Ropewalk Chambers

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Abigail holds a First Class (Honours) degree in Law and was graded Outstanding on the BPTC (1st in year). She joined Ropewalk Chambers as a tenant in 2020. Abigail has a busy court practice encompassing trials, applications, CMCs, and CCMCs. She also enjoys a thriving paperwork practice and is regularly instructed in multi-track cases to draft advices, pleadings, schedules, and counter-schedules of loss. Abigail is a Harmsworth Scholar (Middle Temple) and received the Dean’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence, the Richard Bagley Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Pro Bono Activity and the Taylor Prize from Nottingham Law School. In 2022, she was shortlisted for Advocate’s Young Pro Bono Barrister of the year. As an undergraduate, Abigail won four major mooting competitions, each judged by Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and/or High Court judges. Her presentation was described by Lord Hodge as “particularly impressive”. Abigail is a member of the Government Legal Department’s Junior Junior scheme. She is a member of Chambers’ Editorial Committee and an Editor for the Ropewalk Personal Injury Blog.

Alex Denton

Alex has been described by her clients as a ‘very impressive’ advocate with a ‘robust’ approach to drafting. She accepts instructions in Chambers’ key practice areas on behalf of claimants and defendants alike, with particular experience and interest in personal injury law. Alex regularly delivers seminars (and particularly in the midst or wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, webinars) on developments within civil law. Recent topics include employers’ liability, occupiers’ liability and procedural changes following the implementation and progress of the Damages Claims Portal. Alex studied law at the University of Leeds. She graduated in 2013 with a first class degree in the top 5% of her year and was awarded the University Prize for Jurisprudence. She completed the BPTC in London and was awarded a Harmsworth Scholarship by the Middle Temple. Prior to joining Ropewalk Chambers, Alex worked within litigation teams in law firms based in the UK and abroad, gained experience as a County Court advocate and undertook pro bono casework for the Free Representation Unit and Citizens Advice Bureau. Prior to a career in law, Alex lived and worked in Shenyang, China as an English language teacher, obtaining a teaching qualification from Beijing University of International Business and Economics in 2009.

Alexandra Pountney

Alex enjoys a busy and fast-paced practice, focusing on personal injury, clinical negligence, inquests and industrial disease. She is regularly instructed in high-value and complex cases, with a skill for unpicking challenging issues of medical causation and knotty factual disputes. Robust in oral and written advocacy, Alex’s practice includes a healthy mix of Claimant and Defendant work. She prides herself on being balanced and approachable to both professional and lay clients. With an eye for detail, Alex is adept at working her way through voluminous documents and conducting conferences with experts across a range of disciplines. Alex assisted with legal research in the landmark case of Zurich -v- Hayward [2017] AC 142. She regularly advises and provides representation in cases involving allegations of fraud or fundamental dishonesty. Before coming to the Bar, Alex worked in a busy clinical negligence team at a firm of solicitors. She has also worked for the Criminal Cases Review Commission, where she drafted submissions to the Ministry of Justice on proposed legislative changes to the law of joint enterprise. Alex studied Philosophy and Politics at the University of Southampton. She completed the GDL and BPTC at the University of Law, where she was awarded the BPTC Advocacy Prize for obtaining the highest advocacy marks in her year. She is a Benefactors’ Scholar of the Middle Temple and received the Kalisher Internship Award in recognition in of her potential to succeed at the Bar.

Andrew McNamara

Andrew was called to the Bar in 1992. He practices in personal injury, including the fatal and catastrophic; all aspects of employers’ liability, especially industrial disease; inquests; and clinical negligence. Andrew draws upon 30 years’ experience at the Bar, as a former Assistant Coroner and a former Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (Residential Property Chamber). Andrew regularly delivers further education by way of lectures and webinars to solicitors and insurers. Andrew has been consistently ranked in legal directories for many years and has been described variously as a ‘superb advocate’ with a ‘robust and penetrative’ style of cross examination; ‘redoubtable in a trial’; and possessing ‘a good rapport with everybody and a very good manner in court’.

