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

Personal Injury

Chris practises exclusively in the areas of personal injury and clinical negligence. His personal injury caseload primarily involves catastrophic brain, spinal and amputation injuries. As a junior he had a longstanding niche specialism in military claims.

Significant cases include:

Abbott v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 2839 (KB) – Representing over 5,000 claimants and 18 firms of solicitors in successfully opposing the application for a Group Litigation Order in the military noise induced hearing loss litigation.

AS v Ministry of Justice & Another [2024] EWHC 15 (KB) – Successful liability trial.

Hetherington v Blythe [2023] EWHC 41 (KB) – liability trial for catastrophically injured pedestrian

EXN v Alder Hey Children’s Hospital [2021] EWHC 2989 (QB) – Recovery of damages with a capitalised value of £27,300,000 for a child following the Defendant’s failure to identify, and treat, the herpes simplex virus.

Re. CICA (1.22) – Highest ever award under the CICA Scheme for an applicant shaken whilst a baby.

Hill v Gill [2018] EWHC 2703 (QB) – Catastrophic injury claim for young boy injured crossing the road.

Aurora Brown v Lisa Alexander [2018] 7 WLUK 716 – Lead case on the disclosure of rehabilitation records to medico-legal experts

Fry v McFaull (High Court, Manchester DR, 12.6.18 HHJ Bird) – Consideration of Coles v Perfect.

Serita Shone v British Bobsleigh (11.5.18) – Successful claim for professional heptathlete who suffered a spinal injury while training for the British Bobsleigh team. Shortlisted for PI Case of the Year 2018.

Colin Crooks v Hendricks Lovell Ltd. [2016] EWCA Civ 8 – Lead case on the interaction of Part 36 and the recovery of social security benefits by the DWP.

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.

Recent settlements include:

£10,000,000 for a claimant injured in utero, resulting in lifelong epilepsy.

£8,000,000 plus provisional damages relating to syringomyelia for a paraplegic claimant injured in a training exercise.

£11,400,000 for a C4 tetraplegic.

£13,250,000 for a C5 tetraplegic.

£3,300,000 lump sum and periodical payments (capitalised value in excess of £10,000,000) for a young child brain injured in an RTA.

Settlements of £4,300,000 and £4,750,000 for separate below-knee amputees.