Christopher Sharp QC
Call 1975 (Inner Temple) (QC 1999)
Qualifications MA (Oxon), Visiting Fellow, University of the West of England, Bristol
Professional Memberships Member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association, Member of the Family Law Bar Association (former Local Chairman), Member of the Personal Injury Bar Association
Judicial Office Recorder 2004
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Area of Practice
- Professional Negligence
- Family Law
- Personal Injury
Professional Negligence
Christopher’s areas of expertise lie in Family Law and Personal Injury claims (including clinical negligence) and these areas of practice enable him to bring practical experience to bear on professional negligence claims in those areas. In particular in relation to negligence by solicitors and/or barristers. He acts for both claimants and defendants in claims against legal professionals and has acted on the instruction of insurers in personal injury actions where there were potential claims against the conducting solicitor. He has recently advised on a successful claim against a local authority in relation to breach of confidence in an adoption and in 2006 was commissioned to write an article on immunity for advocates in common law jurisdictions for the New Zealand Law Journal.
Family Law
A Family Law specialist for many years, Christopher’s extensive experience includes:
- High value ancillary relief cases especially on the Western Circuit, the Midlands and London.
- Both private and public law children’s cases, instructed by parents, children’s guardian, local authorities and the Official Solicitor including cases involving catastrophic injuries and death of young children, as well as sexual and other abuse.
- Compensation claims for sexual and physical abuse both in the courts and for Criminal Compensation.
- Professional negligence claims arising, in particular, from ancillary relief cases.
With many reported cases, Christopher is frequently instructed on appeals to the Court of Appeal.
A visiting Fellow at the University of the West of England, Christopher regularly contributes articles to the professional press and lectures on subjects related to matrimonial finance.
Recommendations
- Chambers UK 2009 – The family experts at St John’s Chambers continue to provide extensive support and counsel to clients across the region. “Formidable intellectual” Christopher Sharp QC is “one of the best in the West,” praised for his“forensic mind” and his “frightening ability.” Commentators are impressed by his dedication:“He devotes a large amount of time getting to the bottom of the evidence.”
- Chambers UK 2008 – Christopher Sharp QC is “an absolute workhorse who leaves no pebble unturned”, and is “good with figures in difficult ancillary relief cases”. He covers all aspects of the law relating to children, and also deals with professional negligence claims arising out of ancillary relief work.
- Legal 500 2009 – St John’s Chambers’ Christopher Sharp QC handles high-value ancillary relief instructions
- Legal 500 2007 – St John’s Chambers’ Christopher Sharp QC, is “the best QC on the Western Circuit” according to one solicitor, “absolutely excellent”.
- Legal 500 2006 – “Christopher Sharp QC has long established his place in the top rank”.
- Legal Experts 2007 – recommended in Family
Some Reported Cases
- Re D (Children) [2009] CA (Civ Div) (Lawtel ref AC970050) child sexual abuse, contact orders, expert reports, father sexually abusing step-daughter, indirect contact with sons, s.1(3) Children Act 1989
- Van Laethem v Brooker [2006] 2 FLR 495. Ch Div, TLATA claim involving mansion and development land
- A v Hoare [2006] 2 FLR 727: Human rights and limitation issues in damages claim for sexual assault.
- Ram v Ram [2004] EWCA Civ 1684 [2005] 2 FLR 75: jurisdiction to order sale of property after bankruptcy
- C (A Child) v Woolcombe Yonge (A Firm) [2001] Ch D (solicitors’ negligence)
- N v N (Foreign Divorce: Financial Relief) [1997] Fam D
- B v B (Consent Order: Variation) [1997] Fam D
- S v S [1994] Fam D (ancillary relief, experts’ evidence and costs)
- Smith v Smith [1992] CA W’s suicide, Barder type appeal
- Re G (Child Abuse; burden of proof) [1988] Fam D
- Roberts v Roberts [1986] Fam D: pensions
- Stockford v Stockford [1082] CA: net effect
Personal Injury
Christopher Sharp QC practices in Personal Injury with particularly strong expertise in catastrophic injuries (brain damage and spinal injuries), complex medical causation issues and appellate cases (of late involving especially procedural issues).