Cassandra Williams

Cassandra has a successful civil law practice. She regularly appears in the County Court acting for both claimants and defendants in Fast and Multi Track trials, disposal hearings, detailed assessments, interim applications, case management hearings, small claims and infant and patient approval hearings. She also has experience of tribunal hearings. Cassandra accepts instructions in all areas of civil law, including but not limited to personal injury, fraud, employment, housing and commercial. She has developed a strong paperwork practice and is regularly instructed to draft advices on merits and on quantum and to settle pleadings. She is a fearless, driven and tenacious advocate. She represents her clients with vigour and relentless determination. She prides herself on being approachable, enthusiastic, friendly and attentive to her clients' needs, whilst also recognising the importance of being realistic and appropriately managing her clients' expectations. She also has experience of clinical negligence claims. Cassandra is willing to accept instructions on a conditional fee and pro bono basis where appropriate.

Clare Haddon

Clare practices principally in personal injury related claims, clinical negligence, counter fraud, professional discipline and regulation, costs and employment cases. Prior to coming to the Bar, she worked for the British Council for ten years, principally in South America and South Asia. She speaks Spanish fluently.

Damian Powell

Damian joined Ropewalk in 2018, having practised at the Bar in London for 15 years, undertaking personal injury and disease litigation. His practice incorporates all aspects of Chambers’ personal injury, disease and clinical negligence work. Damian has been involved in a number of recent, notable disease cases – please see the ‘disease’ section below. He is ranked in the Legal 500 as a leading junior, Tier 2, for Personal Injury on the Midlands Circuit.

Daniel Wood

Dan practises in all areas of civil law, and specialises in the fields of commercial, personal injury, counter fraud and inquests.

Deborah Davies

Having achieved a good grounding in all areas of general common law, Deborah now specialises in personal injury law. Until recently, Deborah continued to practise in employment law, which continues to assist her in her personal injury practice.

Edward James

Ed is an experienced and successful Barrister of more than 20 years Call. Having undertaken pupillage and secured tenancy with Chambers in London, Ed practiced there for several years before joining Ropewalk Chambers in 2008. Ed specialises in serious injury work (mainly high value personal injury and clinical negligence cases) and regularly deals with claims involving fraud. He is a very experienced barrister who is used to dealing with high value, complex cases and has a number of loyal solicitors, on both sides, who repeatedly instruct him for his sound advice and representation at settlement meeting or trial. Ed is a personable and articulate advocate, who prides himself on getting the best result for his lay and professional clients, whether that be in negotiation through to settlement, or at trial. His practice over the years has provided him with a wealth of litigation and advocacy experience in the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court, County Court, Administrative Court, Coroner’s Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and the Old Bailey.

Georgina Crawford

Georgina is typically instructed in catastrophic and other high-value claims in the High Court and multi-track matters in the County Court. Her particular expertise is in Animals Act claims. Georgina was successful in the much publicised High Court case of Ford v Seymour Williams in 2021, against a silk. With leading counsel in the Court of Appeal, she went on to win the appeal [2021] EWCA Civ 1848. Her practice also routinely includes inquests, clinical negligence, disease work, road traffic accidents and the full raft of public and employer’s liability claims. Her practice is both claimant and defendant.

Georgina Cursham

Georgina is a top-ranked leading junior in the Legal 500 directory for personal injury and inquest work, as well as having been recommended in Chambers & Partners Guide for Personal Injury every year for the last 7 years. She has a wide-ranging personal injury and clinical negligence practice, with a particular focus on catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims. She is esteemed for her specialist expertise in personal injury claims involving the Animals Act, as well as equine contractual disputes. She knows her way around the Coroner’s Courts, with extensive experience in Article 2 jury inquests arising from deaths in custody, as well as inquests into deaths arising from suspected failures in diagnosis and medical treatment.

Hollie Birkett

Hollie receives instructions for both claimants and defendants in various types of hearings, from short and straightforward interim applications to often paper-heavy or legally complex fast-track trials. Hollie has a particular eye for identifying and analysing legal issues in a case and being able to express those issues in a way which is accessible to lay clients, solicitors, and the bench. She has received praise for her clear and thorough approach to both paperwork and court work. Prior to joining Chambers, in 2017, Hollie graduated from the University of Nottingham with a 2:1 in Law, having attained a 1st in 5 of the 7 core modules. The BPTC was completed at Nottingham Law School in September 2017, before which Hollie had already secured pupillage with Ropewalk Chambers to commence in October 2018. She also received the Nottingham Law School Dean’s Professional Courses Scholarships for Academic Excellence whilst undertaking the BPTC.

