Louis Browne KC

Call 1988
Silk 2017

brownekc@exchangechambers.co.uk

"Louis is a superb advocate He is intelligent, committed, passionate and patient."

Chambers and Partners 2024
Photo of Louis Browne KC

Practice Overview

Louis Browne KC has a wide ranging civil practice with particular emphasis in catastrophic personal injury claims, inquests and inquiries, public law and media law. He appears regularly in the Higher Courts.

In recent years, Louis has been instructed in some of the most high-profile cases (see specific examples in ‘Cases’ section).

Louis has considerable expertise in all areas of public law and judicial review. He frequently acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants in the Administrative Court. His particular areas of specialism are human rights-based challenges in the context of community care, immigration, education and mental health.

He is ranked as a Leading/Tier 1 Silk by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 in Personal Injury, Inquests and Inquiries, Administrative and Public Law and IT, Telecoms and Data Protection.

Louis has a reputation for being accessible, easy to work with and for giving clear and straightforward advice.

Inquiries and Notable Cases

Manchester Arena Inquiry (2018 – to date)
Representing Salford University at the public inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing; Salman Abedi was a student at the University at the time of the bombing.

Grenfell Tower Inquiry (2018 – to date)
Acting at the public inquiry for the Fire Officers Association and Senior Fire Sector Commander on the night, who made the most significant decisions as to the implementation of search and rescue.

Hall v Green (2022)
Following a 9 day trial, the Claimant who pursued a substantial claim for damages arising out of an alleged brain injury was found fundamentally dishonest.

Sarah Mir, Partner at DWF, commented:
“The judgment of HHJ Walden-Smith should send a strong message to claimants and their instructing solicitors. Insurers, such as RSA, take fundamental dishonesty seriously and are not averse to running cases to trial, referring claimants to the IFED and/or issuing committal proceedings for contempt of court.

“Huge plaudits go to Louis Browne QC who, from the outset of his instruction, has been fastidiously prepared on a very complex and document heavy case. He is a huge believer in collaborative working. During the trial, Louis displayed prodigious advocacy skills.”

AA (2022)
Represented Criminal Injury Compensation Authority in pre-tariff claim at hearing involving catastrophic brain injury in a shaken baby case. Compensation assessed at over £12m.

AB v British Transport Police (2022)
Successfully represented Claimant, who has autism, in action for breach of DPA 1998/2018. Court ordered deletion of inaccurate personal data held by BTP. Court also found disproportionate for BTP to retain those records as breach of ECHR Article 8.

JG v Walton Hospitals NHS Trust (2022)
Successfully defended Hospital Trust in breach of duty claim. Allegations that paralysis of patient was caused by a negligently performed cervical laminectomy procedure.

Joseph Anderson v Liverpool City Council [2021] EWHC 2205 (Admin)
Representing Liverpool City Council in judicial review challenge by the former Mayor of Liverpool into the Council’s refusal to grant him an indemnity for legal criminal defence expenses.

Pryor v Liverpool Women’s Hospital/Lumsden [2021] EWHC 2911 (QB)
Breach/invasion of privacy claim. Successfully applied to strike claim out.

Re Stewart-Brady deceased [2018] Ch.543
Acted for Sefton Borough Council in respect of applications made concerning the disposal of the body of Ian Stewart-Brady (formerly Ian Brady), one of the infamous Moors Murderers. The case concerned, among other things, whether the court had an inherent jurisdiction to direct how the body of a deceased person would be disposed of/what directions should be given for disposal. This included who should be appointed as administrator of the estate of the deceased.

Tyrell v HM Senior Coroner for Durham/Ministry of Justice [2017] 153 BMLR 208 [2016]
Important case concerning the extent of the procedural duty under ECHR Article 2 and whether a Middleton complaint inquest was required where a prisoner had died of natural causes in custody.

John Ahmed (February/March 2017)
Represented the Prison Service at the inquest into the death of a prisoner who died following a control and restraint procedure.

John Jaundoo (February 2017)
Represented the Probation Service at the lengthy inquest into the death of a young man murdered by three men with whom he shared a hostel.

Carmel Bloom (September 2016)
Represented Shire Hospital at an inquest (the third) into the death of a woman from sepsis at a private hospital. This Inquest raised many highly challenging questions/ issues concerning urological/ anaesthetic medicine. Also represented the private hospital at a judicial review ([2014] Med LR 490).

Rai v Ministry of Defence [2016] High Court
Whether an Army training exercise in Canada fell within the definition of “civil and commercial matters” within Rome II. Limitation: did Albertan or English law apply.

Billett v Ministry of Defence [2015] EWCA Civ 773; [2016] PIQR 1
Assessment of future loss of earning capacity adjustment of Reduction Factors in Ogden Tables A – D. The first case of its kind to reach the Court of Appeal.

Gilruth v Harding [2015] EWCA Civ 1085
Court of Appeal. The calculation of damages arising from the putative sale of a high class/high value show jumping horse.

Hadfield v Cooke [2015] EWHC 3480
Difficult and complicated shareholder dispute. Acted for the successful Claimant at trial.

Ifede v Ministry of Defence [2015] EWHC 3835
Important and high value claim. Successfully argued claim was statute barred.

Ryan Clark (2014)
Lengthy and highly sensitive inquest into the death of a young man at a YOI, who had hanged himself.

Inquest into the death of Ian Terry (2010)
Represented four members of GMP Tactical Firearms Unit at this lengthy inquest into the shooting of a colleague on a training exercise.

R (on the application of CPS) v Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages [2003] All ER 540
Successful judicial review challenging the refusal of the Registrar to grant a prisoner on remand for murder a license to marry his partner; she was a witness to the murder. Such a marriage would have rendered her a non-compellable witness.

R v Sec of State for Health Ex p Wagstaffe [2001] 1WLR 292
As Counsel to the Laming inquiry into the actions of Harold Shipman, appeared at judicial review hearing challenging the lawfulness of the private inquiry established.

Callery v Gray / Russell v Pal Pak [2001] 3 All ER 833
Recoverability of success fee under CFA. First care of its kind to reach the Court of Appeal.