Exchange Chambers

Personal Injury

Pankaj specialises in Catastrophic and Life-Changing Injury with specialist expertise in Brain Injury, severe limb injury, high-value Pain and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) claims. He attracts a loyal and ever-increasing following from both Defendant insurers and Claimants. He acts usually only in very high value cases often involving pedestrians or motorcyclists. He is adept at liability issues.

He is from a medical family and has an excellent understanding of medical issues. He is renowned for his meticulous eye for detail and sensitive, sympathetic client approach.

Pankaj continues to be commended every year by the Legal 500 since 2008:

“A first rate lawyer with IT and technology skills second to none. Combative with charm. Knows exactly what he is doing. Has a real touch for big PI claims. More hard-working than almost anybody I know. More than a safe pair of hands.”

“Works very hard to achieve the right result. Doing a mixture of Claimant and Defendant work is able to present a balanced view whichever side has instructed him. Very detailed analysis of complex medical issues.”

The Legal 500 2021, Personal Injury, Tier 1

Pankaj is routinely instructed nationally by leading firms and he frequently confers with insurers, medical experts in chambers or severely injured claimants often in hospitals or rehabilitation facilities or their own home. Travel anywhere in the country is not an issue.

He is instructed and respected by leading Defence firms, and sought after by the insurers often at the first intimation of a claim. He adopts a team approach with the insurer and Solicitor.

Pankaj has efficiency at the foremost of his practice and operates a “paperless” practice. He welcomes instructions in entirely electronic (PDF) form. This results in better use of fixed or budgeted costs and enhanced security.

He is a Deputy District Judge and has considerable expertise in costs management of high value cases for both Claimants and Defendants.

He is experienced in claims of the utmost severity exceeding £5 million. He often appears against Leading Counsel on his own. He has ongoing cases with a potential value up to £18 million.

Areas of practice

Brain injury ranging from catastrophic severity to the subtle but severe – “CRPS” Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Chronic and serious limb injuries with actual or potential amputation often with CRPS issues as well. Spinal Injury

Also high-value cases involving:-

Hyper-extension flexion injuries leading to Chronic Pain syndrome, or exacerbating pre-existing conditions such as fibromyalgia and joint-hypermobility syndrome Unusual Psychiatric Injury e.g. Somatisation Disorder and Hysterical Coversion Syndrome Fatal accidents

Pankaj is also a national lecturer in personal Injury and published multiple author. He has written several books on Subtle Brain Injury and Chronic Pain. He is writing his third book on Catastrophic Brain Injury. He has been guest lecturer at the Royal Society of Medicine on the subject of Chronic Pain and CRPS and at the Peterhouse Annual Medico-legal Conference in Cambridge, and the International Birmingham Pain Forum.

Called 1997; Deputy District Judge

Personal Injuries Bar Association (member) Senior Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine

Accredited Advocacy Trainer North Eastern Circuit Trained by CEDR – “Representing Clients in mediation” Harmsworth Scholar of the Middle Temple (1996) Astbury Scholar of the Middle Temple (1996) Law, Magdalene College, Cambridge University (1993 – 1996) M.A. (2:1) Leeds Grammar School (1982 – 1992) 4 A-Levels at Grade A Theaker Economics Prize

Pankaj enjoys keeping fit, fell running, photography, travel, the theatre and the opera. He is from a medical family background and is married to a Consultant Child Psychiatrist and is a dad to a 9 year old.