Nicholas Hinchliffe KC
Year of call 1980, Middle Temple
Year of Silk 1999
Areas of Expertise
Insurance Fraud,
Personal Injury
'He has expertise in catastrophic head, spine and limb injury cases'
Legal 500
Frequently acts for insurers dealing with potentially fraudulent claims, while also representing claimants in catastrophic injury and industrial disease cases. "Able, experienced and does a very good job." "An excellent lawyer in the courtroom."
Chambers & Partners
"Highly experienced in insurance fraud claims."
Legal 500
"Frequently acts for insurers dealing with potentially fraudulent claims, while also representing claimants in catastrophic injury and industrial disease cases. 'Able, experienced and does a very good job.' 'An excellent lawyer in the courtroom.'"
Chambers and Partners
"Seasoned silk who acts for both claimants and defendants in catastrophic injury and industrial disease litigation. He particularly stands out for his knowledge of asbestos claims and cases involving solvent exposure. 'He is an excellent advocate specialising in high-value accident and complex industrial disease claims.' ' He cuts to the chase and is excellent in the courtroom.'"
Chambers and Partners
"He is a terrific courtroom performer - he cuts to the chase." "He is an outstanding and robust silk."
Chambers & Partners
"His tenacious cross-examination style is suited to related fraud claims."
Legal 500
"He's a terrific courtroom performer - he cuts to the chase."
Chambers & Partners
“Nicholas Hinchliffe KC is ‘a brilliant advocate who cuts right through the detail, and always exhibits quite impeccable judgement.’ He has a broad practice which takes in clinical negligence, industrial disease and multiparty cases.”
Chambers & Partners
"recommended"
Legal 500
"Nicholas Hinchliffe KC is an 'exceptionally tough nut to crack" according to opponents. As one commented: 'He is an excellent advocate who you can rely upon to be thoroughly prepared"
Chambers & Partners
"Nicholas Hinchliffe KC is ‘great on his feet and his knowledge of legal issues is second to none’. His great strength lies in the fact that he ‘can identify weaknesses in opponents’ cases immediately and exploit them very well’."
Chambers & Partners
"Nick Hinchliffe KC is listed in all recent Chambers & Partners’ directories as one of the leading silks on the Northern Circuit “Technically very able, Nick Hinchcliffe KC is skilled in cross examination."
Chambers & Partners
"Nick Hinchcliffe KC recommended for his wide experience of both claimant and defendant work."
Chambers & Partners
PROFILE
Nick Hinchliffe specialises in Personal Injuries litigation and is seen as a "Trial Silk" who is instructed to deal with complex liability claims involving road traffic accidents and serious injury claims arising from accidents on construction sites. Nick has honed his skills of cross-examination and an ability to think on his feet in Court which have served him well as testified to by many Solicitors and Clients.
PERSONAL INJURY LARGE LOSS
Nick’s caseload compromises complex and high value personal injury litigation and is regularly instructed on spinal cord injuries at all levels, serious brain injuries and where the issue of capacity is borderline. Complicated Fatal Accident Act claims with multiple dependants and serious limb injuries including amputation cases at all levels. In addition, he has undertaken several cases involving chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.
On a personal note, Nick is a below-knee amputee for 10 years. He spent 2 years of practice in a wheelchair until revisional surgery allowed him to use a prosthetic leg. As such he has
personal experience of issues arising in such cases. He regularly advises in amputation claims. His recent instructions to advise in such cases resulted in early settlement of two claims which settled for £1.5 million and £900,000 respectively.
INDUSTRIAL DISEASE CLAIMS
He has wide experience representing Claimants in industrial disease claims. Recently instructed in multi-Claimant cases of noise induced hearing loss and hand/arm vibration syndrome when he led in a successful week-long trial. He has wide experience of occupational asthma claims from a variety of causes. These include Isocyanate exposure, Silicosis and claims arising from latex allergy. He acts for Claimants in work related stress claims and obtained settlement in five recent claims.
He has represented many Claimants and Defendants in asbestos related claims including claims for Mesothelioma and Asbestosis. Having represented living Mesothelioma victims, he is experienced in lost years claims.
CIVIL FRAUD
Nick has over the last 10 years developed a highly successful practice in civil fraud claims. He has been instructed by many of the Leading Solicitors in this field and acts for a number of high-profile Insurers. He is regularly instructed to advise and draft defences and Part 35 Questions with a view to early discontinuance. He has been instructed on behalf of the NHSLA in several recent cases, all of which were won and was successful in obtaining a finding of fundamental dishonesty in a claim for £1million against an NHS Hospital trust. Detailed and meticulous preparation is the key to unravelling fraud claims which is work he particularly enjoys and for which he is well suited. In addition to representing Insurers in respect of cases where fundamental dishonesty issues arise, he has also represented Claimants where such allegations have been made. In a recent case shortly before trial the Insurer offered £180,000 in settlement having previously demanded the Claimant pay them.
He was appointed as Recorder in 1999 and sits regularly in civil cases. He finds this helps in his evaluation of work at the Bar. He can see the strength and weaknesses in claims when advising both Claimant and Defendant.
RECENT CASES INCLUDE
C v Pearl Care Wellness [2023]
Represented Claimant who fell down lift shaft at work. Early JSM before D obtained medical evidence. Claim settled for £900,00.
M v Sherwood Forest NHS [2023]
Represented Claimant in a bullying/stress at work claim. Case settled for £180,000 one day after Trial Skeleton Argument disclosed to the Defendant.
INSURANCE FRAUD
G v MW Anglia Foundation Trust [2022]
Four day trial on liability and quantum. C seeking £1 million damages. Court found C to be fundamentally dishonest. Claim was dismissed with indemnity costs.
C v. AXA Insurance [2002]
C claimed substantial damages arising from an RTA. Court finds fundamental dishonesty. Claim dismissed with indemnity costs.
H v. Others v. AXA Insurance [2023]
Fraud ring claim by four Claimants. Court finds fundamental dishonesty against all. Claims dismissed with indemnity costs.
Dr A v AXA Insurance [2022]
C and others claimed damages arising from RTA. D’s case was staged accident and phantom passenger. C was qualified medical practitioner. The claim found to be fundamentally dishonest. Claim dismissed with indemnity costs.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
He has a particular interest in firearm cases based upon his experience as an International Target Rifle Marksman, having represented Great Britain and England on many occasions.
Appointments
King's Counsel (1999)
Recorder
Associations
Personal Injury Bar Association
Education
LLB (Hons), Manchester University
Prescribed Information
Mr Nicholas Hinchliffe K.C is a practising barrister, who is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Details of information held by the BSB about Mr Nicholas Hinchliffe Q.C can be found here.
Mr Nicholas Hinchliffe K.C's clerks will happily provide no obligation quotations for all legal services that he provides. Their contact details can be found here. It is most common for Mr Nicholas Hinchliffe K.C to undertake any Court or Mediation services and advisory work for a brief fee plus refresher days For any advisory work including paperwork and conferences it is most commonly charged at an hourly rate although fixed fees are available. Conditional Fee Agreements and Damages Based Agreements will be considered in cases with favourable prospects of success. Mr Nicholas Hinchliffe K.C will typically return paperwork within 14 days, however professional commitments, complexity and volume of documentation can affect these approximate timescales.
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