Personal Injury
9 St John Street has an impressive pedigree in personal injury work. The current set is the successor to chambers established in King Street, Manchester and notable former members include Rose LJ, Smith LJ and Swift J.
Chambers appears in the current edition of Chambers & Partners’ Directory in the top rank of personal injury sets on the Northern Circuit. It offers a full range of practitioners in the field from Silks to Juniors and members have developed particular subspecialisms including catastrophic injury work, industrial disease claims, and low impact and fraudulent road traffic claims.
Chambers offers impressive and extensive conference and seminar facilities (including state of the art video-conferencing).
Members accept instructions from Claimants and Defendants alike and act for Trade Unions, insurers, public bodies and private clients. Members will act on a conditional fee basis and are prepared to accept instruction by direct access in appropriate cases. Several members of Chambers are nominated insurers panel members. The Group is not merely regional but nationally regarded and members conduct cases throughout England and Wales.
The personal injury group is committed to providing a service of the highest quality and has agreed written service standards with several Solicitors. All members of the group will accept instructions and return papers by e-mail.
The members of the group pride themselves not only on their high professional standards but also on their accessibility and approachability. The group embodies a teamwork approach which is particularly evident in relation to the provision of seminars. A list of seminars is available on request.
Please contact the senior civil clerk, Tony Morrissey, for more details of how we can assist you service your clients' needs better on 0161 955 5176 tony.morrissey@9sjs.com, or contact Joe Gibson, Practice Manager of the team on 0161 955 5161 joe.gibson@9sjs.com.
Brian McCluggage
Head of Personal Injury Group
Please follow this link HERE to read the full terms and conditions that govern Chambers Conditional Fee Agreements.
What the Legal Directories say:
9 St John Street is praised as an ‘excellent chambers’ with ‘a great variety of counsel’. Its members are highly skilled in cases involving brain injury, amputation, and spinal cord trauma, in addition to more specialist areas, such as industrial disease, travel and international personal injury, and insurance fraud claims. Elizabeth Murray has a niche focus on litigation involving the Animals Act 1971; she successfully represented a company which owned a horse that electrocuted itself, causing the rider to fall off and sustain injuries. Michael O’Neill practices exclusively in large loss personal injury work, acting for both claimants and defendants, while Zoë Thompson primarily represents defendants, especially in cases with issues of fundamental dishonesty or disputes between medical experts. James Hurd handles complex psychiatric injury claims and matters involving brain injuries, and Joseph Mulderig is skilled in chronic pain mandates. Matthew Snarr handles catastrophic injury claims, and represented a builder who became paralysed from the waist down after falling through a barn roof.
Legal 500 2024
9 St John Street is a highly regarded set on the Northern Circuit, and its members are regularly instructed to act for both claimants and defendants, including several insurers and public bodies, in complex catastrophic and fatal injury cases. The additional areas of expertise for the team include industrial disease matters and employers' liability claims. The set is also noted for its expert handling of cases arising from RTAs, and its barristers are frequently called upon to handle claims involving allegations of fraud. Instructing solicitors say "The members of chambers are very experienced, provide due consideration and advice as necessary to a high level." Recent instructions include successfully representing the defendant in Shepherd v Hastings Insurance regarding claims of ongoing chronic pain and psychiatric injuries allegedly sustained due to a RTA.
Chambers and Partners 2024
An absolutely first-class set. One of the leading Chambers in PI with excellent bench strength across the board.
The set has strength in depth in personal injury work and offers a good range of training and seminars.
Legal 500 2023
9 St John Street has a broad personal injury practice, with members acting for both claimants and defendants, as well as for trade unions, insurers, public bodies and private clients. Head of chambers Christopher Kennedy KC has a defendant focussed practice, while Matthew Snarr is a key individual to note and undertakes a wide variety of catastrophic injury work and health and safety work. Julie-Anne Luck also has an established multi-track personal injury practice dealing with a wide Set.
'9 St John Street benefit from not having grown too quickly, as they retain only the best barristers across different practice areas.'
'A great set who have a myriad of counsel with strength and depth to provide a fantastic service whether acting for claimant or defendant. There is always a member of the team available to assist with a one off issue or problem.'
Legal 500 2022
9 St John Street is a highly regarded set on the Northern Circuit, and its members are regularly instructed to act for both claimants and defendants, including several insurers and public bodies, in complex catastrophic and fatal injury cases. Additional areas of expertise for the team include industrial disease matters and employers' liability claims. The set is also noted for its expert handling of cases arising from RTAs, and its barristers are frequently called upon to handle claims involving allegations of fraud.