Jack McCracken

Jack studied the GDL and BPTC at Nottingham Law School. While there he represented claimants in the Employment Tribunal as a volunteer with the Free Representation Unit. He was awarded the Holt Award (BPTC scholarship) and an overseas internship scholarship by Gray’s Inn. Before starting pupillage, he worked for six months as a paralegal on a derivatives project at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, before travelling to Malawi to complete an internship with a charity which supports prisoners. Jack joined Chambers after finishing pupillage in October 2014. He has gained experience in all of Chambers’ practice areas, and aims to develop a wide civil practice.

James Howlett

James read Law at the University of Bristol before being awarded a Blackstone scholarship by the Middle Temple. He practised at KCH Garden Square in Nottingham for many years, before moving to Ropewalk Chambers in 2014. He is highly experienced in the fields of property-related litigation and commercial disputes of all types, and also has a specialised practice in CMR (carriage of goods by road). James’ approach is to understand the client’s position, advise in clear, non-technical language what the options are, and guide the client to a practical and commercially sensible outcome. He regularly acts for and against local authorities and is familiar with the work and culture of local government. He accepts instructions from professionals other than solicitors, as well as direct access instructions, and is a qualified arbitrator and mediator. Notable cases include: Fitzhugh v Fitzhugh [2012] EWCA Civ 694 (property law; licence to occupy land).

Jason Cox

Jason specialises principally in high-value personal injury, clinical negligence, disease, counter fraud and regulatory defence work. He has a particular speciality in claims involving underground services damage. He is highly regarded for his formidable cross-examination skills and keen eye for detail. Many clients instruct him as an alternative to using leading counsel in catastrophic claims. Notable cases include: Hullock v East Riding of Yorkshire CC [2009] EWCA Civ 1039 (successful appeal relating to payment of costs by a claimant who had exaggerated claim and in light of video evidence had settled claim for the same sum received by way of interim payments many months earlier. Claimant was ordered to pay costs of the defendant since the date of the interim payment); British Telecommunications plc v Geraghty & Miller International Inc [2004] EWHC 2095 (QB) (the leading case concerning the scope and quantification of damages recoverable by BT for negligent damage to its apparatus. Claimant failed to recover more than defendant’s Part 36 offer after a two-week Mercantile Court trial and was ordered to pay costs exceeding £1m); Paintin v Stella Musical Production Ltd [2003] 5 QR (the first reported case of provisional damages following DVT with late risks of DVT/thrombophlebitis).

Jessica Woodliffe

Jessica holds a double first-class degree in Law from Downing College, University of Cambridge. She was graded Outstanding on the Bar Professional Training Course at Nottingham Law School. Jessica accepts instructions from claimants and defendants across all areas of Chambers’ work. Jessica joined Ropewalk Chambers in December 2020 after 12 months of pupillage under the principal supervision of Jonathan Owen. During pupillage, Jessica gained experience in personal injury, disease and clinical negligence work and is keen to develop a broad practice. Before joining Chambers, Jessica volunteered for the Free Representation Unit in disability benefit appeals and worked at the housing charity Framework. She received an Exhibition Scholarship and Allan Levy award from the Inner Temple and a Senior Harris Scholarship from Downing College, Cambridge. As an undergraduate, Jessica won the University of Law National Mooting Competition in 2015 and was a semi-finalist in the Oxford French Law Mooting Competition in 2013.

Kam Jaspal

Kam regularly appears in the County and High Courts, and has also appeared in the Court of Appeal. In addition, he has acted as an examiner of the Court (on appointment by the senior master). He has enjoyed a broad civil practice for a number of years and has developed particular expertise in the fields of personal injury, disease and property.

Kate Longson

Kate enjoys a fast-paced practice focussed on personal injury, disease, commercial and property litigation. She was appointed to the Attorney General’s Regional C Panel in 2020. She accepts instructions in Fast and Multi-Track matters, both at first instance and on appeal. She regularly appears in the County and High Courts on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants. Kate is a first-rate advocate with a wealth of trial experience. She is often instructed in complex and high-value matters and prides herself on outstanding analytical ability and attention to detail. Kate also has a busy paperwork practice and is regularly asked to draft pleadings and schedules, and to advise, in complex and high value cases, including catastrophic personal injury claims and fatal accidents. Friendly and approachable, Kate strives to make herself available to those who instruct her to promote a collaborative approach to litigation. Kate frequently delivers seminars to solicitor and insurer clients. Recent topics include the Animals Act, vicarious liability, claims against the MIB and Force Majeure. Before coming to the Bar, Kate completed an internship at the Ghana Legal Aid Scheme in Accra, Ghana. She is a Hardwicke, Denning and Buchannan scholar of Lincolns Inn. Kate studied the BPTC at Manchester Metropolitan University and was graded Outstanding, receiving the Deans Excellence Award for achieving the highest overall marks in her year.

