Navjot Atwal

Navjot is regularly instructed on behalf of major tour operators, airlines and cruise operators in respect of accidents abroad. He advises on jurisdictional questions, foreign law and local standards, upon package travel claims and upon liability under the Athens and Montreal conventions. Several of his cases have been reported upon in the national press.

Navjot acts for both claimants and defendant insurers in high value personal injury claims involving employers’ liability, occupiers’ liability and road traffic accidents. He regularly appears at CCMCs, interlocutory hearings and multi-track trials in the County Court and High Court. He is experienced in serious cases involving amputations, head injury, chronic pain syndromes and spinal/paralysis injuries. Navjot has expertise in claims involving fundamental dishonesty and strategies to be deployed in defeating dishonest claims.

Navjot has particular experience in a wide variety of psychiatric injury claims, including those arising out of psychological trauma and stress at work claims in the workforce.

He has specific experience of defending large value and complex claims for occupational stress, harassment, overwork and claims for discrimination arising in the workplace. Navjot is experienced in defending large organisations and government bodies in these document heavy and fact sensitive claims.

He is also experienced in dealing with injuries/fatalities involving construction sites and is well versed in the CDM Regulations 2015 and general codes of practice and construction standards. He has been involved in numerous contribution/indemnity cases between contractors.

Navjot takes great care in ensuring an efficient and thorough turnaround of paperwork. His written work covers all aspects of drafting and advisory work including detailed schedules and counter-schedules of loss. He has a commercial background and has particular expertise in cases involving forensic accountancy evidence and large claims for loss of earnings based on partnership and company losses. Navjot regularly acts for clients in round table meetings and mediations. He is known for his firm and robust approach in settlement negotiations.

Navjot was formerly on the Attorney General’s panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown and has particular experience of representing various government departments at Article 2 inquests. He also has extensive experience of representing insurers (and their insured) at inquests arising out of road traffic accidents and accidents at work.

Navjot has represented interested parties in both jury and coroner-only hearings and is particularly adept at ensuring his client’s interests are properly protected at pre-inquest hearings and advising on the disclosure process. He has specific experience of cases involving deaths in custody (both within the prison and immigration systems) and welcomes instructions in suitable cases from families and interested persons alike.

Navjot has particular experience of claims against local authorities and government departments arising out of historic allegations of abuse and sexual assault. He has previously represented government departments in defending such claims (including the MoD, Prison Service and Border Force) and is well-versed in common issues arising in such claims including limitation, vicarious liability, disclosure/duty of candour and specific issues arising under the Human Rights Act. Navjot was formerly on the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel and is therefore well-placed to advise on these issues in the private law sphere having regularly dealt with claims involving serious allegations of false imprisonment, excessive use of force and sexual/physical claims of abuse.

Before joining chambers, Navjot practiced at 3 Hare Court for some 20 years with a broad civil and commercial practice.

Before joining the Bar, Navjot worked as an intern at the European Commission in Brussels and as a researcher at the House of Commons.

• ChBA (Chancery Bar Association)
• London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association (LCLCBA)