Product Liability
Elizabeth regularly works on highly technical cases involving defective products. Her main focus is on disputes where products have failed causing financial losses, although she is also often instructed on cases (including group actions) involving personal injury. Elizabeth’s practice in product liability frequently overlaps with her practice in insurance, property damage, and professional negligence.
Elizabeth has been instructed in a number of high value cases for high profile multinational companies including Siemens, Kubota and Indesit, often involving very complex forensic evidence and difficult questions of law. Elizabeth acts for both claimants and defendants. Her corporate clients include motor vehicle, pharmaceutical and medical product manufacturers, as well as insurers and medical bodies such as the NHS.
Selected Cases
Elizabeth is currently instructed on the Talcum Powder Litigation representing Kenvue (Johnson & Johnson). The UK legal action against the US pharmaceutical and cosmetics company follows on from the US litigation in North America, and alleges that primarily women (and some men) diagnosed with cancers (including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma) were exposed to asbestos in the company’s talcum powder. In addition, the UK legal action alleges that talc itself can also increase the risk of cancer.
Elizabeth is also currently working for a company providing pressure washers said to have caused a major fire on an industrial estate. The case involves both fire experts and materials scientists, as one of the issues involves the possible effect of sodium on the refractory material and the metal components.
Elizabeth is also currently instructed by the supplier of an epoxy resin in relation to a claim brought by one of its customers for alleged failures in their light bars for emergency services. The case involves a technical understanding of the how the epoxy is mixed, issues such as typical Shore D hardness, and whether a minor change in the diluent affected the utility of the product.
Elizabeth is also currently acting for the manufacturer of a supercar, which set on fire during the course of being driven. The case involves complex scientific evidence as to how the car’s systems functioned, as well as novel arguments as to how to value a supercar when there are limited numbers in production.
Elizabeth acting as a part of a team for a US law firm in a dispute between Invista and Dupont. The issue was whether the sale of Dupont’s Wilton facility complied with UK Health and Safety law at the time of the sale. The case required a detailed understanding of Dupont’s chemical processing plant, and Elizabeth’s specific role was to collate this information and prepare a UK Health and Safety expert for his deposition.
- Acting for a multi-national company in claim arising out of an allegedly defective boiler management unit, involving complex issues as to whether the product was defective at the time of delivery.
- Acting for a multi-national company in claim arising out of defective automatic number plate recognition cameras, which were unable to recognise the third character on UK number plates.
- Acting for product manufacturer involving the supply of an air bag vest for equestrian use, and whether it complied with various EU regulations at the time of its supply, and caused the Claimant’s injuries.
News
- Elizabeth Boon successful in the Court of Appeal
- Crown Office Chambers to speak at the BILA Virtual Lecture, 14 November 2024
Events
Articles
- Covid-19: Business Interruption insurance, an FCA class action, and the long-tail risks to insurance brokers
- Covid-19: issues for property and business interruption insurers by Elizabeth Boon, Crown Office Chambers
Qualifications
- Major Scholarship, Inner Temple
- BA (Hons) (Oxon)
Memberships
- Adjudication Society
- Commercial Bar Association
- LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
- London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
- Society of Construction Law (UK & Gulf)
- Technology & Construction Court Bar Association
Recommendations
“A real rising star in the Bar.”…”She is exceptionally bright and I always feel that she is punching above her weight in these matters.”…”The beauty of working with Elizabeth is that she is a pleasure to work with.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“The beauty of working with Elizabeth is that she is a pleasure to work with. She is highly responsive, as well as being pragmatic.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“She is exceptionally bright and I always feel that she is punching above her weight in these matters. A real rising star in the Bar.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Elizabeth is absolutely tenacious and her advocacy is exceptional.”
Legal 500, 2025
“A first-class advocate and go-to counsel on professional negligence claims.”… “Elizabeth Boon gets clients on side and they are in awe of her because of her approach – she’s just so hard-working. She is brilliant.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Fantastic with clients. A straight talker, balanced with a uniquely personable approach. Extracts and advises on key issues with total clarity and precision.”
Legal 500, 2024
“She is incredibly thorough and manages to find extra routes of recovery.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Elizabeth is an assured and agile advocate. Her approach is sensible and commercial.”
Legal 500, 2022
“A very proactive barrister, she gets engaged with the work quickly; she’s enthusiastic and very responsive.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“She has a good client manner and provides honest, no-nonsense advice and a good turnaround time.”; “She is organised and structured in her analysis and extremely commercial in her approach.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“Elizabeth is very user friendly, hardworking, and has a keen eye for a commercial solution to the client’s problems. She rapidly gets to the heart of the issues and communicates the strengths and weaknesses of the case clearly.”
Legal 500, 2021
“Tenacious and extremely hardworking.”
Legal 500, 2020
A wise and analytical advocate. She’s tenacious, combative and very hard-working.” “She has an excellent understanding of technical matters.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
