Welcome to OLD SQUARE CHAMBERS
One of the UK’s most reputable chambers with over 30 years’ experience.
More about usOur Recent Awards
Chambers has a rich history of winning awards in our specialist areas as well as individuals being recognised for excellence. Most recently, John Hendy QC was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the UK Chambers Bar Awards 2018. Stuart Brittenden was named The Legal 500 UK Employment Junior of the Year 2018.
Personal Injury
Overview
Our team of specialists, including seven QCs, act for a multitude of clients in all forms of personal injury – from high value, complex catastrophic injury claims to disputes in the small claims court – enabling us to service a wide range of advocacy and advisory work, nationwide. Our team’s experience in other associated areas, such as clinical negligence, costs work, product liability and professional regulatory disputes, allow us to provide a fully comprehensive service giving our clients the option of maintaining continuity throughout the entire course of personal injury cases.
We are considered one of the leading sets in the country in disease litigation. Our team was influential in the largest ever multiple party claim, the Vibration White Finger Group Litigation, involving around 130,000 claimants and total compensation payments in excess of £1.5 billion.
Chambers has particular expertise in criminal injuries compensation cases. Ben Collins QC is a leading expert in this area, having appeared in almost all of the major cases in the field in recent years, and our barristers have extensive experience representing injured victims of crime, in particular where both civil and statutory compensation is in issue. They routinely represent prison officers, police officers, hospital staff and other workers who are vulnerable to assault at work and are well placed to advise in respect of both statutory compensation and civil liability.
In addition, Chambers is able to draw on its in-depth knowledge of health and safety in order to provide expert representation in public inquiries concerned with major accidents or disasters. We have extensive experience of public inquiry work, dealing with a wide variety of subjects and representing a range of interested parties – including victims, bereaved families, trade unions and public servants at inquests – and the sensitive issues surrounding such actions.
Our team will consider undertaking work on conditional fee agreements in appropriate cases.
Our team of specialists, including seven QCs, act for a multitude of clients in all forms of personal injury – from high value, complex catastrophic injury claims to disputes in the small claims court – enabling us to service a wide range of advocacy and advisory work, nationwide. Our team’s experience in other associated areas, such as clinical negligence, costs work, product liability and professional regulatory disputes, allow us to provide a fully comprehensive service giving our clients the option of maintaining continuity throughout the entire course of personal injury cases.
We are considered one of the leading sets in the country in disease litigation. Our team was influential in the largest ever multiple party claim, the Vibration White Finger Group Litigation, involving around 130,000 claimants and total compensation payments in excess of £1.5 billion.
Chambers has particular expertise in criminal injuries compensation cases. Ben Collins QC is a leading expert in this area, having appeared in almost all of the major cases in the field in recent years, and our barristers have extensive experience representing injured victims of crime, in particular where both civil and statutory compensation is in issue. They routinely represent prison officers, police officers, hospital staff and other workers who are vulnerable to assault at work and are well placed to advise in respect of both statutory compensation and civil liability.
In addition, Chambers is able to draw on its in-depth knowledge of health and safety in order to provide expert representation in public inquiries concerned with major accidents or disasters. We have extensive experience of public inquiry work, dealing with a wide variety of subjects and representing a range of interested parties – including victims, bereaved families, trade unions and public servants at inquests – and the sensitive issues surrounding such actions.
Our team will consider undertaking work on conditional fee agreements in appropriate cases.
- Fisher v. Minhas – a whole family was run down when the defendant mounted the pavement, killing the grandfather and catastrophically injuring the father as well as injuring other members of family physically and psychologically. Liability is admitted but quantum is complex involving a fatal claim, a catastrophic injury claim and various others.
- Lakanal House Fire Inquest – represented the families of the deceased in the Inquests following the Lakanal House fire, a major fire at one of the London Borough of Southwark's 14 storey residential tower blocks in south London in July 2009 resulting in six deaths.
- Pamela Somerville v. Chief Constable of Wiltshire – acting for claimant in controversial and high profile claim against the police for assault, wrongful arrest and breach of her human rights. Claimant alleges that she was denied access to lawyers, given no explanation for her detention and then suffered serious facial, ophthalmic and psychiatric injury when thrown on to her cell floor
- Lightfoot v. Go Ahead Group plc [2011] RTR 27 – claimant suffered serious injuries when hit by a bus at night on an unlit road while intoxicated. Favourable 60/40 decision on liability achieved after a number of years of litigation.
