Stephen Glynn

Call: 1990

"tephen is a talented and diligent barrister, a no-nonsense, tough negotiator with an innate ability to simplify complex issues."

Legal 500 2024

Stephen Glynn has huge experience in all matters personal injury drawn from over 30 years’ practice in the field, including RTA, EL, PL and clinical negligence and catastrophic injury.

He has particular experience in subtle brain injury cases. He has a significant asbestos disease practice. He has substantial experience of child abuse claims particularly with an HRA element.  He has expertise in the application of bankruptcy on personal injury claims. He is the author of two chapters in Kemp. He is the editor and author of a number of books published by chambers including Clinical Negligence, law and practice (now in its 4 edition) and Asbestos Claims, law and practice (now in its 4th edition).

Known mainly for his claimant practice, Stephen is expert in carefully managing lay, professional (as well judicial expectations) in the running of all types of personal injury claim. He is particularly known for his sensitivity and understanding when instructed on complex and challenging cases involving brain and catastrophic injuries including birth and fatal accidents.

He is able to bring solid, commercial and good tactical sense to any claim.

Until 2017 he served as a member of APIL’s executive committee and a member of APIL’s working party on the government’s discount rate change review.


Expertise

Stephen is particularly known for his sensitivity and understanding when instructed on complex and challenging cases involving brain and catastrophic injuries including birth and fatal accidents arising out of clinical negligence as well as RTAs and accidents at work. He is currently instructed on 2 lower limb and 3 upper limb amputation cases.

In clinical negligence he is particularly experienced in birth accidents, cauda equina and delayed cancer diagnosis cases. He is the series editor of Clinical Negligence, law, practice and procedure, now in its third edition published by chambers.

He is frequently invited to lecture. He is usually against very senior juniors or silks. He is ranked in band/tier 1 as a leading PI junior in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500.

Notable Brain/catastrophic injury cases


R v. Admiral Insurance (2021)

Significant brain injury and personality change in 24 yr old PhD student injured in RTA. Very specific career path as a tribologist (specialist in friction) ruined – multiple experts required – Stephen is instructed alone. QC instructed by defendant. Claim worth in excess of £2M.

O v. O’Connell (2020)

Subtle brain injury leading to personality change to a 38 yr old family man – difficult issue as to extent to which symptoms (fatigue, irritability, memory loss, anger) mediated by organic injury or psychological effect or malingering. Claim pleaded in excess of £4M. Stephen instructed alone. Opposed by a QC.

H v Naqvi (2019)

Serious brain injury to serving senior police officer – personality change – substantial accommodation claim – £3M plus. Several experts – causation of organic brain injury disputed. Stephen instructed without a leader.

J v Canterbury University (2018)

claimant professor fell downstairs during building work – severe brain injury personality change – suicidal and reclusive – capacity issues – very challenging client – claim worth £1.75M plus. Stephen instructed without a leader by Slater & Gordon. Defendant instructed a QC.

BC v Lamerton (2017)

Stephen acted for C who was cut in half almost by a reversing lorry as he stood facing the tail lift of another lorry whilst loading his camera equipment. World-leading surgery to reconstruct abdomen and internal organs. The claim involved arguing that Roberts v Johnstone dealing with (a) the recoverability of damages for adapted accommodation was wrong or did /should not apply and (b) significantly increased cost of UK living (including private and university education fees) after move from SA were recoverable . Settled at a JSM recently for £4.2M. Instructed by Leigh Day.

A v Middlesex University (2016)

Stephen acted for C a senior law lecturer who fell over a corridor obstruction onto her recently implanted prosthetic knee leading to the need for amputation. Argued again that Roberts v Johnstone inappropriate. Settled at JSM for £700K. Instructed by Slater & Gordon. Defendant instructed a leader.

O v Ipswich Hospitals (2016)

Stephen acted for a diabetic man who suddenly fell ill with back pain. The hospital failed to identify in time that he had developed a spinal abscess so that he is now a tetraplegic. Very substantial claim settled in excess of £4.5M at JSM. Led by Andrew Ritchie QC. Instructed by Stewarts LLP.

M v Medway Hospitals

Stephen acted for a 63 year old retired IT consultant who suffered a spinal compression which was not diagnosed so that he is now a paraplegic. He was led by Andrew Ritchie QC. Multiple medical experts required. Very substantial claim in excess of £3M. Breach and causation in issue. Substantial accommodation claim – Roberts v Johnstone to be challenged in a test case. Instructed by Stewarts LLP.

Stephen has an extensive asbestos practice. He is known nationally as an industrial disease specialist, having co-written and edited the publication Asbestos Claims (now in its fourth edition) to which the Senior QB Master and Master Eastman have contributed.  He is the author of the asbestos disease chapter in Kemp and the co-author of the occupational disease chapter in Kemp.  He lectures widely on asbestos disease litigation and is routinely invited to speak at APIL’s annual asbestos conference. He is mostly instructed by claimants.

