Christopher Wilson-Smith QC (Associate Member)
Call 1965 QC 1986
Professional Memberships Member of the New South Wales Bar in 2000
Judicial Office Civil and Crime Recorder in 1977, Bencher in 1996
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Areas of Practice
Christopher’s practice covers Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, with Hybrid cases that combine the two specialisms, along with crime and Health & Safety. Wilson-Smith has been listed as a ‘leader’ in each of his areas of law for a number of years in Chambers UK and The Legal 500 legal directories. He is frequently invited to chair conferences and seminars including those run by the AvMA and SIA.
Personal Injury
Christopher acts for claimants and defendants in multiple cases involving catastrophic injury. These have principally involved spinal injury and serious brain damage. Typically, the cases have been of a high value where the awards after trial or settlement have been in the £millions. A number of the cases have involved a hybrid element where the initial injury has been compounded or made worse by negligence by subsequent medical mistreatment.
Notable cases
- Watt-v-STU
- Pugh-v-Berger
- Anderson-v-Snowbizz
- Kemery-v-Timewell Property Ltd
- Andrew Lindesay-v-Martin Lamb
- Simon Waters-v-Hayley & Another
- Gawler-v-Raettig
- Ball-v-Laws
- Goddard-v-Bromley Valley Gymnastics Ltd
Clinical Negligence
Christopher acts for both claimants and defendants [e.g. NHSLA]. Many of the cases involve babies with birth injuries, which by their nature have attracted multi-million pound awards. Others have involved breaches of duty in the medical care received following the initial trauma. Such cases have generally been complex on the issues of liability or quantum or both.
Notable cases
- Flowers [Deceased]-v-Mallet
- Goode-v-The Estate of Michael Brough
- Demi Fowler-v-GP
- Remini Capel-v-United Lincolnshire Hospitals
- McKitterick-v-Nottingham Hospitals
- Re White [Deceased]
- Boden-v-The Dudley Group of Hospitals
- Beaumont-v-MoD
- Davies -v-Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals
Health & Safety
Christopher both prosecutes and defends in major crimes, primarily on the Western Circuit, particularly relating to Corporate Manslaughter and Health & Safety offences. He also defends Police Officers.
- The Buncefield Oil Refinery Fire
- R-v-Gilbert
- R-v-Imco Plastics
- R-v-Rudkin
- R-v-British Gas
- R-v-Challacombe
- R-v-Kempen & Copthorne Hotel
Recommendations
Chambers UK 2009 – Christopher Wilson-Smith QC is “great on large quantum cases.” A “formidable advocate,” he also receives accolades for his “fantastic cross-examination of witnesses.”
Chambers UK 2009 – Christopher Wilson-Smith QC’s varied criminal practice takes in such matters as the defence of solicitors charged with serious criminal cases and boardroom corruption cases. He is known for his “succinct advice, which is always on the mark and he possesses “excellent advocacy skills”
Chambers UK 2008 – Christopher Wilson-Smith QC “scores well once he gets his man in the box – woe betide the mendacious when Wilson-Smith takes them to task.”
