Event- Asbestos Litigation: New Perspectives and Fresh Angles

Outer Temple Chambers is delighted to invite you to our upcoming Asbestos Litigation Conference on Thursday 10th July 2025 at Glaziers Hall, London.

Our team of experienced industrial disease barristers will be joined by leading experts to provide in-depth analysis on recent legal developments. The event will also offer practical guidance on complex issues such as causation and disclosure. This event is accredited by APIL Training.

Topics will include:

• Assessing the future of low-level Asbestos exposure claims
• Revisiting evidence on commission hearings
• Panel: a comparative view of Product Liability claims in the UK and in the US
• Causation in Peritoneal Mesothelioma claims
• Panel: Claims arising from business loss

We will be joined on the day by a selection of expert speakers including Brendan J. Tully of Simon Greenstone Panatier, and Respiratory Consultant, Dr Peter Reid.

The event will be followed by networking drinks.

Agenda

1:30pm to 2:00pm – Registration
2:00pm to 2:40pm – Assessing the future of low-level Asbestos exposure claims, by Harry Steinberg KC and Jessica Franklin of OTC
2:40pm to 3:00pm – Revisiting Evidence on Commission hearings, by Matthew Phillips KC of OTC
3:00pm to 3:45pm – Panel: a comparative view of Product Liability claims in the UK and in the US, by Aliyah Akram and Chaitanya Kediyal of OTC alongside Brendan J. Tully of Simon Greenstone Panatier
3:45pm to 4:15pm – Break
4:15pm to 5:00pm – Causation in peritoneal mesothelioma claims, by Respiratory Consultant, Dr Peter Reid
5:00pm to 5:30pm – Panel: claims arising from business loss, by Matthew Phillips KC, Harry Steinberg KC and Lorna Badham of OTC
5:30pm to 7:30pm – Networking drinks

Book your place

This event will be in-person. Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended. To book your place at the event, please register here.

Please note that this event is aimed at Claimant Solicitors only.

About the speakers

Matthew Phillips KC, Outer Temple Chambers

Matthew has specialised in asbestos disease claims for approximately 30 years. In addition to cases involving workplace exposure to asbestos he has extensive experience of claims involving domestic/environmental exposure. He has acted for Claimants against all the major industrial/commercial asbestos users and manufacturers. He was junior counsel in the House of Lords in the landmark causation case of Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services. Matthew is instructed by the leading firms of solicitors in the asbestos field. He has lectured widely on asbestos-related litigation.  

Harry Steinberg KC, Outer Temple Chambers

Harry is known for high value and high-profile personal injury litigation with a focus on industrial disease. He is ranked as a Star Individual in Chambers & Partners and has been instructed on many of the most important cases in this area. 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. He has appeared in many of the landmark cases which have defined and shaped this area of the law.

Aliyah Akram, Outer Temple Chambers

A key area of Aliyah’s personal injury practice is industrial disease work. Her experience in mesothelioma and asbestosis claims has afforded her a number of appearances in the Court of Appeal and the High Court. She is/has worked on groundbreaking claims of product liability against a major asbestos manufacturer and claims seeking to redefine public liability insurance for asbestos claims. She has significant expertise in cases involving issues surrounding immunotherapy costs. Her industrial disease practice crosses over with her international injury law expertise, acting in a group of claims brought by South African claimants exposed to asbestos from mining operations.

Lorna Badham, Outer Temple Chambers

Lorna’s particular specialisms lie in high value road traffic and industrial accidents, illness outbreak and international claims, including those involving fatality or brought by large groups. She has also acted in a number of claims involving criminal assault at work. Praised for her tactical advice from an action’s outset, Lorna is adept at identifying and utilising legal and commercial pressure points. Her substantial trial experience prosecuting and defending allegations of fundamental dishonesty allows her to separate out key issues and achieve best outcomes in high-stakes litigation.

Jessica Franklin, Outer Temple Chambers

Jessica is instructed in complex disease cases beyond her call. She is led by the Bar’s leading disease practitioners. She is instructed on several claims for mesothelioma arising out of exposure to asbestos in South African mines. She also appeared as Second Junior in Cuthbert (CoA), a case concerning asbestos exposure pre-1965. Jessica is also instructed as sole counsel on a claim against the MOD for occupational asthma.

Chaitanya Kediyal, Outer Temple Chambers

Chaitanya has been instructed to act in mesothelioma claims as both sole counsel and in a team of counsels. His work has covered both employer liability and product liability claims. He is experienced in providing pre-issue advice and drafting pleadings for mesothelioma claims, including those with a group action element.

Dr Peter Reid, Respiratory Consultant

Dr Peter Reid trained in respiratory medicine in Belfast, London and Edinburgh. He was appointed as a consultant in Edinburgh in 2000 and developed an interest in occupational lung disease. He became interested in medicolegal causation following the British Coal Disease Litigation and commenced training in medical report writing. To date, he has written over 1500 medical reports with a particular interest in asbestos and respirable silica and receives instructions from solicitors representing both claimants and defendants.

Brendan J. Tully, Simon Greenstone Panatier

Brendan J. Tully is an experienced trial lawyer and has been fighting for asbestos victims for almost two decades. Brendan is a Shareholder at Simon Greenstone Panatier, P.C. and manages the firm’s New York office and their international practice, while serving as one of the lead trial lawyers for the firm. Mr. Tully has spent over 15 years representing veterans, women, workers and families who have been hurt by dangerous asbestos products and other dangerous chemicals. Brendan also represents accident victims and people that have been catastrophically hurt through workplace injuries.

Events, News 10 Jun, 2025