Personal Injury
Shaun is consistently recognised as a leading junior in his field. His practice is mainly in the field of personal injury and, in particular catastrophic injury and chronic pain cases. He is regularly instructed to appear against silks in such cases whether at trial, interlocutory hearings or settlement meetings. His current caseload includes several cases involving traumatic brain injury (especially cases of subtle or minor brain injury), tetraplegia, paraplegia, traumatic amputations, fatal injuries and the full gamut of chronic pain cases (Fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Somatic Symptom Disorder and chronic pain generally). His experience in these fields enables him rapidly to grasp the issues involved in any particular claim (whether they be liability, causation or quantum issues) and devise an effective strategy for his clients.
He has expertise in dealing with issues of dishonesty, causation and acceleration in such cases, often having to deal with allegations of fraud and Fundamental Dishonesty against a background of complicated factual and medical evidence. He has experience in dealing with the various issues that arise out of the use of surveillance evidence.
He is adept at working as part of team, giving advice and input in the tactical management of a case. He is a skilled and robust performer in court, whether at interlocutory hearings or trial.
He advises and deals with issues such as:
- Periodical Payment Orders
- Provisional damages
- Pension loss claims
- Claims by infants
- Allegations of fraud, dishonesty, deliberate exaggeration and Fundamental Dishonesty (and the use of surveillance evidence)
- Assault cases arising out the use of a motor vehicle
Shaun is accustomed to dealing with complex expert evidence (on issues of liability, causation or quantum) and is able quickly to assimilate such evidence, enabling him to provide expert input into the preparation of his client’s case. His level of expertise and background knowledge enables him to deal effectively with a wide range of experts in different fields.
Selected Cases
- Traumatic brain injury sustained by a 14 year old claimant in a road traffic accident where liability and quantum remain in issue.
- Traumatic brain injury sustained by a 6 month old infant in a road traffic accident where significant input into rehabilitation, education and family relations was needed.
- Traumatic brain injury suffered by a claimant who returned to live in Poland where issues relating to periodical payments, indexation, life expectancy and the provision of care and rehabilitation in Poland had to be explored – instructed alone against a silk.
- Traumatic brain injury case where, at the settlement meeting, all issues save for care were resolved, significantly reducing the issues remaining for trial – instructed alone against a silk and a junior.
- Traumatic brain injury case where injury sustained when claimant deliberately struck by defendant’s vehicle – arguments on liability as to assault and self-defence.
- Claim by a pedestrian for traumatic brain injury contested on liability involving trial and hearing in Court of Appeal – instructed alone against a silk.
- Claim by paraplegic claimant who suffered injury to her shoulder and arm when her wheelchair failed – issues involving product liability and defect, causation and analysis of the extent of the injury sustained.
- Road traffic claim involving a defence of automatism where arguments are raised that such a defence is inconsistent with EU law – instructed alone against a silk and a junior.
- Claim arising from T6 paraplegia where instructed to provide advice on behalf of claimant and defendant to achieve early resolution of the claim.
- Claim by claimant with paraplegia arguing over manual handling requirements for carers involved in transfers and over need for and cost of hydrotherapy pool.
- Claim by RAF serviceman for injuries sustained in “It’s A Knockout” type activity resulting in paraplegia – liability contested at two trials and one appeal hearing – claim eventually settled.
- Fatal accident claim arising out of collision where two defendants blamed each other – issues involving insurance coverage and MIB involvement.
- Claim involving elective below knee injury following crush injury to foot.
- Claim arising from fractures of tibia and fibula resulting in below knee amputation – issues involving clinical negligence in post accident treatment as well as liability for initial injury.
- Claim for below knee amputation where significant issues as to prosthetic provision and pre accident employment prospects arose.
- Claim for Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome and depression where surveillance demonstrated that claimant was exaggerating.
- Claim involving bilateral knee injuries requiring total knee replacement on one side and likely total knee replacement on the other side in future with issues over future employment, accommodation and care needs.
- Claim in which the claimant alleged that he had suffered a stroke following carotid artery dissection as a result of lifting heavy loads at work – significant issues as to causation involving complex medical evidence in a number of fields.
- A number of claims involving fibromyalgia where issues of fraud, dishonesty, deliberate exaggeration, causation, acceleration and prognosis are disputed.
Recommendations
“Shaun is incredibly well respected with good reason, whether in advocacy, negotiation or written work. He is counsel who clearly sees the wood from the trees.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Shaun is a skilled advocate, whose pragmatic and empathetic approach ensures favourable results.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Shaun is always prepared, tactically very astute and adaptable.”
Legal 500, 2024
“He has an ability to marshal complex expert evidence and navigate through difficult issues in a clear, concise and pragmatic way.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Shaun provides silk quality as a junior.”
Legal 500, 2022
“A strong negotiator who is very effective and personable when dealing with clients.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“A first-rate advocate, he is also user friendly and approachable.”
Legal 500, 2021
“An excellent advocate who takes a common-sense approach.”; “He is very measured and has outstanding attention to detail. He gets good results.”; “He is very thorough in terms of his preparation and is a personable individual. He’s also a sound negotiator and his breadth of knowledge is very impressive.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“A no-nonsense high quality barrister that gets the job done with a minimum of fuss.”
Legal 500, 2021
“He provides a very high-level service in a very professional and reliable manner. He has immense knowledge and experience in personal injury matters.”; “He’s thorough, approachable and engages well with clients.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
“he is very highly regarded by insurers for his thorough approach and sound advice”; “he immediately grasps the important issues and understands the commercial realities”
Legal 500, 2016
“he is very easy to deal with and very clear and incisive in his advice” ; “he’s KC material at a junior price”
Chambers & Partners 2016