a Silk very

much on

top of his

game"

Legal 500 2012

Simon Browne QC

Simon Browne QC

Profile

Recommended by the Legal 500 in 2012 and Chambers UK 2013 as a Leading Silk in two practice areas he is an experienced advocate with particular expertise in insurance law (including professional and clinical negligence), catastrophic personal injury cases, industrial disease, police actions, costs litigation, and related areas of practice. He has been instructed in a number of high profile cases for both Claimants and Defendants. He has regularly acted in claims concerning both UK and foreign jurisdictions, has acted both for and against foreign nationals injured in the UK, and has represented UK parties over disputes occurring offshore concerning breach of duty and contract.

What the Directories say

General

A very "dedicated and intellectual" practitioner one of the best is Simon Browne QC, a lawyer who views the client's needs as paramount and is "on top of his game" (Legal 500 2012). The main cut and thrust of his practice is personal injury and professional negligence, but his seamless advocacy and client-handling skills make him a popular choice for costs cases.  He is "an extremely personable" silk who "crucially gets on really well with judges." (Chambers & Partners 2013).

Catastrophic Personal Injuries

Simon Browne represents clients for both Claimants and Defendants in catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims. Recommended as being 'very much in the top bracket' and as a Leading Silk in this field by Legal 500 2012 where he is described as a "combative counsel with an assertive presence". He is "reliable and produces very detailed and effective schedules and is noted for the thoroughness with which he goes about his business" (Chambers & Partners 2012) and all cllients "greatly appreciate his insight into catastrophic injury and disaster claims." (Chambers & Partners 2013).

Costs law

This silk is "expanding the impressive costs practice he had as a leading junior" and is "an effective lawyer with a smooth and measured delivery." (Chambers & Partners 2013).

Simon Browne QC is 'an excellent leading costs counsel, and is always fully prepared or fully briefed, be it for advising in conference or presenting in court' (Legal 500 2011) and is recommended by the Legal 500 2012 as a Leading Silk in this field.

Notable Cases

  • Sylvia Henry and News Group Newspapers Limited [2013]. Appeared for the successful Claimant in the Court of Appeal when the test was laid down for demonstrating good reason to depart from costs budgets which are to be introduced in the majority of all litigation from April 2013
  • F & C Alternative Investments (Holdings) Limited & Ors. V Barthelemy & Anor. [2012] EWCA Civ 843: Court of Appeal landmark decision upon analogies with Part 36, apportionment of costs, indemnity costs for failure to negotiate, and the rates and periods of interest upon damages and costs
  • Lawrence v. Kent CC [2012] EWCA Civ 493(Court of Appeal, 26.04.12). Guidance given by Court of Appeal upon the approach appellate court should take to appeals on questions of contested fact determined by the Trial Judge as opposed to matters of discretion
  • Pickering v Eaton Aerospace [2012]. Successful industrial disease claim on behalf of employee exposed to working mineral oils over twenty years where breach of duty of care and causation were denied
  • Lindberg v Flying Aces Limited (2012): Involving both liability and quantum in fatal air crash accident during competitive air race in Malta
  • Carter & Carter v Atlas Helicopters Limited (2012): Fatal Accident claim pleaded up to £20 million arising from deaths of passengers in helicopter crash
  • J N Dairies Ltd. V Johal Dairies Ltd. & Anr. (2011): Disallowance of solicitor's and counsels' retrospective success fees amounting to £180,000 under retrospective conditional fee agreements
  • Sutherland v Turnbull 2010 (QB): Acceptance of Part 36 offers in relation to part only of the claim
  • Bennett v Stephens 2010 (QB): Assessment of reasonable security of periodical payments for an insurance company not deemed to be secure under the Damages Act 1996
  • Kotonou v NatWest Bank Plc 2010 (Ch): Recovery of costs of funding
  • Sklair v Haycock 2009 (QB): Assessment of future care element of claim where victim was an asperger's sufferer and would have been cared for by state in any event
  • GOL Transportes Aereos v Honeywell International Inc. (2009): advising on recovery of economic loss from mid air collision of commercial passenger aircraft
  • Spence v Naveda v Barking & Havering Hospital NHS Trust (2009): Clinical Negligence claim against hospital doctors rendering an RTA victim paraplegic
  • British Airways v Gate Gourment (2008): fatal accident claim for death arising from swallowing of toothpick allegedly in club class food
  • Murray v Express Newspapers (2007): costs in privacy proceedings brought by J K Rowlling
  • Hampson v RFU (2006): advising an England U21 rugby professional rendered quadriplegic in a collaped scrum
  • Burkett v L.B. Hammersmith & Fulham (2004) (CA): set off costs to assisted person
  • Heather Mills v Metropolitan Police (2003): serious personal injury to a model
  • Hamilton v Al Fayad (2002): costs payable by maintainers
  • Hollins v Russell (2002): enforceabillity of conditional fee agreement

 

Publications and Appointments

  • Editorial Board of Sweet and Maxwell Practitioner Book "Greenslade on Costs" 1999 - 2009
  • Various articles in Journal of Personal Injury Law
  • Appointed to sit as Barrister Assessor in the High Court 2007
  • Appointed to sit as Chairman of Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service 2013
  • Appointed to the Costs Committee of the Civil Justice Council 2013