He successfully argued the leading case on the Animals Act 1971 before the House of Lords as well as the Court of Appeal. He will be arguing an important case on limitation before the House of Lords later this year.
He also has wide experience of the issues arising from defective tyres, including several cases in the Court of Appeal.
He acts for both Claimant and Defendant, throughout the South West and also in London and the Midlands. He has experience of Criminal Injury Compensation claims, clinical negligence and also acts in professional negligence claims arising from PI issues.
He regularly lectures on various issues involving his areas of practice and is well-published in the legal press.
Recommendations
- Chambers UK 2009 – Christopher Sharp QC “has the ability to simply cut to the point without indulging in superfluous pleadings or orating for the benefit of demonstrating his ability to do so.” He is “deeply incisive in argument and his preparation is impeccable.” Excelling in catastrophic injury cases and complex medical causation issues, Sharp is “able to communicate extremely complex points of law accurately but in terms that the lay client can understand.”
- Chambers UK 2008 – The “clever and able” Christopher Sharp QC maintains a large following. His practice incorporates catastrophic injury claims and cases involving medical causation issues.
- Chambers UK 2007 – The “decisive and confident” Christopher Sharp QC is recruited by clients for his “exceptional knowledge in the field”.
- Chambers UK 2006 -“Excellent” Christopher Sharp QC is active in appellate cases and cases with a medical flavour.
Ranked by Chambers UK as one of the two leading PI silks on circuit, and recommended by them for many years. - Legal 500 (recommended for both Claimant and Defendant)
Some Reported Cases
- ‘A’ v Hoare [2006] EWCA Civ 395: Limitation period and Human Rights in claim for sexual assault [2006] 1 WLR 2320
- Leeson v Marsden and others [2005] CA: conjoined appeal re service and extension of time (clinical negligence) [2006] 1 WLR 1945
- B v B [2005] EWCA 237: lifting stay in sexual abuse claim
- Stimpson v Excel Logistics and others [2004] EWCA Civ 1249: causation in product liability
- Nineham v Glynwed International Ltd [2004] QBD Brain damage: bottom up structured settlement)
- Mirvahedy v Henley [2003] HoL; [2002] CA (Animals Act 1971)
- Irwin v Stevenson [2002] CA (Road Traffic Accident: successful insurers’ appeal)
- Shergold v Smith [2001] QBD (multiple injury/pensions: quantum)
- Mutch v Allen [2001] CA (CPR Part 35 Experts’ evidence)
- BRI Children Heart Inquiry [1999/2000] Counsel to the Surgeons’ Support Group
- Giblett v Murray [1999] CA (Psychiatric Injury)
- Fearon v Dunlop [1999] CA (Product Liability) reported as Carroll v Fearson
- Cook v Square D Ltd [1992] CA (overseas injury: employers liability)
Articles
- ‘Does the Animals Act 1971 need amending?’ [with Richard Stead] forthcoming (2006/7) Personal Injury Law Journal
- ‘Advocates’ Immunity in Common Law Jurisdictions’ [with Jody Atkinson] NZLJ – Nov 2006
- Out of Service – NLJ: March 2006
- The Use of Section 24A Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and its role in personal insolvency: published Fam Law [2005] 132 (February)
- Pro-active Settlement in Practice – The Personal Injury Law Journal (July 2004)
- Normal Abnormality? Liaibility for Straying Horses Under the Animals Act 1971: published Sept. 2003 [2003] JPIL Issue 3/03 p172
- Bigamy and Financial Relief: published [2003] Family Law 414
- The Manchester Conjoined Twins Case: A case note on the Court of Appeal decision in Re A addressing both Family Law aspects and consent to operative intervention – Published 6.10.2000, NLJ Vol 150 p.1460
- Putting Children First: New Zealand Law Journal (Dec 1998)
Languages
Some French
Personal
Married with two adult children, his interests include mountain walking, Real Tennis, ski-ing and sailing, and theatre.
