Leading Silk with a nationwide practice conducting the highest level of catastrophic injury claims in terms of complexity and value GBP 10m - GBP 20m (pre- and post-Discount Rate Review). At any one time he has conduct of multiple ongoing catastrophic brain and spinal injury, amputation claims, including RTA, EL and PL claims, particularly those involving complex medical, causation and quantum issues e.g. relating to CCG/Local Authority statutory funding and PPOs. He works nationally for both claimants and defendants, both at first instance and to the Court of Appeal and regularly works with leading provincial and London solicitors and national defendant insurer firms.
Chris is Head of the Clinical Negligence Group at No5 and is involved with national organisations such as AvMA, Headway and the Spinal Injuries Association. In 2017 he spoke on litigating amputation claims to the Pace Rehabilitation Annual Conference and in 2018 on key issues in spinal injury litigation at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital. He regularly lectures to solicitors and insurers and for Headway and the SIA upon litigating catastrophic head/spinal injury, amputation/prosthetics claims, the use of experts and CCG/local authority funding and PPOs.
Chris is known by solicitors for his approachability in informally screening cases at an early stage and providing constructive advice upon tactics and the instruction of recommended experts.
"Chris is very thorough in his case preparation and very approachable. He is able to put clients at ease in conferences. He is also very capable of managing a team of experts."
Legal 500 2023
"Chris has a thorough, and up-to-date understanding of the law applied in a pragmatic way. He has the ability to empathies with clients but also be clear and firm. He has excellent negotiation skills and is a real asset at settlement meetings."
Chambers UK 2023
“A good advocate and a good negotiator. He is also very hard-working and has good judgement.” “He has a very clear and thorough manner with clients and is always willing to go the extra mile.” “Extremely thorough and knowledgeable about complex medical and legal issues.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Chris is a first-class advocate, who has a very nice way with the Judge. He is extremely familiar with catastrophic injury cases, in particular those involving amputation.”
Legal 500 2022
“Absolutely first class. He’s very experienced and incredibly approachable.” “Very thorough and has good attention to detail.” “He is always well prepared and will fight tooth and nail for his clients.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Always focused on achieving the best outcome for his clients, and adapts his style to fit the case.”
Legal 500 2021
“He has a brain the size of a planet.” “He is very thorough and very technically accurate.” “Tactically astute and a poised advocate.”
Chambers UK 2020
“Always extremely well-prepared and on top of all the issues.”
Legal 500 2020
Notable Cases
Re: M El D.
Lump sum of 3.625m gross and an unusual and complex PPO of 250,000 pa for care/case management in the UK, 175,000 in Egypt, 125,000 in Libya, 110,000 in Tunisia etc. Lump sum equivalent 12m+. (Complex TBI claim involving a Libyan national on holiday in the UK. International expert evidence obtained/immigration case run in parallel).
Re: DP.
Lump sum of 2.5m and PPO of 230,000 pa (Post-RTA catastrophic brain injury with complex issues around continuity of PCT funding, double recovery and the necessary reverse indemnities).
Re: JT.
Lump sum of 2.5m with no Peters’ undertaking thereby preserving PCT funding of 68,000 pa (Householder suffering TBI in his garden due to a falling tree branch, liability keenly disputed. Approved settlement based upon assessments of security of CCG/local authority funding and clinical, residential and care needs).
Re: LP.
Approved lump sum of 12m (Acting for the Defendant in an RTA involving a catastrophic TBI to a teenager with a near-normal life expectancy, resulting in complex physical, cognitive, behavioural and dysexecutive deficits, including issues of gender dysphoria/identity issues, mandating 24-hour care for his safety and that of others. Favourable (pre- Discount Rate review) lump sum settlement of 12m agreed by insurers/re insurers in order to avoid a PPO for care/case management of c. 200,000 pa and neuropsychological, therapeutic, accommodation and Court of Protection/Deputyship costs for life).
Re: PG
Settlement of 2.6m in an above-knee amputation employers’ liability claim. Case of particular interest because, unusually, the Claimant had undergone an elective amputation due to debilitating CRPS which he developed following an injury at work.
Re: PA.
Lump sum settlement of 3.25m (Acting for the Defendant in a RTA claim re a motorcyclist who suffered CRPS rendering his dominant right arm functionally useless, along with a severe psychiatric condition. Involvement of the Court of Protection in concluding, very exceptionally that the Claimant had capacity to undergo an amputation in January 2015. Very complex issues on causation, prosthetics use and take up of care).
Re: CL.
Lump sum award of GBP 700,000+ and periodical payments of GBP 100,000+ per annum (post-RTA brain injury/approved settlement/young claimant with a near-normal life expectancy).
Re: SS.
Approval of a GBP 1.6m discounted lump sum settlement, GBP 2.64m at 100% (RTA brain injury to a teenager who stepped onto a dual carriageway with recovery of 60% in the Claimant’s favour. Multiple issues on levels of independence, accommodation and take-up of care/case management due to the Claimant’s ethnicity and supportive extended family. Religious considerations in relation to interest accruing and devotional giving to the poor).
Re: WZ.
GBP 2.4m (Serious spinal cord injury to 32 year old Polish male Claimant cyclist. Provisional damages award due to the risk of a syrinx. Issues around the cost of/take-up of care in Poland, future deterioration (including upper limb musculoskeletal problems) and full-time wheelchair use, comparative life expectancy in England/Poland (Professor Strauss involved). Polish financial/tax advice necessary in order to achieve a declaration of exemption from tax in Poland. Award included the capital cost and replacement costs for an Exoskeleton).
Re: HH.
GBP 4.25m (Complex post-RTA brain injury with difficult issues on provision of accommodation and periodical payments, in particular upon the Defendant insurer’s ability or inability to give reasonable security for continuity of payments pursuant to section 2(3) of the Damages Act 1996 as amended).
Re: F.
GBP 3m (brain damage to pedestrian following collision).
Re: YGL.
(Life changing spinal injury on unusual facts when, during dancing the Claimant’s then partner lifted her and dropped her on her neck causing a spinal fracture and paralysis. Challenging issues on liability as ‘horseplay’ accidents usually occur in an employment scenario. Claim argued on a number of authorities and succeeded, liability conceded. Proceeding on quantum).
Re: DC.
Approved settlement of GBP 750,000/1m gross with preservation of extensive statutory funding (Severe post-RTA brain injury to a Claimant in a minimally conscious (and arguably vegetative) state requiring 24 hour care. Liability keenly disputed, D2 as Article 75 Insurer having gained declaration voiding insurance policy due to D1’s non-disclosure. Favourable settlement of 75% of damages to be assessed, including all indemnity issues (ex turpi causa due to illegal racing/alleged knowledge of non-insurance), and contributory negligence (alleged knowledge of alcohol consumption/non-seatbelt use).
Re: PD.
GBP 1.4m (Complex claim in which a promising IT consultant was assaulted both inside and outside a public house, knocked unconscious into the road and then run over, causing severe head and bodily injuries. Issues of liability, foreseeability, contributory negligence and causation).
Appointments
Recorder - Crown and County Courts
Bencher of Gray’s Inn
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Law/Politics (Durham)
Publications
Amputation/subsequent prosthetic use in cases of Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
