A barrister from Exchange Chambers in Liverpool has been appointed a new Queen’s Counsel by the Lord Chancellor. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool barrister Christopher Barnes has been appointed a new Queen’s Counsel (QC) – one of 101 appointments in England and Wales.
And Mr Barnes, who specialises in personal injury, clinical negligence and related litigation, is one of two new QCs from Liverpool-based Exchange Chambers. The other is Lisa Linklater, based at Exchange’s Leeds operation.
]The title of QC is a mark of prestige among barristers and is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy. Recipients of the title are said to have ‘taken silk’. Exchange Chambers, based in Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, now has 23 silks and 196 members in total.
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Mr Barnes has significant experience of all levels of multi-track claims up to and in excess of £10m. He has particular expertise in military claims and is consistently ranked as a leading junior by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 in the field of personal injury.
He recently helped secure one of the highest ever settlements in a clinical negligence case with Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust agreeing to pay £27.3m after a young boy suffered catastrophic, life changing injuries in their care.
Ms Linklater specialises in high-value, legally and factually complex shareholder and partnership disputes, corporate insolvency and commercial litigation in the Business and Property Courts of the High Court of Justice.
She is recommended as Tier 1 by Legal 500 in Company and Insolvency and Band 1 by Chambers & Partners UK in commercial dispute resolution.
Jonathan I’Anson, chief executive at Exchange Chambers, said: “On behalf of everyone at Exchange I would like to congratulate Chris and Lisa. This recognition is very much deserved and is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication. They should be very proud.”