Ronald Walker QC

Barrister Profile

Ronald Walker QC is listed a Leading Personal Injury silk in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500. He practises mainly in the areas of Professional Negligence, Insurance, Construction, and Personal Injury. He is a Master of the Bench of Gray’s Inn and a former member of the General Council of the Bar (1993-1995). He is a TECBAR accredited adjudicator and mediator, acts as an arbitrator and has advised the Joint Contracts Tribunal on their Standard Forms.

Ronald was leading counsel for the Department of Trade and Industry (British Coal Board) in the Vibration White Finger Litigation and the VWF Claims Handling Scheme from its inception in 1998 to 2009 (when the scheme wound up). 

Ronald is currently leading counsel for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (British Coal Board) in the Phurnacite Group Litigation.

Chambers & Partners 2012 commends Ronald on bringing "novel insights into a case." He is praised for being "committed to the cause of his client" and clients agree that "You needn't worry with Walker at the helm."  Ronald is further recommended as being "one of the brightest lawyers around."

Previously Ronald has been described as as a hugely experienced practitioner who "doesn't resort to flowery language." Solicitors agree that he is "as sharp as a scalpel" in his dissection of cases, with one leading practitioner suggesting that in one particular case, "using him against the opposition it felt like you had a rapier versus a bludgeon."

Appointments

Deputy High Court Judge since 1993
Recorder from 1986 to 2010

Qualifications

London University (LLB Hons)

Professional Membership

PIBA, PNBA, TECBAR

Publications

Walker & Walker: The English Legal System (7th Ed)
Contributing Editor: Bullen & Leake & Jacob’s Precedents of Pleadings (13th Ed)
Editor: Butterworths Professional Negligence Service (1999)

Interesting Cases

Huntley v Simmonds (2009) - decision of Underhill J on damages in brain injury case, periodical payments orders and the effect of costs offers not complying with Part 36
Greene Wood & McLean v Templeton Insurance Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 65 Court of Appeal -decision on service out of the jurisdiction in claims “in respect of a contract”, on implying contract terms and on the meaning of “same damage” in the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act.
Blackwell (Contractors) ltd v Girling [2007] EWCA Civ 1450 Court of Appeal - decision on construction of design exclusions in a Contractors’ All Risks Policy
Ellis v Bristol City Council [2007] EWCA Civ 685 Court of Appeal - decision on interpretation of reg. 12 of the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and on the duties of local authorities in relation to the safety of care homes
Jarvis Ltd v Blue Circle Ltd [2007] EWHC 1262 (TCC) - decision of Jackson J on the extent of the court’s powers to stay construction arbitrations
AB v British Coal Corporation (Department of Trade & Industry) and others [2006] QBD (Mitting J) – decisions on court’s powers under the VWF Claims Handling Arrangement, and whether solicitors may claim success fees on costs payable under the Handling Arrangement
Collier v Willims; Glass v Surrendran (CA) [2006] EWCA Civ 20 – Cases which specify criteria for extending time for service of claim forms
John Roberts Architects Ltd v Parkcare Homes (No 2) Ltd (CA) [2006] EWCA Civ 64 – Interpretation of adjudication provisions in construction contract, power of adjudicator to award costs
Sibbons v Atkins [2004] QBD (Nelson J) – assessment of damages in brain damage case, issue of reduction of care award to reflect chance of public funding
HiH Casualty & General Insurance v JLT Risk Solutions Ltd [2003] Commercial Court (Langley J) - Case on construction of film finance insurance contracts, and professional negligence of solicitors in advising on policy response
Turner & Newall v Royal Sun Alliance and Smith [2003] 2 All ER (Comm) 939 - Construction of EL policies in relation to asbestos disease claims
Darby v National Trust [2001] PIQR P27 - Duty of care of National Trust to bathers
Goose v Wilson Sandford (No 2) [2001] Lloyd’s Reports PN 189 - Accountant's negligence: alleged fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and constructive trust
Merrett v Babb [2001] EWCA Civ 214 (CA) - Personal duty of care of professional valuer to mortgagor
Rahman v Arearose [2001] QB 351 - Correct approach to apportionment between separate tortfeasors
Watson v British Boxing Board of Control [2001] QB 1134 - Duty of care in tort
Bernadone v Pall Mall Services [2000] 3 All ER 544 - Transfer of tortious liability by virtue of the TUPE Regulations
Ballantine v Newalls Insulations Co Ltd [2000] PIQR Q57 (CA) - Deductibility of collateral benefits in PI actions
Alfred McAlpine Ltd v BAI (Run-Off) Ltd [2000] 1 All ER (Comm) 545 (CA) - Breach of an innominate term in an insurance contract
Jameson v Central Electricity Generating Board [2000] 1 AC 455 - Accord and satisfaction: effective prior settlement with a third party
Blue Circle Industries plc v Ministry of Defence [1999] Ch 289 (CA) - Measure of damages under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 s.7(1)(a)
Evans v MIB [1999] 1 CMLR 1251 - Whether Second Council Directive 84/5 relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles was of direct effect
Surrey Heath Borough Council v Lovell Construction 48 BLR 108 - insurance arrangements under JCT standard forms
Knapp v Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Plc [1998] 1 Lloyd’s Rep I.R. 390 (CA) - Date of accrual of cause of action in negligence claim against insurance broker
Armstrong v British Coal Corporation [1998] Lawtel CA 31/07/98 - Test cases of VWF in the coal industry
United Bank of Kuwait v Prudential Property Services Ltd (South Australia Asset Management Ltd v York Montague Ltd) [1997] AC 191 (HL) - Landmark case involving surveyors’ negligence and valuation of property
John Munroe (Acrylics) Ltd v LFCDA [1997] QB 983 (CA) - Duty of care owed by the Fire Service and public policy considerations
Holt v Payne Skillington [1996] P.N.L.R 179 (CA) - Whether duty in tort could be wider than contractual duty