Hailsham Chambers

Alexander Hutton

Alexander’s practice is focused in two fields: clinical negligence, for claimants and defendants, and all aspects of costs law. In both these fields, Alexander is recommended in the highest band of leading silks in the directories and acts in connection with a range of clinical negligence cases, with special focus on those of the most serious nature and highest value. He has also appeared in many of the leading costs cases over the last 20 years, and was chair of the committee that introduced the now mandatory electronic bill of costs. “Has an ability to cut through detail to the crux of a case with unerring accuracy and confidence” Legal 500 2021 “A go-to leader for big costs actions and cases concerning complex issues relating to the recoverability of success fees” Chambers UK 2021 “He is incredibly personable and has great tactical awareness” Legal 500 2020  “He always achieves what often seems to be an impossible result”  Chambers UK 2018 “He does what not many counsel do in that he’s equally good on paper as he is on his feet in court” Chambers UK 2017 “A likeable and knowledgeable silk, and an excellent advocate” “He is brilliant on his feet.” The Legal 500 2017 “Alex is a beautifully skilled advocate. He is good at cross-examination and affable and easy to work with.” Chambers UK 2016 It is said of him that “he has the sharpest intellect, technical prowess and among the best advocacy skills around” (The Legal 500 2014). In costs, “he has a superb command of costs law and is a measured and tenacious advocate” (Chambers UK 2015). He is regularly instructed in some of the largest and most complex clinical negligence actions. Over a number of years, he has appeared in a substantial number of the most important costs cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal. “A recent silk whose reputation continues to rise, thanks particularly to the strength of his intellect and the power of his courtroom advocacy”, “he’s an excellent all-rounder, who is very bright and good with clients” Chambers UK 2014 “He has the sharpest intellect, technical prowess and among the best advocacy skills around.’ Legal 500 2014. As the quotes above suggest, Alexander is an all-rounder with recognised strengths on paper, on mastering difficult medical and legal issues and in person with clients and in court, whether as a trial or appellate advocate. Alexander is instructed in cases involving all aspects of medicine and medical law, with particular emphasis on maximum value injury cases and those which involve complex medical and legal issues. He has always had a mixed practice of claimant and defendant work in both clinical negligence and costs.

Alexander Echlin

Alexander accepts instructions in professional negligence, clinical negligence, costs, and commercial disputes. He frequently acts in trials, interlocutory applications, inquests, and CCMCs. Alexander acted, with Simon Howarth, for the successful Defendant / Respondent in the Court of Appeal in Anderson v Sense Network Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 1395. The case concerned: i) the scope of a principal’s liability for the actions of his appointed representative under s.39 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; ii) common law vicarious liability; iii) the definition of ‘collective investment schemes’ under s.235 of FSMA 2000. Within the professional negligence field, Alexander has a particular expertise in claims involving solicitors and construction professionals (including architects). In July 2020 he successfully defended a claim brought against a firm of solicitors alleging that they should have advised the Claimants to apply for Multiple Dwellings Relief on Stamp Duty Land Tax. This was one of the first such claims to have gone to trial. Before coming to the Bar, Alexander worked at Dickinson, one of the world’s best-known dealers of fine art, as a specialist in Impressionist and Modern paintings, drawings, and sculpture.

Alice Nash

Alice’s practice is primarily focused on professional liability, medical law, costs and insurance disputes. Whether acting for the claimant or the defendant, she works hard to secure the most favourable outcome for the client by the swiftest means possible, whether by drafting robust pre-action correspondence and statements of case, advising in relation to settlement negotiations and Part 36 offers, acting in mediations, or by the shrewd use of interlocutory applications such as summary judgment, total or partial strike out and security for costs. Where settlement proves elusive, though, she is not afraid to advise fighting a meritorious case to trial. Her professional negligence practice encompasses disputes in relation to most sorts of professionals, and she has particular experience in claims involving allegations of negligence against solicitors, valuers and financial services professionals. Alice also advises and acts for both institutional and individual claimants and defendants in a range of other commercial matters, including disputes relating to insurance coverage. Her clinical negligence practice includes acting for claimants and defendants, both as sole counsel and as a junior, in high value cases arising from spinal injury, brain injury and obstetric negligence. She is comfortable with medical expert evidence and enjoys grappling with the difficult issues of causation that often arise in these cases. Understanding that litigation in this field can be particularly upsetting and stressful for both claimants and defendants, she aims to provide a thorough and rigorous analysis of the merits as early as possible so that the client receives an assessment of their prospects that is clear and realistic whilst being sensitive to the emotional nature of the case. At the Bar Pro Bono Awards 2019, Alice received a special commendation for taking on the most cases for Advocate (formally the Bar Pro Bono Unit) in 2018.

Alicia Tew

Alicia’s practice spans professional negligence, commercial, insurance, regulatory, medical law, public law and personal injury disputes. She appears frequently as sole counsel in the High Court and the County Court, and acts as a junior on larger cases. In 2018, Alicia returned from secondment to Herbert Smith Freehills LLP where she acted for insurers and FTSE 100 clients. Alicia graduated with a First in Law from Oxford University and worked as a research assistant at the Law Commission.

Andrew Post

Andrew undertakes clinical negligence, healthcare and disciplinary cases, and has particular expertise in dealing with technically complex medical issues. He acts and advises in major costs litigation, particularly where points of principle arise and on appeal. He is ranked as a leading silk by Chambers UK  and The Legal 500 in both Costs and Clinical Negligence.  Chambers UK 2020  ranked Andrew as a leading barrister in both clinical negligence and costs litigation and describes him as “a hard-working, intelligent and highly skilled advocate who fights until the very end” and “unflappable”.  The 2019 edition called him “a brilliant advocate who is very personable and extremely knowledgeable. He is a joy to work with” and “a skilled negotiator and a brilliant tactician”. It also said that “He is very knowledgeable and explains very complex cost arrangements very clearly, getting to the nub of the issue.” The Legal 500 2019  describes him as a “fiercely competitive advocate who will not let you down”.  The 2018 edition said that “He is a great counsel with a keen eye for detail, fantastic number work and excellent manner with clients.”  He is acknowledged as an impressive courtroom advocate as well as an effective negotiator. The Chambers UK 2018  directory described him as “a hard-working, intelligent and highly skilled advocate who fights to the very end for his clients” and “Dedicated, knowledgeable and highly capable”.  Many of Andrew’s cases are, of course, resolved by negotiation. He has very broad experience of alternative dispute resolution in all its forms, and he is regularly involved in round table meetings, mediations and arbitrations, as a participant, arbitrator or expert. 

