Product Liability

7BR are ranked as one of the top 3 sets in this field by Chambers & Partners and top 4 sets by the Legal 500, we have an established reputation for handling complex product liability group actions as well as individual claims.

Members are currently instructed in the most high profile group actions in this field including the Contaminated Blood Litigation, the Larium anti-malaria drug litigation, BIA-ALCL breast implant claims and vaginal mesh litigation.

Members are also currently instructed in a variety of high profile individual or smaller group actions including Oculentis intraocular lenses, Medtronic insulin pumps and IOL-AMD telescopic lens litigation. Other recent instructions include claims arising from contraceptive devices such as the Essure product, and claims arising from allegedly faulty knee and shoulder implants.

Instructions in recently concluded litigation include the Pinnacle metal on metal hip implant group litigation (4 month trial in 2017-18), the Corin, Finsbury Adept, Mitch, Combination Hip and BHR hip group actions and the PIP Breast Implant Litigation. Members have also been instructed in MMR, Bogle & Ors v McDonald’s Restaurants (the “hot coffee” cases), O’Byrne v Aventis Pasteur (the only case under the EC Directive ever to have reached the House of Lords/Supreme Court), the Organophosphate group actions, and group claims concerning Medtronic difibrillators, the Pertussis vaccine and the Cervarix vaccine.

In addition to medical device and pharmaceutical claims, members are also instructed in claims involving car failures (Audi, VW and Ferrari in particular), consumer goods (Beko fridge claims), and singleton product failures.

Members are often instructed by several firms in relation to the same product, and are able to facilitate effective collaboration between firms whilst preserving and respecting the interests of each firm and their respective client groups.

We also have particular expertise in cross border product liability litigation and the complex jurisdiction and private international law issues arising in such claims. Junior members of the team also have considerable experience in dealing with individual consumer goods claims in the County Court across the full range of products including household/DIY goods and over the counter medical products.