Annual Conference 2022

William Audland KC

William is ranked as a leading silk in the major directories in all his principal areas of practice - international and travel, personal injury, clinical negligence and sports law - and specialises in cross-border claims which combine these areas of expertise. He represents both claimants and defendants, and has a growing practice as a mediator.

Stephen Worthington KC

The Chambers Directory 2025 ranked Stephen as a “Senior Statesperson” in personal injury and said “He’s very practical in dealing with cases. He takes a firm but realistic position…He’s very nice as well as phenomenally clever”.

The Legal 500 for 2025 ranked Stephen as a Leading Silk in personal injury and said that he has a “superb attention to detail, very practical and down to earth. Absolutely excellent at mediations and settlement meetings.”

His work involves very high value catastrophic injury claims principally involving brain and spinal injuries.

He also has a particular specialism in motor insurance law for which he is considered to be one of the UK’s pre-eminent lawyers.

He has recent experience of cases in the Channel Islands.

He has been a Recorder since 2002 and he is a Bencher of Gray’s Inn.

Michael Rawlinson KC

Michael’s principal areas of practice are claims in which exposure to noxious substances are alleged to have led to long-term adverse health effects. He is instructed by victims, exposers and their insurers. 

Since such claims often involve the development of cancer many years after exposure, much of his instruction requires the marshaling and presentation of very large quantities of historical documents evidencing or negativing either the fact of exposure or the guilty knowledge relating to it.

He works extensively with lawyers from other common law jurisdictions. Under this general description fall specific areas of litigation: occupational exposure to asbestos/other carcinogens and exposure to manufactured products made available to the public.

In addition he accepts a significant number of instructions each year on behalf of service personnel (or their survivors) where injury arises from service life. He is often instructed to appear at the initial fact-finding Inquest and thereafter within subsequent civil litigation. He is regularly instructed in respect of air crashes (fixed and rotary wing) and other aspects of aviation health and safety. More generally, Michael is instructed by insurers where a wider strategic interest arises out of specific litigation. He considers to be a core part of his work to regularly give talks seeking to signpost where the law of causation appears to be heading. He accepts instructions from ‘both sides’ in catastrophic head and spinal injury.

Notwithstanding the advent of 0% CFA/QOCS claims he is not risk averse where legally interesting or otherwise significant issues arise. Recent work has required him to provide advocacy arising from such diverse topics as the nature of the UK’s level of control over Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus, the system of International aviation regulation operating within the UK, the alleged effect of environmental exposure to organophosphates and the historical behaviour of manufacturers of asbestos products within the UK market.

When instructed to lead a team, he always tries to foster a collegiate approach to the litigation because he firmly believes that helps the entire team to provide maximum value to the client.

Steven Snowden KC

Steven Snowden KC is Head of Chambers at 12KBW. He is recognised as one of the leading barristers in the country in his main practice areas, being recommended as a leading KC for personal injuries work (Star Individual in the Chambers & Partners directory and Tier 1 in Legal 500) and he is also ranked in the directories for Industrial Disease and for Inquests/Inquiries.

Steven is an extremely experienced advocate who regularly deals with substantial and complex cases in Court and in settlement meetings. His main area of practice is high-value, complex or sensitive personal injury work, in which he acts for Claimants and for Defendants. His current caseload includes the liability and quantum aspects of head injuries, paraplegic and other serious spinal injury cases, amputations, psychiatric injuries and fatal claims.

In industrial disease work he deals with mesothelioma and other asbestos claims, and other occupational illness claims involving difficult issues of liability, causation or quantum.

His practice also encompasses associated clinical negligence and professional negligence work, insurance, sports, group litigation and public inquiries.

He was the elected Chair (2020 – 2022) of the Personal Injuries Bar Association, a member of the Bar Council (2020 – 2022), a Director of BMIF (2022 – 2024) and has for many years been one of the authors of the Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases.

Marcus Dignum KC

Marcus is a specialist defendant catastrophic personal injury silk, who acts for most of the large insurers in the UK defending claims predominantly in the context of RTA and EL/PL work. He also defends clinical negligence claims.

He took Silk in 2020, having been recognised as a Tier 1 Junior in Chambers & Partners and a Leading Junior in The Legal 500 for many years. He is lauded for his “robust, realistic and very personal service.” He combines “intellectual rigour, a commercial approach and great charm” to good effect on high-value catastrophic injury cases.

