Kings Chambers

Anna Diamond

Anna has a busy practice specialising in clinical negligence and high value and complex personal injury cases. She utilises her medical background in her varied caseload which covers the full range of clinical disciplines, with a particular interest in oncology cases and gynaecology and obstetrics claims. Cases which include complex issues around causation are always particularly relished. Anna is regularly involved in brain injury cases including cerebral palsy claims and traumatic brain injuries acquired later in life. Anna’s success is due in part to her ability to connect with clients and understand their practical and emotional needs. This, along with her collaborative approach with solicitors and experts, ensures the best outcome in the most difficult and challenging of cases.

Christopher Katkowski

Chris Katkowski KC specialises in planning work in the main either preparing for and appearing at planning inquiries or acting in judicial reviews of planning decisions. The majority of his clients are from the private and corporate sectors together with a number of local planning authorities. Prior to taking silk Chris was a member of what is now the “A” Panel of Treasury Counsel as a result of which he has appeared in many court cases and continues to do so. Chris is consistently recognised in UK legal directories and in Planning magazine’s annual survey of planning lawyers as one of the foremost leaders in planning work in the country. Chris has topped Planning magazine's annual survey as the No. 1 planning KC a record 12 times. More than anyone else in the history of the survey. The 2022 survey describes Chris as: "undoubtedly the planning advocate with the most authority" listing him as the highest rated practitioner for commercial work. Chris’ eye-catching successes have changed the face of London. In his book “The Shard” Howard Watson reports that the late “Irvine Sellar said…”I’m a genius at picking geniuses:… the best QC in Christopher Katkowski.” “As a tough and critical man with extraordinarily high expectations of others, Sellar rarely hands out compliments, but his view of Christopher Katkowski remains undimmed by time: he describes the KC’s closing as “poetry”. During the lengthy inquiry the Queens’s Counsel himself was the pivotal figure in carrying the arguments in favour of the scheme. The transcripts reveal Katkowski’s point-by-point dismantling of the counter-arguments and several masterstrokes.” In his book “Leading from the Front” Gerald Ronson describes Chris as “a brilliant QC” having won the inquiry for the Heron Tower in the City. Chris’ caseload is diverse. As Planning Magazine says “he has seen it all [and] done it all”. He has appeared at hundreds of planning inquiries and court cases. A good deal of his work involves advising clients how to avoid planning applications ending up at planning inquiries or being challenged in court. Chris was appointed by the DCLG as an advisor to the Local Plans Expert Group in 2016 and by MHCLG as an advisor to the Rosewell Review in 2018; he was a keynote speaker at the Planning Inspectorate’s Annual Training Event in 2018. Chris was the planning lawyer appointed by the Government to the Task Force which drew up the proposals for sweeping changes to the planning system set out in the Planning for the Future White Paper published by the Government in August 2020. Chris was a member of the working group who advised DEFRA on HRA reforms in 2021 / 2022. Chris is down to earth and approachable and enjoys team working. He must be the only planning KC to have been awarded a gold disc (by MTV to celebrate the successful planning appeal for a new studio). His cases have appeared in episodes of the Archers and Judge John Deed.

Fiona Ashworth

For 20 years, Fiona has developed a specialism in cases involving Chronic Pain Syndromes, Complex Regional Pain Syndromes, Chronic Fatigue Syndromes, Somatoform Pain Disorders, Somatic Symptom Disorders, Conversion Disorders, Functional Neurological Disorders and Fibromyalgia. She is considered to be a leading expert in the field.

Gary Grant

Gary Grant of Kings Chambers is a specialist practitioner in Planning and Environmental law. Gary is experienced in bringing and defending statutory challenges, challenges by way of judicial review and other court based proceedings relevant to planning and environmental law. Recent instructions include defending a legal challenge to the refusal to issue a CLEUD on a mobile home park “ Gary acts for local authorities, developers and interested parties at planning appeals and has considerable experience in uses including housing, waste, infrastructure, highways, employment, retail and town centre uses. Gary has experience in both promoting and opposing orders for compulsory purchase. Gary has advised and continues to advise a number of local planning authorities in relation to the preparation and progress of local plans to adoption. Recent instructions include assisting in the promotion of major allocations on behalf of land owners and providing strategic advice to plan making bodies prior to plan submission. Gary presents papers to specialist training events held by RTPI and as part of the Kings Chambers CPD programme. Gary has a wide level of experience of central government work from working on the AG’s Regional Panel and has experience of the environmental, enforcement, contractual and regulatory matters associated with planning and environmental law.

Geraint Wheatley

Geraint is an experienced chancery and commercial practitioner, combining an outstanding academic background with tactical awareness and an eye for detail.

Jeremy Roussak

Jeremy practices almost exclusively in the fields of personal injury and clinical negligence.

John Hunter

John is an experienced junior practising in the fields of planning, environmental and local government law.

