Profile
Philip started at Cobden House Chambers in 2016 and has a civil practice.
He has developed expertise in all aspects of personal injury litigation including:
- Employers’ liability;
- Public liability;
- Highways Act claims;
- Occupiers’ liability;
- Holiday sickness;
- Road traffic accidents;
- Low velocity impact claims;
- Fraud and fundamental dishonesty;
- Noise induced hearing loss; and
- Medical negligence.
He regularly deals with claims involving credit hire.
Philip represents both claimants and defendants at trial, CCMCs, disposal hearings, application hearings, Stage 3 hearings, and infant approval hearings.
He accepts instructions to draft statements of case, and advise in writing, in conference, or by telephone.
He is happy to undertake appropriate cases on a conditional fee basis.
Philip also undertakes general common law work. He is particularly experienced in dealing with police, immigration, coronial, and contract law matters. He is a member of the Government Legal Department’s Junior Junior Panel.
Prior to joining chambers, Philip worked as a county court advocate and volunteered at Action against Medical Accidents, a legal charity assisting those who have suffered injuries arising out of medical negligence.
In his spare time Philip enjoys rugby union and scuba diving
Notable Cases
R v O – Represented a claimant in a multi-track trial who alleged that he had lost his sense of taste and smell following facial injuries sustained in a tripping accident.
P v A – Represented a defendant insurance company at trial in a claim brought under the European Communities (Rights against Insurers) Regulations 2002. After hearing the claimant’s evidence and submissions the judge dismissed the claim, holding that the claimant had failed to satisfy her that the fault driver was an insured person within the meaning of the regulations and had failed to discharge the burden of proof because of inconsistencies in his evidence.
H v L – Represented a defendant chief constable in a claim brought by a landlord after a former tenant had caused approximately £10,000 of criminal damage to a rental property while a police constable was at the address. The claim was dismissed at trial.
The Attorney General of St Helena v Thomas & Others (2017) – Instructed to represent one of the parties in an action concerning the legal recognition of same sex marriage in St Helena (led by Marc Willems QC). The action was compromised prior to the hearing after legislation was introduced to legalise same sex marriage.
Membership
- Northern Circuit
- PIBA
- Government Legal Department’s Junior Junior Panel
Qualifications
2010 – 2013 BA (Hons) History, University of Southampton, First2013 – 2014 GDL, City Law School, Commendation2014 – 2015 BPTC, City Law School, Outstanding
2015 Sir Thomas More Bursary, Lincoln’s Inn2015 Buchanan Prize, Lincoln’s Inn