Bramble Badenach-Nicolson

Following the successful completion of her probationary tenancy, Bramble joined Hailsham in June 2022. She previously undertook pupillage and secured tenancy at a criminal set. Bramble accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ practice. She is developing her clinical negligence and professional negligence practice and recently appeared for the Claimant in a two-day multi-track solicitors’ negligence trial at Plymouth County Court. Earlier this year, Bramble concluded a four-month secondment with the Professional Regulatory Sector at Capsticks LLP, working as part of a small team investigating Social Work England cases. She now accepts instructions in all healthcare disciplinary matters and regularly acts for registrants in NMC proceedings. As a Junior Junior on the Attorney General’s Panel, Bramble’s practice includes public inquiries. She is working on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care in the Infected Blood Inquiry and has previously been involved in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Bramble is committed to pro bono representation. She takes on cases at Advocate and has advised in professional negligence and regulatory matters. Bramble also volunteers for the AvMA helpline and serves on the AvMA inquest panel. She recently represented the family of a three-year-old girl with Trisomy 21 who died as a result of complications in her treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; the Coroner returned a conclusion of natural causes with a rider of neglect, to reflect the hospital’s failures in caring for the child. During her legal studies, Bramble volunteered at the Lambeth Law Centre, the Free Representation Unit and the Citizens Advice Bureau; she attended Social Security tribunal appeals with clients and made written submissions on their behalf. Bramble assisted in drafting the Health and Medicine Chapter in the Consumer and Trading Standards: Law and Practice Tenth edition, 2022; this involved researching the regulation of cosmetics, medical devices and medicines in the UK.

Catherine Ewins

Catherine acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants in clinical negligence and personal injury litigation. She also deals with solicitors’ negligence claims arising out of mismanaged clinical of personal injury litigation. She frequently undertakes high value and complex cases. She also has significant experience of disciplinary tribunal work, defending professionals before their regulatory body. She is recommended in both legal directories for clinical negligence and is described as “excellent in mediations and very impressive in conference” by Chambers UK, 2021.  According to Legal 500 2021 she “shows a determined and unrivalled drive to achieve the best for the client.” From 2014 to 2017, Catherine was instructed in the Ian Paterson (breast surgeon) litigation which has recently settled. This large scale litigation (over 700 claimants) involved many diverse issues such as whether a private hospital was primarily and vicariously liable for the torts of a surgeon and whether the NHS owed a duty of care to patients in the private sector, or to the private sector hospital itself, to take action where there were indications of malpractice in respect of an employed surgeon. Catherine prides herself on giving straightforward and to the point advice so that clients have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their cases. She always considers it very important to understand the perspective of each individual client. She remembers that for many clients their case may be the only time they are involved in litigation. Catherine realizes the importance of resolving cases in a cost-effective manner for insurers. Having taken on any case, whatever its strengths or weaknesses, Catherine will fight hard to achieve the best possible outcome.

Christopher Cooke

Christopher accepts instructions in Chambers’ core practice areas including commercial, costs and regulatory matters. He acts regularly in trials and interim hearings and has a busy paper-based practice advising and drafting pleadings. Christopher acts in a wide range of professional negligence matters and has undertaken a secondment at the professional indemnity team of a leading firm. He has particular experience in claims against solicitors and recently has advised in cases concerning allegations of negligent conveyancing, conduct of litigation and drafting of commercial agreements. Christopher has a varied clinical negligence practice and has appeared in the High Court and County Court in such cases. He is regularly instructed in high-value claims  concerning failure to diagnose cancer, surgical negligence and consent, amongst many others. Christopher also frequently advises and appears in court in personal injury cases. He acts for both claimants and defendants in cases involving allegations of fraud and fundamental dishonesty. He has acted in claims against employers, local authorities, highway authorities and motorists. He has significant experience of credit hire claims. Prior to joining Chambers, Christopher graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge with a First in Philosophy. After attending City Law School, he worked as an advocate for LPC Law. In that role he appeared in over 250 hearings in the County Court, including approval hearings, mortgage possession hearings, bankruptcy proceedings and CCMCs.

Clare Elliott

Clare has a busy practice across all Hailsham’s key practice areas and with particular focus on professional negligence and personal injury matters. Clare has acted in a wide range of cases against surveyors, mortgage brokers, architects, property managers and letting agents. She has particular interest and expertise in claims against lawyers, arising from a broad spectrum of practice areas. Clare enjoys appearing in court (whether in person, by telephone, or by video). She is frequently instructed to attend the County Court and High Court, both for interlocutory applications and for trial. Drawing on her busy court practice, Clare is also the lead author of ‘On Your Feet: A Practical Guide to Civil Advocacy’, an advocacy textbook published by Sweet & Maxwell in August 2019 in conjunction with the White Book. Clare has a strong paper-based practice and is often instructed to advise and draft pleadings in a wide variety of matters. She prides herself on providing practical and straightforward advice. She is mindful that litigation can be very stressful for clients and has a friendly and approachable manner which puts them at ease, particularly before appearing in court. She is similarly conscious of the need to be as cost-effective as possible, and to provide value for money.

Clementine Coram James

Clementine’s main areas of practice are personal injury, clinical negligence and professional discipline. She also acts in commercial matters, often involving property disputes. She has particular expertise in the regulation of medical professionals and members of the financial services industry after secondments at the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Financial Conduct Authority. In addition, Clementine has experience of public inquiries having been instructed as a junior for the Metropolitan Police service on the Undercover Policing Inquiry and in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Clementine regularly appears in the County Court, High Court and the Coroners’ Court. Her cases include fast track and multi track trials and contested applications where she appears for claimants and defendants alike. Her medical practice spans the full clinical spectrum with recent instructions including obstetrics, oncology, orthopaedic, dental and general surgery, acute medicine and general practice.  She is recognised  as a leading junior in the clinical negligence field by Legal 500, 2021.