For many years he has dealt with claims of the highest value and has extensive experience of claims involving the most serious head and spinal injuries where awards are made or settlements reached of several million pounds.

He has particular expertise in cases involving paralysis, amputation and brain injury, including subtle brain injury.

He is much sought after as a trial advocate and was recently instructed to defend one of the largest personal injury claims ever made (£33m) over the course of a 10 day trial in the High Court.

Patrick Vincent KC

Patrick is a specialist in Insurance, Personal Injury and International/Travel law. He acts for Claimants and Defendants in insurance and policy construction disputes, complex catastrophic personal injury claims, property damage claims and cross jurisdictional litigation.

Henry F. Charles

Henry is recognised as a leading personal injury and clinical negligence practitioner.  He acts for Claimants and Defendants typically in complex and high value claims.  He has negotiated settlements as high as nearly £7,000,000.

He was awarded Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Junior Barrister of the Year award in 2014 by Chambers & Partners.  He has appeared in their guide for many years, recommended in both personal injury and clinical negligence.  Observers have said, for example,  “I am impressed by his attention to detail and his commitment to ensure that no stone gets left unturned. He has a very agile and adaptable approach to things" and that he is “A tower of strength; he is calm in the midst of battle, knows how to read judges and is an excellent strategist”  He has also been described as "unflappable and laser-like in terms of his focus.", an "extremely safe pair of hands," and as “delightful” with both “panache and a beautiful manner". “He knows when to fight,” declare observers.

Henry encourages a team approach, he is happy to travel to see claimants and insurers alike.

Hugh Hamill

Hugh specialises in high value complex personal injury, professional negligence, clinical negligence and industrial disease and general insurance work.

Last year was another excellent year for Hugh and has seen him continuing to represent major insurers; public authorities; large corporations and seriously injured claimants in high-value claims, particularly those involving chronic pain/fibromyalgia/traumatic brain injury. Very often in these types of claims, causation is hotly disputed and issues of malingering, fraud, fundamental dishonesty and exaggeration arise.

He is known as an extremely tough negotiator both in JSM’s and in mediations and regularly delivers sensible outcomes for all parties, avoiding the costs and risks of a contested trial.

He has been listed as a Leading Junior in Personal Injury for over 20 years. In Chambers and Partners 2022, Hugh is noted for his work in cases involving fibromyalgia and brain and spinal injuries. He is particularly noted for his "courtroom prowess" and being "an extremely good negotiator and a very good advocate". "He is able to identify key issues very quickly and get to the real core of the case."

Previous editions referred to him as "bright, bold and ethical." He is praised for being a "slick and tenacious court performer" who "rolls up his sleeves and gets his hands dirty," and as a "razor sharp" advocate."

The Legal 500 recommends Hugh where there is malingering or fraud. He is ‘an excellent advocate with a no-nonsense approach to cases’.

Hugh is also responsible for the development and the supervision of Chambers I.T. network and the continued expansion of the I.T. infrastructure.

He has a very strong grasp of technical; engineering issues and a fine eye for detail.
He lives in Oxfordshire and can accept instructions at short notice either by DX or email. He is married with 2 children.

Brian McCluggage

Brian McCluggage is a leading practitioner in high-value insurance litigation with thirty years' experience at the Bar. He acts principally for insurers and defendant solicitors in catastrophic personal injury claims, complex liability disputes, and substantial property damage and indemnity work.

He is regularly instructed as sole counsel in claims valued up to £15 million. His practice is characterised by meticulous evidential preparation, command of technical and scientific material, and a direct, strategically focused approach to case management. He is recognised for his courtroom advocacy, particularly his cross-examination of expert witnesses and his willingness to take difficult points at trial.

Brian's early years at the Bar saw him develop a broad civil and regulatory practice. He was junior counsel to the Crown for twenty years and gained experience across professional negligence, contractual disputes, indirect taxation, and injunctive relief. This grounding informs his current more specialised practice.

He is also a tenant at Nine St John Street Chambers in Manchester.