Katie McFarlane

Katie practises predominantly in the areas of personal injury and industrial disease (NIHL); she has a busy paperwork practice and appears in court on an almost daily basis. Katie is a Lord Denning, Lord Brougham and Hardwicke Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn.

Kayleigh Brooks

Kayleigh studied law at the University of Cambridge before completing the BPTC at Cardiff Law School, where she was graded Outstanding. She received the Lord Justice Holker Award from Gray’s Inn for her BPTC year and was awarded the Oxford University Press Law Prize for the Best Performance in Civil Practice on the BPTC. Prior to joining Chambers, Kayleigh worked as an Assistant Advocate at a law firm, appearing in numerous hearings and as a Housing Officer for a Housing Association tackling anti-social behaviour. As a Housing Officer she drafted pleadings and witness statements for injunction and possession claims and attended the respective hearings. During pupillage, Kayleigh was awarded the Hammond Cup by the Nottinghamshire Law Society. In her spare time, Kayleigh is partial to sky diving, bungee jumping and snorkelling with sharks.

Mark Diggle

Mark is a specialist in personal injury, commercial, property and chancery, counter fraud and public sector matters. He regularly delivers lectures and talks to solicitors and other interested parties on topical legal subjects. Recent subjects dealt with include forfeiture and relief and the tactical use of proceedings for negative declaratory relief in road traffic cases. He is registered with the Bar Council to undertake Public Access work and is able to receive instructions directly from lay clients, as well as those on the traditional professional client basis. Notable cases include: Forcelux Ltd v Binnie [2010] HLR 20 (case concerning the correct meaning of the word ‘trial’ in Part 39.3 of the CPR and whether the first hearing of a possession claim is a trial so as to limit the court’s powers to set aside an order made at that hearing. The case also dealt with the correct interpretation of a covenant in the lease requiring the tenant to pay the landlord’s costs of forfeiture proceedings on the indemnity basis); BSS Group plc v Makers UK Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 809 (case concerning a dispute about the sale of goods. In particular whether the purpose for which the goods were to be used had been communicated to the seller); Long v Tolchard & Sons Ltd [2001] PIQR P2 (second junior counsel in a case where the defendant successfully applied for permission to appeal a decision on limitation out of time and relying principally on evidence given by the claimant at the quantum trial which had a bearing on his date of knowledge).

Matt Barnett

Matt has quickly gained significant experience of advocating on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants on the small claims track, fast track, and multi-track, appearing on a daily basis in trials, interim hearings, and applications. His practice focusses on all areas of personal injury, credit hire, motor claims, data protection law, consumer rights, property disputes, housing claims, commercial disputes, and counter fraud. Before coming to the Bar, Matt had a very successful career within finance. During his 15 years working for three of the UK’s major banks, he gained significant experience across many sectors of banking. This included undertaking senior roles within Retail, Mortgages, Business, Commercial, Corporate and Private Banking. Matt’s final role prior to commencing pupillage was as the Operations and Control Manager for Santander Business. He was instrumental in shaping the banks approach to dealing with financial crime. Utilising his experience across sectors, his work included designing and delivering bespoke anti-financial crime training, implementing robust prevention mechanisms and re-writing many of the internal guidance materials. Matt studied law at the University of Derby where he obtained a first class LLB before completing his BPTC at the University of Law. He was awarded the Harmsworth scholarship by Middle Temple for his BPTC years.

Myles Jackson

Myles, a recognised leading junior, is instructed by claimants and defendants for his exemplary client care and effective advocacy be it his deft handling of lay-witnesses or experts, incisive cross-examination skills or his fluent narrative style, as well as his strong and sensible negotiating skills. Myles also has a flourishing paperwork practice and is highly regarded his ability to identify the core issues and present complex legal arguments in easy-to-follow terms and language, as well as a quick turnaround. From 2006-2010 Myles returned to live in Spain where he worked for the well-known Anglo-Spanish law firm, De Cotta Law before returning to the Bar to take up his clients’ cudgels. Myles, an accredited advocacy trainer, regularly lectures and presents seminars to solicitors and insurers. Recently he has given training sessions in person and remotely on recent developments in Cross-border claims, Package Holiday claims, Disease (WRULD & limitation) claims as well as Pre-Action Disclosure applications and Part 36 offers.

