David Platt KC specialises in occupational disease, personal injury, insurance, health and safety, sports, abuse and inquest work. He also specialises in group litigation. He undertakes most forms of common law, environmental work and employment related claims.
His occupational disease practice involves all aspects of asbestos litigation, stress at work, NIHL claims, upper limb disorder litigation, asthma, dermatitis, VWF, cancer, COSHH and now Covid-19 claims. He also is regularly instructed in abuse claims involving local authorities and sports bodies. He has been involved in emerging litigation areas such as pilot and aircrew aerotoxicity, concussive sports and neurological claims, passive smoking, DVT, and toxic mould litigation. This often involves difficult questions over the boundaries of medical knowledge and the detailed analysis of epidemiology.
He also undertakes all aspects of personal injury work (including sports, harassment and related claims) and acts for both claimants and defendants. This often involves injuries of utmost severity, construction-related injury claims and major disaster claims. He has been frequently instructed in Channel Islands litigation and on the Isle of Man.
David is regularly instructed in group litigation (both disease and more conventional personal injury) and is rated in Chambers & Partners as an expert in this area.
He undertakes a wide range of health and safety and inquest work. Often this is linked to his disease and personal injury practice given his experience in industrial accidents, asbestos, hazardous substances and fatal claims. Clients value the integrated service which he can therefore provide.
He is also heavily involved in insurance work, particularly that linked to his main areas of practice. He was instructed in the group EL “Trigger” litigation involving mesothelioma claims and has wide experience in EL, PL and general policy construction.
In Chambers UK 2025, David is ranked as a “Star Individual” in Personal Injury: Industrial Disease. He is recognised as a “leading silk” in all the major legal directories in both Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Group Litigation. He was nominated for the 2020 Personal Injury Silk of the Year award by The Legal 500 and is top tier rated in this directory.
View full profile »Awards
News
- Crown Office Chambers shortlisted in 17 categories at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024
- Success for David Platt KC and Juliet Stevens in a ‘stress at work’ PI claim
Articles
- Success for David Platt KC and Juliet Stevens in a ‘stress at work’ PI claim
- Abbott & Ors v. Ministry of Defence [2022] EWHC 1807 (QB): bulk claim form impermissible
Events
Qualifications
- MA (Law) Trinity Hall, Cambridge (scholar)
Memberships
- London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association
- Personal Injuries Bar Association
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
Recommendations
“David’s unparalleled knowledge and great way with clients never fail to impress.”…”His breadth of knowledge across multiple areas is both breath-taking and humbling, and adds a richly-layered analysis to the most complex of issues.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Robust and clever advocate; first class analysis of complex claims and produces advice which is clear and concise; excellent with clients.”
Legal 500, 2025
“He is the stand-out silk in disease litigation and the one to go to for complex or leading issues.”….. “He has a huge capacity to absorb details of a case and a proper academic understanding of quite difficult issues that arise.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“One of the best disease silks in the country. Provides clear and analytical advice. He understands the broader commercial realities.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
‘David is a Rolls Royce of a silk. Excellent robust and no-nonsense advice.’
Legal 500, 2024
“He is an incredibly intelligent person who offers logical advice. He is pragmatic, down to earth and very effective.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“David is without doubt the finest silk in practice in respect of his asbestos work.”
Legal 500, 2022
“Superb to work with – the advice he provides is clear, commercially sensible and tactically astute.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“He is a very good advocate who is always on top of his game and is well respected by both clients and opponents.” “He is bright, enthusiastic and extremely experienced in high-level disease cases.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“A real expert when it comes to dealing with complex medical and scientific issues and handling multiple experts on these issues.”
Legal 500, 2021
“A top-quality barrister who really knows his area.”; “He’s a very impressive advocate and has a good head for complex issues.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
“Always immaculately prepared, demonstrating mastery of the papers. He has a prodigious intellect and is also highly personable and approachable. He understands the value of relationships.”… “His courtroom manner is confident. He presents the arguments in a clear and logical fashion.”
Chambers & Partners, 2018
