Our Expertise

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Amy Rumble

Amy is a specialist employment and personal injury barrister. She is consecutively recommended in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for employment law in 2023 and 2024.&nbsp; <h5>Employment law</h5> Amy's practice covers all areas of employment and discrimination law with experience both in the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Amy represents both claimants and respondents. She enjoys advising and drafting as well as representing clients at preliminary hearings, final hearings and in judicial mediations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She is frequently instructed in complex multi-day unfair dismissal, contractual, discrimination, victimisation and whistleblowing claims. She provides exceptional client care and undertakes meticulous preparation to ensure best possible advocacy for clients.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Clients include </span>NHS trusts, local authorities, charitable organisations, law firms as well as companies in tech, leisure, hospitality and retail industries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Amy continues to grow an appellate practice and enjoyed recent reported success in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. She is qualified to accept instructions on a Direct Access basis and is appointed to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel of Counsel (C Panel).&nbsp; <h5>Personal Injury</h5> Amy has broad experience of personal injury litigation. She receives regular instructions in trials and interim hearings on all tracks. Amy acts on behalf of claimants and defendants with a particular focus on employers’ liability claims and providing advice on quantum. Amy is happy to act from an early stage through to trial.&nbsp;Amy studied Law at Queen Mary University of London and gained First Class awards in Company Law and Medical Law. Amy has previously professionally trained in acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). In her spare time she enjoys playing netball, surfing, exploring the North East coast with her dog as well as being a foodie and theatre-goer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>

Tom Barclay-Semple

Tom specialises in clinical negligence, personal injury, inquests, and Court of Protection work. He has a particular interest in healthcare matters and is skilled at getting to grips with complex medico-legal issues in difficult cases.His clients praise his attention to detail, personable approach, and pragmatic advice.Tom's clinical negligence practice encompasses both claimant and defendant work. It builds upon his time working for a nationally recognised law firm before coming to the bar. He is experienced in a wide range of complex and high value clinical negligence disputes, including birth injuries, surgical negligence, dental negligence, delays in diagnosis, fatal injuries, informed consent, and material contribution claims.Tom also manages to maintain a broad personal injury practice. He acts on behalf of claimants and defendants at High Court and County Court level. His practice includes employers' liability, public liability (including occupiers' liability, Highways Act, and public nuisance), road traffic accidents, product liability, fatal accidents, and CICA appeals.His inquest work involves acting for families and other interested parties, in both <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Jamieson</em></span> and <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Middleton</em></span>-style inquests. Tom regularly acts in inquests concerning hospital and nursing home care, road traffic accidents, and potential breaches of health and safety regulations. He has experience in inquests both with and without a jury sitting.In the Court of Protection, Tom is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, clinical commissioning groups, P, and members of P's family. He has appeared in a wide range of disputes, typically arising out of section 16 and section 21A applications. His practice covers both Health &amp; Welfare and Property &amp; Financial Affairs. Recent matters have included disputes over contact arrangements, overlapping jurisdiction with the Mental Health Act 1983, care arrangements, revoking lasting powers of attorney, medical treatment, and capacity assessments.

Iain Hutchinson

Iain is a specialist children practitioner. His practice encompasses all aspects of the law relating to children, including public and private law proceedings, adoption and cases with an international element. Iain has a reputation as particularly adept in complex cases of abuse and serious harm.  He is regularly instructed as a junior to leading counsel as well as in his own right in both Family Court and High Court proceedings, including those involving serious physical abuse, sexual abuse, non-accidental injury (including head injuries), fabricated and induced Illness (FII), secure accommodation and chronic neglect.Iain is well respected by his peers and prides himself on his approachability. He has a reputation for building a good rapport with clients and is able to be personable, but professional, with lay clients. He has a wealth of experience in dealing with cases involving parents with mental health difficulties, capacity issues and learning difficulties.<strong>Chambers and Partners UK Bar:</strong><strong>2025 – Band 2:</strong>"An exceptionally good barrister. He is dedicated and hard-working and has excellent communication skills. He has a very high level of knowledge and expertise and relishes challenges.""A skilful and diligent advocate.""Iain is an excellent advocate and provides an exceptional level of client service."<strong>2024 – Band 3:</strong>"Iain is a committed barrister with great client care skills.""He is excellent with clients. His advocacy is clear and precise.""He's hard-working, smart, has good people skills and a good eye for the evidential detail."<strong>2023</strong>:"Iain fully commits to the case he is involved in and works tirelessly to obtain the best outcome. He is a pleasure to instruct.""Iain is great at collaborating with instructing solicitors, he makes every effort to achieve the outcome instructed and has a highly effective manner with clients and opposite advocates.""Iain is excellent. He has taken on cases and managed matters which are incredibly complex with a maturity far beyond his years. His advocacy skills are great, and he is very well thought of by the judiciary."<strong>The Legal 500:</strong><strong>2025: Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private) Tier 2:</strong> "His advocacy is well-targeted and effective, and he is thorough, well-prepared, and considered in his approach to cases."<strong>2024: Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private) Tier 2:</strong> "Iain is extremely professional in his style and ability to put anxious clients at ease. His advocacy is always measured and focused."<strong>2023: Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private) Tier 3:</strong> "Iain is a confident barrister, unfazed by appearing against senior silks in a case. He has superb analytical skills."<strong>2022</strong>: <strong>Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private):</strong> "Very hardworking, approachable, and able to explain a situation in a calm and focused way to lay and professional clients."

