Oliver was called to the Bar in 2018 and undertook pupillage under the supervision of Michael Jones. He joined Cobden House Chambers as a tenant in November 2022.
Oliver has a busy civil practice encompassing personal injury, clinical negligence, credit hire and costs litigation. He accepts instructions from both Claimants and Defendants and has a particular interest in higher-value personal injury litigation, clinical negligence and costs litigation.
He is instructed in clinical negligence claims involving issues of breach of duty, causation and quantum, acting for both Claimants and Defendants.
Oliver has extensive advocacy experience across the Small Claims, Fast Track and Intermediate Track, with regular appearances in the County Court in allocation hearings, interim applications, disposal hearings, trials, applications, appeals and costs hearings. He has developed significant experience in Intermediate Track litigation and advises on complex procedural and substantive issues.
His Multi-Track practice continues to grow, with instructions in claims exceeding £100,000. He appears in Multi-Track case management hearings, costs and case management conferences, joint settlement meetings and trials. He has also acted as junior counsel in high-value catastrophic injury litigation, including a claim which settled for £6.75 million.
He has a strong practice in credit hire litigation, with instructions in disputes concerning enforceability, impecuniosity, fraud, evidence and quantum.
He is frequently instructed to provide written advice at all stages of litigation, including liability, causation, quantum and medical evidence. He advises on expert evidence under Part 35, drafts and responds to Part 18 Requests for Further Information, and provides advice on settlement strategy and prospects of success. He also prepares pleadings, schedules and other key litigation documents.
He has a wealth of experience in costs litigation, including detailed costs disputes, wasted costs applications, costs management and contested applications arising from solicitor conduct.
He is experienced in conferences with clients and medical experts.
He will undertake work on a Conditional Fee Agreement where appropriate and is happy to discuss matters in advance of formal instructions.
He is an accredited ADR-ODR civil-commercial mediator.
He provides seminars to solicitors and insurers on a range of litigation topics.
Before pupillage, Oliver was an analyst at a Tier 2 investment bank before joining an international law firm where he worked on catastrophic injury claims for major insurer clients. He has also worked pro bono on the Zambrano EU Settlement Scheme.
Within his practice, Oliver has experience in the following cases:
Road Traffic Accidents
Public Liability
Employers’ Liability
Occupiers’ Liability
Catastrophic injury claims including amputations and traumatic brain injuries
Credit hire and subrogated losses
Highways Act claims
Holiday sickness
Dental claims
Official Injury Claims portal
Inquests
Fraud and fundamental dishonesty including low-velocity impacts
Costs
Clinical negligence
Oliver has a busy paper practice including:
Particulars of claim
Schedules of Loss/Special Damages
Advice on liability, quantum, contributory negligence, next steps etc.
Defences and counter schedules of loss/special damages
Part 35 questions
Part 18 questions
Case 1 – Oliver was led by Marc Willems KC in a claim where the Claimant sustained life changing injuries as a result of a malfunction in his parachute during a workplace accident. The claim was settled during the course of the trial.
Case 2 – Oliver was led by Marc Willems KC in a claim where the Claimant sustained catastrophic injuries to his leg in a road traffic accident. The Defendant admitted primary liability but alleged, without foundation, contributory negligence. By adopting a collaborative approach with the Defendant, the Claimant was able to settle the claim at the second way forward meeting avoiding a further 18-24 months of litigation. However, the settlement was reached at the way forward meeting that took place the day before a very substantial interim payment application that was listed in the High Court. By being prepared to disclose all of the available medical and quantum evidence available for the purposes of seeking the large Interim Payment the Claimant allowed the Defendant to see the weight of the evidence in the Claimant’s favour which contributed to the parties being able to settle for the sum of £6.455 million.
LLB Law – University of Birmingham
BPTC – Manchester Law School
ADR ODR Civil-Commercial Mediator
Personal Injury Bar Association
Outside of the law, Oliver is a violist and underwent professional training at Chetham’s School of Music. He is a qualified football referee and enjoys training in rugby and Krav Maga. He is involved in charity work and has raised more than £50,000 for registered charities in Manchester.
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