Industrial Disease
Alex is recommended by Chambers & Partners (Band 1) as a leading junior for industrial disease.
Alex’s practice encompasses the full range of conditions caused by work. He has a busy workload including advising in conference, attending settlement meetings and trial work. He enjoys the technical issues which disease cases frequently involve, both as to liability and causation of injury, and he frequently litigates cases involving contentious expert evidence.
He has experience of the strategic issues arising from litigating group actions and test cases.
Alex has a particular interest in claims involving asbestos-related disease and regularly appears against silks defending such claims at JSMs or in the High Court. He has extensive experience of the High Court show cause procedure and taking evidence on commission.
Alex’s disease practice also includes:
- Occupational stress, bullying and harassment
- Spread of infectious diseases (including Covid-19)
- Work-related upper limb disorders
- COSHH & poisoning claims
- Occupational cancer
- Dermatitis
- Occupational asthma
- Cumulative back injuries
- Toxic mould claims
- HAVS & vibration-related CTS
- Noise-induced hearing loss and ‘acoustic shock’ claims
Selected Cases
- Evans v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2024] EWHC 496 (KB) – Alex successfully defended a mesothelioma claim relating to building works at a hospital.
- Spencer v Safestore (HHJ Mark Raeside KC, November 2023) – Alex successfully defended a £2m infectious disease claim brought against a storage company involving an infestation of rodents.
- Ormandy v MDS (HHJ Duddridge, July 2022) – Alex successfully defended a claim for HAVS and obtained a finding that the claimant had been fundamentally dishonest in exaggerating his vibrating tool use.
- Goldscheider v Royal Opera House [2019] EWCA Civ 711 – Alex was instructed by the Royal Opera House (led by David Platt KC) in a ground-breaking claim brought by a viola player alleging acoustic shock caused during a Wagner rehearsal. One of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2019. The Court of Appeal overturned the trial judge’s finding that hearing protection was mandatory at all times in the orchestra pit.
- Smallwood v Shenton (HHJ Rawlings, Stoke on Trent CC, October 2018) – Alex successfully defended a claim for asbestos-related lung cancer involving highly complex issues of diagnosis and medical causation.
- Hawkes v Warmex [2018] EWHC 205 (QB) – Alex successfully defended a historic mesothelioma claim at trial against leading counsel. Involved detailed analysis of the statutory and regulatory duties on an employer
- SB v V (QBD, 2017) – Alex represented the Defendant in a high value mesothelioma claim against leading counsel. Complex quantum issues arose as to the lost opportunity to advise the government as to Brexit-related issues.
- Gray v Dolling (QBD, 2012) – Alex was instructed (led by David Platt KC) on a £5.5m claim for asbestos-related mesothelioma by owner of a construction company. Settled following service of skeletons on the day before the High Court trial.
- Price v Isotemp (HHJ Curran KC, Cardiff County Court, 2011) – Alex successfully defended a claim for NIHL at a three-day trial on medical causation. Case involved complex audiological evidence and the interpretation of the Coles-Lutman-Buffin Guidelines.
- Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills v Stuntbrand (2010 – 2011) – Alex was instructed (led by Simon Rainey KC) in relation to the asbestos liabilities of the National Dock Labour Board. The litigation involved interesting insurance and contribution issues and was settled shortly before trial in autumn 2011.
- Horsley v Cascade [2009] EWHC 2845 (LTL 18/11/09) – Alex appeared against leading counsel in the High Court successfully defending a substantial ‘lost years’ claim in an asbestosis claim.
News
- Success for Alexander Macpherson in High Court mesothelioma trial
- Success for Alexander Macpherson in £2m infectious disease claim
Articles
- Success for Alexander Macpherson in High Court mesothelioma trial
- Alexander Macpherson represents insurers in tranche of claims considering underpayment of issue fees in NIHL claims
Events
Qualifications
- Astbury Scholar, Middle Temple
- Diploma in Law, City University
- English Literature, Oriel College, Oxford
Memberships
- PIBA
- PNBA
- TECBAR
Recommendations
“Alex has a reassuring ability to navigate through complex causation issues and identify practical and commercially sound solutions.”…”He has a unique ability to digest tons of evidence and get quickly to the hub of the case.”…”He is an excellent advocate and an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Alex is succinct in his advice and has the ability to navigate through complex, technical causation issues in a calm, authoritative way.”
Legal 500, 2025
“He has an incisive ability to get straight to the heart of an issue and is calmly authoritative in conference and in court.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Alexander is forensic and an excellent communicator of complex issues – he is superb at unpicking difficult liability and causation issues.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Alexander is an excellent advocate. His advice is balanced, clear and concise.”…”He is a pleasure to work with.”… “Alexander has excellent technical knowledge in occupational disease cases.”… “He remains calm under pressure and is personable with clients.”
Chambers & Partners, 2023
“Alexander is exceptionally good with complex and novel procedural issues.”
Legal 500, 2023
“He is thorough, robust and can turn around defences and advice very quickly. He is very impressive.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“He is able to identify and navigate through challenging causation issues in an effective and pragmatic way.”
Legal 500, 2022
“He is a skilful and thorough cross-examiner.”; “A phenomenally talented individual.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“Able to navigate through difficult issues in an effective and pragmatic way.”
Legal 500, 2021
“He’s really good – the quality of his drafting is excellent.”…”He’s a very, very good advocate.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
“He has an impressively deep understanding of areas stretching beyond asbestos diseases, offering enviable expertise in cases involving noise-induced hearing loss and hand-arm vibration syndrome.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
“He excels in cases involving challenging quantum issues and contested expert evidence.“
Legal 500, 2020