Pankaj Madan

Called to the Bar in 1997 and with over two and a half decades at the forefront of personal injury law,  Pankaj's career is marked by a deep commitment to catastrophic injury cases. He specialises in severe and catastrophic injury cases, some with a potential value of over £20m. Most involve brain injury in particular. At Exchange Chambers and 12 King's Bench Walk, two of the leading Personal Injury sets in England, his practice is rooted in a profound understanding of the intricacies of brain injuries, severe pain, FND and amputation cases, ensuring meticulous representation for the side he is instructed for. His role extends beyond the courtroom as a writer and lecturer, contributing to the body of knowledge with recent publications such as “A Practical Guide to Catastrophic Brain Injury Claims” published in June 2024. He sits as a Deputy District Judge (since 2010) and is the first lawyer ever to sit on the Royal Society of Medicine, Pain Section Council. He has excellent expertise in costs management of severe and catastrophic injury claims securing budgets in excess of £1m in some cases.

Clients also benefit from his expertise in alternative dispute resolution, honed through rigorous analysis of medical evidence and strategic use of experts. Recognised repeatedly by the Legal 500 and in 2025 again for a "Tier 1" legal service, he is dedicated to securing favourable outcomes for clients on whichever side. As a member of the Equality and Diversity Committee, he advocates for progressive change, fostering an environment where excellence in legal practice is synonymous with equality and diversity.

Pankaj was awarded ‘Personal Injury Junior of the Year’ at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2025

Angela Frost

Angela specialises in high value, complex and catastrophic personal injury claims.

She is instructed by Claimants and Defendants in cases involving serious and high value personal injury. She has a loyal following of both solicitors and insurers due to her practical and no nonsense approach to claims.

Angela has amassed a wealth of experience in cases involving chronic pain and subtle brain injury. She is sought after in such cases particularly where they have a potential fraud element.

Angela is regularly instructed in cases where the value is in excess of £2million and against KC’s unled.

Angela has extensive experience in claims involving fraud, whether exaggerated/feigned injury or staged accidents. Leading insurers turn to Angela at an early stage to advise in cases where fraud is suspected and can rely on her to deliver targeted and precise cross examination at trial.

Claimant solicitors appreciate Angela’s ability to engage with their clients and the way in which she is able to deliver complex and difficult information and advice in a way that is appropriate and comprehensible to the individual in front of her.

Angela is instructed nationally by leading firms and insurers and is often able to turn around papers at short notice. She is happy to receive instructions electronically.

Angela sits on the Editorial Board of Kemp & Kemp: Law Practice and Procedure, and she edits the chapters on Service, Statements of Case, Admissions, Part 36, Trials, and Appeals.

Angela was elected joint Deputy Head of Chambers in July 2024.

Mary Newnham

Mary practises predominantly in personal injury and clinical negligence. She acts for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of multi-track cases.  Mary is regularly instructed in cases involving fatal accidents, brain injuries and serious and multiple injuries. She is also very familiar with cases where there is an interplay between physical and psychological injuries or a diagnosis of functional or somatoform disorders.  She is comfortable with cases involving multiple experts, causation problems and complex calculations of loss, whether they conclude at trial or at JSM.

Mary has substantial experience in road traffic litigation, including cases involving allegations of fraud and coverage/ indemnity issues. She also specialises in employers’ liability claims and public liability cases, often involving multiple defendants.

Mary’s clinical negligence practice includes cases where consideration is given to bringing additional claims for negligent medical treatment following an accident as well as free-standing claims against medical professionals for late diagnosis, negligent treatment or lack of informed consent.

Mary is regularly instructed to appear in the Coroner’s Court and has experience of substantial inquests involving juries, potential unlawful killing verdicts, deaths in the care of the state and cases where there is potential for a Preventing Future Deaths report.

Mary provides lectures and seminars to solicitors and insurers and can do so in-house.

Gemma Scott

Gemma specialises in serious personal injury cases, industrial disease claims, and in large group actions.

She regularly appears against silks and senior juniors in High Court cases. She is also frequently instructed as junior counsel in multi-million pound claims, often working alongside silks from other chambers.

She is ranked in the fields of Personal Injury and Industrial Disease in the Legal 500 and in Chambers & Partners.

Gemma is a contributor to Sweet and Maxwell’s Asbestos: Law and Litigation.

Roisin Kennedy

Roisin has significant experience in all aspects of personal injury law.  She specialises in high value complex personal injury disputes.  She acts for both claimants and defendants.  She is very thorough and user-friendly and is able to give advice quickly. 

Prior to joining 12 King’s Bench Walk in 2012, Roisin gained considerable advocacy experience conducting jury trials in the Crown Court.