Client service: "The senior civil clerk, Tony Morrissey, is extremely good, and everyone on his team is very easy to engage with." "The clerks are always willing to go above and beyond to accommodate my needs." "The clerking team is continually fantastic. Everyone is helpful, thorough, efficient and quick to respond."
Chambers and Partners 2022
Respected Manchester set, well known for its handling of complex personal injury claims on behalf of both defendant and claimant clients. Members specialise in catastrophic injury, international personal injury and insurance fraud claims, and also offer expertise in industrial disease cases. The set's clients include insurers, private clients, trade unions and public bodies. Although predominantly handling cases on the Northern Circuit, 9 St John Street has a national reputation and regularly conducts cases across the breadth of England and Wales.
Chambers and Partners 2019
9 St John Street is a highly sought-after set for complex and high-value personal injury matters. It houses a number of experienced barristers noted for their expert handling of claims on the Northern Circuit, as well as across the rest of England and Wales. The set is regularly called upon to act for both claimants and defendants, and counts several major insurers, private individuals, public bodies and trade unions among its enviable clientele. Members are experienced in the handling of a variety of personal injury matters, with areas of particular strength for the set including catastrophic injury, industrial disease and fraudulent claims. Instructing solicitors describe the set as "extremely professional," adding that "the barristers have their clients' best interests at the heart of all they do.
Chambers and Partners 2020
The personal injury team at 9 St John Street is particularly notable for its defendant work, especially regarding fraudulent insurance claims, although several members also have strong claimant practices. The set is praised by clients for its 'good strength in depth', particularly at the senior junior level
Legal 500 2020
9 St John Street enjoys a prominent position on the North West personal injury circuit. Its silks and juniors are instructed by both claimants and defendants in a wide variety of catastrophic injury claims. Clients include private individuals, trade unions, insurance companies and government bodies. Members are additionally noted for their sub-specialisms in industrial disease, RTAs, human rights abuse, travel law and fraudulent claims.
Chambers and Partners 2018
9 St John Street occupies a strong position as a well-regarded set for a broad range of personal injury work. The barristers here are regularly instructed by both claimants and defendants to act in multi-track and fast-track personal injury claims relating to catastrophic injuries,RTAs and industrial disease. The set also offers expertise in more specialist areas such as fraudulent claims, accidents abroad and cases involving psychological damages.
Chambers & Partners 2017
9 St John Street is a well-regarded set with a broad range of experience in representing both claimants and defendants in complex and serious personal injury cases, including industrial disease and catastrophic injury claims. One source enthuses that "it is a very strong set with a long history; it is well led and clerked, with a strong team boasting a number of different skill sets."
Client service: "The clerks are very accommodating and put you with the right person. They go out of their way to assist you." "Senior clerk Tony Morrissey is excellent, very accommodating and good at maintaining a close working relationship."
Chambers and Partners 2016
“The personal injury group at 9 St John Street is well regarded for providing a broad range of expertise, encompassing both claimant and defendant work in complex cases. Practitioners have considerable experience in brain and spinal injuries and amputations. The set also receives high praise for the organisation and knowledge of its clerks.”
“Client service: “This is a very good clerking team; very accessible and very pleasant to deal with.” “They are always prompt.”
Chambers and Partners 2015
“9 St John Street, which is 'full of talent', is 'excellent at covering all areas of personal injury' and wins particular praise for its 'short-notice advocacy availability'. Members undertake all types of complex and high-value cases, including claims involving occupational disease, brain and spinal injuries, and amputations and chronic pain, while other areas of strength are insurance fraud and cases involving accidents abroad.”
Legal 500 2015
“9 St John Street's personal injury team is particularly strong in insurance fraud cases relating to road traffic accidents. Members are frequently instructed by defendant insurers in cases involving fraud rings.”
Legal 500 2014
“9 St John Street draws praise not just for its member’s range of expertise across the personal injury field, but also for the professionalism of its clerking. This Manchester based set is regarded as a go to for both claimants and defendants on the Northern Circuit.
Client service: "The clerking team is very efficient, respectful and helpful."
Chambers and Partners 2014
“9 St John Street has a strong personal injury team. Its members receive instructions from both claimants and defendants, and are experts on the full range of personal injury law.”
Chambers and Partners 2013
“Chambers handles a broad range of personal injury work for claimants and defendants, and is recognised for its specialist team dealing with instructions in the fraudulent claims area.”
