Catastrophic Injuries

Stephen acts in brain injury, spinal injury and amputation cases. In a recently completed case he acted for a Claimant with a below knee amputation which settled at a JSM for a sum in excess of £1.7million.

Fatal Accidents Claims

Stephen is recognised as having particular skill and knowledge in cases arising out of the death of a person whether as a result of accident or clinical negligence and has been instructed in a wide variety of cases including: the death of earning and non-earning spouses and parents; where there are complex issues of income dependency arising from benefits and capital assets, where the dependency status of cohabiting dependents are in issue and where there are possible conflicts of interest between dependants.

Chronic Pain Cases

Stephen has many years of experience acting for both Claimants and Defendants in chronic pain cases, whether organic or non-organic in origin.  He is conversant with the various medical issues, the necessary medical expertise and the specialist treatment options including spinal cord stimulation. He has been recognised in the independent guides to the legal profession as having particular expertise in this type of claim.

Clinical Negligence is the major part of Stephen’s practice and has been for many years.

He is instructed by Claimants and Defendants and has experience of a considerable variety of clinical negligence claims routinely but not exclusively of high value and involving catastrophic injuries.

Stephen is very experienced in all aspects of clinical negligence litigation from pre letter of claim through to trial. He has wide experience of negotiating settlement at mediation or JSM and of Part 8 approval proceedings.

His experience includes:

• Failures in GP and hospital diagnosis. For example: cervical radiculomyelopathy, many types of cancers (often fatalities), various kidney diseases (leading to End Stage Renal Failure and kidney transplant or the risk of the same), orthopaedic injuries and conditions, DVT, compartment syndrome, hernia, sepsis.
• Failed surgical procedures. For example: various failures in spinal surgery, abdominal surgery, parathyroid surgery, cosmetic surgery.
• Failures to obtain informed consent. For example: before hip replacement, before spinal surgery (e.g. resulting in cauda equina syndrome).
• Birth complications. Including hemiplegic cerebral palsy, intrauterine death (e.g. placental abruption) and neonatal deaths.
• General GP, hospital, nursing and psychiatric treatment failures. For example: inappropriate high flow oxygen treatment for COPD (fatality), amiodarone induced hypothyroidism, failure to treat infection leading to lower limb amputation, gentamicin induced ototoxicity, failure to treat depression resulting in suicide.
• Secondary victim claims.

Examples of current or recent case load:

• Hospital delayed diagnosis of tumour in the third ventricle and/or hydrocephalus leading to frontal lobe impairment and consequential cognitive and behavioural problems.
• Hospital failure to diagnose cervical discitis resulting in permanent, severe spinal cord injury and paralysis as well as a life-threatening sepsis with bowel complications that required extensive resection of dead bowel as an emergency and a stoma.
• Surgical failure to avoid or recognise and correct right lung torsion during oesophagectomy leading to right pneumonectomy and consequential complications.
• GP failure to diagnose DVT leading to lower limb ischaemia, fasciotomy and above knee amputation.
• GP and hospital failure to adequately treat community acquired pneumonia resulting in the death of a young mother.

Chambers and Partners (2025) - Personal Injury (Band 1) - "Stephen is highly analytical and is able to distil the key issues with ease and navigate a clear path to a positive outcome for clients." "He is an excellent counsel - he's very practical, approachable and has commercial awareness." "He's good at adapting to what the client needs."

Chambers and Partners (2025) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "Stephen is great on the technical points and persuasive arguments. He knows when to stand firm and when to compromise."

Legal 500 (2025) - Personal Injury (Tier 1) - "Stephen is excellent with clients, and has a good practical, as well as technical, approach to high-value litigation."

Legal 500 (2025) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "An impressive advocate who is able to put across arguments succinctly and persuasively."

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Personal Injury (Band 1) - "Stephen provides thorough consideration to all points raised and has a very reassuring manner when he meets clients." "Stephen is sound, measured in approach and able to get the best from witnesses and experts alike. He is able to secure concessions from opponents and achieves excellent results." "Stephen is highly skilled at breaking down expert evidence and excellent at breaking down schedules of loss and maximising recovery. He is a straightforward negotiator who's clear and concise with claimants." "An analytical powerhouse, Stephen leaves no stone unturned when it comes to his reading of the evidence." "Stephen is a tenacious advocate and negotiator."

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "Stephen is a great player and sound advocate." "An analytical powerhouse, Stephen leaves no stone unturned when it comes to his reading of the evidence."

Legal 500 (2024) - Personal Injury (Tier 1) - "A resolute and persuasive advocate who will not be deterred. He is an analytical powerhouse."

Legal 500 (2024) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2)

Chambers and Partners (2023) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "... handles a range of issues, with a focus on delayed diagnosis and failure to diagnose. His caseload includes complex claims concerning brain injuries and fatalities, and he boasts strong expertise covering issues surrounding informed consent."

Chambers and Partners (2023) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "... offers a broad practice representing defendants and claimants alike. He is particularly experienced in cases concerning chronic pain, brain injury and amputation, as well as others arising in a clinical setting. He also takes on claims relating to road traffic accidents."

Legal 500 (2023) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "A forensic, intellectual and pragmatic barrister. He assesses cases from every angle, ensuring robust foundations to each one."

Legal 500 (2023) - Personal Injury (Tier 2) - "Stephen is tenacious, astute and great with clients. A formidable negotiator who reads the mood of the room very well."

Legal 500 (2022) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "He is a terrific advocate. He cross examines with unerring stealth, leaving no stone unturned."

Chambers and Partners (2022) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "He is always approachable and will give clear guidance on timescales for any response, which is most helpful in managing client expectations. His advice is clear and easy to follow but he is also happy to discuss any queries."

