CHRISTOPHER RUSSELL Call: 1982 [email protected]

An of enormous experience, Christopher is, and has been since 2003, the head of the Personal Injury Group (formerly the Common Law group).

Best known as a specialist in personal injury, he also has expertise in health and safety, environmental health, product liability, especially Food, and professional and clinical negligence.

A heavyweight leading Junior, Christopher cloaks a steely and dedicated approach with charm and eloquence. He is the advocate to instruct in cases demanding a high level of sensitivity and diplomacy with either client, opponent or judge.

For many years Christopher has enjoyed a glowing reputation among clients and fellow , as the entries of the leading directories bear out.

Personal Injury

Christopher's particular strengths lie in claims for brain and spinal injury, occupational disease and claims for psychiatric damage, especially stress, bullying and harassment.

Illustrative cases include: Tyers v Thomson Reuters [2014] Successfully defended high profile litigation concerning claim for work related stress suffered by employee of Thomson Reuters. Fought to judgment for the Defendant. [Kennedys]

Thomas v Costco [2013 - 2014] Ongoing litigation for serious injuries sustained by employee from shooting in discount store [Kennedys]

Patel-Fenton v Open University [2012 - 2014] Stress claim by senior administrator of the Open University. Settled at JSM [Plexus]

Rowland v Primeline Logistics [2013 - 2014] Ongoing litigation of claim following amputation and brain injury in workplace accident with fork lift truck [DWF]

Calderon v St George's Hospital Medical School [2011 - 2014] Successful defence of claim for stress and harassment in medical employment context. Claimant

Page 1 of 4 discontinued on eve of trial (Plexus)

Khanom v IMG [2012 - 2014] Ongoing litigation of claims for "nervous shock" and fatal accident following death of pedestrian killed by cyclist competing in London Triathlon (Clyde & Co)

Krawec v LB Greenwich [2013 - 2014] Successful defence of claim for brain damage suffered by teacher in classroom accident; Claimant discontinued following service of detailed Defence. (Weightmans)

Beadle v British Uralite [2014] Ongoing litigation of mesothelioma disease claim arising from lorry driver visiting Defendant's site; evidence taken on commission. (Plexus)

Winton v West Berkshire [2013 - 2014] Subtle brain injury claim made by following RTA; settled at JSM. (Kennedys)

Vilar v Royal Bank of Scotland [2013 - 2014] Claim for work related stress if bank employee returning from maternity leave. Settled following start of trial (DAC Beachcroft)

Mason v Satelcom [2006 - 2008] (QBD & Court of Appeal) Claim for serious back injury sustained by field engineer who fell off a ladder made against employer, occupier and employer's customer. Represented employer. Important Court of Appeal decision about ambit of statutory duty upon non-employers under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations and of "control" in those and other regulations under the Framework Directive.

Jones v BBC and others [2006 - 2009] (QBD, Cardiff) Paraplegic injury sustained by sound recordist while working for BBC. £4.5m claim. Represented one of four defendants, the cameraman attached to claimant. 10-day liability trial (instructed by Weightmans). In quantum proceedings, represented all three liable defendants (instructed by Beachcrofts,Manchester).

Harkins v Lee and another [2007 - 2008] (QBD, Oxford) £1.8m claim made by young solicitor following RTA in which modest whiplash sustained. Represented both defendants. Complexity in case due to psychiatric quotient of pain and evaluation of loss of a chance in maximizing career prospects at ' firm (instructed by ,Manchester).

Collins v Nat West Bank PLC [2007 - 2008] (Norwich CC) Stress claim brought by bank cashier against employer. Represented employer throughout case and at liability trial (when claim failed). Difficulty in case arose from reliance by claimant on stress illness suffered by other employees doing equivalent job (instructed by Plexus Law).

Clampin v Norfolk TS [2009 - 2011] (Norwich CC) Fatal claim brought by a widow following her husband's suicide attributed to stress at work. Case fought successfully to judgment (instructed by Plexus Law).

