A market-leading set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers is well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering. ‘The quality of advice provided by the barristers is exceptional’.”

Chambers UK 2022, Personal Injury

Our Personal Injury Fraud team consists of members who have expertise and experience in all types of personal injury cases where fraud is suspected.

Fraud has become more commonplace in recent years and litigation in this area is increasing. Recent ‘crash for cash’ documentaries only highlight the problems faced by insurers. Given the current economic climate, it appears likely that practitioners specialising in such work will become more in demand.

We recognise the need which insurers have for barristers with knowledge of such claims, and have set up a dedicated team of barristers who can offer insurers the service they require. Our Personal Injury Fraud team receives a significant number of instructions per week, and are able to provide quick turn-around times where required.

Barristers deal with cases from the pre-issue stage through to trial.

Areas of expertise:

  • Staged accidents (including fraud rings)
  • Phantom passenger claims
  • Low velocity impacts
  • Exaggerated claims

Barristers understand the heavy evidential burden upon insurers in all cases and are able to advise insurers on the necessary steps to be taken in order to succeed at trial. Our team is also approved to act on behalf of several major Insurers.

We are also fully aware of the financial implications of a fraudulent claim, and of the difficult balance to be struck between proving fraud and recovering the costs expended in doing so.

Many current fraud ring trials are currently taking place in Northern Courts and members are prepared to travel.

Training

We design and deliver many seminars and workshops and are always happy to provide bespoke training to meet your team’s individual needs. Please contact Annette Bushell, Practice Manager, to discuss the extensive portfolio of workshops and bespoke seminars that we offer clients.

Personal Injury Fraud Team

Andrew McLaughlin

Andrew McLaughlin

  • Call: 1993

Andrew covers a broad spectrum of personal injury fraud work which includes dishonest claims for fire and other property damage, false claims for theft or loss of property, fraudulent or exaggerated personal injury claims, fraudulent critical illness, disability...

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Julian Horne

Julian Horne

  • Call: 1998

Julian is an experienced personal injury barrister with expertise across the field. In addition to experience with alleged fraud (including phantom passengers, staged accidents and low-velocity impacts) in road traffic cases, Julian has also dealt successfully with fraudulent...

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Justin Valentine

Justin Valentine

  • Call: 1999

Justin undertakes all aspects of personal injury work acting predominantly for claimants.  He has a particular interest in workplace claims (especially where liability expert evidence is required) and claims involving vulnerable road users (children, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists).  His...

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Rebecca Taylor

Rebecca Taylor

  • Call: 2003

Rebecca is an experienced personal injury practitioner with a wide experience of cases including employers’, occupiers’ and public liability, highways, road traffic accidents (including fraud work and credit hire) and product liability. Rebecca is more commonly instructed for...

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Patrick West

Patrick West

  • Call: 2007

Patrick acts for Insurance companies in personal injury claims where fraud is an issue and also acts for claimant’s where fraud is alleged or insinuated. He drafts pleadings, applications and schedules/counter schedules in cases of suspected fraud. His...

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Jimmy Barber

Jimmy Barber

  • Call: 2008

Jimmy is frequently instructed to deal with cases in which allegations of fraud or fundamental dishonesty are raised, and has considerable experience at trial both in successfully proving and defending against such allegations in road traffic accident (including...

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James Marwick

James Marwick

  • Call: 2008

James accepts instructions in all areas of personal injury work acting for both claimants and defendants. He is presently conducted as sole counsel in a number of cases worth up to £1 million and in others where there...

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Ben Handy

Ben Handy

  • Call: 2008

Chambers’ Head of Pupillage, Ben is an experienced personal injury barrister specialising in high value litigation, regularly involving claims of £1m or more. He has extensive experience in dealing with life-changing injuries, poly-trauma, and cases involving complex issues...

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James Hughes

  • Call: 2011

James regularly acts for claimants and defendants and their insurers when allegations of fundamental dishonesty or wider fraud are alleged. He has experience in RTA and EL/PL claims of: staged accidents; phantom passenger claims; LVI, and dishonest or...

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Robert Mills

  • Call: 2014

Robert has gained experience across the spectrum of personal injury litigation including product liability employer’s liability, occupier’s liability, Highways Act 1980 and road traffic cases. He advises on liability, quantum and the tactical progression of cases. He regularly...

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Sophie Howard

Sophie Howard

  • Call: 2016

Sophie is a member of the Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, and Inquest teams. She joined Chambers in May 2022 after completing a specialist third six pupillage under the supervision of Jimmy Barber. Having successfully completed a common law...

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Lauren Karmel

Lauren Karmel

  • Call: 2017

Lauren joined Chambers in April 2022 following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Justin Valentine. She accepts instructions in all aspects of clinical negligence, inquests and personal injury, and acts in small claims hearings,...

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Anna Symington

  • Call: 2002

Anna acts for Insurers in all aspects of fraud related to personal injury claims. She is preferred Counsel for one major Insurer in all their Casualty claims. Anna deals with: Exaggerated injury claims Phantom passenger claims LSI Staged...

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Directory Quotes

St John’s Chambers houses a comprehensive set of barristers in its personal injury team, which is praised by clients for its strength in depth.”

Legal 500 2022, Personal Injury

A market-leading set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers is well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering. ‘The quality of advice provided by the barristers is exceptional.’ “

Chambers UK 2022, Personal Injury

The clerking is amazing, and everyone is so accommodating and helpful. Their thoroughness and ability to get straight to the nub of things is so impressive.”

Chambers UK 2022, Personal Injury (Client Service)

“A market-leading set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers is well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering.”

Chambers UK 2021, Personal Injury

The clerks are efficient, friendly and take a can-do approach. ‘The clerking service is consistently first rate.’ ‘The clerks are very organised and efficient. I appreciate the speed with which they deal with things.’ ‘They respond quickly and deal with any issues promptly.’ “

Chambers UK 2021, Personal Injury (Client Service)

A standout set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers remains highly regarded for its strong personal injury practice. The set offers expertise in a wide range of high-value catastrophic and fatal injury claims, and its members have experience of representing both claimant and defendant clients, including several leading insurers. Instructing solicitors praise the set as ‘one of the leading sets for personal injury work in Bristol and the South West region.’ “

Chambers UK 2020, Personal Injury

The clerks will bend over backwards to accommodate you. ‘The clerking is extremely efficient. They’re very flexible, very personable and provide an outstanding service.’ “The clerks have a knack for knowing what the solicitor wants and delivering it.’ “

Chambers UK 2020, Personal Injury (Client Service)

The personal injury team reports an increase in defendant work, with members acting for government departments, insurers, and employers, in addition to claimant work. Key areas of work include catastrophic injury, road traffic accidents, and cases involving allegations of fundamental dishonesty, as well as more niche areas such as Animals Act claims.”

Legal 500 2020, PERSONAL INJURY

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