Harry Steinberg

Harry Steinberg KC

Year of Call:
1997
Year of Silk:
2016
Direct Access:
No

Harry Steinberg is a leading silk specialising in personal injury, sports law, private international law and aviation. He is recognised by Chambers & Partners as “a highly skilled practitioner known for his representation of large claimant groups. His work in the area typically arises from personal injury and industrial disease claims.”

His personal injury practice focuses on high value and complex serious injuries and fatal claims, with much of his work having an international aspect. He is currently acting for thousands of former and serving military personnel in three group claims against the Ministry of Defence.

Harry has specialised in industrial disease and mesothelioma for over a decade and is recognised in the directories as a leading silk. He has taken test cases to the Supreme Court and appeared in many of the landmark cases that have shaped this area of law.

He is regularly instructed on cases which include a cross-border element, including aviation claims, environmental disasters, class actions and claims involving tort law and jurisdictional issues.

Harry is heavily involved in Brazilian football and thus has a keen interest in sports law, in particular, FA Rule K arbitrations and concussion/head injury claims. His sports practice also spans the globe, conducting international arbitrations and advising clients from UK to South America.

Expertise

Harry specialises in leading large-scale group claims. He has been instructed in claims involving environmental damage, insurance, human-rights abuses, product liability and personal injury. His work often involves cross-border litigation and has included:

  • The Bomu Bonny Pipeline Litigation: claims brought by 15,600 claimants arising out of two huge oil spills in the Niger Deltas. This is believed to be the UK’s largest ever environmental action.
  • The Iraqi Civilian Litigation: claims against the Ministry of Defence brought by civilians who were assaulted and unlawfully detained by UK military personnel during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
  • Vilca & Ors v Xstrata Plc & Xstrata Tintaya SA: Peruvian environmental protestors brought claims for serious injuries and mistreatment sustained during demonstrations at an Andean copper mine.
  • Silicosis: class action, for thousands of goldminers, in South Africa.
  • Greenway and others v Johnson Matthey Plc: test litigation on behalf of hundreds of workers who contracted platinum sensitivity as a result of occupational exposure to platinum salts.
  • Concept 70 and others v Cape International Holdings Ltd: product liability group test case for insurers seeking contribution to settled claims from product manufacturers.
  • Group of claimants in a business interruption insurance claim arising out of the Covid pandemic
  • A large scale pharmaceutical products case

Harry has a working interest in the Brazilian and British football sectors, which has naturally developed an acute knowledge of the law of football. His expertise in sports law includes but is not limited to FA Rule K arbitrations (involving any combination of FA participants, including football clubs, intermediaries and players) and concussion/head injury claims in the context of participation in sports.

A number of Harry’s cases involve cross border issues and he is described as “brilliantly knowledgeable in this niche area.” by Legal 500 UK.

His travel law practice also encompasses aviation law, including that relating to aero toxic syndrome, caused by the inhalation of cabin air in aircraft.

His work has included:

  • The Bomu Bonny Pipeline Litigation: claims brought by 15,600 claimants arising out of two huge oil spills in the Niger Deltas.
  • The Iraqi Civilian Litigation: claims against the Ministry of Defence brought by civilians who were assaulted and unlawfully detained by UK military personnel during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
  • Vilca & Ors v Xstrata Plc & Xstrata Tintaya SA: Peruvian environmental protestors brought claims for serious injuries and mistreatment sustained during demonstrations at an Andean copper mine.
  • Silicosis: class action, for thousands of goldminers, in South Africa.
  • AB v C: acting for the Defendant in the Grand Court of Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal and the Privy Council, in a case arising out of an explosion at a power station in the Cayman Islands.

He acts in claims involving choice of law and jurisdictional issues, including in Jamieson v Württembergische Versicherung A.G.

Harry is known for high value and high-profile personal injury litigation with a focus on head injury and fatal claims. Much of his work has an international law aspect and/or involves large groups and he is currently acting for thousands of former and serving military personnel in three groups against the Ministry of Defence.

Harry has been described as “second-to-none” (Legal 500, 2023) and having “…an exhaustive knowledge of asbestos disease issues.” (Chambers & Partners, 2023) He is the chief editor of the leading textbook, “Asbestos: Law and Litigation” (Sweet & Maxwell, 2nd edition, June 2022).

Harry regularly gives evidence in the US Courts as an expert witness on the law relating to asbestos, jurisdiction and product liability, e.g. Pyle v Pfizer Inc. He acts for both Claimants and Defendants.

