Travel
Claims for compensation for personal injuries suffered whilst abroad require particular understanding of the legal, procedural and evidential frameworks which apply, wherever the claim is ultimately brought. In addition, the advent of holiday sickness claims has brought into the focus the need for advocates to have a real understanding not just of hygiene and inspection systems, but also the complex issues of medical causation, together, of course, with allegations of fundamental dishonesty and abuse of process.
In each and all of those regards, the Travel team at Deans Court Chambers brings a wealth of experience to bear, not only from litigation of holiday claims, but from years of experience pleading and fighting motor and casualty fraud claims, disease claims, clinical negligence and all other aspects of personal injury law.Â
From pupillage onwards, members of Deans Court Chambers not only appear at all types of interlocutory hearings, but are expected to appear at trial and beyond, with arguments about costs, committals and appeals all regularly dealt with on behalf of defendants and their insurers.
In the context of Travel work, detailed in-house training includes all aspects of such litigation, including specific review and analysis not just of recent case law in the higher courts, but also the approach taken by judges on the ground in day-to-day litigation. Junior practitioners habitually observe the more senior members of the team before undertaking trials, so that clients can have real confidence, not just in the quality of the advocate, but also in their understanding of the issues unique to such claims.
Members of the team are regularly instructed by some of the very biggest tour operators in the UK, working closely to advise them both on broad policy considerations and the specifics of individual cases, together with the various approaches to be taken to expert evidence. In the context of holiday sickness litigation and the interlocutory issues that inevitably arise about disclosure and medical evidence, our barristers are not only well-versed in the traditional approaches, but are actively engaged in developing new strategies to assist our clients.
Each team member has first-hand experience of pleading and fighting allegations of fundamental dishonesty and the costs arguments arising from CPR44.15 and 44.16 when it comes to the disapplication of QOCS, melding their experience of motor and casualty fraud claims with their burgeoning experience of holiday sickness litigation. There is significant experience of committal proceedings for contempt of court.
Team members also have wide experience of pleading and fighting cases involving medical causation, particularly in disease litigation, but also in the context of clinical negligence and cases where the claimants’ bona fides are in issue.
Above and beyond that, we can offer practitioners with specialist knowledge of insurance policy and coverage issues, wherever in the world problems arise.
Most importantly, we understand and acknowledge the huge pressures currently faced by the travel industry and their representatives. Whether it is a quick turnaround of papers, an application on short notice, a fully argued trial, in-house training, or simply a need to speak to experienced Counsel about a point which has arisen, the members of the Deans Court Travel team and their specialist clerks are approachable and committed to providing exceptional levels of service.
Our Travel team
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Sebastian Clegg
Call: 1994
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David Boyle
Call: 1996
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Pascale Hicks
Call: 1999
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Ross Olson
Call: 1999
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Anthony Singh
Call: 2001
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Robert McMaster
Call: 2001
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Alex Poole
Call: 2002
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Alex Taylor
Call: 2003
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Doug Cooper
Call: 2004
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Mark Bradley
Call: 2004
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James Hogg
Call: 2006
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Junaid Durrani
Call: 2009
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James Paterson
Call: 2010
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Gareth Poole
Call: 2014