Recommended in The Legal 500 (2007) as a personal injury junior, Steven has a wide-ranging practice but is well-known above all for his specialist expertise in defending organisations in group litigation where they are accused of failing to prevent child abuse, and in cases about bullying, occupational stress, educational malpractice and deliberate and accidental injury that leads to psychiatric damage.
He is instructed by Zurich Municipal in more local authority child abuse cases than any other member of the Bar and also acts for charities, religious orders and private schools involved in the care of children and vulnerable adults.
Steven represents medical professionals in disciplinary proceedings. He also has experience of public inquiry work.
Steven writes and speaks regularly on his areas of legal speciality, one of his most recent articles being "The dating game: recent cases on date of knowledge", published in Legal Week in May 2007.
Key cases
- A v Hoare: C v Middlesbrough Council: X & Anor v London Borough of Wandsworth: H v Suffolk County Council: Young v Catholic Care & Ors [2008] UKHL 6; (2008) 2 WLR 311: landmark ruling on the limitation period in cases involving deliberate sexual assault
- E H Humph&ries (Norton) Ltd and Thistle Hotels Plc v Fire Alarm Fabrication Services Ltd [2006] EWCA Civ 1496; Times, November 22, 2006: whether a contractor owes a duty of care to a sub-contractor's employees
- Anthony George Awberry v Marley Building Materials Ltd [2005] EWCA Civ 16: whether defendant can modify Part 36 payment after acceptance by claimant
- T Naylor (T/A Mainstreet) v Payling [2004] EWCA Civ 560; Times, June 22, 2004: whether an occupier of premises owes a duty to visitors to ensure that a subcontractor has insurance.
Contact Steven Ford
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7242 3555
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7242 2511
Email: clerks@7br.co.uk