Hailsham Chambers

Kay v Martineau Johnson [2026] EWCA Civ 224

In this case note, Tom Stafford considers the recent decision of Ellen Kay v Martineau Johnson (A Firm) [2026] EWCA Civ 224, in which the Court of Appeal have further clarified the distinction between actual and constructive knowledge under Section 14A of the Limitation Act 1980, and the (limited) circumstances in which a claimant’s impecuniosity may impact the assessment.

27/01/26

Hurst v SRA [2026] EWHC 85 (Admin)

Alice Nash discusses the concerns around the fairness of regulatory proceedings following the High Court’s rebuke to both the SRA and the SDT.

15/12/25

Mitchell v Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber [2025] UKSC 43

Alice Nash considers this important decision in which the Supreme Court has clarified the court’s approach to claims for breach of fiduciary duty, emphasising justice and full compensation over rigid and artificial rules.

17/11/25

Wellbeing Certificate of Recognition

We are delighted to announce that the Bar Council of England and Wales has awarded Hailsham Chambers a Wellbeing Certificate of Recognition!

28/10/25

Remembering Lady Helen Delves Broughton

Hailsham Chambers is remembering Lady Helen Delves Broughton, our first female tenant and a pioneering figure at the Bar.

23/10/25

Fourth edition of the APIL Guide to Clinical Negligence

Hailsham Chambers is delighted to announce the publication of the fourth edition of the APIL Guide to Clinical Negligence

13/10/25

Chief Constable of Sussex Police v. XGY [2024] EWHC 1963

The Court of Appeal has re-affirmed advocates’ general immunity from suit for what the advocate has said in Court, and corresponding immunity for police in respect of preparatory work for such hearings. Immunity does not require a fact-finding exercise.

06/10/25

Surveillance Evidence in Personal Injury Claims

David Juckes has edited the new update of the LexisNexis practice note on surveillance evidence in personal injury claims.

03/10/25

The provision of legal services after Mazur & Stuart v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB): What (if anything) has changed?

Can a person who is unauthorised to conduct litigation for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007 conduct litigation if they are supervised by person who is so authorised?

30/09/25

When does turning a blind eye amount to dishonesty?

That’s the question which the High Court answered in this case involving a solicitor who repeatedly failed to carry out basic checks on his clients, resulting in his firm’s client accounts being used to launder money.

05/09/25

Post-holiday round-up: what were the courts up to over the summer?

The summer months saw a steady stream of decisions in professional liability and related spheres.

04/08/25

Hopcraft v Close Brothers Ltd [2025] UKSC 33

Jake Coleman has drafted a case note on the Supreme Court’s decision in Hopcraft v Close Brothers Ltd [2025] UKSC 33, which was handed down Friday afternoon.

24/07/25

Inquest into the death of Azroy Dawes-Clarke

Amy Chapman represented Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in the inquest into the death of Azroy Dawes-Clarke.

22/07/25

A hole in the safety net

A hole in the professional indemnity insurance safety net: when insolvency may divert insurance money to general creditors rather than the damaged party.

08/07/25

Probationary Tenancy

Hailsham Chambers invites applications for a probationary tenant to commence in September or October 2025, with a view to joining our award-winning team.

30/06/25

Vanquis Bank Limited v TMS Legal Limited [2025] EWHC 1599 (KB)

When does a solicitor’s business model become an economic tort? When might financial institutions have a remedy against solicitors (allegedly) bringing indiscriminate consumer claims without any due diligence?

22/05/25

URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2025] UKSC 21

The Supreme Court decision may disappoint some for the conclusion that it was not necessary to decide whether Pirelli General Cable Works Ltd v Oscar Faber & Partners [1983] 2 AC 1 should be overturned, but will surely be followed by intense concentration in professional liability cases on questions of causation and mitigation.

06/05/25

Limitation: When does time start to run?

Dan Stacey, Clare Elliott and Christopher Cooke have written a long note about limitation – and in particular “when does time start to run”.

17/04/25

Orchard v Dhillon [2025] EWHC 834 (Ch)

Contrary to the earlier decision in InnovatorOne, the High Court has held in Orchard v Dhillon [2025] EWHC 834 (Ch)

04/04/25

Yerbury v Azets Holdings Ltd [2025] EWHC 757 (KB)

Alice Nash considers the decision, which confirms that professional firms offering insolvency services are not vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of employees accepting appointments as Receivers, as they act in a personal capacity rather than in the course of their employment.

