Stephen is very experienced in the field of personal injury having practised in this area since 1997. He has been a team leader in personal injury law at East Anglian Chambers and then 36 Bedford Row before joining No.5.
Stephen’s degree in Physiology gives him a particularly useful insight into and understanding of more complicated medical issues. Solicitors also value Stephen’s considerable experience and depth of knowledge in employers’ liability and public liability matters.
Stephen is consistently Legal 500 recommended in the area of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence work. He has a very strong paperwork practice, drafting and providing advice to a wide range of clients from direct access sole practitioners, to some of the largest national firms.
Stephen regularly appears in court where he is noted for his persuasive advocacy abilities and his comprehensive knowledge of the civil procedure rules. His skill with costs arguments makes him very sought after for Costs and Case Management hearings.
Examples of recent work undertaken include:
- High value road traffic accidents, involving brain injury or spinal injury, where there are complex arguments over causation of physical and psychological injuries, as well as level of care.
- He has achieved considerable success in securing findings of fundamental dishonesty in road traffic accidents and dis-applying QOCS. In one case, which has been reported in the Insurance times, Insurance Business, Insurance Post and Intelligent Insurer, as well as regional newspapers, a champion boxer was found to be fundamentally dishonest and ordered to pay over 13,000 in costs.
- Complex claim involving multiple parties injured after a roof collapsed onto pedestrians on the public highway;
- Injuries at work both acute and chronic, RSI and HAVS;
- Accidents on construction sites, including falls from heights;
- Slipping and tripping claims.
Stephen takes a versatile approach to his practice, working ‘in house’ with solicitor clients, under fixed fee arrangements and is also happy to discuss alternative arrangements such as CFA agreements.
Stephen is qualified to accept instructions under Direct Access.
Recent Talks and Articles
Part 36’s self-contained procedural code continues to attract some discretion
Claimant Secures Costs Despite ‘Dishonest’ Conduct
Part 36 Update
Recommendations
Ranked Tier 3
Legal 500 2023 - Personal Injury
Memberships
AvMA
Personal Injury Bar Association
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, Bristol 1995
Dip Law, BPP Law School 1996
BVC (Very Competent), Inns of Court School of Law 1997
Publications
Lexis Nexis: PI and Clinical Negligence procedural updates from 2020
PI and Clinical Negligence analysis: Stephen Goodfellow, barrister at No5 Chambers, considers the important procedural developments during 2020 for personal injury and clinical negligence lawyers.