Connor Jones

Connor Jones joined Hailsham as a member of Chambers in June 2023 upon successful completion of his third-six. He accepts instructions across all of Chambers’ practice areas both as sole and junior counsel. During his pupillage and third-six, Connor produced work in the fields of medical law, professional liability  and costs, as well as in a variety of shipping, aviation, and commercial contexts. Examples include: Settling pleadings, and advices in cases of commercial fraud. Settling pleadings, arbitration submissions, and advices in a wide variety of cargo claims. Drafting advices on a range of jurisdictional issues, including arbitration clauses and those arising under Rome II. Settling pleadings, arbitration submissions, and advices in safe port, off-hire, and other disputes arising from voyage, time, and demise charterparties. Settling pleadings for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of clinical negligence and FAA claims, including those with an international element. Advising on both quantum and merit in clinical negligence and personal injury disputes. Advising on a wide range of insurance disputes including those relating to run-off cover, aggregation, and the liability under the 1976 Limitation Convention. Settling pleadings, and advices in a range of professional negligence disputes. Drafting advices in respect of costs disputes, including disputes concerning litigation funding arrangements and CFAs. Connor regularly appears in the County Courts in interlocutory applications, approval hearings, and trials. He has extensive experience of credit hire disputes. Connor has also settled pleadings and represented defendants in subject access disputes under the UK GDPR.

Dan Stacey

Dan Stacey is a senior junior barrister who specialises in professional indemnity and costs litigation. He has been rated in the main directories for many years for both professional negligence and costs and he has appeared in numerous reported cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (including Page v Hewetts and Grondona v Stoffel). “Dan has a really good grasp of his subject area and is able to deliver advice in a really digestible way. He’s an excellent advocate who really knows his craft” Chambers UK 2021 “A pleasure to work with, he is very approachable, knowledgeable and professional.” Chambers UK, 2020 He is a co-editor of the latest (4th) 2019 edition of Friston on Costs and edited the Security for Costs chapter. He also provides advice and advocacy in areas related to his main areas of practice, including insurance and banking disputes, and regulatory and SDT matters.

David Pittaway

David Pittaway KC was Head of Chambers for a number of years, and was Treasurer of the Inner Temple in 2017. His principal practice areas are medical law, public inquiries, regulatory and disciplinary, product liability, personal injury, and insurance law. An increasing part of his practice is in resolving disputes before proceedings are begun or before trial, sitting as an arbitrator, mediator, or evaluator. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an Accredited Mediator. He is also a Panel Member of Independent Evaluation; in which role he has been appointed to give a neutral evaluation in cases. The main part of his practice is complex clinical negligence cases, where he is instructed on behalf of claimants, NHS bodies and medical defence societies. He has a particular interest in cases involving difficult issues of causation, where his skills in cross-examination of experts have been commented on in the main legal directories. Through his work in public inquiries, he has developed a discrete area of practice defending high profile clients in both the healthcare and non-healthcare sectors against reputational damage. He has substantial experience of large-scale litigation arising out of his involvement in The Cervical Screening Litigation, The Shipman Inquiry, The Kingsway Hospital, Derby Inquest, The Capper Pass Claims Review Scheme, The Northwick Park Clinical Trials Litigation, The Stepping Hill Hospital Deaths, Ian Patterson Group Litigation and The Hillsborough Inquests. He sits as a chair of the Bishops’ Disciplinary Tribunal and as an alternate to the President of Tribunals of the Church of England. He has given high-profile advice to senior members of the Church of England on disciplinary issues. He has advised medical and non-medical regulators on their procedures, ranging from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to the National Association of Funeral Directors. He has been instructed by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. He is ranked in the legal directories as a leading silk in medical law,  inquests and inquiries and in regulatory and professional discipline. Following his official visits to South East Asia as Treasurer of the Inner Temple in 2017, he now accepts instructions from Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Sri Lanka.

David Juckes

David has a broad practice including clinical and professional negligence, professional discipline, and personal injury. He has been instructed on inquests, civil trials and regulatory hearings. He drafts pleadings and advises in personal injury, clinical negligence and professional negligence disputes, and has also advised on matters of professional indemnity.

David Story

David’s areas of practice are professional negligence, commercial law, medical negligence, inquests, and personal injury. He is regularly instructed as an advocate in the High Court and the County Courts as well as Coroners’ Courts across England and Wales. He has extensive experience of acting in all of these areas, both in his own right and as part of a team in large and complex litigation. Recently, David has advised on settlement in a high value commercial matter, has been instructed as junior counsel in the Ian Paterson litigation and has acted in his own right in a number of inquests covered in the national press.

Derek Holwill

Derek Holwill specialises in professional negligence and clinical negligence claims. He is listed by both the Legal 500 and by Chambers UK in the top rank of juniors working in the professional negligence field. His work also includes advising on coverage issues and general insurance policy matters.  

Dominic Nolan

Dominic’s practice principally comprises complex clinical negligence and high-value, catastrophic personal injury claims. He has considerable experience and particular expertise in cases involving serious brain or spinal injury. He prides himself on being approachable and sensitive when dealing with all parties, especially in cases that arise under tragic circumstances. Dominic also has substantial experience of cases where complex issues regarding the extent of the employer’s duty have arisen. He has twice argued such cases in the Supreme Court in Baker v Quantum (deafness) in 2010 and in McDonald v National Grid (asbestos) in 2014. In addition, Dominic has experience of commercial, regulatory and costs litigation. On many occasions, he has acted for insurers where fraudulent or exaggerated claims have been challenged. Dominic is an accredited mediator and has acted as leading counsel in mediations in more complex cases.

