Stephen Worthington QC

Barrister Profile

Stephen Worthington was called to the bar in 1976 and had been at 12 KBW since 1977. Stephen took silk in 2006.  Stephen’s main areas of expertise are:-

Personal Injury
Stephen is predominantly involved in complex and substantial cases including:

Catastrophic injury cases - brain and spinal injury, quadriplegia and paraplegia.
Serious psychiatric injury.
Cases involving chemical exposure, repetitive strain injury, stress at work and other cases of exposure over long periods.
Cases involving disputed syndromes such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
Cases involving complex care and accommodation claims - Sowden issues.

Clinical and Professional Negligence
Stephen is particularly experienced in cases involving the negligence of solicitors and planning authorities.

Liability of Local Authorities

Insurance Litigation
Stephen advises the Motor Insurance Bureau and was involved in the drafting of the 1998 Untraced Drivers Agreement. He continues to undertake a significant amount of work for the Motor Insurance Bureau including complex cases involving the compatibility of the MIB agreements with European legislation and the Human Rights Act.

Environmental
Stephen had been involved in a number of cases concerning pollution, nuclear and environmental issues including a case involving plutonium and the measure of damages under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.

Stephen also undertakes work that overlaps with his main areas of practice such as criminal cases involving death by dangerous driving, health and safety and environmental offences.

Stephen has taught advocacy and regularly lectures on topics such as care claims, and motor insurance and non-insurance, both internally and externally.

What the directories say
Stephen is recognised as a leading junior in the Legal 500, 2006 edition and Chambers UK 2006 edition.

“Stephen Worthington is the pick of the juniors, known for his MIB work and his ability to manage client expectations – ‘they seem to accept advice from Stephen that they wouldn’t accept from anyone else.” Legal 500 (2006)

“Stephen Worthington impresses in conference ‘cutting to the chase but never alienating the client.’” (Chambers UK 2006)

“Extremely clever Stephen Worthington is admired for his staunch advocacy and is considered by some solicitors, "one of the best juniors around." (Chambers and Partners Guide)

His interests include sports, in particular football and skiing, cinema and current affairs. He has a working knowledge of French.

Appointments

Appointed a Recorder in 2002, Stephen also holds a number of other posts including:

• London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association Executive Committee;
• Director of Bar Mutual;
• Elected member of the Bar Council;
• Vice Chairman of the Law Reform Committee of the Bar Council;
• Member of the Kennedy Working Group on the future of the Bar Council.

Qualifications

Trinity College, Cambridge (MA)

Professional Membership

Personal Injuries Bar Association,
Professional Negligence Bar Association,
London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association
Technology and Construction Bar Association

Publications

Contributor: Butterworths Professional Negligence Service
Contributor: Structured Settlements: A Practical Guide

Interesting Cases

Browning v Brachers (a firm) (2005) EWCA Civ 753 CA – Solicitors Negligence, the case involved goats!
Zamparelli v Bristol City Council. October 2005 – Negligence of a planning authority.
Welsh Water v Camarthenshire County Council. October 2004 (Jackson J) s.29 of the Limitation Act 1980
Hall v Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust (2004) EWCA 2748 – Duties of local authorities in relation to children in care.
Watson v British Boxing Board of Control [2001] QB 1134 - Duty of care in tort.
Heil v Rankin [2000] 2 WLR 1173 - Level of general damages in personal injury actions.
Martin v Lancashire CC [2000] 3 All ER 544 - Transfer of tortuous liability by virtue of the TUPE Regulations.
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).
United Bank of Kuwait v Prudential Property Services Ltd [1995] EGCS 190 - Landmark case involving surveyors’ negligence and valuation of property.
Graham v ReChem International Ltd [1994] Env. L.R. 158 - Dealing with complex environmental issues - the alleged pollution of a farm by PCB’s and dioxins. The trial lasted 15 months.
Allied Trust Bank Plc v Edward Symmons & Partners (1994) 22 EG 116 - Solicitors negligence and the meaning of open market value.