Charley Turton
Charley is a specialist in complex personal injury and clinical negligence and is instructed in some of the largest group injury claims brought in the English courts. She is recognised in the directories for both personal injury and clinical negligence, where she is described as “brilliant”, a “rising star”, “a clear and confident advocate” and “a really intelligent barrister who thinks things through carefully”.
Charley’s practice spans sports law, aviation, abuse, and international injury. Charley is regularly instructed as sole counsel in complex, high-value litigation, frequently against opponents of significantly greater seniority. She also thrives as part of a team, particularly in the context of group litigation. Her past and ongoing instructions include:
- The Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder Litigation. Led by Michael Rawlinson KC, Charley acts for a large cohort of claimants alleging that Baby Powder was contaminated with asbestos and other harmful substances, and that talc used in the product was itself a cause of injury.
- Rugby Concussion Litigation. Led by William Audland KC, Charley acts for the Rugby Football League in high-profile head injury litigation brought by over 1,000 rugby league and union players and former players.
- Harrods Abuse Claims. Led by Michael Rawlinson KC, Charley acts for the survivors of sexual abuse perpetrated by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed.
- LaMia Flight 2933 Air Accident. Led by Steven Thompson KC, Charley acts for injured passengers and families of deceased following the 2016 crash in Colombia.
- Inquest into the death of Adam Johnson. Led by William Audland KC, Charley acts for the bereaved family of the ice hockey player who died when his neck was cut by a skate during a 2023 match between Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers.
- Fundão Dam Collapse Litigation. Led by Harry Steinberg KC and Patrick Vincent KC, in 2018-19, Charley acted for the claimants in this action arising from Brazil’s worst ever environmental disaster.
Before coming to the Bar, Charley read English Literature at Merton College, Oxford, where she was awarded a ‘Blue’ for football. She still turns out for the occasional Friday night match.
In her free time, Charley is a keen traveller and, whenever possible, she plans her trips around opportunities to scuba dive.
Personal Injury
Charley’s practice encompasses all aspects of personal injury, including employers’ liability, public liability, road traffic accidents and psychiatric injury.
Charley has a general interest in claims involving post-traumatic stress disorder and specifically claims brought by military personnel. She recently acted as junior counsel for the dependants of the deceased in a Fatal Accidents Act claim arising from the suicide of a serving soldier, valued at over £3 million.
Charley is instructed by both claimants and defendants to attend trials, CCMCs and interims applications in fast track and multi-track matters.
Charley regularly delivers talks and training seminars (and is open to requests). Recent topics include:
- Functional neurological disorders
- Material contribution
- QOCS and fundamental dishonesty
- Psychiatric injury: Primary, secondary, no victim at all?
- Military PTSD
- Claims in the care sector
- Fatal Accidents Act claims
Download section
Clinical Negligence
Charley acts in a wide range of clinical negligence cases. She has particular expertise in claims arising from the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology, optometry and psychiatry.
A particular interest of Charley’s is the developing law of material contribution and she spoke on this topic with Michael Rawlinson KC at 12KBW’s annual conference in 2022 and with Henry Charles at the annual webinar day in 2021.
Charley is knowledgeable on issues of informed consent, having produced a research paper on this topic during her legal studies and currently acts for a defendant optometrist in a claim arising from an alleged failure to obtain informed consent to laser eye surgery.
Recent and ongoing instructions arise from:
- Negligent mismanagement of the third stage of labour, leading to uterine inversion, massive obstetric haemorrhage and permanent symptoms of urinary incontinence.
- Negligent aftercare following a laparoscopic pan-proctocolectomy, leading to the need for a permanent stoma.
- Failure to remove retained products of conception following a Caesarean section, leading to sepsis and severe fallopian tube pathology necessitating IVF treatment for future births.
- Failure to treat endometriosis whereby the claimant alleges, amongst other things, that she was negligently prescribed HRT in the absence of an accompanying GnRHa, that residual ovarian tissue had been left in situ during surgery and that she should have been referred to a specialist endometriosis centre sooner.
- Failure to identify and treat a macular hole.
- Serious dental negligence.
- Negligent care leading to development of pressure sores.
- Missed or incorrect diagnoses of orthopaedic injuries.
Charley sits on the 12KBW clinical negligence group committee and contributes to the 12KBW clinical negligence blog: https://clinicalnegligence.blog
She has also been published in the Personal Injury Law Journal (please see ‘Publications’ below).
Download sectionSports
Charley acts for claimants and defendants in cases involving or arising from sports injuries. She sits on the 12KBW sports law committee.
Led by William Audland KC, Charley is instructed by the Rugby Football League to defend a large group of claims by former professional players alleging that they suffered neurological conditions as a result of repeated concussions and sub-concussion during the course of their careers.
Charley successfully defended a local leisure centre against a claim brought by an injured gymnast who alleged that her gymnastics instructor negligently assisted her in performing an aerial cartwheel, leading to serious knee injury. The trial judge was persuaded that the claimant’s was “a classic accident” arising through no fault of the instructor.
