UK Bar London (Bar) Personal Injury

12 King's Bench Walk houses a "depth of expertise," a source notes, for both claimants and defendants in high-value and complex claims relating to fatalities and injuries of the utmost severity. The team is particularly well regarded for its expertise in claims arising from RTAs, with sources noting that the "attention to detail is phenomenal." International claims and industrial disease work are also key areas of strength for the team. The set is routinely instructed in the most important cases in the market, and its members have significant experience appearing before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. Recently, barristers at 12 King's Bench Walk represented Rugby Football League in Jeremy Dyson & Others v Rugby Football League, a group litigation claim.

39 Essex Chambers offers an enviable bench of personal injury specialists. Members are experienced in the handling of a wide range of personal injury matters, including catastrophic brain and spinal injury, amputation and fatal claims. The team also offers expertise in cases involving significant liability issues and difficult quantum disputes, and several of the set's barristers have recently been instructed in complex and high-profile claims involving allegations of historic sexual abuse. Sources note the set's "good balance of claimant and defendant work," with members counting several major insurers, multinational corporations and government bodies among their diverse clientele. Recently, 39 Essex Chambers acted in a group action arising from the prescription of Lariam to soldiers.

Crown Office Chambers possesses "strength in depth across their KCs and senior juniors to deal with liability, quantum and indemnity disputes in multimillion-pound claims," a source says. Members are regularly instructed in high-value matters involving catastrophic injuries and fatalities, and undertake work on behalf of both claimants and defendants, including several major insurers. Complex industrial disease claims and large group actions are also core areas of strength for the set, and its barristers field considerable expertise in difficult quantum disputes and claims involving questions surrounding liability. Crown Office Chambers acted in historic sexual abuse claims against Manchester City Football Club under vicarious liability for a junior football coach. Members also appeared in the Huntercombe Group action.

Combining the strength of two former leading personal injury sets, Deka Chambers is truly a force to be reckoned with in the market. While the set is particularly well regarded for its representation of claimants, its barristers are also regularly called upon to handle high-value work on behalf of major insurers and other defendants. Members are well versed in catastrophic brain and spinal injury, fatal accident, amputation and psychological injury claims, and offer significant expertise in matters involving complex issues of public and employers' liability. Claims arising from historic sexual abuse are also a key area of practice, and the barristers are frequently called upon to handle extremely sensitive cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses. The set is routinely involved in the most high-profile and complex cases in the market, and its members have experience appearing before the courts at all levels, up to and including the Supreme Court. Notable cases recently handled by the set include Lewis-Ranwell v Devon County Council & Others concerning a failure to section that the claimant alleged contributed to his committing triple homicide; and the widely reported Spence-Green v Unibail Rodamco Westfield involving the issue of third-party criminal actions.

2 Temple Gardens offers expertise spanning a wide range of personal injury claims, and its barristers are regularly called upon to undertake catastrophic injury claims arising from accidents both in the UK and further afield. Complex group actions are a key area of expertise for the team, while members are also well regarded for their handling of stress at work and historic sexual abuse claims. The set's barristers act for both claimants and defendants, and count several government bodies, major insurers and both public and private companies among their clients. Members have appeared in March v Cape Industrial Services in connection with a psychiatric injury allegedly sustained from static shocks at a power station.

According to sources, Devereux houses "a range of junior and leading counsel who are able to grasp complex issues" and offer expertise spanning a wide range of personal injury matters. Members are well regarded for their handling of claims involving injuries of the utmost severity, including high-value catastrophic and psychiatric injury claims, as well as those concerning amputations and major organ damage. Cases involving complex issues surrounding liability are a noted area of strength for the team, and the barristers regularly undertake cases arising from RTAs and accidents at work. The set retains its reputation as a go-to for the most high-profile and difficult cases in the market, and members have considerable experience appearing before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Recent examples include Rabot and Briggs v Hassam, a Court of Appeal whiplash test case, and Andrew Carr v Brands Transport and Trax (Coventry) concerning a company's liability for injuries sustained by a sole director at work.

