Appointed to silk in March 2021, John is looking forward to establishing a busy and successful practice as Leading Counsel.
John practises exclusively in clinical negligence and serious personal injury cases, acting for Claimants and Defendant Trusts, indemnity providers and insurers.
John’s heavy clinical negligence caseload includes obstetric injury including brain injury and brachial plexus injury, delays in treatment and diagnosis (especially cancer) and life-changing injuries arising from surgical and medical mismanagement.
Details of some of these cases are available by following the links to John’s specialist areas of clinical negligence practice.
John is regularly instructed in cases at the cutting edge of evolving law including wrongful birth, IVF accidents, failures in obtaining informed consent and a strong vein of cases involving secondary victims. Many of his cases involve multiple Defendants, and he is skilled at exploring and distilling complex issues of causation and quantum. Many of his cases involve consideration of periodical payments, accommodation issues and statutory funding.
John is often instructed in cases where serious personal injury has been followed and worsened by medical mishap.
John is particularly adept handling expert witnesses in conference and at Trial and enjoys working closely with the solicitor client on difficult cases. He is regularly commended for his client care skills.
John is consistently recommended in the directories and has in recent years achieved Top Ranked status from Chambers UK Bar and Leading Individual Tier 1 status from Legal 500.
Recommendations
"John’s strengths are his attention to detail, practical advice, and view of the bigger picture. He is a fantastic advocate, calm and measured whilst getting his points across skillfully. He is also very good with witnesses, putting them at ease and very approachable. Overall, he is a very safe pair of hands."
Legal 500 2023 - Clinical Negligence
“He is responsive, meticulous in his written work and unflappable in court.”
Chambers UK 2022 - Clinical Negligence
“Fantastic level of attention to detail, excellent client care skills and sublime advocacy skills at Trial or hearing. One of the best in his field.”
Legal 500 2022 - Clinical Negligence
“A very insightful barrister - he is calm, measured and gets to the heart of issues quickly.” “An undoubted talent. His advice is first-class and he can be relied upon to produce the very best results possible, regardless of value and complexity. He is an extremely talented advocate and his attention to detail is second to none.”
Chambers UK 2021 - Clinical Negligence
“A formidable advocate with razor-sharp knowledge and excellent client care skills with catastrophically injured clients.”
Legal 500 2021 - Clinical Negligence
“He is an absolutely standout barrister who can turn around any kind of case.” “He is able to advise clients in very technical issues in a concise, straightforward manner.” “He has a brilliant manner with clients and has an aura which makes all of those involved feel at ease.”
Chambers UK 2020
“An extremely diligent barrister with a keen eye for the details.”
Legal 500 2020
Appointments
Queen’s Counsel (2021)
Director and Member of Chambers Management Committee, No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Advocacy Trainer, Midland Circuit
Memberships
Midland Circuit
Personal Injuries Bar Association
AvMA
Qualifications
BCL (Oxon) 1998
LLB (Hons) (Bris) 1997
