Christopher Stephenson

Call: 1994

"He is an excellent, well-rounded barrister with top-drawer client skills and a steely negotiating style."

Legal 500 2024

Christopher Stephenson has established a first-rate Claimant personal injury and clinical negligence practice over many years.

He is well known as a thorough and persuasive advocate, capable of handling the most demanding and high value cases. Christopher’s caseload is mainly in the High Court and he is equally well thought of as a personal injury and clinical negligence practitioner. He is a skilled and tough negotiator and his approach is simple; to obtain the best results for his clients.


Expertise

Christopher has wide experience of a range of clinical negligence claims. Christopher is regularly instructed right at the start of a claim, because his client care is second to none. He has an ability to put a Claimant at ease and explain complex issues clearly and simply. He is renowned for his ability to get the best out of the experts in a claim, not afraid to challenge their opinions and give robust advice.

Notable Clinical Negligence & Healthcare cases


Claydon v East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

A very difficult claim relating to the failure to diagnose and treat raised intracranial pressure that led to the development of a dural arteriovenous fistula. As a result, the Claimant was rendered blind. The case involved very complex expert evidence as to the cause of the fistula and when or if prompt treatment would have avoided injury. The case settled in late 2020 at a Joint Settlement Meeting for £2.3m.

CR v East Kent University Hospitals NHS Trust

This claim involved the failure to diagnose a bowel obstruction. He subsequently suffered a bowel rupture and a cardiac arrest during repair surgery. He suffered a hypoxic brain injury that left him very seriously disabled. The claim was complicated on many fronts, not least in disentangling losses caused by the accident from losses that would have been sustained in any event. The case settled for a lump sum of £3m, plus substantial stepped periodical payments.

Braddon v UH Plymouth NHS Trust

This is a case concerning the alleged delay in diagnosis spinal infection, resulting in catastrophic spinal injury which has left the Claimant profoundly disabled. There are multiple experts involved in the claim, and Christopher has had to distil a huge amount of complex information into a coherent claim. There are various different areas of expertise, all of which have to be woven together to establish breach of duty and causation. The case is listed for trial in June 2021.

Aristodemou v Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Claimant’s husband died as a result of the Defendant’s failure to offer him treatment for a heart condition. He died in the Claimant’s arms after suffering a cardiac arrest. She has a claim as a secondary victim and is continuing to suffer from very significant psychological sequelae. The claim requires detailed investigation of the fatal dependency and the interrelationship with the Claimant’s own losses. Ongoing.

Tufnall v UH Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

The Claimant was only 16 years old when the Defendant failed to diagnose compartment syndrome in his leg following a fracture. He subsequently developed a very serious injury, requiring numerous surgical procedures and has been left with lifelong disability. The case has required investigation as to what his condition and prognosis would have been but for the breach of duty. The claim is pleaded in excess of £2m.

Christopher has an enviable Claimant personal injury practice. He has wide experience of every type of personal injury claim, including claims arising out of road traffic accidents, employer’s liability claims, accidents abroad and claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Christopher is often brought into a case right at the outset, so that he can gain the Claimant’s trust and confidence and ensure that the litigation is run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Notable Personal Injury cases


The Personal Representatives of Tina Cantello (deceased) v PPC

Tina Cantello brutally murdered whilst working as a door-to-door saleswoman. A claim was intimated to her employers and Christopher represented her family at a Joint Settlement Meeting where the matter was compromised. The case was fraught with difficulty and was settled for a substantial sum of money. The settlement meeting required frank discussions with Christopher’s opponent and also difficult and sensitive handling of the deceased’s widow, who was understandably distraught. There was a particularly tricky legal issue surrounding the implications of the civil claim on any claim to the CICA.

Heath v XPO Supply Chain Limited

The Claimant’s mother was killed when she was run over by the Defendant’s lorry. The Claimant was being pushed in her pram at the time. Liability was difficult, requiring detailed accident reconstruction expert evidence. Quantification was complicated because the deceased was a single mother and her parents had taken over the care of the Claimant. At the start of the claim the prospects of securing a settlement seemed remote, but after careful analysis of the evidence and sensible presentation of the value of the claim the Defendant offered a significant sum in compensation, which was approved in the High Court.

