James Hawkins

James specialises in personal injury, travel law and professional negligence claims.

In his personal injury practice, James represents both claimants and defendants, often in claims of substantial value and with complex medical causation issues. Recently, James has been involved in claims involving traumatic brain injuries and other serious physical injuries which have resulted in a need for significant treatment and care. James is experienced in all aspects of such litigation, including advising (generally, and with regard to expert evidence), interim hearings, joint settlement meetings/mediation and trials. He also acts in (and has delivered seminars about) Fatal Accidents Act claims.

James is regularly instructed to defend injury claims brought against local authorities. He has particular expertise in cases involving legal issues in respect of the creation, maintenance and status of highways, as well as issues as to the duties owed by highway authorities. James also appears at inquests, including inquests involving issues as to the medical cause of death and the standard of care and treatment received at hospital. He has particular recent experience of cases where death has resulted from anaphylaxis.

James regularly undertakes work with a foreign element, including accidents which have occurred abroad, illness claims, Athens Convention claims and claims against foreign insurers. In his professional negligence practice, James has recently appeared in a claim for substantial damages against a firm of solicitors.

MA (Law, First Class); LLM (First Class) Clare College, Cambridge University