Charles Robertshaw

Charles specialises in complex personal injury claims. He is regularly instructed for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of personal injury work involving serious injury and death, including: employers’ liability, public liability, highways claims, clinical negligence, and road traffic liability. Charles’ practice involves claims of high value, including some in excess of £1 million.

Charles is known for combining his notorious attention to detail and thorough preparation with an ability to identify the key issues in the case and provide pragmatic, clear, logical advice to his clients.

Charles is an experienced, persuasive and robust trial advocate. He is approachable and builds a strong rapport with his instructing solicitors and clients.

Where settlement is appropriate for his clients, he is a skilled negotiator both in JSM’s and in mediations and regularly achieves successful outcomes for his clients without recourse to trial.

Emily Read

Emily focuses on civil litigation involving damage to people and to property as well as proprietary interests, insurance disputes, recovery and costs.

Emily’s extensive caseload has included and includes, a number of complex injury claims, involving deputyship issues and high value PPO’s. In 2025, a claim in which Emily has been involved since 2020, having dealt with liability and then been led on quantum by leading counsel, settled for a value in excess of £20,000,000.

Emily has significant experience in equine cases, in particular involving jockeys - with over 20 Animals Act cases in 2024-2025, including two High Court trials.

Having worked in the insurance industry for a number of years and always maintained a strong insurance practice, Emily is very well placed to advise on insurance disputes.

Emily’s practice covers Claimant and Defendant work in almost equal measures, and she has a keen eye for both the personal and commercial needs of different clients, making her strong and up to date knowledge of costs and the CPR a significant strategic benefit.

Lois Aldred

Lois is an experienced Personal Injury and Costs Specialist known for her approachable style, tenacious advocacy and the ability to effectively argue tricky legal points.

Lois combines her practice as a barrister with sitting as Recorder on the Midlands Circuit.

Away from Law Lois has a keen interest in travel, languages, and sustainable gardening when she isn’t marshalling her trio of young sons.

She speaks (now) basic French after her time living and studying in Strasbourg, when a student along with a little Spanish and Japanese.

Before coming to the Bar Lois Taught English Language Oral Communication in Osaka, Japan.

Thea Wilson

Thea specialises in Clinical Negligence, complex Personal Injury claims, and Inquests.

Thea has a wealth of experience in handling cases involving delayed diagnosis, birth and pregnancy-related injuries, spinal injuries, brain damage, psychiatric injury, chronic pain and fatal accidents. Thea is particularly adept at handling complex quantum calculations.

Thea’s role as Assistant Coroner for Essex gives her insight and expertise in the inquest process. She regularly acts for interested parties at inquests, in particular in claims involving clinical negligence, road traffic accidents, and deaths in custody and is happy to advise on all aspects of the coronial process.

Thea’s expert knowledge of the CPR stands her in good stead in acting for and advising solicitors on procedural matters in relation to applications and appeals, and in respect of costs. She is sought after in cases with a potential fraud element and has a wide range of experience dealing with insurance coverage issues.

Thea is regularly instructed by trade union organisations, local authorities, insurers, the NHS, and the MIB.

With an eye for detail and a sympathetic manner, Thea is experienced in dealing with vulnerable claimants. Thea has represented victims of sexual and physical abuse both in civil claims and before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tribunal.

Thea is happy to accept cases on a CFA basis and is willing to consider Pro Bono instruction where appropriate.

Vanessa Cashman

Vanessa specialises in clinical negligence. She acts predominantly for claimants and her practice encompasses a huge range of medical specialties. She has particular expertise in birth and obstetric injuries, spinal injury and brain injury. Vanessa is Joint Head of our Clinical Negligence Team.

Vanessa is ranked for clinical negligence in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. She is known for her warmth and sensitivity and her extensive medical knowledge.

She also has considerable experience in personal injury, inquests and costs.

Thomas Banks

Tom is ranked as a Personal Injury Leading Junior in Legal 500. He specialises in catastrophic, complex and high value Personal Injury claims, Insurance Law, Inquests, Military claims, Fraud and Costs.

His specialist personal injury practice focuses on Brain and Spinal Injuries, Fatal Accidents, Motor Insurance and Indemnity Law,  International and Travel Law, Public and Employers Liability and Industrial Disease

As former Tank Commander and Intelligence Officer in the British Army, he is also recognised as an established specialist Counsel in Armed Forces Claims.