Eva Ferguson

Eva is a determined and meticulous advocate who wants to win and believes her clients deserve nothing but her best endeavours. Eva is a leading junior in clinical negligence, and professional negligence and liability (primarily claims arising out of mishandled clinical negligence and personal injury litigation). She also undertakes personal injury and some costs work. Eva is sought after by both claimants and defendants and if the Directories are to be believed “her incisive intellect means that she is the obvious choice to navigate complex claims”. Eva will act on CFAs where appropriate and in general does not charge a success fee recoverable from the client’s damages. Eva’s guiding principles: For each client, their own case is the most important case. Most lay clients will never have had the misfortune to require the services of a barrister before. The majority will feel stressed, apprehensive and uncertain. For claimants, life-changing amounts of compensation may be at stake, whilst defendants may feel their professional reputation is under attack. To be entrusted with their litigation is both a privilege and responsibility. Consequently, Eva’s most important case is the case she is working on at any one moment in time. Winning means different things to different clients. Eva’s aim at all times is to identify what the client wants, how best to achieve it, and to give a comprehensive and realistic assessment of the case. The client is paying for an opinion, not doubts. Litigation and the law can be complex, but it should never appear so to the client. Eva’s role is to analyse the law, evaluate the evidence, explain the situation to the client, and to persuade (sometimes the client, but more usually the other side or judge). Explanation and persuasion require simplicity and clarity. The devil is in the detail. As a barrister, Eva’s specialist legal expertise is a given. However, to obtain mastery of the expert evidence or factual context of the specific case there is no substitute for sheer hard-work, grinding through the documents, and asking questions. Two heads are better than one. Eva is lucky to be instructed by many highly experienced and specialist solicitors and understands well the pressures and deadlines imposed on professional clients. She believes that effective teamwork and being proactive provides clients with the best service and value for money. Trial is the last recourse. Unless there is a real point of principle or fraud is involved, cases usually end up in court when one party has failed to understand the important issues and relative merits/value of the case. Clients instruct Eva because her finely crafted pleadings/schedules, robust approach to strike-out applications, and negotiation skills at RTMs/mediations are invaluable in assisting the other side achieve such understanding.

Francis Bacon

Francis specialises in professional negligence, commercial insurance and commercial litigation. He has extensive experience in acting for individual claimants, lending institutions and professional indemnity insurers in obtaining interim remedies in London and overseas. In 2017, Francis was named Professional Negligence Junior Barrister of the Year by Chambers & Partners. Francis has for many years been listed in the first ranks of Professional Negligence barristers in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Legal 500 2019 rates Francis as “the outstanding professional indemnity junior at the bar and a silk in all but name.”

Heather McMahon

Heather’s areas of practice are professional liability, commercial law, professional discipline and medical law. Her principal area of practice is professional liability claims and she is ranked as a leading junior in this area by Legal 500.  She acts for and against a wide range of professionals, with particular experience of claims against lawyers, surveyors, valuers, and financial professionals. Heather also has a busy commercial law and professional disciplinary practice. She appears regularly in the High Court, County Court and specialist tribunals. Before joining Chambers, Heather worked for the Government Legal Service for eight years, where she gained wide experience in public and regulatory law. She has an in-depth understanding of the demands on lay and professional clients, and takes a commercial and client-friendly approach to litigation.

Henry Bankes-Jones

Described by Legal 500, 2021 as “fantastic. He always delivers his work on time and without fuss. The advice is always very clear. He is also a fantastic advocate and has delivered some excellent results at trial.”, Henry’s professional practice extends to almost all aspects of Chambers’ work, encompassing professional negligence, medical law, and personal injury,  whilst acting for both claimants and defendants. He has recently successfully appeared in the Supreme Court case of Barton v Wright Hassall LLP [2018] UKSC 12, upholding the Court of Appeal and First instance Judge’s decisions surrounding the service of Claim Forms and litigants in person. He has particular experience of solicitors’ negligence and has been involved in an extensive series of claims brought by a range of lending institutions against surveyors’ firms.

Imran Benson

Imran is an experienced litigator who is well known for a robust but charming style of advocacy and excellent client service. He specialises in professional liability, commercial litigation, costs, insurance disputes, cyber law and disciplinary and regulatory controversies. He appears in domestic and foreign courts, before various regulators and a range of arbitration tribunals. He gives clear and straightforward advice even in the most complex and nuanced of cases. He is ranked in the legal directories for both professional negligence and costs and is instructed by national, City and international law firms, as well as institutional clients and HNW individuals. Imran is willing to consider direct public access instructions in appropriate cases.

Jake Coleman

Jake has a busy practice spanning the full range of Chambers’ core practice areas, with a particular focus on professional negligence and clinical negligence. He represents both claimants and defendants, appearing regularly in both the High Court and County Courts. Before completing pupillage at Hailsham in 2016, Jake spent a year working at a law firm in New York specialising in commercial litigation, two years working for the Medical Protection Society in London and had also undertaken an internship with a firm in Hong Kong specialising in clinical negligence and medical regulatory law.

James Gilberthorpe

James gravitated from a general common law practice towards a practice in which he specialises almost exclusively in clinical negligence and costs. James’ previous work before medical disciplinary tribunals means that he has a wealth of knowledge as to the practical workings of the healthcare sector, together with significant advocacy experience. His previous broader practice is an asset when examining costs issues across the legal specialities.

Jamie Carpenter

Jamie specialises in costs and professional and clinical negligence. Leading firms of solicitors in all three areas regularly instruct him, and his costs practice has an international dimension, having advised firms in Dubai, Singapore and the Channel Islands. Jamie is equally at home dealing with narrow points of construction or marshalling complex facts in document-heavy claims. He is a very experienced advocate, having spent much of his earlier years in practice in the criminal courts. Jamie is in demand as an appellate advocate. In the last three years, he has appeared twice in the Supreme Court and nine times in the Court of Appeal. With his scientific background, Jamie is comfortable dealing with technical and medical issues and complex calculations, and he is a confident and effective cross-examiner of expert witnesses. Jamie is recommended in the professional directories for all of his practice areas. He has been described as “technically brilliant”, “fantastic for complex cases”, “an extremely good advocate, who tackles complex issues fearlessly and effectively” and “incredibly user-friendly … and appreciates clients’ needs”.

Jane Tracy Forster

Jane specialises in medical law including clinical negligence claims and applications in the Court of Protection relating to the medical care of patients lacking capacity. She is also instructed in diverse employment and disciplinary disputes, usually for the employers, and in catastrophic personal injury claims. In the clinical negligence field, her instructions emanate from claimant firms, panel firms of the NHSLA and medical defence societies and insurers of private hospitals. In recent years, her employment practice has developed in relation to the education sector. She has represented many colleges and universities in tribunal, High Court and internal disciplinary proceedings. She is particularly interested in the interface between disciplinary processes relating to the employment of medical and allied professionals. She is a trained mediator and is experienced in the use of mediation in all her fields of interest. Jane has also been instructed in several inquests involving deaths in hospital. She is ranked as a leading junior in the field of clinical negligence in both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.  In 2017, Jane was shortlisted for Legal 500’s Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year Award.

