Julian is ranked in Chambers & Partners (2009) and The Legal 500 (2009) as a leading junior in clinical negligence, product liability and personal injury. Comments include: “brilliant, bright and thorough”; “tremendously skilled”; “experienced and absolutely dependable”; and “a reliable and polished advocate". Julian specialises in defendant and claimant work in high-value and multi-party claims.
In clinical negligence, cases include cerebral palsy, spinal and brain injury, orthopaedic and anaesthetic accidents, delayed diagnosis of cancer and other diseases, and psychiatric injury, whilst in personal injury he specialises in brain and spinal injuries, public health matters and group actions, including stress at work and RSI. He is well known for his experience in travel industry and diving accident claims. In product liability, although medical products are a mainstay of Julian’s caseload recent instructions have also included matters relating to the motor industry and chemical use in industry, agriculture and aviation.
Julian also acts in professional negligence cases, for professionals at disciplinary tribunals and in health and safety matters, particularly for employers in respect of fatal or near fatal workplace accidents. He writes and speaks regularly on his areas of legal expertise.
Key cases
- Cobham Hire Services v Eeles [2009] EWCA Civ 204: restrictions on interim payments in large claims
- Gregg v Scott [2005] UKHL 2; (2005) 2 AC 176: landmark House of Lords decision on "loss of a chance"
- Organophosphate Sheepdip Litigation: successfully defended (by striking out) group action and individual claims against producers
- The Seroxat Litigation: group product liability action against GlaxoSmithKline arising out of drug withdrawal effects
- Ward v Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [2004] EWHC 2106 (QB): successful defence of "Jimmie's" against claim for psychiatric injury/nervous shock following a fatal medical accident.
Contact Julian Matthews
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7242 3555
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7242 2511
Email: clerks@7br.co.uk