Notable Asbestos cases


Carey v. Vauxhall Motors [2019] EWHC 238

First case brought in this jurisdiction in relation to secondary exposure after 1965 suffered by wife of an apprentice electrician employed at Vauxhall in Luton.

Lawrence v. Bexley LB [2018] EWHC 4010

Stephen acted for the husband of a deceased wife who died of asbestos to which she was exposed when she supervised building work at the college where she worked as a lecturer. The court considered for the first time the applicability of adverse inference doctrine arising out of the lack of documents retained by D per Keefe v IOM Steampacket in an asbestos case.

Mayne v Atlas Stone [2016] EWHC 1030 QB, Cox J

Upheld Stephen’s submissions that in a divisible injury case the defendant’s liability is to be assessed as the proportion of its exposure to the whole and where the overall asbestos related exposure was very low.

Woodward v Sec of State for Energy & Clim. Change [2015] EWHC 3604 QB

Mesothelioma – low exposure – overalls contamination suffered by colliery canteen worker. First case following Williams v. Uni of B’ham applied to secondary exposure.

Yates v HMRC [2014] EWHC 2311 QB

Stephen’s submissions were adopted by the court to provide a workable solution to the then problem of HMRC deceased work histories. Yates describes the special practice adopted in ARD cases.

Drake v Foster Wheeler [2011] 1 ALL ER QB

Fatal mesothelioma. Stephen established a new principle at law that hospice costs are analogous to a gratuitous care claim and are recoverable in principle. D withdraw their appeal to the CA 7 days before. Hospice claims now routinely recovered in all terminal illness cases.

Stephen has a niche practice in historic sex abuse claims against local authority and various religious bodies. He is able to draw on his earlier experience at the Bar in family and public law proceedings and criminal proceedings. He mainly acts for claimants.

Notable Abuse claims cases


Re: AK, AS (2020)

Stephen was instructed by the Official Solicitor – 5 children systematically abused by parents – claim against local authority for failure to remove at common and also a claim under the HRA – lack of capacity alleged in the case of older child. Stephen was led by Heather Williams QC. Claim pleaded in excess of £3M. Despite CN v Poole, claim settled for a substantial (confidential) amount.

P v. East Kent CC (2019)

C abused by his primary school teacher – Stephen acted C instructed by Enable Law. Significant limitation and causation issues.

JR, VR & NR v Merton LB (2017)

Stephen is instructed in respect of 3 young women who were sexually and emotionally abused when they were very young by their father who was subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison. The local authority pursued for substantial damages on the basis that it had ample evidence to justify the removal of the children many years before they were finally taken into care.

A v The Anglican Church (2016)

Mr A was sexually abused between 14-16 by the choir master at his local church in the 1980s. Stephen was instructed to advise and represented the claimant at a JSM settling the case for a substantial but confidential sum. He also dealt with the bankruptcy of the claimant and necessary application under the Insolvency Act 1986 to compel assignment of the claim.

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.

  • LLB (Hons) Bristol University

  • Association of PI Lawyers
  • Personal Injury Bar Association
  • Professional Negligence Association
  • Association of Child Abuse Lawyers

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"Stephen has the ability to explain complex legal issues in a succinct and straightforward way and to enable clients to really understand the strengths and weaknesses of the case."

Chambers & Partners 2024

"Stephen is a great team player. He shows enormous empathy for clients."

Chambers & Partners 2023

"Stephen is a leading junior in the field of asbestos disease."

Chambers & Partners 2023

"He is very thorough, always well prepared and unflappable in court."

Chambers and Partners 2021

"He's extremely intelligent and responsive, with a keen practical sense."

Chambers and Partners 2020

"Has a breadth of experience and is impressive on his feet."

Chambers and Partners 2019

"He is able to turn his head to virtually any problem and circumstance. "

Legal 500 2018

"He is able to turn his head to virtually any problem and circumstance."

Legal 500 2019

"He provides clear and straightforward advice while showing real compassion in very emotionally difficult cases"

Chambers and Partners 2021

"He is extremely knowledgeable and presents his advice in the clearest of terms for the lay client"

Chambers and Partners 2021

"A very engaging barrister and a very good advocate. He's pragmatic, realistic and personable"

Chambers and Partners 2021

"A highly creative and experienced disease lawyer."

Chambers and Partners 202

"Fantastic and always does an excellent job"

Legal 500 2019

"A charming and persuasive advocate"

Legal 500 2017

"He is the go-to man on any asbestos and industrial disease cases. You would be silly not to go with him."

Chambers and Partners 2019

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