Profile

A leading practitioner in catastrophic injury and clinical negligence cases. Nick acts for both claimants and defendants in cases involving traumatic injury of the utmost severity (principally neurological injury to the brain, spinal injuries and amputations) and for claimants in a wide range of clinical negligence cases (birth damage, failed/delayed diagnoses, emergency medicine, neurological/vascular accidents etc). Also, regulatory and allied clinical litigation arising from cosmetic surgery etc.

Nick has extensive experience in all aspects of catastrophic injury cases arising from a road traffic accident, aviation and shipping accidents, recreational activities (roller coaster and fairground rides, mountaineering, jet-skiing accidents, construction and building site as well as military accidents.

He has recently been involved in cases of aviation accidents in Antarctica, RAF aerobatic accidents and claims arising from terrorist attacks.

One of Nick’s special interests (both in practice and as an academic) is biotechnology and development particularly in respect of prosthetics and advanced biomedical responses to acquired injury.

Nick has extensive experience of fatal accident cases, appearing at inquests and acting for both claimants and defendants in high profile cases.

Nick’s military caseload has included mountaineering training accidents in Africa, catastrophic accidents during SAS training exercises on the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia and elsewhere and fatal accident claims arising from accidents causing injuries of the utmost severity in the UK, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa and Europe.

Nick is an expert practitioner on specific issues within utmost severity injury litigation including expert medical issues, capacity, quantification of losses together with form of award issues.

He practises throughout the UK from his Manchester chambers and will travel to meet clients in all parts of the UK and Ireland.

Areas of Expertise

Memberships

PIBA
Inner Temple

Qualifications

LL.B (Hons) Ph.D

Appointments

Queen's Counsel

Recorder (Crime & Civil)

Deputy High Court Judge

Professor of Law, University of Birmingham

Head of Chambers 2010 - 2017

Publications

Various in journals and books

Recommendations

Chambers UK 2021

"Technically sound, practical and thinks outside of the box." "He is very experienced and brings a calming influence." "He is outstanding on his feet and second to none when it comes to high-stakes liability trials."

"Approachable and easy to deal with." "He's client-focused at all times and shows genuine empathy. He gets straight to the heart of cases and he's immediately able to identify the core issues."

Legal 500, 2021

"A very safe pair of hands with the most complex catastrophic personal injury claims. He always prepares meticulously and is someone you want on your side in very high value claims where there are tricky liability or causation issues in particular. He is also very down-to-earth and great with clients."

"Approachable and straight-talking - exactly what I want and what I expect from a heavy weight Silk"

Legal 500, 2020

"Good with clients, as well as being analytically and tactically strong."

Chambers UK 2020:

"Very experienced in handling claims of the utmost severity. He has excellent legal skills and employs a very practical approach to claims." "He's always reassuring and well prepared, and has an excellent manner with clients." "A true heavyweight in the field of catastrophic personal injury work. He always prepares meticulously and is someone you want on your side in high-value claims involving tricky causation or liability issues."

"He is always reassuring and well prepared, and has an excellent manner with clients. He's courteous to all parties but will fight tenaciously for his client."

Chambers UK 2018:

"He is always very well prepared and is great with clients. He puts them at ease and has great empathy. He leaves no stone unturned to get the best result for clients." "He has a caring and gentle manner with clients but can be an aggressive advocate when necessary."

"An excellent QC who is very meticulous and good on medical evidence. He thrives on complexity and is excellent with clients." "Hugely experienced and a very smooth, reassuring presence. He is good at assimilating large documents and paring down the issues to get to the nitty-gritty." 

Legal 500 2018:

‘Very intelligent with tactical flair.’

Chambers UK 2017:

"He combines everything you want in a QC, he's clever, a good advocate, tactical and easy to work with." "He is forensic in his attention to detail, he will know a case inside-out."

"He makes the client feel central to everything so they don't feel like they are sidelined at all. He ensures that everything is explained to them in a way they understand and is very respectful." "What stands out, really, is his technical ability; he can go beyond what we usually find in cases and is not fazed by dealing with difficult issues."

Legal 500 2017: 

‘He has brilliant analytical skills and is great at handling sensitive issues.'

Chambers UK 2016:

“A standout performer; a very robust and skilful advocate”

"He is wise and experienced; great to have on your team"

Legal 500 2015:

"Excellent with clients, analytical, yet still practical in his approach"