Jane Malca Mishcon

Jane’s principal areas of practice are medical law (specialising in clinical negligence and independant inquiries) and healthcare related regulatory and disciplinary cases. In a case that established an important Court of Appeal authority on non-delegable duty of care, Jane successfully defended (with Martin Spencer QC) the liability for wrongful birth in Farraj v King’s Healthcare NHS Trust and Cytogenic DNA Services Ltd. She also chaired the inquiry into alleged misdiagnoses in the histopathology department at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Jane is ranked as a leading junior in both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

Joe Docherty

Joe accepts instructions in professional negligence, clinical negligence, personal injury, and regulatory and disciplinary. He acts in small claims and fast-track trials, CCMCs and interlocutory applications. He has particular experience in credit hire disputes. Joe is also developing his paper-based practice, drafting pleadings and providing written advice. In recent months, Joe has drafted pleadings in six-figure clinical negligence claims, solicitors’ and estate agents’ negligence claims, as well as in a variety of contractual disputes. Before coming to the Bar, Joe spent two years working in the compliance department of a City-based corporate. This experience provided a valuable insight into the commercial realities of regulation and the law.

Joshua Munro

Joshua is a leading junior in costs, professional negligence, construction, commercial litigation and insurance. For professional negligence, Chambers UK 2021 describe him as “collaborative, hardworking and sharply intelligent. An absolute delight to work with”.  Legal 500 2021 adds “You feel confident that you’ll get the best outcome possible with him on board.”   For Costs, Chambers UK 2021 writes that Joshua is “a leading junior and a very capable barrister.” and Legal 500 2021 says “he provides brilliant, sensible advice”

Julian Picton

Julian specialises in professional indemnity, clinical negligence and personal injury claims. He frequently acts for or against lawyers, accountants, surveyors and financial advisers. His professional negligence practice also includes general policy and coverage issues. Julian’s personal injury practice concentrates on substantial acquired brain and catastrophic injury claims, and claims brought under the Fatal Accidents Act. Since taking Silk in 2010, clinical negligence claims have become an increasingly large proportion of Julian’s practice. His clinical negligence work is primarily, but not exclusively, for claimants and predominantly comprises claims for birth related injuries and in particular cerebral palsy. Given Julian’s main areas of practice, he has special expertise in professional negligence claims arising out of mishandled personal injury and clinical negligence litigation. This is where his specialist knowledge is a particular advantage. As an editor of the leading textbook, McGregor on Damages, Julian also takes a keen interest in all difficult damages issues.

Justin Meiland

Justin specialises in medical law, professional liability, and professional discipline. He offers clear and practical advice combined with a sensitive approach to his clients’ needs. A robust advocate, he regularly appears in the County Courts and High Court. Justin has a busy and varied clinical negligence practice, acting for both claimants and defendants in a range of cases including high value claims involving complex expert evidence. He also advises and drafts pleadings in cases relating to solicitors’ negligence. Justin is regularly instructed to attend regulatory hearings relating to fitness to practise. He has represented practitioners at the NMC, GMC and HCPC and has been instructed in appeals including the Court of Appeal case of Doherty v NMC [2017] EWCA Civ 1344. Justin graduated with a Double First from Oxford University (Magdalen College). He received a Distinction in the Graduate Diploma in Law and an Outstanding in the Bar Vocational Course. “He is tremendously intelligent, conscientious and approachable.” Legal 500, 2018 “Very clever, calm and hardworking.” Legal 500, 2020 “He is able to digest large amounts of information and pull out key points extremely well.” Legal 500, 2021.

Lewis Dunsmure

Lewis joined Hailsham as a tenant following successful completion of his pupillage. He is developing a growing practice across all of Chambers’ practice areas, including medical law, professional negligence, personal injury, disciplinary and commercial law. Lewis completed pupillage under the supervision of Henry Bankes-Jones, David Jukes and Alicia Tew. During this time, Lewis gained experience drafting and advising in a variety of matters. Examples include: Drafting a Particulars of Claim in a conveyancing negligence matter where the claimant had purchased a unit in a student accommodation block which later became insolvent. Drafting a schedule of loss in a six-figure clinical negligence claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. Drafting a defence in a dental negligence claim which was complicated by the fact that the Defendant had passed away by the time the Particulars of Claim were served. Drafting a skeleton argument in response to a wasted costs application against a firm of solicitors. Advising an insurer on aggregation and the “prior practice” provision under an accountancy firm’s professional indemnity policy. Advising on liability and quantum in a professional negligence claim brought by the disappointed beneficiaries of a will, which had been amended on the basis of incorrect inheritance tax advice. Following pupillage, Lewis has grown a busy court practice and acts for both Claimants and Defendants in County Court trials, credit hire hearings, interlocutory applications, infant approval hearings, and CCMCs. Lewis is also developing a strong advisory and paperwork practice and accepts instructions to advise on liability and quantum as well as to draft pleadings, civil applications, and pre-action correspondence in all of Chambers’ practice areas. Lewis accepts instructions as both sole and junior counsel. Recently, Lewis was led as junior counsel in an interim freezing injunction application relating to a high value civil fraud action. Prior to pupillage, Lewis worked as a court clerk at Newcastle County Court, assisting Civil and Family judges at County Court and High Court level. Lewis also represented the Middle Temple in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot 2021.

Lucile Taylor

Lucile joined Chambers in 2019, having successfully completed pupillage under the supervision of Alice Nash, Henry Bankes-Jones and Jamie Carpenter QC. During pupillage, Lucile experienced a range of work in professional negligence, personal injury, clinical negligence, costs and commercial disputes. She conducted research for Michael Pooles QC and Matthew Jackson in Edwards v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 54. Lucile accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ areas of practice. She has a particular interest in civil procedure. She frequently acts in trials, interlocutory applications and CCMCs. She regularly appears as sole counsel in both the High Court and County Courts. She acted as junior counsel to Michael Pooles QC before the Court of Appeal in The Right Reverend, Nicholas Baines, Lord Bishop of Leeds & Anr v Dixon Coles and Gill (a firm) & Ors; Guide Dogs for the Blind Association & Ors v Box & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 1211. Before joining Chambers, Lucile worked for Quest Legal Advocates LLP as a county court advocate. She undertook cases pro bono for the Hackney Community Law Centre, Free Representation Unit (Employment) and School Exclusion Project. She conducted research for Robert Weir QC in Dryden v Johnson Matthey Plc [2018] UKSC 18.

