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

Our Personal Injury team have extensive experience advising on costs and funding issues to solicitors, insurers, funders and litigants. Two of our members are ranked in costs litigation (Tier 1) in The Legal 500, and we are described as the ‘go-to’ for costs in the South West region.

We have particular expertise in the following:

  • Costs budgeting and orders
  • Costs capping orders
  • Costs disputes arising from the 2013 Jackson reforms
  • Costs implications of Part 36 offers
  • Detailed assessment hearings

Darren Lewis has appeared in some of the leading cases following the rule changes arising from Jackson, QOCS and fixed fees. James Marwick’s work has included detailed assessments in pre-LASPO multi-million settlement cases, frequent cost and case management work and advising on the validity of retainers.

Key cases include:

  • Casseldine v The Diocese of Llandaff Board for Social Responsibility (a charity) before the Regional Costs Judge Phillips in Cardiff – QOCS protections where a pre Jackson CFA is terminated before proceedings are issued and a post Jackson CFA is entered in to. (Overturned by the Court of Appeal in Catalano v Espley-Tyas Development Group Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 1132)
  • Bruno Manuel Dos Santos Mendes v Hochtief Construction (UK) Limited (2016) EWHC 976 (QB) against Nicholas Bacon QC in the High Court – on the recoverability of trial advocacy fees in cases that settle at the Court door.
  • Wynne v Miller Foundations – on the recoverability of VAT on the obtaining of medical records under the new rules.

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.

Personal Injury Costs 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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Matthew White

Matthew White

  • Call: 1997

Matthew has always taken an interest in issues of costs arising from personal injury litigation, and advises on issues including qualified one-way costs shifting, the application of Part 36 settlement offers (and the effect of non-Part 36 offers),...

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Julian Horne

Julian Horne

  • Call: 1998

Julian is an experienced personal injury barrister with expertise across the field. Julian appears very regularly at costs and case management hearings across the country where he is able to combine a detailed knowledge of costs law, particularly...

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Justin Valentine

  • Call: 1999

Justin undertakes all aspects of personal injury work acting predominantly for claimants.  He has a particular interest in workplace claims (especially where liability expert evidence is required) and claims involving vulnerable road users (children, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists).  His...

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Darren Lewis

Darren Lewis

  • Call: 2004

Darren is one of the leading personal injury costs barristers in the South West, and ranked in tier 1 by The Legal 500. He has appeared in some of the leading cases following the recent rule changes arising...

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Louise Asprey

Louise Asprey

  • Call: 2007

Louise has many years of experience representing both claimants and defendants in personal injury and clinical negligence matters. She regularly deals with claims arising out of road traffic accidents and is experienced in dealing with claims brought under...

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Patrick West website

Patrick West

  • Call: 2007

Patrick has extensive experience of costs budgeting hearings, and is happy to assist clients with both prior preparation and subsequent amendment of budgets, as well as tactics for getting the best from the budgeting process.

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Jimmy Barber

  • Call: 2008

Jimmy has a developing practice in personal injury costs. He is regularly instructed to attend costs and case management conferences on behalf of claimants and defendants in multi-track cases and is well-versed in costs budgeting.

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James Marwick

James Marwick

  • Call: 2008

James has a substantial personal injury costs practice complementing his core personal injury work. He undertakes the full range of costs work for paying and receiving parties. James is regularly retained by a major insurer to act in...

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Ben Handy

Ben Handy

  • Call: 2008

Ben is a specialist personal injury barrister widely recognised for his work representing claimants and defendants in serious injury claims. He also spends some of his time sitting as a Crown Court judge, having been appointed to the office of...

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James Hughes

  • Call: 2011

James is frequently instructed on costs and case management conferences across the full spectrum of personal injury work. He has a good command of the court’s approach to both costs budgeting and directions in multi-track personal injury claims.

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Rachel Segal

Rachel Segal

  • Call: 2013

Rachel has experience dealing with personal injury costs both within and outside the Portal and has a strong track record of obtaining costs orders that exceed the expectations of instructing solicitors, both in Application hearings and at trial....

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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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Jonathan Lindfield

Jonathan Lindfield

  • Call: 2017

Jonathan is an experienced, sought-after, specialist personal injury barrister, whose practice encompasses all aspects of personal injury litigation. Jonathan regularly acts for both claimants and defendants on the fast and multi-track, in claims worth up to £1m. From...

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Rhodri Jones

Rhodri Jones

  • Call: 2017

Rhodri specialises in clinical negligence, acting for both claimants and defendants. Before retraining as a barrister, Rhodri practiced as a medical doctor for 18 years, principally in A&E and general practice. His wealth of knowledge and clinical experience...

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Lauren Karmel

  • Call: 2017

Lauren is ranked as a leading junior (Tier 2) in The Legal 500 2024 guide. She accepts instructions in all areas of clinical negligence and inquest work, and is developing a strong paper-based practice in all areas of...

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Beatrice Baskett

Beatrice Baskett

  • Call: 2021

Beatrice joined our Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Inquests teams in October 2023 following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision Robert Mills and Benjamin Handy. Beatrice is instructed regularly in fast-track trials, interlocutory applications and...

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Anna Symington-114

Anna Symington

  • Call: 2002

Anna acts for both claimants and defendants in most personal injury matters. She is regularly instructed in CCMCs on behalf of both claimants and defendants. She is also experienced in appearing at detailed assessments. She has been recommended in...

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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

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

Legal 500 2023, Personal Injury (Client Service)

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 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

Seminars & Events

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