Stephen Cottrell is a specialist claimant personal injury and clinical negligence barrister. He has a wealth of experience in very high value claims, with a particular emphasis on brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and polytrauma cases. Stephen also has vast experience of dealing with fatal accident claims and abuse cases. He deals with this cases in his own right as well as working with silks inside, and outside chambers.
As well as dealing with high value claims, Stephen has ample experience of appellate work, having been junior counsel (led by Robertt Weir KC) in the Supreme Court in the case of Griffiths v TUI UK Ltd in 2023, acting for the Claimant throughout. He was also junior counsel in Schembri v Marshall [2020] EWCA (Civ) 358 in the Court of Appeal.
Stephen has vast experience of cases involving illness abroad.
Stephen’s experience also takes in:
Stephen has experience of cases concerning deprivation of liberty.
‘Stephen is a first-class junior barrister, his advocacy is clear and compelling.' - Personal Injury, legal 500 2024
‘Extremely technically able in a wide variety of serious injuries, particularly brain injury and complex polytrauma cases.' - Personal Injury, Legal 500 2023
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. "He is amazingly obliging and works well in a team. He produces excellent quality work and is technically very good." "An excellent advocate who is really sharp in pleadings and his written work is impressive." - Personal Injury, Chambers UK 2022.
"He brings a calmness to the case and it is clear he is a hard working and very clever barrister." - Personal Injury, Legal 500 2022.
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 experience of all aspects of personal injury for Defendants.
Notable recent resolved cases include:
Ongoing notable cases include:
Stephen’s clinical negligence practice has a particular emphasis on complex and high-value fatal cases. He deals with claims against hospitals and GPs.
Examples of recent cases include:
Ongoing cases include:
Stephen also has extensive experience of coroners' inquests. These include:
Stephen accepts instructions in solicitors' negligence and all aspects of clinical and dental negligence.
He is a member of the PNBA.
A recent case was settlement at mediation for a six-figure (November 2022) of a claim for professional negligence for an injured claimant whose claim was struck out by reason of his solicitors’ negligence.
Stephen has experience of advising ATE insurers in relation to funding proposals relating to high-value litigation
Qualified arbitrator for PIcARBS
PIBA (Executive Committee Member)
PNBA
First Class degree in Jurisprudence, Oriel College Oxford
Stephen enjoys watching cricket, endures watching football and relaxes listening to podcasts and audiobooks.