Gary Thornett

Barrister Profile

Gary Thornett specialises in personal injury claims, acting for both Claimants and Defendants.

He has extensive experience of workplace, industrial and construction accidents and disease work, including work related upper limb disorders, vibration white finger, HAVS, asbestos exposure, occupational deafness, exposure to hazardous substances and claims arising from defective work equipment.

He has acted for both Claimants and Defendants in road traffic accident litigation at all levels of value and complexity.

Experienced in a wide range of riding accident claims, including equine workplace claims, Gary Thornett has the benefit of having owned and ridden horses at amateur level. His personal knowledge of equestrianism provides an advantage both in the preparation of claims, particularly those where there is expert evidence, and their presentation at trial.

Originally qualifying as a Solicitor, having trained at Eversheds, he spent a year as a commercial litigation solicitor before transferring to the Bar in 1991. During his first ten years at the Bar he also practised in general civil and commercial work before choosing to concentrate in personal injury.

Gary has provided numerous training lectures to Solicitors firms on personal injury, litigation skills, advocacy and costs.

He is known to have friendly and patient client skills yet is a confident and persuasive advocate.
In 2008, he was one of the finalists in the Birmingham Law Society Barrister of the Year awards.

He is a Deputy District Judge, assigned to the London County Courts.

Appointments

Deputy District Judge - London

Qualifications

London University, Royal Holloway College

Professional Membership

Personal Injuries Bar Association

Midland Circuit

Interesting Cases

Examples of recent advisory and successful court work include acting for:


A local authority in a fatal road traffic accident. Issues as to sufficiency of signage during road works.

A self employed physiotherapist nearing retirement but with an increasing and changing case load at time of her serious road traffic accident. Difficult loss of earnings claim.

A claimant in a complex regional pain syndrome claim.

A workman who sustained a respiratory injury (petrol fumes poisoning from work equipment). Issues as to whether the diagnosis was organic dysfunction or mood disorder.

A Romanian construction worker seriously injured when he fell from a temporary structure. Permanent inability to return to construction work.

Numerous CRU appeals on behalf of defendant insurers. 

A claimant who seriously injured his back when a loading bay unexpectedly operated. Challenges at trial on the technical operation of machinery and medical causation.

An employer defending causation in bilateral CTS claim arising from office work.

A motorcyclist whose arm was amputated in a road traffic accident. High value owing to viability of remaining arm how in question. Complex liability issues as to the sequence of traffic lights, visibility and credibility.

A workman who sustained the virtual loss of use in one eye when his other eye had been ineffective since childhood.

A professional riding instructor sued by a vetinary student who had lost her thumb when handling a horse as an informal student at her stables.