Nicholas Robinson

Nicholas was educated at University College, Durham but spent a year at the Universite de Fribourg, Switzerland studying International law in French. He became a tenant at Ropewalk Chambers in 2008, having completed pupillage there. Nicholas has a broad common law practice. He has developed a reputation of being down to earth and approachable. He is always readily available to discuss a case as he appreciates that often a quick discussion of an issue can be invaluable.

Philip Turton

Philip has over 20 years’ experience of personal injury cases and specialises in high-value personal injury actions, clinical negligence claims and industrial disease cases, including Group Actions. He has been cited as a leader at the Bar in the field of personal injury work for many years. Notable cases include: Jolly v Harsco Infrastructure Services Limited [2012] LTL 8-11-2012 Cranston J (civil procedure; personal injury; Part 36); Cairns-Jones v Christie Tyler South Wales Division Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 1642; (2010) LTL 27-2-2012 (personal injury; group litigation; industrial deafness; limitation); Smith v Skanska Construction Services Ltd [2008] EWHC 1776, (2008) LTL 5-8-08 Ousleley J (retrial of Smith v Kvaerner, below) (personal injury; road traffic; Thai law; effect of defendant’s claim on Thai motor insurance policy on claimant’s action in UK for negligence; approbation and reprobation; ratification of torts; abuse of process); KR & others v Royal & Sun Alliance plc [2007] PIQR P14; [2007] Bus LR 139 Court of Appeal (appeal from Simon J [2006] EWHC 48) (child abuse; effect of exclusion clause in insurance policy where abusers were directors/managers of defendant company); Smith v Kvaerner Cementation Foundations Ltd, Bar Council intervening [2007] 1 WLR 370; [2006] 3 All ER 593; [2006] CP Rep 36; [2006] BLR 244; [2006] ACD 51; (2006) 103(14) LSG 33; (2006) 156 NLJ 721; [2006] NPC 35 Court of Appeal (recusal; apparent bias of tribunal; waiver); Coulson v Griffiths (2003) LTL 26-11-03 (personal injury; whether road traffic accident caused by automatism attributable to encephalitis); S v Bryn Alyn Community (Holdings) Ltd (2003) LTL 7-5-03 Burnton J (application of Group Litigation Order to historical child abuse claims); KR & others v Bryn Alyn Community (Holdings) Ltd [2003] QB 1441; [2003] 3 WLR 107; [2004] 2 All ER 716; [2003] 1 FLR 1203; [2003] 1 FCR 385; [2003] Lloyd’s Rep. Med. 175; [2003] Fam Law 482 Court of Appeal (child abuse in children’s homes, liability; limitation; knowledge of significant injury/discretion to disapply limitation period; quantum of damages); James v Starbuck [2002] 6 QR 6 (personal injury; brain injury; loss of opportunity in employment; damages); Long v Tolchard & Sons Ltd [2001] PIQR P18 Court of Appeal (fresh evidence; limitation; discretion to disapply limitation period); Milner v Hepworth Heating Ltd (1998) LTL 28-7-98 Court of Appeal (limitation; noise-induced deafness); Wilson v Governors of the Sacred Heart RC School [1998] 1 FLR 663; [1998] ELR 637; [1998] PIQR P145; [1998] Fam Law 249 Court of Appeal (education; teacher’s duty to supervise).

Philip Godfrey

Philip prides himself on providing a tactical insight into the cases on which he is instructed. He provides a proactive approach and is often involved at the earliest stages of claims to provide input and guidance. Philip specialises in all areas of personal injury, industrial disease and clinical negligence litigation. His practice encompasses high-value multi-track work involving cases valued up to £1 million. Philip has extensive experience of trial advocacy and interim hearings, incorporating the full range of personal injury litigation. Philip has a wide-ranging paperwork practice, advising both claimants and defendants, as well as settling pleadings. He regularly advises on liability, quantum and issues of medical causation. He has a particular specialism in cases involving the Defective Premises Act 1972, and was counsel for the Respondent in the leading case of Lafferty v Newark and Sherwood DC [2016] HLR 13. Philip studied Law at the University of Nottingham. At University, he was awarded the Law Graduates’ Association Moot Prize. He undertook his Bar Vocational Course at Nottingham Law School where he was graded “Very Competent”. Prior to joining Chambers, Philip spent three months working for the International Arbitration team at a leading international law firm in Paris.

