Freya Newbery

Barrister Profile

Freya has an established specialist Personal Injury practice, encompassing all aspects within this field, with particular emphasis on complex and substantial employers’ liability and road traffic claims involving catastrophic injury, and fatal accident claims. She acts for claimants and defendants and accepts instructions on a CFA basis. 

She is recognised as a leading PI junior in Chambers and Partners "having received a tranche of positive feedback from sources." According to those interviewed, "her analysis of medical causation is second to none."

Freya has a particular interest in brain injury and has wide experience of cases involving whiplash injury, back injury, spinal injury, psychiatric injury, amputation and fatal accidents. 

She is also regularly instructed in matters involving Clinical Negligence, Professional Negligence (lawyers, architects, surveyors and other construction professionals), Construction disputes and fire, flood and other Property Damage litigation. 

Freya has been a member of the Bar Committee responding to the Woolf Reforms and the Professional Conduct and Complaints Committee of the General Council of the Bar. She is currently Vice Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity Committee. 

She writes and teaches the Ethics courses for pupils and new practitioners at Middle Temple, where she is a Bencher. She is involved in the continuing professional education of solicitors and lectures in advocacy.

Appointments

Recorder since 2004 (Crime and Civil)

Qualifications

New Hall College, Cambridge (MA)

Professional Membership

PIBA, PNBA

Publications

Assistant Editor: Odgers on Pleadings
Contributor: Bullen & Leake Precedents of Pleadings

Interesting Cases

Bokhari v. Qureshi (2009)
(Case settled shortly before trial on liability on 27th January 2009). Claimant with catastrophic injuries in RTA. Contributory Negligence issues involving both drink and seatbelt. Settlement: 95% for Claimant. (C) 

Tyler v London Borough of Haringey (2009)
(Resolved at JSM on 13th January 2009). Claim for psychiatric illness based predominantly on Protection from Harassment Act. (C)
 
Watson v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (2008)
Recorder Beale, Lincoln County Court 26th September 2008. Psychiatric Nurse attacked by patient at Rampton. See case commentary here. (C) 

Hampson v Ashworth & Co (2007)
Professional negligence case settled 10.12.07: Original clinical negligence action against NHS allowed to go out of time by first solicitor, then limitation missed by second solicitor. Very interesting issues on causation and quantum. (D) 

Allison v London Underground Limited (2007)
HHJ Cowell CLTC 22nd January 2007. Issues of strict liability and foreseeability in relation to Regulation 9 PUWER. See CA judgment at [2008] P.I.Q.R. P10. (C) 

Papworth v Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd (2005)
The insurer was not obliged to pay for further remedial works necessary to restore a house to its original condition because the insurer had never expressly agreed to do so. [2005] EWHC 2454 QBD (Jack J) 11/11/2005. (D) 

Bellefield Computer Services Ltd v E Turner & Sons Ltd [2002] EWCA Civ 1823 (CA)
Extent of architect’s liability when engaged to provide guideline drawings. (D)