Head of Chambers (2010-present)
Deputy District Judge (Civil) (2004)
“Christopher Taylor is good on higher value cases where the client needs a sympathetic barrister” - Chambers and Partners, 2011
"a senior and very experienced counsel, is very thorough, has excellent client care and always works as part of a team" - Legal 500, 2010
Experience
Christopher Taylor is a Clinical Negligence and PI specialist who undertakes work involving severe brain damage and spinal injuries, industrial disease and fatal accidents. He also represents parties in high profile Coroner’s Inquests.
Christopher enjoys having a broad range of solicitors and although he does predominantly Claimant work he finds acting for Defendants equally challenging. His cases range from representing those severely brain damaged and/or with severe spinal or other orthopaedic injuries (with awards over £5 million) to actions for victims of industrial disease. He has developed a particular interest in Fatal Accident claims and is increasingly being asked to represent parties in high profile Coroner's Inquests; representing the family in the Concorde Inquest in June 2008. He finds that a client, who is often confused and distressed, benefits from an informed and friendly meeting at an early stage. He believes strongly in a “team” approach by the legal representatives.
Recent cases include a Clinical Negligence claim involving negligent misdiagnosis by a paediatrician for a 9 year old girl (24 years old at date of settlement) who suffered severe brain damage as a consequence and was awarded £2.6m in damages. The case involved multiple medical experts as well as care and financial experts. Sowden and Thompstone issues were addressed.
Another recent Clinical Negligence case involved representing dependant children of a 35 year old male who died following negligent surgery. Issues of breach of duty and causation were compounded by difficulties over identification of all the correct dependants.
Chris has a further ongoing case involving permanent tetraplegia (Leading Counsel also involved) with anticipated damages of in excess of £5m and a severely brain damaged young Polish lady, which has potential jurisdictional issues.
The work undertaken by Chris is predominantly on behalf of Claimant clients. He has no less than 11 reported cases to his credit and has also contributed several articles to the New Law Journal and is an occasional book reviewer for them on expert issues and general Civil procedure. He has been invited as a speaker at the Expert Witness Institute in addition to giving numerous lectures and seminars to local solicitors.
Selection of relevant cases over the past 12-24 months:
[Representing Claimant unless otherwise indicated]
- High Court London – Cox J – approval of settlement for brain damaged adult following RTA when aged 6 – quantum and causation very much in issue
- Bristol DR – Clinical Negligence - court approved settlement on 12.5.10 of £2.6m – negligent misdiagnosis by paediatrician for 9 year old girl – currently aged 24 - brain tumour – severe brain damage leading to behavioural and cognitive problems – agreed to be a Protected party due to her brain injury – 6 medical experts, care experts, financial advisers - required constant care package in the community – issues of breach and causation – dispute over quantum – dispute over Council’s role in providing statutory care [Sowden issues] - dispute over indexation of future care [Thompstone issues] - issues of lump sum or periodical payments
- Helicopter crash – Fatal Accident claim - Inquest in Taunton – subsequent FAA claim in Bristol DR - 2.11.09 – 3 day trial on liability settled at door of court – representing two widows – aeronautical experts – AAIB reports on crash - quantum disputed
- Clinical Negligence leading to death of 35 year old male – claim by dependant children via grand-parents – disputes on breach of duty and causation - quantum in issue – difficulties over identification of all correct dependants – sizeable settlement reached
- Trial on liability - representing Defendant car dealer in PI claim following purchase of defective car – liability and causation in dispute – central issue whether subsequent acts of Claimant “broke the chain of causation” - Defendant successful at trial – Claimant’s appeal to Court of Appeal refused.
- C2-3 spinal cord injury – young male motorcyclist – liability admitted – permanent Tetraplegia – Leading counsel also engaged – multiple experts – likely to be a periodical payments award – probably in excess of £5m
Reported Cases:
Poppleton v Trustees of Portsmouth Youth Activities Committee [2008] EWCA Civ 646
[liability for indoor climbing centre]
Carlson v Townsend [2001] 3 All ER 663
[disclosure of expert reports]
Rosser v Lindsay [1999] RTR
Earley v Thomas Ware (1998) CLY
Jones v Morgan (1996) CLY
Moulang v Martin (1996) CLY
Re Issacs (1995) CLY
McCallion v Dodd (1995) CLY
Re R (1993) CLY
Simmonds v Smith (1991) CLY
Lago v John Williams (1991) CLY
Publications:
Basic Principles in Courts and Tribunals, N. Fridd – contributed to chapter on civil costs
Article in New Law Journal ‘Interpretation of PI Protocol’ 2001 151 NLJ 1035
Article in New Law Journal ‘Expert evidence: a review of the proposed Code’ 2001 151 NLJ 1052
Article in New Law Journal ‘Expert evidence: the code unscrambled’ 2002 February p255
Book reviewer for NLJ on expert issues and general civil procedure
Qualifications:
LLB (Hons)
Professional Memberships
• Personal Injury Bar Association
• AvMA
• Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
• Bristol medico-legal society
Comments from Directories:
"a senior and very experienced counsel, is very thorough, has excellent client care and always works as part of a team" - Legal 500, 2010
"Christopher Taylor is a sympathetic barrister who has an extremely good manner with clients." - Chambers and Partners, 2010
"is recommended for high-value litigation and his 'dedication and commitment' " - Legal 500, 2009
"continues to take complex claimant work and is marked as 'a team player' with wide experience of high-value litigation" - Legal 500, 2007
"Christopher Taylor is a competent and popular PI/CN lawyer, a 'team player' with wide experience of high-value litigation." - Legal 500, 2006
Other Interests:
Christopher is an active member of the PIBA and APIL as well as supporting the Bristol Medico-Legal Society.
When not at work, Christopher enjoys family life in Bristol, gardening, tennis and the occasional visit to the gym. Recently he has renewed his enthusiasm for skiing. Although a qualified Open Water diver he has not found much opportunity to pursue this sport. His interests also include rugby but he accepts that his playing days are very much behind him!
