Darshan Patel

Darshan joined Old Square following pupillage at a leading clinical negligence set and is developing a broad practice across all areas of chambers’ expertise, with a particular focus on Employment, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury.

Further details of Darshan’s work can be found under the relevant headings below.

Darshan came to the Bar with substantial advocacy experience, having worked as a County Court Advocate, where he attended over 850 hearings including infant settlements, CCMCs, interlocutory applications and small claims trials. He is also especially aware of the pressures faced by professional clients, having been on a secondment as in-house counsel within a large respondent solicitors firm.

Academics

University of Law, Bar Professional Training Course, 2013-2014 – Outstanding
London School of Economics, Masters in Law (LLM), 2012-2013 – Merit
Magdalene College (University of Cambridge), MA in Law, 2009-2012 – 2.i

Scholarships/Awards

Inner Temple Exhibition Award (2013)
Leathersellers’ Exhibition Award (2012)

Darshan advises and acts for both Claimants and Respondents in the Employment Tribunal. He is regularly instructed in preliminary and final hearings in all areas of employment and discrimination law. Darshan has been led by Oliver Segal QC at a joint settlement meeting in respect of a multi-million pound claim. He also has appellate experience, having recently appeared without a leader in the Court of Appeal in Nicol v Blackfriars Settlement [2018] 9 WLUK 353.

Prior to becoming a barrister, Darshan gained exposure to employment matters through studying employment law in an LLM at London School of Economics and volunteering with the Free Representation Unit and Liberty. He continues to provide pro bono services with the Employment Litigants in Person Service and Advocate.

Having undertaken pupillage at a leading clinical negligence set, Darshan has experience of all aspects of this area of law. He has regularly appeared at interlocutory hearings in clinical negligence matters, including CCMCs.  Darshan also has a special interest in inquests after gaining exposure to this area whilst on secondment as in-house counsel in a leading respondent solicitors’ firm.

Darshan advises and represents Claimants and Defendants. He appears frequently in interlocutory hearings, CCMCs, applications, disposal hearings, small claims and fast-track trials in this area. He drafts pleadings and advises on matters concerning all stages of litigation. Darshan’s expertise includes employer’s liability, occupier’s liability, road traffic accidents and highways claims. He also has some experience of noise-induced hearing loss cases and of criminal injuries compensation appeals.

Prior to joining Old Square, Darshan gained substantial experience of personal injury law from pupillage at a leading clinical negligence set and from his work as a County Court Advocate. Darshan is a member of the Personal Injury Bar Association.