21/03/25

Rukhadze and others v Recovery Partners GP Ltd and another [2025] UKSC 10

Clare Price considers this recent decision in which the Supreme Court was asked to revisit the role of causation in a fiduciary’s duty to account for profits made in breach of duty.

14/03/25

Bartolomucci v Circle Health Group Limited [2025] EWHC 529 (KB)

Alexander Hutton KC and Justin Meiland consider this important decision regarding private medicine in which the Court dismissed the Claimant’s argument that the hospital group should be contractually liable for medical services provided by consultants.

13/03/25

Evans v Hughes Fowler Carruthers Ltd

Nicholas Davidson KC and Clare Parkhouse consider this unusual summary judgment case in which Adam Johnson J upheld the arguability of a solicitor’s ‘Gold v Mincoff’ duty

14/02/25

Roger Leggett & Others v American International Group UK Limited [2025] EWHC 278 (Comm)

Questions of suing the right defendant and indemnity coverage can be slippery where there has been a business transition between successive professional practices.

11/02/25

Barrowfen Properties Ltd v. Patel [2025] EWCA Civ 39

When a claimant has lost a valuable chance but the breach of duty happens to have conferred a benefit on the claimant, how do you do the arithmetic?

10/02/25

Bailey v Bijlani

A judge has permitted a claimant in a dental negligence action to recover against the credit card company whose card she used to purchase the treatment.

06/02/25

Norman Hay v Marsh Ltd

The Court of Appeal have clarified the law on loss of a chance in professional negligence cases generally and insurance brokers cases particularly.

24/01/25

Alexander Hutton KC and Thomas Mason appear in Topalsson GmbH v CMS Cameron Mckenna Nabarro Olswang LLP [2025] EWHC 118

06/01/25

A Bridge Too Far? Imposter Fraud, Bridging Finance and Summary Judgment

The 2010s saw a decade of litigation concerning the trust imposed on solicitors holding money on client account and the circumstances when those solicitors will be liable for breach of trust when that money goes missing (usually because it is paid to an imposter).

04/12/24

Melia v Tamlyn & Son Ltd [2024] EWHC 3002 (Ch)

The case of Melia v Tamlyn and Son Limited tackles several key issues in professional negligence, including the scope of duty post-MBS, approach to conflicts of evidence, and the significance of unlawful conduct.

29/11/24

Thank you, Michael!

Chambers is sad to announce that Michael will retire from the Bar on 1 March 2025. We look forward to thanking him for his enormous contribution to Chambers at an event in spring 2025

06/08/24

Welcome to our new Junior Clerk Carrigan Beavan

We are delighted to welcome our new Junior Clerk Carrigan Beavan!

17/06/24

D&O Claims Case Update: BHS Liquidators Succeed in D&O Claim against former directors

Last week there was a substantial D&O judgment dealing with wrongful trading and misfeasance in the BHS litigation. What do practitioners need to know?

04/09/23

RSA v. Tughans [2023] EWCA Civ 999

The Court of Appeal has just decided an important case on professional indemnity insurance, RSA v Tughans.

13/07/23

Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023

We are proud to announce that Hailsham Chambers has been nominated for four Legal 500 2023 Bar Awards.

06/07/23

Simon Howarth KC acts in new case relating to s.39 FSMA

Simon Howarth KC represented the 12th Defendant in KVB v Jacob Hopkins McKenzie

03/07/23

Developments in solicitor-client costs disputes

The recent ECJ decision in DV v MA may have an important impact on Solicitors Act detailed assessments.

09/05/23

Judicial Exemption to Personal Data Access: X v (1) Transcription Agency (2) Master James

In the case of X v (1) The Transcription Agency (2) Master James, handed down on 9th May 2023

03/05/23

Tax Schemes and Tax Counsel: Can the Investor Sue in Relation to the Opinion?

Simon Howarth KC examines the Court of Appeal judgment in McLean v Thornhill

28/04/23

Practico Costs Round Table with Andrew Post KC, Andy Ellis and Jeremy Morgan KC

In this latest costs chat with Practico, our very own Andrew Post KC joins Andy Ellis and Jeremy Morgan KC discuss the following topics:

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