Lucy MacKinnon

Lucy specialises in all aspects of medical law including clinical negligence claims and disciplinary proceedings. Lucy is listed in The Legal 500 as a leading junior in Clinical Negligence and Healthcare in which she is described to be a “determined advocate” known for her “overt reasonableness”. The 2017 edition says Lucy “provides sound judgment”. She also has a successful personal injury practice with a particular emphasis on fraud and credit hire claims. Lucy’s main area of expertise is clinical negligence and personal injury. Lucy acts for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of clinical negligence claims. She recently acted as junior counsel in a cerebral palsy claim which concluded after a five-day liability trial with a settlement totalling £1.5m following an alleged failure to diagnose meningitis in a four month old baby. She was involved in the MMR vaccination litigation having advised a claimant on a complex procedural issue. Lucy regularly represents practitioners in disciplinary proceedings before the Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council and British Psychological Society, with a particular emphasis on misconduct, competency and health issues. By way of example, Lucy has successfully defended nurses accused of inappropriately touching patients, sleeping on duty and making serious medication errors. Lucy successfully defended the nurse in NMC v C (2009), who was accused of exposing herself to a patient, which was widely reported in the tabloid press. In the general medical law field, Lucy has experience of data protection claims, disability discrimination, and limitation and consent issues. Lucy regularly attends inquests, most notably having represented the family of respected author, Luke Bitmead, concerning his death which was widely reported in the press. Lucy also has experience of mental health review tribunals. Lucy has an established practice in personal injury law, representing both claimants and defendants, with particular experience in road traffic accidents and large vehicle claims, fraud, credit hire, employer’s liability, and slip and trip claims. Lucy has a number of reported cases in the personal injury field. Lucy is able to work in the jurisdiction of New York State. When admitted to the New York Bar in June 2004, she was one of the youngest people ever to have passed the New York Bar exams. She has been awarded the honour of being an ‘Empire State’ Counsel by the New York State Bar Association. Lucy accepts instructions in all areas of clinical practice, and she has considerable experience in unusual claims. By way of example, Lucy acted in Moore v Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust (2010) LTLPI 12/5/2010, a case which involved excessive doses of Linezolid. Lucy recently represented a young claimant who obtained a settlement following a delay in providing appropriate treatment for hepatitis. Lucy has also earned the title of ‘Clinical Negligence Lawyer of the Year’ in Lawyer Monthly’s Women in Law Awards 2017!

Margaret Griffin

Margaret has a formidable reputation in the fields of commercial, commercial chancery and professional liability litigation.  She has particular expertise in dealing with contentious trust matters, claims by and against trustees, director and officer (D&O) claims, shareholder claims, property disputes, fiduciary duties, civil fraud matters and professional negligence of solicitors, barristers, surveyors, architects and other professionals.  Margaret is very experienced in obtaining injunctions in the High Court and other urgent, and non-urgent, interim remedies in matters across her practice areas. Margaret is consistently recommended as a leading junior by the legal directories in the fields of commercial, chancery and property litigation.  She is described as being “fearless”, “utterly tenacious”, “unstoppable” and “something to be reckoned with” in the courtroom.   As well as being known for the quality of her advocacy, Margaret has a reputation for being commercially astute, a tough negotiator, and someone who immediately inspires confidence in her clients.

Mark Friston

Dr Mark Friston is a leading expert on the law of costs and is the general editor of the leading textbook on the topic, Friston on Costs.  His book, published by Oxford University Press is frequently cited in court, both in this jurisdiction and elsewhere.  For further details or to order please see here. Mark is now in full-time practice where he advises on all aspects of costs and litigation funding. Legal 500 2021 states that Mark ‘‘has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law and the costs judges respect him. He has a gentle manner and style but is not afraid to be persistent.”

Matthew Jackson

Matthew specialises in clinical negligence, professional negligence, personal injury and general insurance work. In all his fields of practice, he acts mainly for defendants on instructions from insurers and medical defence organisations. He has established a reputation defending high-value clinical negligence claims for such clients as the NHSLA, the Medical Defence Union (MDU) and the Medical Protection Society (MPS).

Michael Pooles

Michael Pooles KC’s principal area of practice is that of professional indemnity claims and related coverage issues. He frequently acts for or against lawyers, accountants and surveyors but also acts for or against all manner of professionals including areas such as veterinary science, land management and fish farming. He is frequently instructed in costs matters. His practice also includes general insurance matters of all types and substantial personal injury claims. Michael is consistently ranked as a leading silk in the areas of professional negligence and costs by the leading directories and was Chambers & Partners’ 2008 and 2016  Silk of the Year for Professional Negligence.  Michael was formerly one of editors of the solicitors’ chapter of Professional Negligence and Liability.

Michael Patrick

Michael joined Chambers in September 2017, following successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Nick Peacock, Joshua Munro and Simon Wilton. During this time, Michael experienced a wide range of Chambers’ practice areas, including professional negligence, clinical negligence, regulatory, commercial and costs matters. Michael has substantial oral advocacy experience, having acted in over five hundred hearings as a solicitors’ agent prior to pupillage. Such hearings included: small claims default and summary judgment applications infant approval, bankruptcy and possession hearings

Niamh O'Reilly

Niamh specialises in professional liability matters with particular experience in claims against lawyers, surveyors, valuers and financial professionals. In addition, Niamh is regularly instructed to advise on policy coverage and general commercial matters. Niamh is a confident advocate with wide-ranging experience of representing clients in general commercial and common law disputes from the County Court to the Court of Appeal. She appeared for the successful defendant (with William Flenley QC) in the High Court case of Harding Homes v Bircham Dyson Bell [2015] EWHC 3329 (Ch D), a ten-day solicitors’ negligence claim focusing on causation and damages for loss of a chance.

Nicholas Peacock

Nick specialises in clinical negligence work, regulatory and disciplinary work (particularly GDC, MPTS/GMC and GOC) and general healthcare law (particularly inquests). Clients who instruct Nick include patients and their families and healthcare professionals (via their defence organisations or professional indemnity providers) and NHS Trusts (via NHS Resolution). Nick advised the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on their jurisdiction and procedures in cases of adverse health. He is particularly experienced in claims involving GPs. He also has an interest in cases involving dental practice and has advised commercial dental organisations as well as undertaking dental disciplinary work and claims. He is recommended in the areas of clinical negligence and professional discipline in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500, being described as “analytic, strategic and a robust advocate. He is extremely hard working and meticulous.” in Legal 500, 2021 Nick was Chair of the Bar Council’s Wellbeing at the Bar Working Group in 2019. He is a longstanding elected member of the PNBA’s executive committee and has organised their annual Clinical Negligence weekend.

Nicholas Pilsbury

Nicholas specialises in professional and clinical negligence. He also acts in commercial matters, often involving insurance disputes. He offers clients rigorous legal analysis together with pragmatic, commercial advice. Nicholas has acted in a wide range of cases against IFAs, accountants, insolvency practitioners, surveyors, planners and auctioneers. He has particular expertise in claims against lawyers, arising out of almost all areas of legal practice. Nicholas also has a busy clinical negligence practice with recent cases ranging from birth injuries to fatal accidents. He is also instructed to appear at inquests where there is the potential for claims later to be brought against treating clinicians.

Nicholas Davidson

Nicholas Davidson KC is a commercial litigator, mediator and arbitrator.  One of the most experienced practitioners at the London bar, Legal 500 2022 describe him as “the very definition of a legal eagle.” And Chambers 2022 comment that he has “serious gravitas”. Nicholas joined Hailsham Chambers in 2022 and brings a wealth of experience in his core practice areas of commercial litigation, professional liability and insurance and reinsurance. He always aims to combine a in-depth knowledge of the law with commercial awareness and is committed both to understanding and achieving his clients’ objectives.

Nicola Rushton

Nicola specialises in professional negligence and commercial claims, especially those with a property or finance dimension. Her areas of expertise include: professional negligence of surveyors, solicitors and accountants; lender claims and all issues connected with secured lending; all types of claim arising from commercial contracts; director and officer (D&O) claims; insolvency, individual and corporate; freezing orders, fraud, tracing and constructive trusts. She has a niche specialism in enforcement of legal aid regulations and legal aid costs. Clients instruct Nicola because of her collaborative and practical approach to problems. She is engaging and robust and enjoys getting her teeth into complex commercial disputes. She is adept at dealing with numerical and financial data, and has a knack for making complicated issues or concepts easy for her clients and others to understand. She communicates clearly and has a keen awareness of commercial realities. She prides herself on being accessible, friendly and prompt with her advice. Nicola also sits part-time as a Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in London.

Nicola Campbell-Clause

Nicola has a busy practice and specialises in claims arising out of professional and clinical negligence, commercial disputes and personal injury. She is frequently instructed by both claimants and defendants to appear in the county courts and in the High Court. Nicola is also briefed to attend inquests and to represent professionals in regulatory and disciplinary tribunals. Alongside her court work, she is instructed to draft pleadings and to advise in a wide range of matters relating to her principal areas of practice.

Peter Ellis

Dr Peter Ellis joined Hailsham Chambers in January 2018. He is ranked by the Legal 500 (Tier 1) and Chambers & Partners (Band 1) as a leading junior in clinical negligence at the London Bar. Legal 500, 2021 say: ‘He gives thorough, well considered advice born of many years’ experience.’ Dr Peter Ellis is instructed by many of the UK’s leading firms on complex clinical negligence cases, including obstetric and other brain and spinal cord injury claims. His practice benefits from his experience as a former hospital doctor specialising in internal medicine, and as a former solicitor at DAC Beachcroft. Dr Ellis is also a CEDR trained mediator, and is experienced at representing parties at round table settlement conferences and other forms of ADR. Dr Ellis is in great demand for his expertise in relation to coroners’ inquests, where he uses his experience as a former Assistant Coroner in London for 20 years’. He is regularly instructed in complex healthcare cases, including cases involving medicinal products and devices, and deaths in nursing homes. He also undertakes cases involving workplace accidents and road traffic accidents, where issues of sub-standard medical treatment arise. He has represented bereaved families, healthcare providers, employers, insurers, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, and company officers. He undertakes a significant amount of related fatal accident litigation.

Richard Anderton

Richard joined Chambers in October 2012 and has developed his practice in all areas of Chambers’ work, including professional negligence, medical law, personal injury and regulatory and disciplinary work. He is ranked as a leading junior in Professional Negligence by The Legal 500, where he is described as ‘down to earth and practical, with superb drafting skills’. Richard is regularly instructed on behalf of both claimants and defendants in a wide range of hearings before the County Courts and the High Court. He is frequently asked to advise and draft statements of case, particularly in professional and clinical negligence cases. Richard also regularly represents practitioners before regulatory tribunals. Richard obtained a first at Oxford in Modern History and a distinction on the Graduate Diploma in Law at City University. During his BVC year, he won the Lincoln’s Inn Open Mooting Competition and the Crowther Shield Advocacy Competition.

Sarah Christie-Brown

Sarah specialises in medical law, clinical negligence, inquests and disciplinary work. She acts for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of clinical specialisms and at inquests on behalf of families and other interested parties, including Trusts. She has particular interest in professional negligence cases against solicitors arising out of clinical negligence litigation. She also undertakes general personal injury work. Sarah’s experience in disciplinary work has included the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Dental Council and the Health and Care Professions Council. In particular, she has been instructed regularly by the Royal College of Nursing, appearing frequently before all committees of the NMC. Sarah’s practice also includes criminal injuries compensation cases.