Richard Seabrook

Richard specialises principally in personal injury, clinical negligence, disease, counter fraud, criminal regulatory, employment and professional discipline and regulation. He has particular expertise in coronial work. He acts broadly equally for both claimants and defendants/respondents, and has a number of faithful solicitors who return to him time after time. He has been one of the Attorney General’s Junior Counsel to the Crown (Treasury Counsel) continuously since 1994, and regularly acts for a wide range of government departments and agencies in personal injury, inquest and employment matters. He is registered with the Bar Council to undertake Direct Access work and is able to receive instructions from lay clients, as well as those on the traditional professional client basis. This is particularly well suited for his employment tribunal and professional discipline and regulation work. Notable cases include: Johnson v (1) Ministry of Defence (2) Hobourn Eaton Limited [2012] EWCA Civ 1505 (acted for the Ministry of Defence at first instance and in the Court of Appeal; limitation hearing; constructive knowledge; consideration of actions of the reasonable claimant; how the assumption of sufficient curiosity was to be applied); Scotthorne v Four Seasons Conservatories Ltd 14 May 2010 Transcript – Employment Appeal Tribunal (disclosure and inspection; legal advice privilege; litigation privilege and specific disclosure in the Employment Tribunal); Holtby v Brigham and Cowan (Hull) Limited [2000] ICR 1086, [2000] Lloyd’s Rep Med 254: Times, April 12 2000 – Court of Appeal (established the divisibility of injury in asbestosis for the first time); Hartman v South Essex Mental Health NHS Trust and Others [2005] EWCA Civ 6 – Court of Appeal (clarification of the requirements necessary for successful work-related stress injuries); Osborne v Valve (Engineering) Services Ltd [2001] Emp LR 53 – Employment Appeal Tribunal (breach of contract; causes of action; jurisdiction; res judicata); O’Hara v Rye 12 Feb 1999 Transcript – Court of Appeal (delay; unless orders; strike out; procedure); Poundall v Lincolnshire County Council 9 February 1998 Transcript – Court of Appeal (re-trial; delay in delivering judgment; inadequacy of reasons; injustice).

Richard Gregory

Richard has developed a specialist practice in all aspects of personal injury litigation, principally arising from road traffic accidents and employers’ and occupiers’ liability, together with assessment of quantum. He advises and represents both claimants and defendants, principally in multi-track proceedings. He is usually involved in litigation from the provision of preliminary advice, through to the conclusion at trial or joint settlement meeting.

Rochelle Rong

Rochelle has a successful civil law practice, with particular emphasis on commercial and property matters, as well as all aspects of housing law. In the last few years, she has also developed a special expertise in counter fraud work and costs proceedings. She has travelled extensively and speaks fluent Chinese (Mandarin) and has also been instructed to represent Chinese-speaking clients. Her language skills and unique understanding of the clients’ cultural background are of particular value in such cases.

Samuel Shelton

Sam specialises in all areas of personal injury and industrial disease litigation. Sam has a busy trial and paperwork practice. He is instructed by claimants and defendants at all stages of claims, from preliminary advice through to trials and appeals, and at all levels of track. He is equally adept at navigating factually complex and witness/document-heavy claims as arguing narrow points of law or procedure. He provides a proactive, tactical and down-to-earth approach to all of his instructions and he prides himself on being personable and approachable. Before joining Chambers, Sam studied law at the University of Durham and undertook the BPTC at Nottingham Law School. He went on to work as a paralegal in a large law firm where he developed an extensive knowledge of the pre-litigation and litigation processes and, in particular, gained a considerable understanding of personal injury practice. Thereafter, he worked as a county court advocate via a large nationwide advocacy agency and has regularly appeared in courts across the country ever since.

Sarah Hopkinson

Sarah enjoys a busy civil practice alongside sitting as a Deputy District Judge on the Midland Circuit. She is ranked by the Legal 500 as a leading junior in personal injury work, where she is praised for her “thorough and pragmatic” approach and “strong breadth of knowledge”. Sarah practises principally in personal injury-related claims, including disease work, and in counter fraud and credit hire. Sarah prides herself on her analytical ability and attention to detail. Both in her trial preparation and when advising, Sarah is adept at working her way through voluminous documents to identify and master the key issues. Sarah is a well-prepared and forensic advocate, and considers herself to be balanced and approachable to her lay and professional clients. Sarah studied law at the University of Sheffield, where she won the university’s mooting competition in her first semester and received a high distinction for her third year spent studying in Australia. She graduated with a 2:1 degree and the University of Sheffield’s Graduate Award. Sarah completed the BPTC at Nottingham Law School and was graded Outstanding, receiving the Taylor Prize for achieving the highest overall marks in her year.

