Ben combines a forensic approach to the evidence whilst taking into account broader issues in a case. He provides excellent advice on strategy and is a reliable and reassuring presence. He is also a resourceful and highly adaptable advocate.”

The Legal 500 2024, Personal Injury

Ben is Deputy Head of Chambers’ Personal Injury Department, a mediator and part-time Crown Court judge. He is widely recognised for his “resourceful and highly adaptable” trial advocacy and “excellent advice on strategy” in relation to catastrophic injury claims.

He is ranked as a leading junior in the major legal directories on the strength of his clients’ endorsements. They say that Ben is “user friendly and approachable”, “provides a high standard of technical advice” and “combines great client care skills with tactical nous”.

Chambers Guide to the Bar praises his “knowledge” and skill in “finding a way through the minefield of liability issues”. The Legal 500 praises his reliability and ”reassuring presence”, explaining complex legal issues to clients in a sensitive, down to earth and respectful way.

Ben likes to work very closely with his instructing solicitors, managing cases together as a team and working collaboratively with opposing parties as far as possible.

Ben’s specialisms include:

  • Orthopaedic polytrauma
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Fatal accidents and life-shortening injuries
  • Vulnerable road users
  • Complex issues of causation or quantum

Ben’s knowledge and experience enables him to act as a Mediator in catastrophic personal injury cases. Ben spends some of his time sitting as a Recorder, having been appointed to the office by the King in May 2023. These two roles provide him with additional insight into what makes a case successful and support his personal injury practice.

In 2024, Ben spoke with Christopher Sharp KC at The Brain Injury Group’s annual Child Brain Injury Seminar to an audience including claimant and defendant catastrophic injury lawyers, Court of Protection lawyers, insurers, experts, charity workers, case managers and other health and social care professionals.

Ben has had several articles published in industry-leading publications including APIL’s ‘PI Focus’ and the Bar Counsel’s ‘Counsel’ Magazine. He is also a regular contributor to St. John’s Chambers’ Personal Injury Podcast, speaking on topics including provisional damages, employers’ liability, and lost years claims.

Resources

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Directory Quotes

Ben has notable experience handling cases concerning psychological injury and catastrophic spinal injury, and RTAs. He is excellent with clients and extremely knowledgeable. ‘Ben is excellent at getting to the important issues and finding a way through the minefield of liability issues.’ “

Chambers UK 2024, Personal Injury

Ben acts for claimants and defendants in complex catastrophic injury cases. ‘His advice is clear and focused.’ ‘ Ben is a very approachable advocate.’ ‘He handles complex cases with aplomb.’ “

Chambers UK 2023, Personal Injury

Ben is very astute and gets to the heart of the issue straight away. He is a details man, yet he communicates in a very clear and concise manner, which enables all concerned to focus on the core issues. He is a very personable barrister.”

Legal 500 2023, Personal Injury

Ben is excellent with clients and provides a high standard of technical advice. He is practical, clear in his views and an excellent communicator with instructing solicitors.”

Chambers UK 2022, Personal Injury

Ben is very client focused, keen to find solutions, user-friendly and approachable.”

Legal 500 2022, Personal Injury

Quick to get to the crux of the issue, mindful of the bigger picture, provides pragmatic advice, adds significant value to the cases he works on and excellent to work with.”

Legal 500 2021, Personal Injury

  • Qualifications & awards:

    • LLB Law (First Class Hons), University of Manchester (2007), Bar Vocational Course MMU (2008)
    • University of Manchester R.G. Lawson prizes in Law, Medicine & Ethics; Constitutional Reform and Mental Health Law (2007)

  • Professional memberships:

    • Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA)
    • Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA)
    • Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)

  • Additional information:

    In his free time Ben loves anything sport-related. He has run marathons in Liverpool, Paris (twice), and London. In 2019 he completed the 53-mile Race to the Tower, and in 2016 he completed Oxfam’s 100km Trailwalker alongside Chambers’ Joss Knight and Charlie Newington-Bridges. Most Summers you will find him in the queue at Wimbledon or getting frustrated with the England football team.

  • Ben Handy is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please read here.