Chambers and Partners 2012
What the clients say:
Ageas has enjoyed a great relationship with members of 9 St John Steet Chambers for more than 20 years. Members represent Ageas and its customers on broad spectrum of cases ranging from those falling within the Small Claim track through to some of our highest value cases, which run into multi-million pounds.
9 St John Street are able to provide Counsel of appropriate experience to deal with all aspects of our claims handling. The quality of written advice is of a very high standard and is received swiftly.
Members of Chambers are approachable and strong relationships have been built with our team. Importantly, members are business minded and understand the commercial goals of our organisation which is reflected in their advice.
9 St John Street have been happy to provide quality training (tailored for our purposes) to our teams, which has been a real benefit as we continuously strive to be the best we can be.
The clerking and administration at 9 St John Street is very strong. Enquiries are dealt with efficiently and in a professional manner.
Glen Eastwood ACII, Head of Personal Injury & Technical Claims Ageas
9SJS has a proven advocacy capability in personal injury work with a strong spread of knowledge in all value ranges. They provide a clear and articulated approach on challenging cases. Chambers is easy to engage, with a clear and open approach to clerking. Their willingness to support technical development of our team on bespoke training sessions, including attendance at our annual training conferences, has been welcomed.
Darren Bucys ACII Chartered Insurer RSA
"I have instructed members of Chambers in a range of high value and complex personal injury and medical negligence matters for over 10 years and have never been disappointed by their service. Their Counsel are outstanding and always go the extra mile to fight for the best result for my clients. The team of clerks are extremely helpful, diligent and hard working – they are a pleasure to work with."
Nick Molyneux, Partner Farleys Solicitors LLP
"9 St John Street Chambers would be my go to set in the North for the strength and depth of the expertise amongst their barristers, the level of service they demonstrate and the impressive support provided by the clerking team.
When my first choice of barrister has been unavailable (unavoidable due to their quality), the recommendations for alternatives have been excellent which has instilled great confidence that they really understand the needs of my clients."
Ruth Winterbottom, Partner DAC Beachcroft
"I have a long relationship with Chambers, and frequently instruct various counsel. Members of Chambers are always easy to contact, approachable, and have the requisite skill-set for higher value PI litigation. Clerking is responsive and efficient. My caseload is often high-octane, and the support of reliable Chambers is key to successful outcomes."
Michael Pope, Partner Keoghs
“esure has been privileged to instruct 9 St John Street Chambers over the last 20 years, with 9 St John Street Chambers representing esure and its customers during that time in all aspects of personal injury and insurance law.
The experience and expertise of the Personal Injury Team, along with the service and proficiency of the Clerking Team at 9 St John Street Chambers are second to none, and coupled with the unrivalled level of approachability and reliability, a truly dependable working relationship has been formed and sustained between esure and 9 St John Street Chambers.
In addition to providing first class legal representation to esure and its customers during this time, members of 9 St John Street Chambers have provided esure with regular valuable training and insight into relevant and important areas of the law and legislation that impacts insurers.”
Steve Morrison, Head of Technical Claims esure
Ecclesiastical are a specialist insurer operating in the niche product areas of Faith and Community, Charity, Arts and Culture, Heritage and Leisure and Education. These business areas bring a challenging array of liability claims and we have found the team of barristers you have very knowledgeable and have provided us with quality opinions and sound case handling advice.
Our approach in relation to legal services, is to develop a long term relationships with our partners in this field, with a view to building an understanding of our business and our claims handling philosophies. Our partnership with Nine St John Street is a very important part of our overall litigation / legal services strategy. As such, this relationship has high value to Ecclesiastical and I would have no hesitation in recommending your team's services to other insurers.
Carol O’Donnell ACII Ecclesiastical
Personal Injury Barristers:
- Nicholas Hinchliffe KC
- Mark Hill KC
- Christopher Kennedy KC
- Terence Rigby
- Nigel Grundy
- Alistair Bower
- Ian Little
- Christopher Scorah
- Karim Sabry
- Dr Anthony Howard
- Kirsten Barry
- James Hurd
- Brian McCluggage
- David Calvert
- Katie Nowell
- Chris Taft
- Kathrine Mallory
- Zoë Thompson
- Victoria Rigby
- Kirsty McKinlay
- Matthew Snarr
- Russell Dickinson
- Joseph Mulderig
- Philip De Berry
- Ben Morris
- Elizabeth Murray
- Julie-Anne Luck
- Michael O'Neill
- William Hamilton
- Leanne Jones
- Fiona Wise
- Jamie Hill
- Emily Bonass
- Beth Caunce
Other Areas:
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