Killian Garvey

Killian Garvey is a specialist planning barrister who practices across England and Wales. He acts for both developers and local authorities. Killian has been consistently ranked as one of the top planning barristers nationally in Planning Resource Magazine. In 2022, Killian was ranked as the best planning barrister under the age of 35, he was ranked as the 6th best junior planning barrister nationwide and the 10th best planning barrister for housing developments amongst all barristers nationally (including all KCs).

Mark Harper KC

Mark is a member of the Business and Property team in Chambers.

Michael Rudd

Michael practises in the areas of town and country planning and compulsory purchase law, environmental and agricultural law, highways, local government and public and administrative law.   He accepts instructions under the Direct Public Access provisions Michael is also a Fellow of the Geological Society and has academic qualifications in geology, physics and advanced engineering geology.  Before being called to the Bar Michael spent fourteen years in the development industry, initially as an Engineering Geologist before moving into the field of Planning and Environmental Consultancy.  He was employed by a number of major engineering contractors and international consultancies providing advice on foundation design and construction, highways design and construction, contaminated land and ground water assessment and remediation, dewatering solutions, flood risk assessments, and carrying out environmental impact assessments He advised on such developments as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Heathrow Terminal 5, the Canary Wharf Development, Chapelcross and Sellafield nuclear power stations and designed the innovative foundations for the Huddersfield Town Football Club stadium.  He has particular experience of deep level drilling for the purposes of the installation of complex groundwater monitoring and sampling installations.

Nicholas Truelove

Nicholas is a full member of the Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury team at Kings Chambers and is regularly instructed to act for both Claimants and Defendants on a range of different matters in both the County Court and those claims issued in the High Court. Nicholas is happy to accept cases on a CFA basis and is often instructed to represent claims involving road traffic accidents including credit hire agreements, and is equally comfortable with public and employer liability matters. Nicholas also has experience in fatal accident claims often appearing on behalf of families at inquests and managing subsequent claims thereafter. Nicholas also represents both claimants and defendants in clinical negligence cases and has a particular expertise in representing clients in respect of missed or delayed diagnoses cases.  

Nigel Clayton

Nigel Clayton practises solely in Real Property Law including Probate and Trusts and related areas, and specialises in Mortgage Law and Litigation. He is regularly recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ in Real Property and Mortgage Law in the Legal 500. Accredited as a Civil and Commercial Mediator by the ADR Group.

Philip Robson

Philip has a broad planning and environmental practice, regularly appearing at inquiries.

Rosie Kight

Since transferring to the Bar, Rosie has built a strong and varied employment law practice, accepting instructions from both respondents and claimants.

Sarah Clover

Sarah is one of the leading barristers in the country in Licensing, acting for a wide range of clients. She has been involved in some of the most important cases in the last decade, and is a pioneer in this modern licensing regime.

Satinder Hunjan

Satinder Hunjan KC undertakes a range of general commercial work, insurance, private and manufacturing liability (including industrial plant and materials, consumer products and pharmaceuticals), construction and professional negligence (legal, sports, media, accountants and finance, architects and related professionals). The work that he undertakes is of very high value (multi million). It often involves issues which are novel and challenging. The matters are inevitably of particular complexity and often involve highly technical and specialist expert issues and disputes. He has a strong interest in work within an international framework including jurisdictional issues. Satinder has significant experience in the personal injury field of acting on behalf of claimants and defendants in major injury claims including injuries of the utmost severity, and he has a special interest in brain and spinal injuries. Satinder also undertakes litigation on behalf of claimants and defendants in all areas of clinical negligence. This includes substantial claims involving cerebral palsy and other birth injuries; severe brain and spinal injuries; injuries of the utmost severity; claims arising from the use of medical products and equipment; human rights; medical ethics and disciplinary and similar proceedings. Satinder Hunjan KC acts on behalf of medical and other professionals and interested parties in disciplinary and other similar proceedings and inquiries. He also acts in criminal proceedings which involve fatal, multi party and other very serious accidents and incidents and which are likely to have a significant impact on the workings and activities of the commercial and other organisations involved. He has acted in defence of many national and major companies and organisations in prosecutions brought by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities. He has been instructed by many of the major insurers and loss adjusters in such proceedings, seeking to preserve their interests in respect of any subsequent civil or commercial claims. His work includes advisory work undertaken in contemplation of criminal, disciplinary and other processes.

Simon Plaut

Serious Personal Injury, encompassing the full range of catastrophic injuries, brain injury, limb amputation, fatal accident and pain disorders. All Industrial Disease, mainly asbestos, but also industrial cancer, any toxic exposures, occupational asthma, deafness, dermatitis, RSI, upper limb disorders and stress at work.

Stephen Maguire

Stephen’s practice is focused on complex and high value litigation.  He handles cases of the utmost severity, which include traumatic brain and spinal injuries, severe orthopaedic conditions, chronic pain, amputation and fatal accident cases.

Wilson Horne

Wilson’s practice includes real estate law, with a bias towards contentious commercial property.