Personal Injury

Areas of expertise

• Accidents abroad
• Aviation accidents
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority matters
• Fatal Accidents Act cases
• Health and safety at work
• Industrial diseases
• Road traffic accidents
• Sports injuries

For further information, contact:

Graham Woods, Senior Team Leader, 020 7353 6381

Track record and prominent cases

We have acted in numerous multi-party claims such as the Cape Asbestos action, Bangladesh arsenic and Giambrone food poisoning cases.

• Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services Ltd [2002] 1 WLR 1052
• Freeman v Lockett (2006) EWHC 102 – A case concerning the effect of state funding for care.
• Corbett v S Yorks HA - Test case on the issue of indexation of periodical payments and the implications of the Working Time Directive for a resident carer of a brain damaged claimant with long life expectancy.
• (‘Bangladesh arsenic litigation’ – House of Lords' Appeal in a group action by hundreds of victims of arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh, dealing with whether foresight of personal injury is sufficient, on its own, to constitute the proximity required to establish a duty of care.

Our clients

We work with claimants and defendants in every aspect of this field.

What the directories say

THE SET - Outer Temple Chambers offers "a good balance of personal injury and clinical negligence expertise," point out clients, who underline the experience of a handful of incredibly experienced silks at this respected set. Catastrophic, sports and workplace accidents are at the heart of the team's largely claimant-based workload, which also takes in significant industrial disease cases. Its group is "large enough to plug any gaps should one particular barrister not be available," agree sources, who enjoy working with the "helpful and on-the-ball clerks" in situ here.

SILKS - The "exceptionally intelligent" David Westcott QC is "a natural performer" who is inundated with compliments as the set's leading and "most accomplished, sensible and easygoing" advocate. His experience is much needed in complex catastrophic cases and he recently advised a man who had sustained a spinal injury as a result of falling from a scaffold. "Savvy, wily and long-standing campaigner" Gerard McDermott QC is a popular choice with clients due to his knowledge of catastrophic injury cases, his expertise in aviation claims and his track record of handling road traffic accidents abroad. He recently advised a claimant injured in an accident in Portugal. Particularly "skilful in cross-examinations," Christopher Wilson-Smith QC is admired for his "knack for making tough decisions" for both claimants and defendants in sensitive and complex severe injury cases.

JUNIORS -  Whilst he generally tackles catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims, Matthew Phillips also shows terrific strength in industrial disease work. Clients value "his approachability and clear communication," whilst lawyers appreciate his "ability to assimilate information quickly." He is well rated along with Nathan Tavares, who is praised as a "versatile and quick-thinking communicator." Tavares handles a wide range of severe brain injury cases and has a particular grasp of claims with a psychiatric element. Brain damage, paralysis and amputation are key features in the workload of the respected Harry Trusted, who impresses with his grasp of complex quantum issues arising from road, railway and workplace accident cases. He "always gets straight to the point," as does the "incredibly well-prepared and diligent" Eliot Woolf, who commands respect for his advice to claimants who have developed occupational asthma, upper limb disorders and asbestos-related illnesses. Recognised as a disease expert for claimants, "he quickly gets to the meatier parts of a case and can hold witnesses to the point."

James Aldridge acts for claimants and insurers in employers' liability, public liability and RTA cases, and recently handled a case where ground crew were temporarily blinded by aircraft landing lights. "An easy manner, considerable preparation and forthright opinions" enhance the reputation of Christopher Kemp, whose "great judgement" is valued by claimants suffering serious brain and spinal damage. He wins solicitor support as does the "wonderfully approachable" Alison McCormick, "whose excellent demeanour and use of plain English quickly put clients at ease." A popular port of call for complex issues of law and quantum, McCormick divides her time between disease and catastrophic brain and spine injury cases .Chambers and Partners 2012

Outer Temple Chambers is rated highly both for its counsel and clerking. Gerard McDermott QC is ‘a first-choice leader for many’, and David Westcott QC is a ‘silk of choice’. Christopher Wilson-Smith QC is ‘a spectacular advocate’ with considerable ‘gravitas and experience’. Leading juniors include Eliot Woolf, ‘a real star’, and Nathan Tavares, who is ‘destined for silk’. Christopher Kemp is ‘a talented adviser’, Harry Trusted is ‘excellent and thorough’, and Jonathan Hand has ‘first-rate knowledge’. Legal 500 2011

Memberships and involvement

Members of our team regularly lecture and conduct seminars on developments in personal injury issues for the legal profession and insurance industry. We also contribute to the press and to legal publications. We belong to a number of relevant professional bodies such as the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and the Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA).