St John's Chambers

Personal Injury Catastrophic Injury Employers’ Liability Public Liability Industrial Disease Personal Injury Costs Pain litigation Highways & Rights of Way Inquests & Public Enquiries Mediation Property Damage & Insurance Disputes

Call: 1997

Matthew White, Head of Chambers, specialises in personal injury litigation. He is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers UK and Tier 1 in The Legal 500 guide. He is described by clients as the “master of fine detail” and “forensically thorough”.

With over 25 years’ experience, Matthew has expertise in serious injury claims, particularly brain and spinal injuries, highway law, industrial diseases (particularly asbestos), pain litigation, and inquests, as well as the more routine employers’ liability, public liability and road traffic claims.

In addition to personal injury work, Matthew has specialist expertise in highway law outside of the injury context, and in nuisance claims, particularly those involving invasive species.

Reported cases: Barlow v Wigan [2021] QB 229. Success for the claimant at the Court of Appeal in a personal injury claim concerning the creating of highways maintainable at public expense; path was highway maintainable at public expense because of when it was constructed. Young v Merthyr [2009] PIQR P23. A little old now, but worth mentioning alongside Barlow, because Young remains the modern restatement of the law that a landowner owes no duty in respect of defects on highways that are not highways maintainable at public expense, which Matthew successfully argued on behalf of the Defendant. Davies v Bridgend County Borough Council [2024] UKSC 15; [2024]2 WLR 1237. Success for the defendant council at the Supreme Court in a nuisance claim concerning the encroachment of Japanese knotweed. Jenkinson v Robertson [2022] 4 WLR 46. Overturned a finding of fundamental dishonesty on appeal on behalf of a claimant, inadequate notice having been given. Brown v South West Lakes [2022] QB 464. Success for the defendant in the Court of Appeal: an occupier does not owe a duty of care to protect drivers from dangers off the highway. Shelbourne v Cancer Research [2019] PIQR P16. Employer not liable for assault by one employee on another at an office Christmas Party. McDonald v (1) Department for Communities and Local Government; and (2) National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC [2013] EWCA Civ 1346; [2014] PIQR P7. Successfully resisted claim at trial and in the Court of Appeal arising from exposure to asbestos in the 1950s. The claimant succeeded against the defendant that Matthew did not represent at Court of Appeal and Supreme Court level based on the Asbestos Industry Regulations 1931. TR v Devon [2013] EWCA Civ 418; [2013] PIQR P19. Defendant driver settled a claim brought by an injured passenger, then successfully pursued the highway authority on the basis that the accident had been caused by a pothole (edge rutting/ haunch failure). Useful authority for the proposition that a highway authority can use a version of the Bolam test in relation to the care that they apply to highways. McKie v Swindon College [2011] EWHC 469 (QB). Successfully argued that a reference provided by defendant in relation to claimant was negligent and caused significant loss.

Personal Injury Bar Association

Oxford University (BA; MA).