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

St John’s Personal Injury team consists of barristers specialising in cases involving travel abroad. We offer expertise in accidents that occur outside of the jurisdiction, whether by road, aircraft or by sea.

We advise contractual and personal injury claims subject to the Conventions, Regulations and Directives involving travel law.

Areas of expertise:

  • Road traffic accidents abroad
  • Accidents on board aircraft or ferries
  • Sickness claims
  • Accidents incurring during leisure activities
  • Employment law claims

We advise and represent both claimants and defendants, and the strength and depth of our team means we can offer expertise in any travel claim, however complex or whatever the value. Barristers deal with cases in which British nationals are injured abroad, and the choice of law and jurisdictional issues that arise.

We advise on claims subject to the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 and related injuries during foreign holidays. We have a detailed knowledge of Rome II and the European regime and European accidents, and the Athens and Montreal conventions.

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.

Travel Abroad 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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Justin Valentine

  • Call: 1999

Justin has been ranked as a Tier 1 Legal 500 clinical negligence specialist for several years.  He acts almost exclusively for claimants in cases of significant value. He specialises in cauda equina syndrome cases and is credited as...

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Darren Lewis

Darren Lewis

  • Call: 2004

Darren has specialist knowledge and is frequently instructed concerning accidents abroad, Rome II, jurisdictional disputes and choice of law. In addition he represents both claimants and defendants in Athens and Montreal Convention cases, and in Admiralty and aviation...

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Patrick West website

Patrick West

  • Call: 2007

Patrick has a national practice, specialises in all areas of personal injury law including: Employers’ liability Occupiers’ and public liability Highways Act cases Holiday claims Road traffic Animals Act Product liability and consumer protection Sport accidents Credit hire...

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Jimmy Barber

  • Call: 2008

Jimmy advises on and settles pleadings in a variety of consumer aviation and travel claims. These include carriage by air disputes involving Regulation (EC) No.261/2004 and the Montreal Convention, such as denied boarding, flight delays, lost baggage and...

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James Marwick

James Marwick

  • Call: 2008

James has been recognised as a leading junior in personal injury work for a number of years. He specialises in high-value claims and undertakes work for claimants and defendants involving serious injury. James accepts instructions in all areas...

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James Hughes

  • Call: 2011

James has experience acting for both claimants and defendants in claims arising out of the Package Travel, Package Holiday and Package Tours Regulations 1992 in claims for gastric illness, including those of life-changing severity, as well as physical...

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Rachel Segal

Rachel Segal

  • Call: 2013

Rachel is a personal injury barrister with a developing practice in travel abroad cases. She has been instructed on matters involving the Package Tour Regulations. Recent work includes: Advising in a holiday sickness claim. Advising on jurisdictional issues in an...

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Sophie Howard

  • Call: 2016

Sophie is a member of the Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, and Inquest teams. She joined Chambers in May 2022 after completing a specialist third six pupillage under the supervision of Jimmy Barber. Having successfully completed a common law...

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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

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

Legal 500 2023, Personal Injury (Client Service)

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 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

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

Chambers UK 2021, Personal Injury

The clerks are efficient, friendly and take a can-do approach. ‘The clerking service is consistently first rate.’ ‘The clerks are very organised and efficient. I appreciate the speed with which they deal with things.’ ‘They respond quickly and deal with any issues promptly.’ “

Chambers UK 2021, Personal Injury (Client Service)

Seminars & Events

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