The areas of work in which we have particular expertise, experience and excellence.
The areas of work in which we have particular expertise, experience and excellence.
The team have vast experience and expertise in this fundamental area of personal injury law, providing representation for both Claimants and Defendants in cases that range in value and complexity. The team are also at the forefront of the continuing developments in occupiers’ liability law. In the last two years alone, members of the team have appeared in the High Court in Driver v Painted House Trust and anor [2014] EWHC 1929 (QB) which crystallised many occupiers’ liability issues, and in the Court of Appeal in West Sussex Council v Master Lewis Pierce [2013] EWCA Civ 1230 (duty to safeguard children whilst at school).
There is no aspect of occupiers’ liability upon which the team cannot provide their expert advice. Most commonly claims arise under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, with accidents occurring on the whole gamut of premises, ranging from private property and premises open to the public (supermarkets, parks, schools, restaurants &c). Although the fundamental consideration is the reasonableness of the state of the premises, it is necessary to carefully consider the specific duties owed to children and the impact of conduct of independent contractors.
More rarely claims require consideration of the more complex duties owed to trespassers arising from the Occupiers’ Liability Act1984 or consideration of the interrelationship and applicability of these statutes and the statutory obligations owed by landlords to tenants for defective premises. A further area of expertise includes accidents on aircraft or ships which invoke the Montreal and Athens Conventions respectively.
The team’s great experience in this area allows them to advise robustly and pragmatically on either side of an occupiers’ argument at all stages of a litigation in order to secure the best outcome for a client.