Tom has also been instructed in High Court Defamation proceedings.

Rachit Buch

Rachit specialises in personal injury, industrial disease, clinical negligence and international and travel law. He is ranked in the legal directories for personal injury: industrial disease (Band 2, Chambers & Partners) and clinical negligence (Tier 4, Legal 500). He is described as “a strong advocate”, who “excels at understanding both the overall picture and the important details of the case. He has a great manner with clients”.

His industrial disease practice focuses on mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related diseases.

His clinical negligence practice includes birth-related claims, surgical negligence and delayed diagnosis in oncology and other disciplines.

He acts for claimants and defendants in high value and complex litigation. He has particular expertise in cases with an international element, including jurisdictional challenges, cases involving foreign law and accidents abroad.

Rachit has experience in cases involving a public law aspect, including liability of public bodies such as the Ministry of Defence. He was instructed in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, as well as having an established inquest practice.

He is instructed in claims involving issues of national security including sensitive military deployments or undercover policing.

Having studied Human Genetics for his first degree, Rachit applies his knowledge of scientific and medical issues to the law.

Nina Ross

Nina is ranked as a leading junior in personal injury in the current editions of Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, which note that Nina is “crystal-clear in her thinking and analysis” (Legal 500) and has “a commanding presence when on her feet” (Chambers and Partners).

Nina specialises in claims arising out of sexual and physical assaults; harassment claims; military claims; international and group litigation; and human rights aspects of personal injury law. She has been instructed in high-profile litigation in these fields, including in:

• Ella Janneh v Michael Lousada [2024] EWHC 1464 (KB): claim for sexual assault brought against therapist.
• Sayn-Wittgenstein v Juan Carlos 1 [2023] EWHC 2478 (KB) (led by Jonathan Caplan KC and Andrew Green KC): claim for harassment brought against the former King of Spain.
• X v Kuoni [2021] UKSC 34 (led by William Audland KC): a claim brought under the 1992 Package Travel Regulations for sexual assaults committed by a hotel employee in Sri Lanka, which was referred by the Supreme Court to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling on a point of European law.
• Alseran & Others v Ministry of Defence [2017] EWHC 3289 (QB) [2018] 3 W.L.R. 95 (led by Richard Hermer KC and Harry Steinberg KC): claims against the MoD brought by Iraqi civilians who allege that they were assaulted and unlawfully detained by UK military personnel during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Given her areas of specialism, Nina has particular experience of claims for psychiatric injury and the complex issues of causation that arise.

She is an authority on limitation periods and is co-author of Personal Injury Limitation Law, Bloomsbury (2020) which has received excellent reviews: https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/personal-injury-limitation-law-9781526508607/

Before coming to the Bar, Nina worked on torture and abuse cases in the international and group claims department of Leigh Day & Co Solicitors; at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Netherlands; as well as at JUSTICE; Liberty; and the Legal Resources Centre in Durban, South Africa.

Isaac Hogarth

Isaac is Joint Head of our Clinical Negligence Team.

Isaac has a specialist clinical negligence, personal injury and insurance practice. Isaac is generally instructed in cases involving life-changing spinal and brain injuries, chronic pain, amputations and fatalities. He is ranked as a leading junior in personal injury and clinical negligence in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners 2025.

In addition to his injury practice, Isaac has an established reputation as an insurance specialist and is often instructed to advise insurers and the MIB on technical coverage and indemnity issues.

Isaac is an experienced advocate with an excellent track record at trials, joint settlement meetings and mediations. He is often instructed as a junior in high value claims, and also has extensive experience as sole counsel.

In addition to his civil practice, Isaac is often instructed to provide representation at inquests, particularly those arising from deaths in hospitals and road traffic accidents.

Dr. Achas Burin

Achas enjoys a varied practice in 12KBW’s core areas. She is keen to tackle research on complex points, including procedural ones and those involving a crossover between different spheres of law. She welcomes instructions in matters that cross the boundary between tort and public law. She is currently instructed in the Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing and the Lampard Inquiry into mental health provision in Essex. She previously had a longstanding involvement in the Infected Blood Inquiry and the Kenya Emergency Group Litigation. Achas is recommended in the Legal 500 2025 directory for ‘Inquests and Inquiries’.

