • Herlihy v MoD, spinal cord injury claim sustained in California.
  • ABC v AXA France, claim under French law for £18m with 35 expert witnesses.
  • O’Loan v MIB & AIG Europe, RTA in France involving issues under Article 4(3) of Rome II.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Travel: International Personal Injury - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Outer Temple Chambers is a "market-leading" set housing "a range of barristers with a wealth of experience" in the handling of complex and high-value international personal injury matters. Members act on behalf of both claimants and defendants and are regularly instructed in catastrophic injury claims arising from sporting accidents and foreign RTAs. Additional areas of expertise for the team include group actions, cases involving the Warsaw or Montreal Conventions, package travel claims and disputes concerning tour operator liability. The set's barristers are also adept at advising on jurisdiction and the application of foreign law. Recent work highlights include Cooke v MAPFRE, a complex brain injury case involving Spanish law.

Chris Gittins is director of clerking.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Sarah Crowther
1
Sarah Crowther
1
Band 1

Sarah Crowther KC receives extensive praise from market commentators for displaying excellent client skills alongside expertise in technical points of law. She regularly undertakes complex cross-border claims that hinge on issues of jurisdiction, MIB responsibility and package travel regulations. She has established an impressive profile in fatality and catastrophic injury cases, representing both claimants and defendants.

Her name is across so many cases - she really is at the top of the sector.

Sarah is very on top of this area of law, and she is popular with clients. She's amazing.

Sarah Crowther KC is the powerhouse of all things relating to international personal injury claims and private international law. She is our go-to advocate who provides unswervingly sound advice.

2
Aliyah Akram
2
Band 2

Aliyah Akram is a talented personal injury barrister with recognised expertise in complex cross-border litigation and package travel claims. She has experience acting for both claimants and defendants in claims arising from serious RTAs, maritime accidents and cosmetic tourism claims. She is routinely instructed in cases involving complex jurisdiction issues.

Aliyah is very clever, incredibly sensible and a good advocate.

Aliyah has been excellent. She is very much in the nitty-gritty of the cases she's handling.

She is excellent and very knowledgeable. She is really good on disease cases and the complex group work.

2
Daniel Clarke
2
Band 2

Daniel Clarke handles a broad range of international personal injury claims and has expertise in package travel and the Athens and Montreal Conventions. He represents seriously and catastrophically injured claimants in direct actions against foreign insurers, airlines and tour operators. He also regularly acts for defendants and is experienced in the handling of cases involving foreign law.

He is always a safe pair of hands; he is very good with clients and very pragmatic.

Dan is an excellent junior, and a great team player. He provides measured advice with strategy in mind. Dan is utterly delightful to work with.

Dan Clarke is the fountain of knowledge in private international law.

2
Eliot Woolf
2
Band 2

Eliot Woolf KC is widely regarded as a top choice for gastric illness claims, in which he primarily represents claimants. He has a robust track record of leading large-scale group actions against tour operators, travel agents and hotels. A number of his cases involve complex jurisdictional points. He is also well regarded for his handling of claims stemming from RTAs and work-related accidents abroad.

He is an outstanding advocate.

Eliot is absolutely stellar. He is really easy to work with, calm in a storm, and very meticulous on any advice he gives.

He made the issues seem easy and well managed and he is the most responsive barrister at his level that I can think of.

Gerard McDermott
2
Gerard McDermott
2
Band 2

Gerard McDermott KC is visible in complex, high-value cross-border claims relating to RTAs and outdoor pursuits, often dealing with claims concerning catastrophic brain and spinal injury. He is highlighted for his understanding of Rome II, and advises on quantum and applicable law issues both in Europe and further afield.

Gerard is a master of preparation, is sympathetic to clients and goes the extra mile. He is a giant in the industry.

He anticipates the legal issues and marshals the evidence to address those. Gerard shows incredible empathy and excellent client care. One of his great skills is being able to put clients at ease.

Gerard is an exceptional advocate, gentle but very effective. His client care skills are above and beyond most silks and his knowledge of care regimes for spinally injured claimants is second to none.

Ian Denham
2
Ian Denham
2
Band 2

Ian Denham is an experienced barrister with noted expertise in cross-border personal injury claims. He is particularly well regarded for his representation of major tour operators in holiday gastric illness cases. He is also adept at handling matters involving a jurisdictional dispute.

Ian is loved by clients and incredibly practical; he is also very straightforward, someone who gets to the point, which is refreshing.

Ian is excellent with clients and extremely knowledgeable in cross-border cases. He is practical and thinks outside of the box.

Ian is good on tricky cross-jurisdiction cases. He knows the law inside and out.

3
Carin Hunt
3
Band 3

Carin Hunt is a highly regarded junior noted for her expertise in claimant-side international personal injury claims. This includes package travel claims and international medical negligence claims.

She is practical and straightforward in how she thinks about the issues in claims, which is a very useful trait as these kind of claims always run the risk of becoming overcomplicated.

Carin has excellent attention to detail and is very talented. Her work is detailed, well thought out and she has an excellent understanding of complex travel law issues.

We rate Carin highly in private international law. She has a winning way.

Ranked Barristers at
Outer Temple Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Travel: International Personal Injury

Sarah Crowther KC
1
Sarah Crowther KC
1
Band 1
2
Eliot Woolf KC
2
Band 2
Gerard McDermott KC
2
Gerard McDermott KC
2
Band 2

Juniors

London (Bar)

Travel: International Personal Injury

2
Aliyah Akram
2
Band 2
2
Daniel Clarke
2
Band 2
Ian Denham
2
Ian Denham
2
Band 2
3
Carin Hunt
3
Band 3