Stephen's practice consists predominantly of high-value Personal Injury litigation, Fatal Accidents and Clinical Negligence. He also practices in the areas of Costs and Human Rights.
He has extensive expertise in catastrophic injury work and dealing with complex multi-trauma claims, spinal injuries, head injuries and chronic pain cases. He has particular experience of cases involving ‘non-organic’ symptoms following injury (such as CRPS, non-epileptic attack disorder and functional hemiplegia). He is regularly instructed in complex brain injury cases, as a junior or in his own right.
His fatal accident case-load includes travel (at home and abroad), diving accidents and RTAs.
He can fall back on his vast trial experience in all these areas.
In addition, Stephen has accumulated extensive experience in coroners' inquests, all aspects of the law of costs (including solicitor-client assessments) and appears in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. His costs work involves party-party disputes solicitor-client assessments and Court of Protection deputy assessments. The interface between costs and personal injury in his practice makes him ideal for hearings and advice involving costs budgeting and CCMCs.
Stephen has experience of Human Rights work in the High Court and Court of Protection in cases concerning unlawful detention and deprivation of liberty, and deaths in secure facilities.
Acts for claimants in complex catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims. He is also well regarded for his handling of cases involving serious orthopaedic injuries and chronic pain. He is able to draw on his significant expertise in costs law when advising on high-value personal injury claims. "A good team player." "A very skilled advocate." Acted for a claimant who suffered a serious head injury when she was mugged and assaulted - Personal Injury, Chambers UK 2021
‘Knows how to talk to opponents and set out a client's case forcefully but without alienating opponents.’ - Personal Injury, Legal 500 2021
‘He builds a great rapport with clients and takes a very sensible approach.’ - Personal Injury, Legal 500 2020
‘Key counsel who is extremely good in the field.’ - Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Insurance Fraud, Legal 500 2019
"He has an exceptional manner with clients and quickly gains their confidence" - Personal Injury, Legal 500 2017
"A top-class barrister." - Legal 500 2016
"His manner with clients is superb, leaving the client in no doubt that their case is very important to him." - Personal Injury, Legal 500 2015
Stephen is one of only 30 junior barristers recommended by the Spinal Injuries Associations on its approved list of catastrophic injury barristers.
Stephen regularly represents seriously injured Claimants in the High Court and the County Courts. He undertakes CFA work and frequently travels to meet claimants all over the country. He has a wealth of experience in drafting large schedules and is a member of APIL and PIBA.
He has extensive experience of drafting, advisory and court work in all aspects of personal injury for Defendants.
Recent notable cases include:
Ongoing notable cases include:
Stephen has experience of advising ATE insurers in relation to funding proposals relating to high-value litigation.
On the Defendant side, Stephen is heavily involved in fighting fraudulent claims, particularly organised motor fraud cases. Stephen has lectured extensively on the tactics that insurance companies should employ in flushing out fraudulent claims. He also works for the MIB and his work for insurers in fraud and MIB cases has given him awareness of technical and contractual insurance issues.
Stephen has a wealth of experience of all aspects of credit hire and was junior counsel for the Defendant in the leading case of W v Veolia.
Stephen accepts instructions in solicitors' negligence and all aspects of clinical and dental negligence.
He is a member of the PNBA.
Stephen also has extensive experience of coroners' inquests including a week-long inquest into a death at work in which he represented an individual wrongly accused by his employers of causing the accident. He has also acted for a coroner who was dealing with 11 suspicious deaths of elderly mentally infirm patients in a hospital.
Stephen has experience of advising ATE insurers in relation to funding proposals relating to high-value litigation
Ongoing cases:
Stephen has a growing practice in clinical negligence, with a particular emphasis on complex and high-value fatal cases. He regularly deals with claims against hospitals and GPs.
Examples of recent cases include:
Qualified arbitrator for PIcARBS
PIBA (Executive Commitee Member)
PNBA
First Class degree in Jurisprudence, Oriel College Oxford
Stephen is a proud father, a prodigious reader of modern fiction, an inept cricketer and an avid follower of Liverpool Football Club