She acted as a junior in Coventry v Lawrence (No. 3) [2015] UKSC 50, the landmark Supreme Court case concerning whether the costs regime under the Access to Justice Act 1999 complied with human rights law.

She was also instructed in X v Kuoni Travel [2019] C-578/19, both in the Supreme Court and before the Court of Justice of the European Union, alongside William Audland KC and Nina Ross.

Achas is an Assistant Professor at Warwick University, where she teaches tort law.

Private: Max Archer

Max is recognised as a leading practitioner in a number of different fields including aviation law, cross border litigation, industrial disease, product liability and group actions. Across these fields he is experienced in tortious disputes, commercial litigation and regulatory matters.

He is known for his excellent client care, robust advocacy and pragmatic approach to litigation. Max’s work is often technical, high value and complex. He often appears unled against silks in the higher courts and is acknowledged for his advocacy skills.

Max has unparalleled knowledge of aviation law and has become a go-to junior in this area in respect of large loss events  occurring all over the world as well as domestic accidents, regulatory issues and commercial aviation work.

His work often has an international dimension, he has expertise in jurisdiction and conflicts of laws as well as private international tort law and human rights issues.

Max often acts in group actions, both led and unled. He is adept at handling mass tort cases and often acts in environmental actions as well as group personal injury claims.

He is a contributing author of Asbestos: Law & Litigation (Sweet & Maxwell, 2019) and the co-editor of 12KBW’s Asbestos Blog.

Max is recognised in Aviation, Personal Injury and Travel in the Legal 500 and in Aviation, Personal Injury and Industrial Disease in Chambers & Partners.

David Green

David is a leading personal injury and employment junior. He is the head of Chambers’ employment team.

"He is really impressive - smart and efficient" (Chambers & Partners (personal injury: industrial disease), 2025).

“David is simply outstanding” (Chambers & Partners (employment), 2025)

David is ranked as a leading junior for both personal injury and employment law, in both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.

David is the head of the 12KBW employment team. He appears regularly in the Employment Tribunal and the EAT in every kind of statutory employment case.

Cases include:

Minis Childcare Ltd v Hilton-Webb [2024] EAT 108: successful appeal concerning the relationship between indirect discrimination and the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.

Barry v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 459 (KB): military noise-induced hearing loss case with widespread implications for the quantum of earnings-related damages for disabled claimants.

Abbott v Ministry of Defence [2022] EWHC 1807 (QB): junior counsel for nearly 3,500 claimants for noise-induced hearing loss and/or tinnitus brought against the MOD.

Wokingham Borough Council v Arshad [2022] EWHC 2419 (KB): successful appeal on behalf of a local authority against claim for psychiatric damage, brought by a taxi driver after a mistake in the taxi licensing process.

Charley Turton

Charley specialises in clinical negligence, abuse, and injury claims with an international element.

Her broader personal injury practice encompasses interests in sports law, motor insurance and military claims.

Charley has been led by William Audland KC, Harry Steinberg KC, Patrick Vincent KC and Andrew Roy KC of 12KBW and regularly does work for other members of chambers in high value cases.

In addition to frequent paperwork cases, Charley is regularly in court for trials, PTRs, CCMCs, interim applications and approval hearings.

As a member of Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit), Charley is willing to act in a pro bono capacity, where appropriate.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Charley studied English Literature at Merton College, Oxford, and was awarded a Blue for football.

When she is not in chambers Charley plays for Camden Town Football Club and is a loyal participant in the annual Blenheim Palace Triathlon.

Henry King

Henry is a barrister who specialises in costs, insurance, and commercial disputes. He also has a Multi-Track personal injury practice on high value, complex matters which require an extra level of attention to detail.

He was ranked in the Legal 500 2025 as having an “encyclopaedic knowledge of costs law” and appears for both receiving parties and paying parties at all levels of costs assessment. This includes solicitor client costs. He has been instructed (unled) on matters involving seven figure bills.

His insurance practice covers the full spectrum from complex policy wording disputes and declinatures of cover to straightforward property damage claims. He regularly acts in cases worth over £500,000 for both Claimants and Defendants. This has included matters where brokers are alleged to have been negligent, claims under the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 and claims involving interpretation of the Insurance Act 2015.

As to his commercial practice, he has worked on all manner of commercial claims from multi-million-pound cases about titanium parts sold to a household name car manufacturer to supply chain disputes between perfume companies. Clients appreciate his ability to get to grips with their business quickly in order to understand the heart of the dispute.

