Chris Bright QC is Head of the Clinical Negligence Group at No5 Barristers’ Chambers and is recognised as a leading personal injury and clinical negligence Silk. He works nationally for leading claimant provincial and London solicitors and national defendant insurer firms. Chris conducts the highest level of claims in terms of complexity and value GBP10m - GBP20m (pre- and post-Discount Rate Review), particularly those involving complex medical, causation and CCG/local authority funding/PPO issues. He regularly lectures for Headway, the SIA, AvMA and Pace Rehabilitation (and can offer training) on subjects such as maximising damages in catastrophic injury claims, litigating CP/neonatal and amputation claims and statutory funding. In 2017 he spoke on 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. Chris is consistently rated as a leading silk in both practice areas in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.
Chris is known by solicitors for his approachability in informally screening cases at an early/pre-expert stage and providing constructive advice upon tactics and the instruction of recommended experts. Recently Chris secured damages of GBP22.75m in a single week.
Examples of recent cases are:
- Re: AA. Failure promptly to diagnose/treat pneumococcal meningitis in an 8-month child, now 19 years of age, causing severe frontal/parietal brain damage and learning difficulties, autism and epilepsy. Claimant (from a high-achieving professional family) will never live independently or pursue gainful employment, will always lack capacity and be dependent on others. Settlement agreed 3 weeks before trial for a lump sum of GBP5.4m with a lifetime PPO of GBP228,000 which, given the claimant’s residual life expectancy of over 60 years, amounted to a settlement of GBP19.15m, if capitalised.
- Caine Ellis v Paul Kelly (with his mother Violet Ellis as Part 20 Defendant) [2018] EWHC 2031 (QB), an important catastrophic injury/RTA case on the road safety responsibilities of an 8-year-old child and his mother.
- a TBI claim involving a Libyan national on holiday in the UK with international expert evidence/an immigration case run in parallel. Settlement for a lump sum of GBP3.625m gross and a complex PPO of GBP250,000 pa for care/case management in the UK, GBP175,000 in Egypt, GBP125,000 in Libya and GBP110,000 in Tunisia, depending upon future residency. Given the Claimant’s life expectancy, the lump sum equivalent (pre-Discount Rate review) was GBP12m.
- a CP claim at the most severe end of the spectrum of physical and mental deficits. Settlement was for a lump sum of GBP4.237m and care/case management PPO of GBP285,000 pa. Again, given the Claimant’s life expectancy of a further 50 years, this would otherwise represent a (pre-Discount Rate review) lump sum settlement significantly in excess of GBP12m.
- Re: PG. Settlement of GBP2.6m 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.
"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 – Personal Injury
"Chris is extremely thorough and knowledgeable on complex medical and legal issues." "He is an excellent advocate, extremely client-focused and a pleasure to work with."
Chambers UK 2023 – Personal Injury
“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 – Personal Injury
“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 – Personal Injury
“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 – Personal Injury
“Always focused on achieving the best outcome for his clients, and adapts his style to fit the case.”
Legal 500 2021- Personal Injury
“A very approachable QC with a sensible, down-to-earth approach to complex issues.” “He is very thorough, technical and great with clients.” “His attention to detail is excellent and he never makes any mistakes.”
Chambers UK 2020
"Strong on catastrophic injury cases and spinal cord injuries in particular.”
Legal 500 2020
Appointments
Recorder - Crown and County Courts
Bencher of Gray’s Inn
Publications
Amputation/subsequent prosthetic use in cases of Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