- Catrin Cullen v. Daniel Williams – representing claimant who suffered severe brain injuries as a young girl in a road traffic accident involving collision with the poorly-lit trailer of a lorry turning right and partially blocking one lane of the dual carriageway in which her mother was also killed
- Baldwin v. Baldwin – both leading and junior counsel in a high value claim for catastrophic brain injury following a road traffic accident. The claim settled for £5.5 million at a Joint Settlement Meeting.
- Daniel Kwesi-Boadi (a minor) v. Richard Derroux – both leading and junior counsel in complex RTA involving young child crossing road at designated crossing (not regulated crossing) in North London. Issues surrounding stopping distance issues with contradictory eye witness evidence. Settlement approved at £3.25m conventional lump sum on 80% liability basis.
- Inquest Touching the Death of Edward Barry – a 14-year old boy, subject to assistance from Kent County Council was found dead of a drugs overdose. Police and Medical agencies had been involved in his life prior to his demise. A three week jury inquest was held, with 6 interested parties, to consider the circumstances surrounding his demise.
- Mohamed El-Salamouny v. London Central Mosque Ltd (aka Regents Park Mosque) –both leading and junior counsel represented claimant (Imam at Regents Park Mosque) who was totally blinded by perpetrator who illegally obtained entry and struck the claimant in the eyes with a key. Complex legal issues as to the liability of the mosque (his employer) to keep him safe by suitable/effective security measures post the “London bombings”. Settled for £400k.
- Parker v. Philpot – claimant 40+ tetraplegia. Liability admitted. Complex claim value circa £7.5m but claimant in receipt of £125k pa PCT funding. Compromise £6m conventional lump sum but no Peters undertaking and claimant will continue to receive £125k pa PCT funding. Compromise, November/December 2013.
- Watson Woodhouse (a firm) v. The Chief Constable of Cleveland Police – admissions were obtained that officers of Cleveland Police had falsely imprisoned a leading criminal defence solicitor, Mr Watson, together with members of his family, and that they had unlawfully searched his premises and those of his firm. Cleveland Police also accepted that it had no defence to the claim that officers maliciously procured the search warrants and had committed misfeasance in public office. The case was settled for an exceptionally high sum of £550,000, including £80,000 in exemplary damages.
- Danya Gabriel v. Donna Young – the Defendant, driving a friend’s car, collided with a tree, causing severe injuries to the Claimant, who now faces a surgical amputation of her leg. The Claimant’s case is likely to be valued at over a million pounds. A dispute arose between the insurers of the Defendant (by whom I was instructed) and the insurers of the vehicle actually driven by the Defendant as to who would be required to satisfy any judgment obtained. Following a number of interim hearings, my client was accepted to bear no liability and to be released from the litigation.
- Inquest touching the death of Jason Griffin – Mr. Griffin died, after sadly being shredded to the waist by an industrial compacting machine at his work, inadvertently activated during maintenance repair works.
“Old Square Chambers is noted for its strong representation of both claimant and defendant clients, garnering frequent instructions from leading solicitors' firms as well as several insurers. The group handles a wide range of personal injury matters, drawing on the set's expertise in related areas such as product liability, clinical negligence, health and safety and public inquiries and inquests. Members are highly regarded for their handling of catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims, particularly those involving complex issues of quantum. Industrial disease work is also a core strength for the set.' The clerks respond very quickly and nothing's ever too much trouble for them. They are very attuned to instructing solicitors' needs.' ”
“Old Square Chambers is ‘a strong set, particularly at junior level’, meaning it ‘pretty much has someone who is right for each case’. Indeed, at junior level the team ‘provides a quality of advice well beyond their experience’. The set is ‘very well respected’, thanks to ‘a good supply of highly regarded, specialist and experienced barristers’. ”
“Old Square Chambers is ‘an excellent set that delivers high-quality advice’ and ‘enjoys a good reputation for personal injury work ’. The ‘expert’ barristers are ‘adept in dealing with the full range of catastrophic and serious injury cases’. ”
“Traditionally known for its representation of claimants in high-stakes personal injury cases, the set also acts on behalf of defendants, including household-name insurers. Barristers are "efficient" and "approachable." The clerks are “very good and go the extra mile for you.” ”
“Acclaimed for its accessibility, bench strength and the breadth of its members' expertise, Old Square Chambers is home to specialists in every field of personal injury. Sources note the set's professionalism, and comment favourably on the service offered: "They provide very useful seminars and letters to keep you abreast of changes in the law." "The clerks, led by William Meade, are incredibly helpful; nothing's too much trouble. They're second to none." This set is a “hothouse of talent that is home to some of the circuit’s key individuals.” It has both clerks and barristers who are seen as accessible and accommodating ”
“Old Square Chambers has ‘over the years, demonstrated a very high standard in personal injury work’. ”