Henry is an adept personal injury litigator specialising in claims pleaded in excess of £200,000. He acts for both Claimants and Defendants, and both have equally praised his approach to litigation, as well as his tactical, commercially sensible mindset.

Henry’s practice is managed by Lily Baker, Practice Manager (baker@12kbw.co.uk) and Lily is assisted by Isaac Ayliffe, Assistant Practice Manager (ayliffe@12kbw.co.uk).

Megan Griffiths

Megan has a mixed claimant and defendant personal injury practice with particular experience in claims for complex psychiatric injuries. She is a regular and effective court advocate. With a combination of due sensitivity, attention to detail and commercial awareness, Megan works collaboratively with her instructing solicitors to achieve results for their lay and insurer clients. 

Megan’s personal injury practice includes claims arising from road traffic accidents, public liability and employers’ liability. Her employers’ liability practice includes claims arising from manual labour, educational settings, healthcare, sports, the military and religious institutions.

On the claimant side Megan is particularly experienced in claims for psychiatric injury arising from sexual abuse engaging complex issues of limitation, liability and causation. She recently secured an assessment of damages on the Masters’ Corridor in excess of £300,000 to beat a Part 36 offer.

On the defendant side she is particularly skilled at forensically analysing disclosure in catastrophic and non-catastrophic injury claims to inform the best approach to litigation. She is regularly instructed to advise upon and pursue findings of fundamental dishonesty and her effective cross-examination has seen claims discontinued before judgment.

On both sides Megan frequently advises on tactics and settlement parameters and conducts conferences with expert and lay witnesses. She is frequently instructed to prepare without prejudice schedules and advise on paper offers. She has conducted JSMs with co-counsel and as sole counsel in six figure claims.

Megan is regularly in court before Masters, Circuit Judges and the district bench. She is experienced in witness handling across liability, causation, quantum and fraud and has been commended by her tribunals for her skilful cross-examination. She is procedurally aware and regularly makes and opposes interlocutory and costs applications.

Megan’s mixed practice and regular appearances in court inform her approach to both her claimant and defendant work. She is praised by her instructing solicitors for her communicative and thorough approach.

Megan is instructed as junior as well as sole counsel. She has previously been instructed by the defendant as junior counsel in a multi-million TBI and amputation claim and by the claimant as junior counsel in group litigation arising from sexual abuse abroad. She is currently instructed in the rugby litigation and another high-profile group action.

Before joining chambers Megan worked as a paralegal in a London law firm’s clinical negligence department. She therefore appreciates the importance of working closely with solicitors to achieve the best results for commercial and lay clients.

Megan regularly contributes to chambers’ various blogs and has been published by AvMA, Law in Sport and LexisPSL. She speaks at chambers’ various events and at in house events for solicitor and insurer clients.

Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas

Cressida specialises in all aspects of Personal Injury law. She has a thorough and collaborative approach and is recognised by The Legal 500 as a Rising Star who “has already amassed an extremely impressive caseload, far beyond that of many barristers much more senior”.

In disease litigation Cressida acts for Claimants suffering from mesothelioma, lung cancer, diffuse pleural thickening and asbestosis. She is also experienced in VWF/ HAVS claims. She regularly appears in the Masters’ corridor and is well versed in limitation arguments and complex issues of causation. As second junior in Mather v MOD she helped obtain a settlement of over £3 million for a former RAF painter & finisher who developed MS following exposure to organic solvents in breach of the COSHH Regulations.

Cressida has particular interest in equine claims brought under The Animals Act 1971.  She is currently junior counsel in a high value, complex CRPS claim following a military riding accident. Cressida is adept at drafting schedules of loss in cases involving the loss of a military career.

In clinical negligence Cressida has experience in a range of different cases, including delayed diagnosis, as well as unnecessary and negligent surgery. This compliments her coronial practice where she is instructed in inquests involving multiple expert jurisdictions. She successfully obtained a regulation 28 prevention of future death report in a case arising out of the police’s treatment of head injuries and questioned experts in pathology, neuropathology, and toxicology.