Outer Temple Chambers is a highly regarded set for personal injury matters with "wide-ranging experience at both leading and junior levels," a source says. Members are experienced in the representation of both claimants and defendants, and count several multinational companies, major insurers and defence organisations among their diverse clientele. Areas of expertise for the team include high-value catastrophic injury, fatal accident, sexual abuse and industrial disease claims, and the set's barristers are routinely instructed in complex multiparty cases and cross-border matters involving difficult jurisdictional issues. Outer Temple Chambers has established itself as one of the go-to sets for claimants in high-profile abuse claims over recent years, with members recently appearing in the Supreme Court for BXB v Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses & others and acting on AXM and others v Chelsea Football Club.

Temple Garden Chambers retains its reputation as a strong set in the personal injury market and is well regarded for its handling of a wide range of matters. Members routinely undertake high-value instructions on behalf of both claimants and defendants, and offer significant expertise in catastrophic injury, fatal accident and military claims. One instructing solicitor notes: "There is genuine strength in depth across the TGC team." Cases at the cutting edge of personal injury law are also a key area of strength for the team, and several of the set's members have been involved in the development of the law surrounding subtle brain injuries, chronic pain and fraudulent claims. Recent highlights handled by the set include Warner v Beechdean Farms, an employers' liability case where the claimant was left permanently blinded.

1 Crown Office Row offers expertise spanning the full range of personal injury matters. Its strong bench of barristers is regularly called upon to handle complex and high-value catastrophic injury cases arising from accidents at work and on the road. Interviewees remark: "The technical knowledge is of a high level and there is a wealth of experience within the chambers." The set houses considerable strength in matters involving allegations of historic sexual abuse, and several tenants have been involved in some of the most high-profile inquiries of recent years such as the Rochdale Abuse Inquiry and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Members undertake work on behalf of both claimants and defendants, and count several health authorities, government departments and major insurers among their clients. Recently, members have been involved in Figueira v Gaunt, claiming ground-breaking civil damages for revenge porn.

The barristers at 7BR are experienced in handling the full range of personal injury matters, and are regularly instructed in high-value catastrophic injury cases as well as smaller fast-track RTA claims. The set houses considerable strength in claims arising from allegations of historic sexual abuse, CE v Wolverhampton City Council being one such recent example. Additional areas of expertise for the team include stress at work and psychiatric injury claims, complex liability disputes and cases involving the military. The set is considered a first port of call for both leading claimant and defendant solicitors. Notably, members have acted for claimants and defendants in claims arising as a result of the Grenfell fire, such as Various Claimants (Grenfell Tower) v Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and others.

Cloisters Chambers members are well regarded for their adroit handling of cases involving injuries of the utmost severity, including catastrophic and psychiatric injury claims, and are well versed in complex liability and quantum disputes. Additional areas of strength for the team include RTAs, abuse claims and MIB claims. Recent work highlights include acting on behalf of a claimant against motor insurers following a fatal road traffic accident.

Farrar's Building is a well-regarded set in the personal injury market praised by instructing solicitors as housing "the full spectrum of expertise" for both claimants and defendants. Members are noted for their expert handling of high-value catastrophic injury and fatal claims, and are frequently instructed in cases involving complex liability issues. The set's barristers are also well versed in smaller multi-track and fast-track claims, and routinely undertake cases arising from RTAs or accidents at work. On the defendant side, Farrar's Building was instructed on Kennedy v Sheldon Inns, raising questions around vicarious liability. Members have also been instructed for the claimant in Thorn v Veolia PLC, which raised questions regarding future due to the claimant's opposition to the requested course of treatment following significant leg injury.

Old Square Chambers is a well-regarded set in the personal injury market and is considered the first port of call for a number of leading claimant and defendant solicitors' firms, as well as several major insurers. The set offers expertise covering a wide range of personal injury matters, from complex catastrophic injury claims to smaller fast-track matters, and its barristers are routinely instructed in cases involving difficult issues of quantum or liability. Notable recent cases handled by members include Kindleysides v Kovanas, concerning a claimant who was later diagnosed with fibromyalgia after a collision. Tenants have also been engaged in a number of military claims, acting for claimants in Wood v Ministry of Defence, relating to psychological injury.