An impressive set with a number of high-quality barristers’, praised by some as ‘the strongest set in the South West for personal injury litigation’.”

The Legal 500 2024, Personal Injury

personal injury shortlistOur Personal Injury team have extensive experience advising on costs and funding issues to solicitors, insurers, funders and litigants. Two of our members are ranked in costs litigation (Tier 1) in The Legal 500, and we are described as the ‘go-to’ for costs in the South West region.

We have particular expertise in the following:

  • Costs budgeting and orders
  • Costs capping orders
  • Costs disputes arising from the 2013 Jackson reforms
  • Costs implications of Part 36 offers
  • Detailed assessment hearings

Darren Lewis has appeared in some of the leading cases following the rule changes arising from Jackson, QOCS and fixed fees. James Marwick’s work has included detailed assessments in pre-LASPO multi-million settlement cases, frequent cost and case management work and advising on the validity of retainers.

Key cases include:

  • Casseldine v The Diocese of Llandaff Board for Social Responsibility (a charity) before the Regional Costs Judge Phillips in Cardiff – QOCS protections where a pre Jackson CFA is terminated before proceedings are issued and a post Jackson CFA is entered in to. (Overturned by the Court of Appeal in Catalano v Espley-Tyas Development Group Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 1132)
  • Bruno Manuel Dos Santos Mendes v Hochtief Construction (UK) Limited (2016) EWHC 976 (QB) against Nicholas Bacon QC in the High Court – on the recoverability of trial advocacy fees in cases that settle at the Court door.
  • Wynne v Miller Foundations – on the recoverability of VAT on the obtaining of medical records under the new rules.

WINNER - TEAM OF THE YEAROur Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Clerking team won ‘Team of the Year 2023’ by Bristol Law Society.

Our Clerking team enjoy a national reputation for the reliable, helpful and efficient service they provide to clients, always going that extra mile. The  clerks headed up by Adam Marston and Hugh Maguire and their team, Lara Hanney and Jordan Yandell, are consistently praised for their high standard client service in Chambers UK and The Legal 500.

Training

We design and deliver many seminars and workshops and are always happy to provide bespoke training to meet your team’s individual needs. Please contact Adam Marston or Hugh Maguire, Practice Managers, to discuss the extensive portfolio of workshops and bespoke seminars that we offer clients.

View our Personal Injury digital book here for further details about how we can help you.

Personal Injury Costs Team

Richard Stead

  • Call: 1979

One of Chambers’ most senior barristers, Richard has an extensive practice which encompasses personal injury, clinical negligence, professional negligence claims and property damage matters, including a number of high profile cases. Richard’s practice is also complemented by his...

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Matthew White

Matthew White

  • Call: 1997

Matthew deals with all costs issues ancillary to personal injury practice, from routine budgeting and budget variation hearings to advising on an litigating issues that arise in relation to qualified one-way costs shifting, fundamental dishonesty, wasted costs, the...

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Julian Horne

Julian Horne

  • Call: 1998

Julian is an experienced personal injury barrister with expertise across the field. Julian appears very regularly at costs and case management hearings across the country where he is able to combine a detailed knowledge of costs law, particularly...

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Justin Valentine

  • Call: 1999

Justin undertakes all aspects of personal injury work acting predominantly for claimants.  He has a particular interest in workplace claims (especially where liability expert evidence is required) and claims involving vulnerable road users (children, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists).  His...

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Darren Lewis

Darren Lewis

  • Call: 2004

Darren is one of the leading personal injury costs barristers in the South West, and ranked in tier 1 by The Legal 500. He has appeared in some of the leading cases following the recent rule changes arising...

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Louise Asprey

Louise Asprey

  • Call: 2007

Louise has many years of experience representing both claimants and defendants in personal injury and clinical negligence matters. She regularly deals with claims arising out of road traffic accidents and is experienced in dealing with claims brought under...

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Patrick West website

Patrick West

  • Call: 2007

Patrick has extensive experience of costs budgeting hearings, and is happy to assist clients with both prior preparation and subsequent amendment of budgets, as well as tactics for getting the best from the budgeting process.

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Jimmy Barber

  • Call: 2008

Jimmy has a developing practice in personal injury costs. He is regularly instructed to attend costs and case management conferences on behalf of claimants and defendants in multi-track cases and is well-versed in costs budgeting.

