Chris Barnes KC

Call 2000
Silk 2022

barneskc@exchangechambers.co.uk

"Christopher is a leader in his field. He is extremely knowledgeable, tactically astute and a fantastic negotiator."

Chambers and Partners 2024
Photo of Chris Barnes KC

Military Injury Claims

As a junior, Chris had a niche specialism in military claims for many years. He was repeatedly recommended in the Legal 500 and Chambers directories for military claims and has lectured widely upon them, including on a number of occasions to the APIL Military Claims Conference.

Chris has experience of the full range of military claims including NIHL (with particular emphasis on combat-related deafness); bullying, harassment and assault (including serious sexual assaults and rape); NFCI; pelvic stress fractures; training accidents; aviation accidents (including a number of the Voyager claims); and naval accidents.

Significant cases include:

Abbott v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 2839 (KB) – Representing 7,000 claimants and 18 firms of solicitors in successfully opposing the application for a Group Litigation Order in the military noise induced hearing loss litigation.

Lillington v Ministry of Defence [2015] EWCA Civ 775 – Successful respondent to an appeal relating to a loss of promotion following injury.

Ifede v Ministry of Defence [2015] EWHC 3835 (QB) – Interaction of the AFCS and limitation.

Birch v Ministry of Defence (2012) EWHC 2267 (QB) and (2013) EWCA Civ 676 – Catastrophic injury claim for Royal Marine injured in Afghanistan.

Bradlaugh v Ministry of Defence (Lawtel, 29.4.10) – Significant award for NIHL/tinnitus.

X v MOD – Settlement of £8,000,000 plus provisional damages relating to syringomyelia for a paraplegic claimant injured in a training exercise.