Undergraduate degree:
Law BA (Hons)
Judicial office:
Deputy District Judge (2004)
Joint Head of Chambers
Having spent his childhood in the West Country, Christopher Taylor graduated with a law degree from Manchester. Called to the Bar in 1982, he undertook pupillage in the Temple before joining All Saints Chambers (as it then was) in Bristol in 1984. He spent the next 10 years practising advocacy on a daily basis in the Criminal and Civil Courts. Gradually he found that with a medical family history, he enjoyed an increasing volume of Personal Injury and Clinical negligence work. From 1994 he has specialised solely in these fields and now heads the Personal Injury and Clinical negligence department within Chambers.
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 (with awards over £1 million) to group actions for victims of industrial disease. He has developed a particular interest in Fatal Accident claims and actions against the MoD. He 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.
Areas of Practice:
Personal Injury
Clinical Negligence
Reported Cases:
Poppleton v Trustees of Portsmouth Youth Activites Committee [2008] EWCA Civ 646
Carlson v Townsend [2001] 3 All ER 663
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
Quotations from Directories:
" 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)
Memberships:
PIBA
AvMA
Other Interests:
Christopher has his own email address (cht@qs-c.co.uk) and subscribes to various electronic publications such as Lawtel. He is more than willing to send documents by email or on floppy disc. He 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 accepts that his playing days are very much behind him!