Her expertise in international and travel law means that Charley is well placed to deal with claims arising from sports activities abroad.
Charley is herself a keen sportswoman. She plays football (11 and 5-a-side), competes in triathlons, practises yoga, and enjoys regular cycling and hiking. She can also ski, water ski and windsurf.
Download sectionInternational & Travel
Charley accepts instructions arising from illness and injury abroad, including under the Package Travel Regulations, and acts both for and against the major tour operators. She has extensive experience dealing with flight delay and cancellation claims pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004.
Charley is able to advise on jurisdiction and applicable law and is experienced in handling Rome I, Rome II and the Brussels Regulations. Her special interests lie in claims involving the EU Motor Insurance Directives, and issues surrounding pleading and proving foreign law post-Brownlie.
Charley co-edited the Accidents Abroad chapter of the Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service, along with fellow members of the 12KBW International and Travel team.
When only two years’ call, Charley joined a team of counsel instructed to plead one of the highest value mass tort cases being litigated in Europe.
Recent experience includes successfully defending at trial a claim under the Montreal Convention brought by a passenger alleging that a hot drink was spilt on him by airplane staff.
Download sectionAbuse
Charley represents individuals bringing civil claims arising from intentional abuse, including sexual abuse.
Charley also has experience of claims brought under the Human Rights Act 1998 based on delay in issuing care proceedings and failure to remove post CN v Poole.
Her recent and ongoing instructions include claims against local authorities and institutions, including Premier League football clubs.
Charley has acted in Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority proceedings involving sexual abuse, including rape.
Download sectionInquests & Inquiries
Charley accepts instructions to represent parties at inquests, including on a pro bono basis and is keen to develop her practice in this area.
She previously acted pro bono to represent the family of a young man who took his own life following treatment of severe body dysmorphic disorder and depression.
Charley enjoys working as part of a team and is keen to be involved in large-scale inquiries, where the opportunity arises.
Download sectionProduct Liability
Charley accepts instructions in product liability cases where personal injury has been sustained due to a defective product.
Download sectionQualifications & Awards
Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding), BPP University
Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction), BPP University
BA, English Language and Literature, University of Oxford
Lord Justice Holker Award, Gray’s Inn
GDL Scholarship, Gray’s Inn
Baroness Cohen Scholarship, BPP University
Memberships
Personal Injury Bar Association
Gray’s Inn
Directories
She is able to assimilate very large amounts of information. She is a rising star and one to watch. – Chambers & Partners, 2026
Charley is fast to respond and really gets into the papers. She is on top of the evidence and the issues. She is personable and friendly and a pleasure to work with. – Chambers & Partners, 2026
Charley is very knowledgeable about inquests. She is very good on her feet and very self-assured. – Chambers & Partners, 2026
Charley is a clear and confident advocate. She is brilliant. – Legal 500, 2026
An accessible junior. – Legal 500, 2026
She gets to grips with detail very quickly. – Chambers & Partners, 2025
Charley provides clear, good notes and advice and has a great track record. – Chambers & Partners, 2025
She is always well-prepared for conferences and leads them well. Her advice is always thorough and well thought-through. – Legal 500, 2025
A really intelligent barrister who thinks things through carefully. – Legal 500, 2025
Counsel have in-depth knowledge and a high level of expertise. – Legal 500, 2017
The set of choice for personal injury matters including travel litigation, which is an area that chambers is constantly strengthening. – Legal 500, 2017
Second-to-none strength in depth and a broad church of barristers, all of whom are fiercely intelligent. – Legal 500, 2015
A wealth of talent at both senior and junior levels acting for both claimants and defendants. – Chambers & Partners, 2015
Download sectionPublications
Charley co-edited:
- Transfer of Undertakings and Related Issues’ in Occupational Illness Litigation, published by Sweet & Maxwell, along with Carolyn D’Souza of 12KBW.
- ‘Accidents Abroad’ in Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service, along with fellow members of the 12KBW International and Travel team.
Charley is the author/co-author of:
- ‘The two cultures: how disease and clinical negligence practitioners approach the application of material contribution to causation in law’, Michael Rawlinson KC and Charley Turton, Journal of Personal Injury Law 2022, 4, 193-216
- LexisPSL Road Traffic Act 1988 and Motor Insurance Agreements Practice Note.
- ‘The difficulty in establishing negligence when an unrecognised complication arises: Collyer v Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust [2019] EWHC 3577 (QB)’, 12KBW Clinical Negligence Law, January 2020
- ‘Recoverability of the costs of surrogacy: XX v Whittington Hospital’, 12KBW Clinical Negligence Law, January 2019
- Case Report: Ellis v Kelly [2018] EWHC 2031 (QB), Personal Injury Law Journal, October 2018
- Divisibility of Psychiatric Injury: BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd v M Konczak [2017] EWCA Civ 1188, Personal Injury Law Journal, February 2018‘The demise of doctor-knows-best’, Gray’s Inn Student Law Journal, 2016
