We have adopted a specialist team approach to our practices for many years. We feel that this is the way our clients want us to work, and that specialisation leads to the provision of a better service.
"Gabriel gives practical advice and is a pleasure to work with."
Leon Leese
Assistant Practice Manager
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
Stephen Arnold
Practice Director - Civil
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
Gabriel Farmer has a longstanding specialist practice in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence. He has significant experience in complex fatal accident cases and and has an allied specialism in Coronial law (inquests).
He enjoys a balanced claimant/defendant practice and brings robustness and sensitivity in equal measure.
His experience includes representation at all levels including the Court of Appeal. His cases often include KC opponents.
When instructed by Defendants he delivers early tactical and evidential advice as part of the Costs & Case Management process.
His Personal Injury (PI) caseload generally comprises catastrophic cases. He has broad experience of liability issues spanning fatal accidents, Road traffic accidents (RTA), / Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) claims, occupier/public liability claims, asbestos claims, cases of post-accident Clinical Negligence or involving technical factual issues.
Gabriel works on quantum disputes which regularly involve fatality, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and claims involving Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Somatoform and other chronic pain disorders.
His Clinical Negligence work is weighted more towards defending and includes the defence of medical practitioners at inquests. Recent cases included defending a high value fatal claim with a complex housing dependency issue, a complex “safety netting” failure claim and numerous psychiatric unit and care home inquests
He has long standing experience of inquest work having undertaken Treasury Panel work as well as a number of high-profile inquest cases including recently acting for a family in an unlawful killing case, in a complex misadventure death involving use of a police taser and a number of other complex Art 2 deaths. He has been instructed in a number of complex and long-running cases to act as counsel to the Coroner.
He is ranked as a band 1 in Chambers & Partners who report: “He is solution-driven. He has an impressive mastery of the issues and is very responsive”, “Extremely thorough in his preparation, and knowledgeable of the relevant law” and “Always on top of the detail” and has been described in Legal 500 as “highly effective” and “ultimately the advocate you want on your side.”
Gabriel is typically instructed in liability disputes arising out of:
Quantum disputes typically involving:
Cases involving complex quantum issues such as:
A long running severe head injury claim suffered by a 6 year old following an RTA. A very substantial claim conducted against leading counsel for the insurer. Claim finally concluded for £14M.
A severe head injury case involving frontal lobe paradox and consequent regular challenges by the claimant to her lack of capacity. A complex claim against leading counsel for the insurer finally concluding at £2M.
A Fatal Accident Act dependency claim for £1.9M by an unmarried cohabitee arising out of the death of a highly successful businessman. QC opponent. Highly contentious lay evidence on the issue of the strength and longevity of the relationship (ongoing).
Severe brain injury claim in a 52-year-old manual worker – issues relating to capacity, support workers and neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric evidence generally. QC opponent. Settled at £1.85M (acted for the claimant).
EL claim for modest foot injury which then caused intractable CRPS leading to £2.7M. Spinal Cord Stimulator recommended. Highly contentious expert pain management evidence.
Asbestos lung cancer fatal claim, where deceased victim was a smoker. Defendant advanced legal argument, seeking to challenge method of assessment and seeking contributory negligence of 90%. Case won at first instance (30%, claimant P36 triggered) and at Court of Appeal.
Hind quarter amputation (leg, part pelvis, genitals) EL claim. C not eligible for a prosthetic (no bearing surface). Claims included earnings,care,accommodation and mobility aids. Settled for c. £1m.
£750k claim arising out of avulsion of C’s hand in a jet ski accident. Claim including Michelangelo bionic hand and received significant media attention.
A subtle brain injury claim by a mechanic arising out of a minor RTA where (as is often the case) the claimant relied upon controversial research in support of a (radiologically undetectable) diffuse axonal injury. Problematic neuropsychological evidence that required careful handling. Settled on settled on favourable terms.
Subtle brain injury claim following minor RTA. Claimant alleging diffuse axonal injury but then converting to Somatic disorder, settled at £125k.
RTA between tanker lorry, (driver killed) and plumber’s van (catastrophic injury). Employer of tanker driver and tanker driver’s widow alleging accident caused by defective highway.
C. £2M claim. 5 day trial against QC where all claims were defeated. Acted for Highway Authority.
Early evaluation of severe head injury in pedestrian RTA (on-going).
Defence of paraplegia claim brought by manual worker following fall from ladder. Settled on PPO basis close to trial.
Fatal RTA based on complex facts including earlier identical accident on the same road and allegations of defective works causing flooding.
£700k quantum claim brought by claimant with pre-existing leg palsy. Claimant cross-examined on credibility for 1 day. Claimant accepted historic P36 offer of £25k.
Gabriel enjoys a mixed practice claiming and defending in cases involving GP and hospital negligence.
Successful defence at trial of claim for failure by GP to provide “safety netting” advice leading to death and substantial Fatal Accident claim for dependency.
Negligent failure to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics leading to spinal neurological impairment.
Post surgery well leg compartment syndrome leading to chronic pain and impaired mobility.
Negligent failure to diagnose and treat spinal discitis following a workplace laceration causing neurological impairment.
Called in 1994, Gabriel has over 30 year’s experience at the bar and long standing experience in inquest cases having undertaken Treasury Panel work for various government agencies. He is the most senior member of the Guildhall Chambers Inquest Team. He is ranked by Chambers and Partners in this area.
He has been instructed in many high-profile inquest cases including cases involving unlawful killing, police involvement and other long complex Art 2 cases.
He is regularly instructed to act as counsel to the inquest (where is acts for the coroner) in complex long running enquiries. These usually involve deaths of young adults with police, local authority or healthcare involvement where there are multiple interested parties and of often KC instruction.
He regularly acts for care homes or employers in inquests and brings to bear his additional personal injury litigation expertise in the fields of medicine and Fatal Accidents Act claims (where he enjoys a Band 1 ranking).
Acted for a Coroner in a complex case involving police taser use against a victim of psychosis. A Jury case involving a failure to achieve agreement as to conclusion and thus warranting a rehearing.
Acted for a family following a belated epilepsy (SUDEP) death secondary to a historic assault where the assailant had moved abroad. Conclusion of unlawful killing obtained leading to further consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service for a criminal proceedings for murder/manslaughter.
Acted for a coroner in a number of case in Wales involving young adult suicide (including ‘looked after’ children) and engaging Art 2. Multiple agency involvement including local authority (social services), police and local health boards.
Acted for a large number of care homes following (mainly) geriatric deaths leading to coronial enquiry.
Acted for an emergency response agency in a number of cases where ambulance categorisation and arrival time were challenged by the deceased’s family.
Leon Leese
Assistant Practice Manager
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
Stephen Arnold
Practice Director - Civil
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
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