Cressida is adept at handling complex motor insurance indemnity points. She successfully acted as Junior Counsel for the Second Defendant in Covea Insurance Plc v Greenaway [2021] 3 WLUK 379, considering the meaning of the ‘stolen or unlawfully taken’ exception under s. 151 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Greenaway was the first case to practically consider how the domestic court is to interpret retained EU law under section 6(3) of the EU Withdrawal Act 2018. Unled she successfully acted for the Second Defendant in Kelec v (1) Kotwal (2) Nelson Insurance (HHJ Dight CBE, central London County Court, 18 August 2022). The case concerned the limits of a direct action under The European Communities (Rights against Insurers) Regulations 2002 (‘the 2002 Regulations’).

Cressida acts and advises in costs litigation, including detailed assessment hearings, where she is an effective advocate. She co-edits 12 King’s Bench Walk’s Costs blog with Deputy Costs Judge Andrew Roy.

Prior to coming to the Bar Cressida worked at a top American investment bank. She is highly numerate and drafts living and fatal schedules of loss beyond her year of call.

Tim Goodwin

2019: Called to the Bar |  2012: Admitted to the Solicitors’ Roll

Tim is recognised as a leading employment junior who is described in the current edition of Legal 500 as “first-rate” and "quick on his feet". His employment work is complemented by a personal injury practice that is focused on psychiatric injuries arising from workplace stress, harassment and bullying. Tim is currently Head of 12KBW’s Employment Practice Group and was a finalist for the Legal 500's Employment Junior of the Year 2023 award.

Tim qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and, before being called to the Bar, practiced as a Senior Associate in a Tier 1 rated City employment firm. In that role he was responsible for cases at all levels and across the broad spectrum of employment disputes. Tim’s considerable experience of employment disputes and civil litigation has furnished him with a level of expertise and knowledge that is well beyond his year of call, meaning that he is frequently instructed on complex, difficult and high-value cases.

Tim has considerable advocacy experience, appearing in tribunals and county courts on a near-daily basis. He also appears in the High Court and Employment Appeal Tribunal, often unled. Tim combines his court work with advisory and drafting work, and can be depended on to deliver results consistently, quickly and commercially. Additionally, Tim has extensive experience of alternative dispute resolution, including formal, informal and judicial mediations, settlement negotiations and arbitration.

Private: Jessica Franklin

Jessica specialises in personal injury, disease and employment.

Jessica writes robust pleadings, offers realistic advice on liability and settlement and is a confident advocate. In employment, she is particularly experienced in whistleblowing, discrimination and unfair dismissal claims. In personal injury, she is experienced in a range of areas including complex vicarious liability, disease and military disputes.

Jessica is interested in appellate work and was recently junior counsel in the Court of Appeal and in the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Jessica is a scholar of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. She achieved a Distinction in the GDL and the BVS. She was awarded academic scholarships by the City Law School and the Inner Temple to undertake her legal studies.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Jessica had a career in advertising and marketing. She worked in Beijing for a year and has a great interest in Chinese culture, language and food.

Eleanor Duckenfield

Eleanor joined chambers in October 2022 following successful completion of her pupillage. She advocates in court numerous times a week in trials, interim hearings, CCMCs and applications. In addition, Eleanor is frequently instructed on paperwork matters.

Eleanor accepts instructions in all areas of personal injury, credit hire, clinical negligence, industrial disease, costs and fraud. She is also keen to accept instructions in inquests. In addition, Eleanor is an experienced courtroom advocate in Disposal hearings, Stage 3 hearings and Infant Approvals.

Eleanor is clerked by Lily Baker (baker@12kbw.co.uk).

Under her supervisors, Rachit Buch, Charles Robertshaw and Isaac Hogarth, she obtained experience in personal injury, clinical negligence, inquests, and industrial disease, with a particular focus on mesothelioma and noise-induced hearing loss claims.

Eleanor studied Anthropology at Durham University (with a particular interest in Forensic Anthropology). Following her degree, Eleanor achieved a Distinction in both the GDL and LLM in Bar Practice. Eleanor won a prize for receiving the highest mark in Ethics in her BPTC cohort and 91% in her Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence module.

Following several successes in mooting competitions, Eleanor volunteered at the University of Law’s Legal Advice Centre where she represented litigants in person in hearings and offered assistance throughout the litigation process.

Prior to pupillage, Eleanor gained experience working abroad in Austria and Spain, before returning to the UK to work in the pharmaceutical industry throughout Covid, whilst simultaneously completing both her delayed Bar exams and a Medical Counter Assistance course.