Fleming v British Council [2009 - 2011](QBD, Cardiff) Claim for alleged racially provoked harassment brought by a woman employed on employer's diversity awareness team. Particular care and sensitivity was needed due to the fact that the claimant was acting in person and the nature of the role she held at the British Council. Case fought successfully to trial (instructed by DWF).

Health and Safety

Christopher brings sensitivity, realism and diplomacy to this area of practice, securing outstanding results

Page 2 of 4 by negotiation with the prosecuting authority or by engaging the tribunal with his advocacy. Illustrative cases include:

R v Jamies Italian [2009] (Bath Magistrates) Serious injury to chef; client in the public eye; priority to manage limitation of publicity (instructed by McClure Naismith).

R v VGC and others [2007 - 2009] (Stafford Crown Court) Double fatality on railway (one deceased being VGCs Controller of Site Safety); successful defence of reasonable practicability to charge under S2 HSAWA (instructed by ).

HSE v Keen Construction [2008 - 2009] (Reading Crown Court) Catastrophic injuries from fragile roof accident; Work at Height Regulations (instructed by Beachcrofts).

HSE v LB Barnet and others [2005 - 2007] (Central Criminal Court) Double fatality of two boys in Hendon Police College swimming pool while engaged in police/community youth bonding programme; s.3 HSAWA (instructed by Watmores).

Product Liability

Christopher has broad experience in litigation involving defective products. Food products are a particular area of his specialism but he has also successfully managed cases about a wide range of products extending from micro scooters which amputated children's fingers to light fittings which severely fire damaged a Vauxhall car showroom to a laptop causing extensive fire damage to a flat. He is currently acting for Toni & Guy in litigation about hair products used in its salons nationwide. His product liability practice and experience also includes medical products and elective plastic surgical procedures, such as breast implants and cosmetic fillers. He has had particular and recent success in litigation about the right of restaurants to serves rare beef products.

Illustrative cases include: Huntingdon DC v Pizza Express [2014] (McClure Naismith)

St Leonard Motors v M & S Electrical [2013 - 2014] (Clyde & Co)

Cherry v Blow (UK) Ltd t/a Toni & Guy [2013 - 2014] (Kennedys)

Westminster CC v Mullins & Westley Ltd [2013 - 2014] (Berrymans Lace Mawer)

Davys of London v Westminster CC [2012 - 2013] (Berrymans Lace Mawer)

What the directories say

"An excellent technical and a formidable trial advocate." and Partners 2015

"He brings personal injury expertise to his health and safety practice" Legal 500 2014

"A highly effective advocate, who applies meticulous preparation" Legal 500 2014

"Very hardworking" Legal 500 2014

"Very calm, collected, and unflappable" Chambers 2014

Page 3 of 4

"A highly effective advocate, who applies meticulous preparation" Legal 500 2014

The highest ranked personal injury junior in chambers Legal 500

"Unbelievable thoroughness, grasp of the medical facts and management of clients' expectations" Chambers UK 2012

"Quite fearless in the courtroom and willing to tackle witnesses head on whilst not being prone to unnecessary drama" Chambers UK 2011

"An excellent negotiator" Legal 500 2011

"Extremely effective" and "He has such an easy and beautiful manner in negotiations that you don't realise that he is driving you down" Chambers UK 2010

"Measured but devastating in cross-examination" Legal 500 2010

"Knowledgeable and effective" Legal 500 2008

Education

Exeter University

Qualifications

LLB Admitted to the Bar of the Cayman Islands (1998-)

Memberships & Affiliations

LCLCBA (committee) PNBA PIBA

Appointments

Bencher of Gray's Inn Vice chair Gray's Inn Continuing Education Committee Chair Gray's Inn Civil Advocacy Sub-Committee Gray's Inn Benchers' Education Committee Advocacy Training Council examiner Gray's Inn advocacy trainer - "A" list Pupil supervisor (since 1994)

Contact Address wwww.2tg.co.uk Tel: + 44 (0)20 7822 1200 2 Temple Gardens Fax: + 44 (0)20 7822 London EC4Y 9AY LDE Chancery Lane 134 +44 (0)20 7822 1200 email: [email protected]

Page 4 of 4