Legal 500 (2022) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "There is nobody who is across the detail more than Stephen: his approach is thorough and forensic. He brings a logical, calm and considered approach to clients who can often be in distress. He is a tenacious negotiator."

Chambers and Partners (2022) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "He is excellent with clients and they have a lot of confidence in him. He's also very good on detail and good with enormous amounts of documentation." "Has a lovely manner with clients, is very patient and offers clear, detailed and practical advice."

Chambers and Partners (2021) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "He has a very good eye for detail and takes a very hands-on, commercial approach to case-building." "He is always extremely well prepared, and he knows his cases very well." "A very clever lawyer who is kind and thorough with clients."

Chambers and Partners (2021) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "He provides sound advice and is excellent with clients."

Legal 500 (2021) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "Stephen is very forensic in his approach to cases. He is able to filter through the large volumes of information to get to the issue(s) in a case. Able to comfortably stand his ground against more senior counsel."

Legal 500 (2021) - Personal Injury (Tier 2) - "He is impressive. Attention to detail. Breadth of knowledge and ability to think on his feet. Very analytical and advice is spot on."

Chambers and Partners (2020) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "Offers a broad practice representing defendants and claimants alike. He is particularly experienced in cases concerning chronic pain, brain injury and amputation, as well as others arising in a clinical setting. He also takes on claims relating to fatal traffic accidents. Strengths: "Absolutely brilliant. He's great with clients and puts them at ease, speaking to them in a language they understand."

Chambers and Partners (2020) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "Handles a range of issues, with a focus on delayed diagnosis and failure to diagnose. His caseload includes complex claims concerning brain injuries and fatalities, and he boasts strong expertise covering issues surrounding informed consent" Strengths: "He will expedite work where I need him to and is always available by email should I have quick questions." "He is always well prepared, very thorough, and delivers high-quality paperwork quickly."

Legal 500 (2020) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "Practice includes delayed diagnosis and surgical negligence cases."

Chambers and Partners (2019) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "Very good in high-value and complex cases. He has a good manner with clients and always gives very practical advice."

Chambers and Partners (2019) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "I find him methodical and accurate, and I always feel incredibly confident in the advice and guidance he gives. He's approachable and is always willing to provide general advice as well as technical explanations of the law." "His paperwork is detailed and thorough and he is a persuasive advocate too."

Legal 500 (2018/2019) - "He has excellent technical knowledge."

Chambers and Partners (2018) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - "Retains a broad practice representing defendants and claimants alike. He is particularly experienced in cases concerning chronic pain, brain injury and amputation, as well as others arising in a clinical setting. He also takes on claims relating to fatal traffic accidents." Strengths: "Excellent in every way." "He's very thorough, he gets to grips with the issues quickly and he's good with clients."

Chambers and Partners (2018) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "Handles a range of issues, with a focus on delayed diagnosis and failures to diagnose. His caseload includes complex claims concerning brain injuries and fatalities." Strengths: "He's technically very able and he leaves no stone unturned." "Stephen is very insightful as well as approachable. He establishes a good rapport with clients quickly and easily."

Legal 500 (2017) - "Highly intelligent and tactically canny." Stephen is recognised in Chambers & Partners Guide to the Bar as a Leading Junior in personal injury litigation (Band 1).

Chambers and Partners (2017) - Clinical Negligence (Band 1) - "Continues to build a strong reputation for his handling of lower-value but complex cases including fatal, and stillbirth claims from delayed diagnosis of medical conditions. Also advises on surgical negligence cases." Strengths: "In conference, he is good at getting experts to answer questions in a way that is easy to understand. "He is a good team leader when dealing with multiple expert witnesses who are distressed or upset."

Chambers and Partners (2016) - "Acts for both claimants and defendants in a range of cases including those concerning chronic pain, amputations, and brain and spinal injuries. Particular experience regarding claims involving military personnel, having previously served in the RAF." Strengths: "His strengths are preparation, hard work and a good client manner. He is well respected by judges for those reasons." "He is excellent in every respect."

Chambers and Partners (2015) -  "Adept at complex personal injury matters, with particular expertise in chronic pain cases and RTAs causing severe injuries." Expertise: “He works very hard and will always try his best for the clients. He is widely respected by the judiciaries.” “He did an excellent job in negotiating the compensation figure and explaining that to the client.”

Chambers and Partners (2014) - "Specialises in complex personal injury and clinical negligence cases, acting for both claimants and defendants. He is noted both for his technical ability with particularly difficult cases and for his client manner." Expertise: "He has a gravitas about him. He exudes experience and confidence, and he's excellent with clients." "He's very good both for his courtroom skills and his ability to grasp a number of complex issues in a very short period of time."

Chambers and Partners (2013) - "A personal injury and clinical negligence specialist who handles a broad range of claims, including road traffic accidents and accidents at work."

Chambers and Partners (2012) - "Stephen Friday advises defendants and claimants on a stream of chronic pain cases."

Chambers and Partners (2011) - "Sources were keen to stress Stephen Friday's 'approachability and all-round excellent manner', as well as his undoubted technical skills. He handles the full spectrum of personal injury cases, including employers' liability, RTAs and fatal accidents."

Chambers and Partners (2010) - "He attracted a wealth of stellar feedback from interviewees, who explained: 'He is a technically sharp and persuasive advocate in court, who will stand his ground and is difficult to defend against unless you are on your game.'"

Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA); AvMA; Leeds Medico Legal Society

LLB (Hons), University of East Anglia

Shortlisted for Personal Injury Junior of the Year - Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023