Shilpa Shah

Shilpa practises within civil work generally, with a particular specialism in cases involving allegations of fraud. She is registered with the Bar Council to undertake Public Access work and is able to receive instructions directly form lay clients, as well as those on the traditional professional client basis.

Soofi Din

Soofi began his practice in London after a pupillage in The Temple and New Square, Lincoln’s Inn and a tenancy in New Square. In 1989 he joined Ropewalk Chambers and has since specialised in all areas of chancery work focused in London, Birmingham and Leeds. He has a special interest in land law, particularly relating to all aspects of trusts and mortages and other securities affecting land. He is registered with the Bar Council to undertake Public Access work and is able to receive instructions directly from lay clients, as well as those on the traditional professional client basis. Notable cases include: Thompson v Foy (Lewison J) [2010] 1 P & CR 16 (an undue influence contest between the claimant and secured lender. A number of important points arose. The land registration point concerned ‘actual occupation’ under the LRA 2002. It has been applied by Court of Appeal in Link Lending Ltd v Hussein [2010] 2 P. & C.R. DG15); Beauchamp Pizza Ltd v Coventry City Council [2010] EWHC 926 (Ch) (the claimant was a company which had the benefit of a premises licence to operate a night club in Coventry. The company was struck off the Register and dissolved before the CA 2006 was in force. It was subsequently restored by the new administrative restoration procedure. Coventry CC contended that the new procedure did not apply but relented on seeing Soofi Din’s skeleton argument. HHJ Cooke ruled that the effect of the restoration was to bring the licence back into operation, with s1028 of the Companies Act 2006 providing that the company shall be deemed to have continued in existence as if its name had not been struck off); Derbyshire County Council v (1) Glen Neil Fallon (2) Tracy Jayne Fallon (2007) 25 EG 182 (CS) (on appeal the judge decided that the adjudicator had the power to refuse an alteration that had been won on the law and evidence because the applicant may be refused an injunction in any action brought to prevent a trespass); Archer Structures Ltd v Griffiths [2003] EWHC 957 (Ch); [2004] BCC 156; [2004] 1 BCLC 201; [2003] BPIR 1071 (where a defendant director’s new company had a name that suggested a clear association with a liquidated company, the director could not rely on differences in get up to avoid the thrust of the Insolvency Act 1986 s216. Also the director’s attempt to rely on an insolvency set off failed in the face of the joint and several liability imposed by s216).

Stephen Beresford

Stephen has extensive experience both as a mediator and as a mediation advocate. He was an early proponent of the process as a means of resolving civil disputes and has vast experience of successfully concluding disputes through mediation. He is a long-standing ADRg trained and accredited mediator. Before retiring from the Bar, he was in private practice at Ropewalk Chambers, Nottingham focusing upon commercial, contract and land disputes with a reputation for enthusiasm, integrity, hard work, a quick grasp of the factual and technical details of complex disputes and being a safe pair of hands. He has consistently been specifically identified for praise in commercial dispute resolution each year in the Legal 500 and Chambers (independent legal directories based on research and sounding professional clients). He also headed Ropewalk Chambers mediation services until his retirement. His involvement in mediations as an advocate has enabled him to see a large variety of mediators’ styles and techniques from the consumer’s perspective. This, added to his extensive experience as a mediator, enables him to form an informed view upon the best routes to settlement in the particular case. He utilises flexible and innovative approaches in appropriate cases and encourages the parties to think in new ways about their dispute and its resolution. He has successfully mediated disputes over a wide range of subject matters involving both multi-million-pound claims and disputes where the issues are based more on principles than immediate financial value. He attributes his success as a mediator to a combination of careful preparation, a thorough understanding of the dispute, appreciating what the parties want out of the process and speedily achieving rapport with, and the trust of, the lawyers and their clients. He firmly believes that each lay client must feel at ease and at the center of the process even when a mediator robustly challenges entrenched positions. Professional and lay clients have frequently praised him for his empathy and his quick grasp of the crucial issues and how to achieve a satisfactory outcome. He aims to provide the very best service at a competitive, reasonable price. Recent mediations have included resolving: Disputes between a local authority and employees concerning terms of service Competing Inheritance Act claims Dispute between different factions within a company’s board of directors Insurance claim involving personal injury compensation Civil fraud claims Competing former employee claims Conflicting interpretations of testamentary provisions Defective goods and services litigation Various professional negligence claims (solicitors, IFAs and accountants) Departing minority shareholder claims Disputes between partners and former partners (commercial entities as well as professional practices) Commercial land contract disputes (sales, restrictive covenants, easements etc.) Neighbour disputes (including boundaries, rights of way, nuisance etc.)