Harry has appeared in many of the landmark cases which have defined and shaped this area of the law:

  • Knauer v Ministry of Justice: ‘leapfrog’ appeal to the Supreme Court on the issue of the appropriate date for the calculation of multipliers in fatal claims.
  • Coventry v Lawrence: in the Supreme Court on behalf of a national asbestos charity on the compatibility of the CFA regime with the ECHR.
  • Rothwell v Chemical & Insulating Co Ltd: pleural plaques test cases.
  • Greenway v Johnson Matthey: test case for workers who contracted platinum sensitivity as a result of occupational exposure to platinum salts.
  • Head v Culver Heating: decision in the Court of Appeal on the quantification of loss of profitability in a business which had relied on the driving force of the deceased.
  • Carder v University of Exeter: Court of Appeal judgment on the test for actionable damage in an asbestosis claim.
  • Haxton v Philips Electronics UK Ltd: acting on behalf of the claimant at trial and in the Court of Appeal. The claimant’s husband died of mesothelioma, and she made a claim as his widow. She then contracted mesothelioma as a result of the same defendant’s negligence. This drastically reduced her life expectancy and she recovered the shortfall as the ‘diminution in value’ of her personal claim. This created a novel head of damages.
  • Inglis v Ministry of Defence: high value noise-induced hearing loss as a result of exposure in the course of military service
  • Bannister v Freemans Plc: decision of the High Court on causation in low exposure mesothelioma case
  • Barry v Ministry of Defence: High Court decision on the diagnosis criteria for hearing loss in a military context and the application of Ogden 8
  • Ghoorah v West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and others: appeared at trial for the claimant widow in this fatal mesothelioma claim. The judge made the highest ever general damages award in a mesothelioma case.
  • Zambarda v Shipbreaking (Queenborough) Ltd [2013] EWHC 2263 (QB): acted for the claimant at trial in this fatal mesothelioma. Obtained case management costs as part of the services dependency claim.
  • Wilson v Ministry of Defence [2013] CP Rep33: Novel point of law on the definition of “trial” under CPR Part 36. Successful on appeal.

A specialist in group litigation, many of Harry’s cases involve product liability issues. Cases include:

Concept 70 and others v Cape International Holdings Ltd: Acting for the claimants in this major product liability group test case for insurers seeking contribution to settled claims from product manufacturers.

Related updates

Harry Steinberg KC is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.

'Harry is excellent on his feet. A robust advocate with conviction in his advice. You certainly want him in your corner; he always delivers.'

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2025

"He is brilliant on the law and has a very good strategic brain. He is excellent with the lay clients."; "His judgement, particularly on liability and on quantum cases, is spot on. He is a brilliant advocate in court. He is also a master of his brief, very detailed and forensic."; "Harry is a great communicator with clients, experts and solicitors."

Personal Injury, Chambers & Partners 2024

"Harry brings unparalleled experience to the litigation. He is exceptional with clients."

Group Litigation, Chambers & Partners, 2024

"Harry is an approachable KC with a razor-sharp mind. "; "He is the leading silk and knows this area inside out."; "His judgement, particularly on liability and on quantum cases, is spot on and he is a brilliant advocate in court."; "He is a master of his brief: very detailed and forensic."

Personal Injury: Industrial Disease, Chambers & Partners 2024

An excellent barrister who communicates legal issues to clients in a straightforward manner.

– Legal 500, 2019

He specialises in large-scale group claims.

– Legal 500, 2019

He’s an enormously talented barrister.

– Chambers & Partners, 2019

He’s very approachable and good with clients, as well as being very knowledgeable and prepared to push the boundaries.

– Chambers & Partners, 2019

He is very bright and knowledgeable.

– Chambers & Partners, 2019

He’s the first port of call for any complex asbestos-related case. You get a real sense that he successfully pushes the boundaries of the law to the benefit of his clients.

– Chambers & Partners, 2019

He has an exceptional level of knowledge and is fantastic with clients. He’s happy to consider more unusual types of claims and has the experience and expertise to do so.

– Chambers & Partners, 2020

He is exceptionally knowledgeable about the law in this field and is willing to take on difficult cases and push the boundaries. He’s a leader in this field and the go-to person for mesothelioma cases. He has developed a formidable reputation in this specialist area.

– Chambers & Partners, 2020

He’s great with clients and is a dogged advocate. He supports his clients to make sure they achieve the best results.

– Chambers & Partners, 2020

He has a good understanding of the law and is very approachable.

– Chambers & Partners, 2020

He is always empathetic and responsive to individual claimant circumstances.

– Chambers & Partners, 2020

Able to fully grasp the pertinent facts and issues in a given claim with ease.

Legal 500, 2021

He specialises in large-scale group claims.

Legal 500, 2021

Harry is excellent at identifying the key themes that will resonate with the court then presenting them in a calm and persuasive manner.

– Legal 500, 2022

Harry is approachable and is well liked by clients.

Chambers & Partners 2023

Brilliantly knowledgeable in this niche area. Harry pushes boundaries and champions the claimants.

Legal 500, 2023

His command of the subject matter is second-to-none. Harry is prepared to look at more unusual claims and is skilled at identifying and assessing the issues.

Legal 500, 2023

To find out more, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)20 7427 4907 for a confidential discussion.

Our dedicated practice management team can help you identify the right barrister for your case.

  • Chief Editor Asbestos: Law & Litigation, Sweet & Maxwell, 2nd edition, June 2022

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