SILK PROFILE
David Knifton KC

David Knifton KC

UK Bar 2026

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Exchange Chambers
 Exchange Chambers

Ranked in 2 practice areas

Personal Injury

Northern (Bar)

13 years ranked

Clinical Negligence

Northern (Bar)

6 years ranked

About

Provided by Exchange Chambers

UK Bar

Practice Areas

David specialises in high-value Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence cases, particularly those involving brain or spinal cord injuries and amputations. He acts exclusively for claimants, where his abilities as an outstanding advocate and tactician are widely recognised. He is consistently recommended as a leading silk in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, and was shortlisted as PI Silk of the Year by the Legal 500 in 2023 and 2024.

He is regularly instructed in claims of the utmost severity, where his meticulous preparation and analysis of the evidence, skilful marshalling of experts, tenacity in difficult cases, compassionate and empathetic manner with clients and tireless energy are highly-valued.

In addition to contested litigation, he has acted at a number of high-profile Inquests and public inquiries, including the North Wales (Waterhouse) Child Abuse Inquiry and the ‘Blue 25’ Inquest concerning the deaths of 5 UK servicemen shot by a rogue Afghan policeman.

David regularly provides lectures and training on topical legal issues both through Chambers and to organisations including AVMA, APIL, SCIL and PIBA. He is a frequent contributor to APIL’s In Focus magazine and Chambers’ PI Newsletter.

He has over 20 years’ experience sitting as a Recorder in the Crown and County Courts.

Personal

Beyond the Bar, he enjoys choral singing, cycling and occasionally playing keyboards in a band. He was responsible for instigating an award-winning pro bono partnership between Exchange Chambers and the National Autistic Society.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Personal Injury - Northern (Bar)

Band 1
Individual Editorial

David Knifton KC is a talented silk who specialises in acting for claimants who have suffered catastrophic brain and spinal injuries and amputations, notably those with complicating factors such as disputed liability and contributory negligence. He is skilled at preparing schedules of loss.

Learn more about this teamView ranking table

Clinical Negligence - Northern (Bar)

Band 2
Individual Editorial

David Knifton KC acts exclusively for claimants in complex clinical negligence cases. He frequently handles obstetric injury, surgical negligence and delayed diagnosis claims, and offers expertise in cases involving complex issues of consent.

Learn more about this teamView ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • He is excellent. David is always well prepared, thorough and has an excellent response time. He is a very good advocate.

    Personal InjuryUK Bar

  • David is a fantastic KC with great technical knowledge and attention to detail.

    Personal InjuryUK Bar

  • David works very hard and knows what he is talking about.

    Personal InjuryUK Bar

  • David is a very skilled and knowledgeable KC.

    Personal InjuryUK Bar

  • David has an incredibly strong and decisive manner in conference, with real attention to detail which is balanced with the ability to place the client at complete ease.

    Clinical NegligenceUK Bar

  • He is detailed and meticulous in his approach with complex, high-value cases and he is a skilled advocate.

    Clinical NegligenceUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Exchange Chambers (107)

All Circuits

North Eastern (Bar)

Northern (Bar)

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