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James Marwick

James Marwick

  • Call: 2008

James has a substantial personal injury costs practice complementing his core personal injury work. He undertakes the full range of costs work for paying and receiving parties. James is regularly retained by a major insurer to act in...

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Ben Handy

Ben Handy

  • Call: 2008

Ben is Deputy Head of Chambers’ Personal Injury Department, a mediator and part-time Crown Court judge. He is widely recognised for his “resourceful and highly adaptable” trial advocacy and “excellent advice on strategy” in relation to catastrophic injury...

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James Hughes

  • Call: 2011

James is frequently instructed on costs and case management conferences across the full spectrum of personal injury work. He has a good command of the court’s approach to both costs budgeting and directions in multi-track personal injury claims.

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Rachel Segal

Rachel Segal

  • Call: 2013

Rachel has experience dealing with personal injury costs both within and outside the Portal and has a strong track record of obtaining costs orders that exceed the expectations of instructing solicitors, both in Application hearings and at trial....

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Sophie Howard

  • Call: 2016

Sophie specialises in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquest work. She acts for claimants and defendants in a variety of personal injury cases including RTA claims, employer’s liability, occupier’s liability, fraud and credit hire. Sophie is an experienced...

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Charlie Schwenn

Charles Shwenn

  • Call: 2017

The costs of civil litigation is a part of Charles’ practice which compliments his other areas of work, as well as being a freestanding area of interest. Charles is sought after to advise and represent clients at all...

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Jonathan Lindfield

Jonathan Lindfield

  • Call: 2017

Jonathan is an experienced, sought-after, specialist personal injury barrister, whose practice encompasses all aspects of personal injury litigation. Jonathan regularly acts for both claimants and defendants on the fast and multi-track, in claims worth up to £1m. From...

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Rhodri Jones

Rhodri Jones

  • Call: 2017

Rhodri specialises in clinical negligence, acting for both claimants and defendants. Before retraining as a barrister, Rhodri practiced as a medical doctor for 18 years, principally in A&E and general practice. His wealth of knowledge and clinical experience...

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Lauren Karmel

  • Call: 2017

Lauren is ranked as a leading junior for clinical negligence in The Legal 500 2024 guide, and is a specialist clinical negligence and inquests barrister. She has a sub-specialism in professional regulation and fitness to practise matters. Lauren...

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Tara-Lynn Poole

  • Call: 2019

Tara-Lynn practises in personal injury, clinical negligence and costs. She is known for her meticulous approach, and has been praised for her in-depth knowledge of civil procedure. She takes a pragmatic and solution-focused approach to her cases and...

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Beatrice Baskett

  • Call: 2021

Beatrice is a barrister specialising in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquests. In clinical negligence Beatrice is instructed in a broad range of cases, including orthopaedic, delayed diagnosis, dental treatment and fatal accident claims. Her clinical negligence work...

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Anna Symington-114

Anna Symington

  • Call: 2002

Anna acts for both claimants and defendants in most personal injury matters. She is regularly instructed in CCMCs on behalf of both claimants and defendants. She is also experienced in appearing at detailed assessments. She has been recommended in...

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Directory Quotes

A market-leading set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers is well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering.”

Chambers UK 2024, Personal Injury

St John’s Chambers is ‘an impressive set with a number of high-quality barristers’, praised by some as ‘the strongest set in the South West for claimant personal injury litigation’.

The Legal 500 2024, Personal Injury

St John’s Chambers has a wide breadth of expertise and experience.’ ‘ They are always able to offer available counsel at the right level on any case.’ “

Legal 500 2023, Personal Injury

The clerks of St John’s are outstanding and deserve a special mention.”

Legal 500 2023, Personal Injury (Client Service)

A market-leading set, well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering. Its barristers regularly act for and advise both claimant and defendant clients, including numerous key insurance companies, in high-value catastrophic and fatal injury claims.”

Chambers UK 2023, Personal Injury

The clerks are very responsive and friendly.”

Chambers UK 2023, Personal Injury (Client Service)

The clerking is amazing, and everyone is so accommodating and helpful. Their thoroughness and ability to get straight to the nub of things is so impressive.”

Chambers UK 2022, Personal Injury (Client Service)

A market-leading set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers is well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering. ‘The quality of advice provided by the barristers is exceptional.’ “

Chambers UK 2022, Personal Injury

St John’s Chambers houses a comprehensive set of barristers in its personal injury team, which is praised by clients for its strength in depth.”

Legal 500 2022, Personal Injury

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