Practice Overview
Chris was called to the Bar in 2016. He became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2017 following the successful completion of his common law pupillage with Chambers.
Chris is a specialist personal injury practitioner.
Chris has a strong multi-track practice and an established fast-track practice. Chris accepts instructions across all areas of personal injury work, including road traffic accident claims, occupier’s liability claims, public liability claims, and industrial disease. Chris regularly acts in cases of significant value, often representing Claimants who have suffered lifelong injury and compromise at work. Chris has appeared in the County Court and High Court and has extensive appellate experience.
Chris has recently been appointed to the prestigious Attorney General’s Regional C Panel (from March 2023 onwards).
Recent multi-track instructions include the following (updated in January 2024):
- An ongoing case involving the traumatic amputation of an arm;
- An ongoing case involving a serious injury to the spine, with the final claim likely to be pleaded in excess of £500,000;
- An ongoing case involving disabling physical and psychological injuries, with an almost complete loss of ability to work.
Chris believes strongly that people who have been injured should have access to effective representation. For more information about Chris’s experience in representing Claimants, please see the ‘Personal Injury’ tab.
Chris frequently assists with defending claims brought against insurers and local authorities. For more information about Chris’s experience in representing Defendants, please see the ‘Personal Injury: Defence’ tab.
Chris is incredibly client-focused and approachable and understands the importance of a strong relationship with his clients and instructing solicitors. He prides himself on quick turnaround of papers, and is happy to provide advice on an informal basis.
Recent cases
January 2024: Chris led the successful defence of a claim brought by a former prisoner after a tripping accident in a prison. Chris represented the Defendant during a one-day trial in Preston County Court and secured the dismissal of the claim.
November/December 2023: Chris represented a government agency in an inquest following a death in a prison. The scope of the inquest was broadened by the finding of the Coroner that Article 2 of the ECHR had been engaged. The inquest also involved a jury.
November 2023: Chris successfully represented a refugee who had been badly burned in an accident at work. The Defendant alleged that the Claimant had been lying about the extent of her injuries. Chris proved that the Claimant was telling the truth, and recovered a total of £41,686 in damages for the Claimant. Chris also defeated an application for a wasted costs order against her solicitors.
July 2023: Chris successfully represented a Claimant who pursued a high-value claim for credit hire following an accident where their vehicle had been damaged. After a one-day hearing in Lancaster County Court, the Claimant was awarded over £50,000 for their damages and costs.
July 2023: Chris represented a government agency in their application to rely upon a witness summary as part of a long-running case in the High Court. Chris prepared a detailed skeleton argument, and attended a hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice. The Court agreed with Chris that the Defendant should have permission to rely upon their witness summary.
June/July 2023: Chris represented a medical expert who had been accused of negligently preparing a medical report. The Defendant sought a wasted costs order against the medical expert. Chris defeated the application and obtained an order for the Defendant to pay the medical expert’s costs.
December 2022: Chris successfully represented a retired police officer who suffered a serious burn injury after an accident at a hotel. After a one-day trial in Hull County Court, Chris successfully proved that the tour operator was to blame, and the Claimant was awarded almost £20,000 for their damages and costs.
August 2022: Chris successfully represented a veterinarian who was badly injured after falling into a manhole. The Defendant agreed to settle the claim before trial and pay the Claimant £30,500 on account of his damages.
May 2022: Chris successfully represented a lady who was injured after a slipping accident at a supermarket. The Defendant agreed to settle the case and pay the Claimant £80,000 on account of her damages.
March 2022: Chris successfully represented an electrician who made a high-value claim after being injured in an accident at work. The claim was complex and involved difficult issues of vicarious liability. With careful preparation of the case from Chris and his experienced solicitors, the Defendant agreed to settle the case and pay the Claimant over £100,000 for his damages and costs.