Abigail Telford

<p style="text-align: left;">Abigail has a busy personal injury, clinical negligence and inquests practice and is regularly instructed both to advise and attend hearings. She also regularly attends mediations and settlement meetings.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Abigail is a confident advocate, appearing regularly in both the civil courts and coroners court, and this is an aspect of her practice that she takes particular pleasure in.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Abigail has a particular interest in complex cases, for example, those involving extensive therapy and accommodation needs. Abigail enjoys working as part of a team, problem solving and analysing large volumes of evidence. She was recently brought in to work with a senior colleague on a complex clinical negligence case involving life-changing injuries to a child in which the capitalised value of the settlement exceeded £13 million.</p> Abigail enjoys a difficult and technical argument. As a result, she enjoys working on appeals and has appeared in the Supreme Court twice: <ul> <li>Edwards (on behalf of the estate of the late Arthur Watkins) v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 132, a case concerning the correct date for assessment of damages in professional negligence claims.</li> <li>Barton v Wright Hassall [2018] UKSC 12 a case involving issues regarding compliance with civil procedure rules, service and litigants in person.</li> </ul> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Recommendations</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Shortlisted for the Legal 500 Clinical Negligence Junior Barrister of the Year 2024</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'She has a formidable grasp of detail and regularly identifies points that can turn a claim around. A very insightful barrister, whose manner with clients is particularly helpful as she explains complicated areas of law with patience and compassion. Her advocacy is both forceful and helpful to the court. She is experienced beyond her years.'</em> The Legal 500 (2025), Tier 1, Clinical Negligence</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'A junior who is brilliant with clients. When she speaks, people listen'.</em> The Legal 500 (2025), Band 1, Inquests and Inquiries</p> <p style="text-align: left;">'<em>A junior who provides high quality and pragmatic advice to clients</em>'. The Legal 500 (2025), Personal Injury</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'A fearless junior, unusually diligent and has excellent judgement. Her advocacy is very persuasive</em>.<em>'</em>  The Legal 500 (2024), Clinical Negligence</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'A fearless and highly intellectual barrister</em>.<em>'</em> The Legal 500 (2024), Inquests and Inquiries</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'Abigail is an industrious junior, who is very good in conference with clients and experts. Her advice is always clear</em>.<em>'</em> The Legal 500 (2024), Personal Injury</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'Abigail is excellent, thorough, and has a great ability to engage with clients. She can also dilute complicated cases.'</em> Chambers &amp; Partners (2024)</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'Abigail is an up-and-coming star: very impressive quality of work and dedication as well as being knowledgeable and very personable.' </em>Chambers &amp; Partners (2024)</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'She is very bright and well informed, and great at cross examination.' </em>Chambers &amp; Partners (2024)</p> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Teams</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Abigail is an active member of the serious injury, clinical negligence and inquest teams in chambers. She</span> regularly gives seminars and talks regarding topics touching on all areas of her practice. Abigail also attends and organises events relating to pupillage with Parklane Plowden.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Abigail is a committee member of the Leeds &amp; District Medico-Legal Society.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Abigail is a member of the Parklane Plowden Pupillage Committee and leads the recruitment of civil pupils.</span></p>

Simon Wilkinson

<p style="text-align: justify;">Simon is a specialist Family (children) and Court of Protection barrister. In 2020 he was appointed to be a Recorder sitting in the Family Court on the North Eastern Circuit.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon prides himself on ensuring that he builds a good rapport with clients whilst giving firm and frank advice. He is keen to be approachable to lay and professional clients alike and has established a reputation for his forensic approach - focussing on the key issues in the case in order to achieve the best results possible, whether in advice, negotiations with other parties or presenting a case in court.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon has been recommended in both Chambers &amp; Partners and the Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for both his Family and Court of Protection work. He has a keen interest in cases involving a crossover between the two jurisdictions and a particular grasp of issues surrounding children and young people and deprivation of liberty, regularly being instructed to represent children and local authorities in cases in the High Court invoking the inherent jurisdiction or where there is a cross-over between the Family Court and the Court of Protection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">He is happy to get involved in cases from the outset and advise on case management issues at the start of a case. At final hearings he ensures that he thoroughly prepared with a good grasp of the evidence at his fingertips.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon has had multiple articles published in Jordan's Family Law Journal (the publication of record for family practitioners) and in 2022 joined the editorial team of Butterworths Family Law Service (published by LexisNexis UK).</p>

Jim Hester

<span lang="EN-US">Jim exclusively specialises in Personal Injury work.  A large part of his practice is dedicated to Industrial Disease, where he is nationally recognised.  He also maintains </span>a very busy Employer's Liability practice, alongside other areas of personal injury work.Jim focusses on providing timely, practical expertise in all cases he is instructed in, and enjoys working with solicitors to achieve the best possible outcome for clients.Jim acts in all areas of Personal Injury work including niche fields such as: accidents involving military personnel (whether caused as a result of their service or in other settings) drawing upon his 10-years experience as a Major in the Royal Marines Commandos prior to joining the Bar; and in relation to accidents which take place at sea.Jim's previous military service and resulting practical experience are invaluable when assessing the merits of any case he is instructed in.<span lang="EN-US">He is appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel and is regularly instructed to advise and appear on behalf of public bodies particularly in relation to Industrial Disease and military matters.</span>Jim is the co-ordinator of Chambers' Industrial Disease Group, and so can be contacted regarding any opportunities for training or assistance that instructing solicitors may wish to discuss.Jim also maintains an <a href="https://jimhester.me" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Industrial Disease website</a> - providing updates relevant to Industrial Disease practitioners, as well as articles of interest and a library of useful documents.Jim has been working 'paperless' for many years and so welcomes receiving papers via electronic means.<span lang="EN-US">Outside of Chambers, Jim is kept busy by a young family, triathlon training (having now completed four 'Ironman' triathlons) and a very enthusiastic black Labrador - Chief.</span>