Simon Wilton KC

Simon is a highly experienced junior barrister specialising in professional negligence, professional regulation, and commercial disputes – particularly in the insurance field. He has wide experience of interlocutory, trial and appellate advocacy, arbitration work, and all kinds of alternative dispute resolution including acting as an adjudicator under the PNBA adjudication scheme (which he was partly responsible for developing). Simon was short-listed (one of three) by Chambers & Partners as professional negligence junior of the year in 2014, 2016 and 2021 (he is a relentless optimist). Simon was head of the Professional Negligence Group at Hailsham Chambers from 2016-2021. “Simon is incredibly good on his feet. He has an exceptional courtroom manner and an effortless ability to get the judge on side. Outstanding depth of knowledge in all aspects of professional negligence. He is more than ready to be in silk.” Legal 500, 2022 “Amazing ability to retain knowledge of the huge number of documents in professional negligence cases and apply them when needed. Excellent cross examiner, really drills down to the issues.” Legal 500, 2021

Simon Howarth

Simon concentrates on professional negligence. His work principally involves lawyers, accountants, and financial advisers, and related professional indemnity insurance disputes. He also has experience with commercial cases, and TCC claims with a professional negligence aspect, as well as TCC actions arising out of fire, flood and the like. He is admitted to practise in the Republic of Ireland and the International Finance Centre in Dubai. Simon is a PNBA accredited adjudicator and accepts appointments in all of his areas of professional negligence practice. Simon was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1991. He was a pupil at 2 Crown Office Row, which later became part of Crown Office Chambers. He then became a tenant at those Chambers until moving to Hailsham in 2011. In his early years at the Bar, Simon’s practice was broad based, helping him gain important “on his feet” experience before all types of tribunal. Simon is shortlisted as Professional Negligence Junior of the Year in the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2020

Stephen Bailey

Stephen specialises in professional liability, medical law, commercial disputes and costs. He acts for and against a wide variety of professionals, including solicitors, surveyors, valuers, brokers, accountants and financial advisers, amongst others. He is ranked as a leading junior in Professional Negligence by Legal 500 who say “he inspires confidence in the clients.’ Stephen also acts for claimants and defendants in clinical negligence claims, and has advised on a broad range of such matters. He combines his work in the fields of professional liability and medical law with expertise in costs. He prides himself on providing practical, commercial advice and being approachable and sensitive to his clients’ needs. He is a robust advocate with broad experience, ranging from the County Court to the Court of Appeal.

Tejina Mangat

Before being called to the Bar, Tejina worked as a junior doctor in Accident and Emergency medicine. She has extensive experience in all areas of clinical negligence and in high value claims. She has been a member of the editorial panel of Facts and Figures, Tables for the Calculation of Damages, since the first edition in 1996. She was Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year in the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019.

Thomas Crockett

Thomas specialises in clinical negligence, professional negligence, and personal injury law. He is regularly instructed in a wide range of clinical negligence claims against all manner of medical professionals. He has an interest in claims concerning alleged surgical negligence, consent issues, and alleged incorrect diagnoses. He drafts pleadings, regularly advises on both claimant and defendant parties on paper and at conference and his advocacy experience extends from all forms of interlocutory applications to trials. He is adept at negotiating settlements at joint meetings and at mediations. Thomas receives regular instructions in cases concerning alleged negligence by a range of professionals, including solicitors in respect of historic litigation. He is developing a practice specialising in allegations concerning the litigation of previous personal injury and clinical negligence claims. In his personal injury practice, Thomas has a particular interest in claims involving complex causation disputes, complex psychiatric and spinal injuries, and cases where fraud is alleged. He has experience of coronial law and inquests acting for both families and interested parties. Thomas was listed as a leading individual in the 2021 edition of Legal 500 and described as “‘A brilliant technical expert and an innovative strategist”.

Thomas Phillips

Thomas completed his pupillage at Hailsham Chambers under the supervision of Thomas Crockett, Imran Benson, and Heather McMahon. Prior to joining Chambers, Thomas worked for a number of years as a paralegal at a specialist commercial litigation firm. There, he worked on domestic and multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes variously involving issues of: breach of contract, civil fraud, banking & financial markets law (in particular, FSMA, ss.90 and 90A), jurisdiction, privilege, costs, and insurance. Consequently, he understands the issues and pressures which solicitors acting in this area regularly face and has experience assisting with matters such as disclosure (generally and under PD 51U), preparing for CMCs and interim hearings, as well as preparing case documents and witness statements. Following his time as a paralegal, Thomas was a Commercial Fast Stream Trainee for a year in the Civil Service where he was posted to the Ministry of Justice. There, he advised on the management and procurement of contracts for the accommodation of individuals leaving prison at risk of homelessness.  As a result, he was exposed to a broad range of commercial issues and developed an understanding of how large organisations approach disputes. Thomas has also interned at the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (where he represented clients in appeals against benefits decisions) and the AIRE Centre (where he drafted letters to clients advising them of their EEA rights). Accordingly, Thomas has experience of working with and assisting lay clients. Over the course of his pupillage, Thomas gained experience of clinical negligence matters (during his seat with Thomas Crockett) and professional negligence and insurance matters (during his seats with Imran Benson and Heather McMahon). He is keen to develop a practice in all the core areas of Chambers’ work.

Tom Stafford

Tom joined chambers in 2019, after the successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Dr Peter Ellis, Imran Benson, and Nicholas Peacock. Tom’s practice spans professional negligence, commercial, insurance, medical and personal injury disputes. Tom appears frequently as sole counsel in the High Court and County Courts. Prior to coming to chambers, Tom graduated with a Double First in Law from Queens’ College Cambridge. After graduating, Tom worked in the professional and financial disputes team of a leading city law firm, completed an LLM at the University of Edinburgh, and worked as a Research Assistant at the Scottish Law Commission.

William Flenley

William Flenley KC practises in the fields of professional liability, insurance, regulatory and contract law.  He has appeared in a number of leading cases relating to the liability of professionals, including a trio of recent reported cases in the Court of Appeal: Addlesee v Dentons Europe [2020] Ch 243 (privilege), Group Seven v Notable Services [2020] Ch 129 (dishonest assistance in breach of trust), and Various Claimants v Giambrone & Law [2018] PNLR 2 (application of Saamco).  He is co-author of the best known practitioners’ book on claims against solicitors, Flenley & Leech, The Law of Solicitors’ Liabilities.   The first edition was published in 1999 and the fourth edition in August 2020. William is a former Chairman of the Professional Negligence Bar Association. He has contributed to Cordery on Legal Services and Professional Negligence and Liability, was deputy editor of Lloyd’s Reports: Professional Negligence, and has lectured in law at the London School of Economics. He is a Bencher of the Middle Temple. He has been recommended as a leading barrister practising in professional liability by each of the two principal directories for many years and has been shortlisted in the Chambers Bar Awards 2020 as Professional Negligence Silk of the Year.  William is also a board member of Thames Reach, a homelessness charity.