Personal Injury
Outer Temple Chambers is recognised as a leading set of chambers in personal injury work. We offer specialist advice and advocacy to claimants and defendants in every aspect of this field. We boast expertise across the full spectrum of personal injury work – from tripping accidents to catastrophic brain and spinal injury cases – and extensive experience in multi-party actions and public inquiries.
Our experience in personal injury work includes:
- Health and safety at work
- Industrial diseases
- Fatal Accidents Act cases
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority matters
- Road traffic accidents
- Sports injuries
- Aviation accidents
- Accidents abroad
We aim to provide clear advice on the merits and value of claims and successful guidance through the complexities of litigation or alternative dispute resolution. We maintain a tradition of providing sound legal advice whilst bearing in mind the commercial and financial realities of litigation and the individual needs of our clients.
Our personal injury team has a number of specialist silks in addition to experienced senior and junior counsel who manage our cases with tact and sensitivity.
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).
Members of our team have recently been involved in a number of leading cases in this field including Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services Ltd [2002] 1 WLR 1052, Freeman v Lockett (2006) EWHC 102, the effect of state funding for care and Corbett v South Yorkshire SHA (re: indexation of periodical payments) together with numerous multi-party claims such as the Cape Asbestos action, Bangladesh arsenic and Giambrone food poisoning cases.
Our facilities are fully accessible to all disabled clients, including those dependent on wheelchairs for their mobility. If required, members of Chambers are happy to travel to attend conferences.
Should you require any further information on our personal injury team, please contact Graham Woods, Team Leader, on 020 7353 6381.
What the directories say
Legal500, 2009
Outer Temple Chambers is pushing closer to the top tier. David Westcott QC, 'never fails to impress' and Andrew Spink QC is recommended for cases with international aspects. Gerard McDermott QC is instructed in numerous high-value claims, particularly where allegations of fraud are present, frequently leading Matthew Phillips or Nathan Tavares. 'Capable and sensible' Harry Trusted is well followed, as are Alison McCormick, Patrick Sadd and 'intelligent and pragmatic' Eliot Woolf.
Chambers and Partners 2010
Interviewees agree that Outer Temple Chambers "does everything a leading personal injury set should." "Well run, efficient and friendly," it caters for both claimants and defendants, and possesses members who have experience of a broad range of claims, including cases that involve catastrophic injuries and industrial disease. Prominent here is Andrew Spink QC, one of the most popular and sought-after members of the Bar. Commentators note that "you can rely on him to provide imaginative solutions and sound judgement." Much of his time is spent handling either multiparty group actions, claims involving foreign jurisdictions or catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims.
"One of the real stars of the set," David Westcott QC is a familiar name amongst leading personal injury solicitors. "Extraordinarily clever and a terrific advocate," he has expertise in clinical negligence cases, acting for both claimants and defendants, and across the full range of personal injury work, where he focuses on the representation of claimants. Clients rate him highly, as they do Christopher Wilson-Smith QC. Wilson-Smith is deemed "very sound indeed" and wins the confidence of solicitor and client alike. One source said of him: "I trust his judgement implicitly, find him excellent at analysing detailed evidence, and am in awe of his cross-examination skills." His recent cases include a number of catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims. Also hugely respected, Gerard McDermott QC is "extraordinarily good at catastrophic brain injury cases." Interviewees were particularly effusive in describing him, applauding his "attention to detail and excellent judgement." His high-profile workload has included securing a £3.65 million settlement for a young paraplegic, following an appearance in the Court of Appeal.
Clients believe that Matthew Phillips is "one of the most capable juniors around for dealing with the higher-value and higher-profile cases." During the past twelve months this "down-to-earth and client-friendly" practitioner has focused exclusively on catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims, and cases involving asbestos-related diseases. Nathan Tavares has built his reputation on having "sound judgement and a good, approachable manner." A good choice for managing difficult clients, he represents both claimants and defendants. His expertise covers many bases, including equestrian and aviation claims, as well as cases with a mental health element. The "considered, careful and extremely bright" Harry Trusted also works for both claimants and defendants. He applies his "detailed medical knowledge and quick comprehension of challenging issues" to a range of high-value claims.
James Aldridge is a popular choice for claimant personal injury solicitors. The many that use him point to his "excellent attention to detail" and "first-class, sympathetic client-handling skills." They also favour Christopher Kemp, a "fantastic advocate" who is highly regarded by clients, solicitors and the Bar alike. His practice encompasses all kinds of catastrophic personal injury claims and he has niche expertise in sporting injuries. Praise was also forthcoming for the "responsive and proactive" Nicolas Stallworthy, who is prized for his thorough knowledge of the law in this area, as well as his "sensitive and client-friendly approach." Finally at the set, Eliot Woolf comes highly recommended for his "thorough and reliable attitude," and his "unusually good understanding of costs issues." A significant amount of his recent work has involved military claims, although he continues to receive instructions for high-value RTA claims.
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