Prashant Popat KC

Practice Areas

In the field of product liability, Prashant has represented defendants in some of the largest value products litigation in history. He is currently instructed on behalf of vehicle manufacturers in defending claims arising out of the industry wide emissions litigation, on behalf of the producer of the Covid-19 vaccine in relation to personal injury claims and on behalf of the helicopter manufacturer responding to the claims arising from the crash at the Leicester City FC ground. Additionally, his substantial group action experience encompasses litigation concerning: the VW Emissions issue; metal-on-metal hip implants; PIP breast implants; Benzodiazepines; Norplant; blood transfusions; MMR; Sabril; and Seroxat. His commercial product liability practice includes litigation and arbitrations concerning products ranging from gastric bands to fuses and fire appliances to motor vehicles. He has been involved in leading reported cases in this field, including appellate and CJEU decisions. He is currently nominated for the Legal 500 Group Action Silk of the year award.

Over 3 decades he has also represented defendants in major manslaughter and health and safety cases arising from incidents such as the railway disasters at Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield, Potters Bar and Lambrigg, the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot, the Pembrokeshire Oil Refinery, the Atherstone upon Stour fire and the Glesion Mine flooding. He represents interested persons in connection with ongoing investigations and prosecutions, including the Didcot power station collapse, the Grenfell fire, the incident at The Corniche and other fatal incident cases. He has previously been nominated for, and twice recognised as, the Chambers UK “Health and Safety Silk of the Year” and also awarded the Legal 500 award for “Corporate Crime” silk of the year.

His extensive inquest and inquiries practice has included numerous inquests and Public or Statutory Inquiries arising from the products and health and safety cases or investigations that he has been involved with. He also represents or has represented significantly interested persons at the In Amenas Inquests, the Gleision Inquests, the Grenfell Inquiry, the Covid Inquiry and the Cranston Inquiry.

Career

MA (Oxon) First Class Honours. Baker and McKenzie International Scholar. Gray's Inn Scholar. Judicial Assistant to the Court of Appeal. Bencher of Gray's Inn.

Professional Memberships

HSLA; COMBAR

Publications

He is the co-editor of the "International Product Law Manual" published by Kluwer and has edited Halsbury’s Laws on Civil Procedure.