Thomas Herbert

Tom is recognised as a leading practitioner in clinical negligence, inquests & inquiries, personal injury and commercial litigation. He is described by the legal directories as “an all-round excellent counsel” who “never fails to impress” and is praised for his “mastery of the brief” and “sensitivity to the needs and interests of his instructing solicitors and clients”. He is “approachable, considered, articulate and intelligent” and “often able to think of imaginative solutions”. As such, he is regularly instructed in complex and high-value matters, including those attracting media interest, and is a particularly experienced appeal advocate considering his level of call. The breadth of Tom’s practice is apparent from his instructions on applications, at trial and on appeal in matters ranging from personal injury and disease to commercial disputes and costs. He was appointed to the Attorney General’s Regional B Panel in 2023. Recent and ongoing cases of note include: Junior to Patrick Limb KC representing two well-known airlines in ongoing High Court litigation concerning alleged ‘aerotoxicity’ and, as sole counsel, representing an airline in two related claims arising from alleged ‘fume events’. Advice to and representation of a local authority at a three-week Article 2 inquest arising from the murder of a young girl by her mother. With Philip Turton, advice to and representation of the deceased’s maternal family at a four-week Article 2 inquest into the death of a 13-year-old girl by hanging, including a recusal application made at the pre-inquest review stage. Defending a range of proceedings arising from the breakdown of a high-profile relationship, including a breach of contract claim in the County Court, a claim in the torts of deceit & conspiracy in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court and insolvency proceedings. Advice to and representation of the deceased’s family in relation to coronial and civil proceedings arising from a failure to prescribe anticoagulant medication. The civil claim settled for £400,000 and received court approval on the basis of Tom’s advice. Successfully resisting an appeal against a District Judge’s decision to grant the Defendants’ very late application for their own medical evidence in a noise-induced hearing loss case. Representation of the respondent in a costs appeal in the Family Division of the High Court: C v S (Private Children Proceedings: Costs) [2022] 2 FCR 780. Advice and representation at an appeal concerning CPR Part 11 and common law waiver. Tom read Chemistry at the University of York and graduated with a Master’s degree before studying at Nottingham Law School, where he achieved a distinction in his Graduate Diploma in Law and was graded ‘Outstanding’ on the Bar Professional Training Course, obtaining the highest mark in his year in Civil Litigation. As a result of his scientific academic background, from which his “clients and instructing solicitors benefit”, he has a rigorous and analytical approach. He enjoys dealing with abstract or technical points of law and is particularly well-placed to analyse chemical, pharmaceutical and statistical evidence, and converse with experts in those fields. Tom frequently delivers lectures and seminars to solicitors. Recent topics include vicarious liability, expert evidence and causation in novel chemical exposure cases. He is also a member of the editorial committee for the Ropewalk Blogs, and regularly contributes to publications such as the Journal of Personal Injury Law.

Toby Stewart

Toby specialises principally in personal injury-related claims, including disease, clinical negligence, counter fraud and defending Health and Safety prosecutions.

Tom Carter

Tom became a member of Chambers in October 2013 following successful completion of his pupillage. He was awarded a scholarship by Inner Temple and undertook the BPTC at Nottingham Law School. He is registered with the Bar Council to undertake public access work and is able to receive instructions from lay clients, as well as those on the traditional professional client basis. Tom has a general civil practice and is a member of all practice groups at Ropewalk Chambers. He appears regularly in the county courts and the High Court and is developing a strong paperwork practice. In addition, Tom is regularly instructed by the Home Office to deal with immigration appeals. Through this line of work he has experience in areas traditionally beyond the remit of peers at a similar call, such as cross-examining expert witnesses. He brings these skills to all areas of his practice.

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