William Audland

Barrister Profile

William has a strong specialist Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Travel Law practice. He is experienced in dealing with matters concerning local authority, employers’ and public liability, claims involving accidents abroad with issues of jurisdiction and applicable law, and is regularly instructed in cases involving catastrophic injuries. He regularly advises for both claimants and defendants.

He is recognised as a “Leading Junior” in the fields of personal injury and travel law in Chambers and Partners. In the 2012 edition, clients have described William as a “formidable” and “incredibly organised” barrister who couples a “strong analytical approach” with a “straightforward and friendly manner”, “excellent advocacy”, and “great cross-examinations".

Previously he has been praised for being a "top-notch" practitioner, a "very tough opponent", with good technical skills and "excellent at cross-examination". He also gains recognition as a Leading Junior in Personal Injury in the Legal 500.

William Audland goes from strength to strength at the heart of chambers. He is regarded as ‘one to watch’ and is highly respected for his analytical skills and attention to detail. William leads a wealth of talent among the middle juniors.

Qualifications

Queen’s College, Oxford (BA Modern Languages); City University (DipLaw)

Professional Membership

Personal Injuries Bar Association
Professional Negligence Bar Association

Interesting Cases

Moody v Aviva & another Lawtel 4.5.2011 - A decision of Mr Recorder Reeds Q.C. sitting in the Kingston upon Hull CC concerning the assessment of damages in a claim by a talented young rugby league player who was playing in an Academy squad at the time of the accident, and who alleged that as a result of a spinal injury he had lost a probable career as (i) a professional player within a club side playing in the Super League and thereafter (ii) a professional coach. The latter claim was rejected. The former claim was assessed on the basis of a lost chance of 25% of achieving such a career. 

Davies v Pay [2010] EWCA Civ 752 - The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial in circumstances where the trial judge had failed to conduct a sufficient review of the evidence before dismissing a claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 on the basis of erroneous assumptions as to the circumstances in which a fatal road traffic accident had occurred. The Defendant had admitted negligence, but asserted that his negligence had not caused or contributed to the death of the deceased. 

O’Leary v Tunnelcraft Ltd. & others [2009] EWHC 3438 -  A decision of Swift J, who refused an application by a defendant for permission to rely on surveillance evidence in a claim for catastrophic injuries where that evidence was disclosed 31 days before trial in circumstances which amounted to an ambush. 

Smale v (1) Ball (2) Motor Insurers Bureau Lawtel 6.6.07- A decision of Nigel Baker Q.C. sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge (QBD), in which he confined an award of damages for loss of earnings/earning capacity in a case involving a boy aged 12 when he sustained brain injuries, and 22 at trial, to two modest lump sum awards (i) pursuant to Blamire v South Cumbria HA (1993) PIQR Q1, and (ii) an award of Smith v Manchester damages; and rejected a much larger claim advanced on a multiplier/multiplicand basis.

Caerphilly County Borough Council v (1) Matthew Hughes (2) Jamie Verity (3) Christian Rowlands Lawtel 17.03.06 - A decision of Silber J QBD (Cardiff District Registry sitting in Swansea on 6.12.05). A landmark decision concerning successful committal proceedings brought by a local authority pursuant to CPR 32.14(2)(b) against (i) a claimant who had attempted to bring a fraudulent claim for damages for personal injury and (ii) his two witnesses, for signing deliberately false statements with a statement of truth.

Keeley v (1) Pashen (2) Wren Motor Syndicate 1202 at Lloyds [2004] EWCA (Civ) 1491 - An important case considering the extent to which a motor insurer can evade its liability under section 151 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 by reference to the limitations as to use under the policy. A driver who set down his last fares of the night and then drove his car at them to frighten them, thereby killing one of them, was held not to be driving his car “for hire and reward” (an excluded use under the policy) but to be driving it for “social, domestic or pleasure” (an included use under the policy).

Dixon v Were [2004] EWHC 2273 (QB) - A high value claim for catastrophic (brain and psychiatric) injuries, involving (i) the application of the principles set out in Master-Lister v Brutton & Co [2002] EWCA Civ 1889 to the issue of the claimant’s disputed patient status; (ii) the resolution of claims for losses of earnings and remuneration package benefits, and the loss of a chance of very high earnings; and (iii) the resolution of a high value claim for care and case management.

Ling v (1) Test Valley Borough Council (2) Salisbury Healthcare NHS Trust [2003] EWHC 490 (QB) - Clinical negligence case involving catastrophic injuries.

A v X & B (Non party) [2004] EWHC 447 (QB) - Application by the Defendant for an order for non-party disclosure of medical records belonging to the Claimant's brother on grounds that the Claimant's psychiatric illness was genetic and not traumatic in origin.

Beaton v Devon CC [2002] EWCA (Civ) 1675 - Occupiers Liability in relation to a public cycle path.