Morris v Glenside

The Claimant was bitten by a patient at the hospital that she worked at as a mental health nurse. He shouted that he was HIV positive. The Claimant suffered a catastrophic psychological reaction, developing a serious functional neurological disorder. She developed severe functional limitations and was very disabled. The Defendant’s case was that she was suffering the effects of childhood sexual abuse. Causation was very complicated and fiercely contested. The claim settled for a very substantial sum following a joint settlement meeting.

McGregor v EES & Lorne Stewart & PGMS

The Claimant suffered a catastrophic brain injury when struck by a bracket that fell from the roof of a construction site that he was working on. The three Defendants all denied liability and blamed each other and the Claimant for the accident. Christopher negotiated a settlement of £6m.

DG v Gilbert

The Claimant suffered a serious brain injury in a road traffic accident. What makes this claim particularly difficult is the Claimant’s family dynamics. The case requires very subtle and delicate client management skills, so as to ensure that the Claimant benefits from expert rehabilitation and support in the community, whilst taking account of the anxieties of his parents. The claim is ongoing.

Heath v XPO Supply Chain Limited

The Claimant’s mother was killed when she was run over by the Defendant’s lorry. The Claimant was being pushed in her pram at the time. Liability was difficult, requiring detailed accident reconstruction expert evidence. Quantification was complicated because the deceased was a single mother and her parents had taken over the care of the Claimant. At the start of the claim the prospects of securing a settlement seemed remote, but after careful analysis of the evidence and sensible presentation of the value of the claim the Defendant offered a significant sum in compensation, which was approved in the High Court.

Recent News


Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. To see my privacy notice click here.

  • English Literature MA (Hons), Edinburgh University 1992
  • PGDL University of Westminster 1994

  • Personal Injuries Bar Association
  • Professional Negligence Bar Association
  • APIL
  • AvMA
  • Midland & Oxford Circuit

2

"He is able to deal with the issues in the most complex of cases in a way that makes it seem easy, as well as being great with experts and well liked by clients."

Chambers & Partner 2024

"Christopher has a sharp mind and is able to analyse difficult and tricky situations straightaway. He is realistic and to the point."

Chambers & Partners 2023

"He is very strong in conference and in court. He is very personable with clients and experts."

Chambers & Partners 2023

"Superb with his clients and puts them at ease in stressful situations. Identifies the issues early and offers clear and pragmatic advice."

"Chris is very good at looking at the bigger picture, without losing sight of the detail."

Legal 500 2023

"His client care skills are excellent and he has good attention to detail."

Chambers UK 2021

"Hugely personable and quickly gets to the heart of the matter."

Chambers UK 2021

"He has the most amazing rapport with clients and an amazing ability to put them at ease."

Chambers UK 2021

"Appears very laid back which puts clients at ease but belies a clear understanding of the case and allows incisive questioning of clients and experts."

Legal 500 2021

"Has the rare qualities of quickly engaging people from all walks of life and distilling complex points to simple and pragmatic advice, as well as being a steely negotiator."

Legal 500 2021

"Has an excellent grasp of technical medical points and routinely takes instructions in both clinical negligence and personal injury matters. Claimant solicitors regularly choose him for high-value catastrophic injury cases, often resulting from RTAs. He also has experience handling employers' liability claims."

Chambers 2021

"A specialist clinical negligence barrister whose practice is exclusively claimant-based. His caseload includes cases concerning plastic surgery, failure to diagnose and wrongful birth claims"

"His grasp of the details in complex cases is very impressive."

Portfolio Builder

Select the practice areas that you would like to download or add to the portfolio

Download    Add to portfolio   
Portfolio
Title Type CV Email

Remove All

Download


Click here to share this shortlist.
(It will expire after 30 days.)