Robert Horner practice encompasses high value personal injury and clinical negligence work.

He is ranked as a leading individual in the Legal 500.

Robert is co-editor of ‘Clinical Negligence Claims: A Practical Guide’ and a contributor to the APIL ‘Guide to RTA liability’.

Outside of work Robert enjoys cross-country running, albeit he finds it takes him ever longer to cover ever shorter distances.  He is kept amply occupied and amused by his three children.

Robert acts for Claimants and Defendants across the full range of personal injury work. His work is high value and much of it complex.

Robert’s insightful and realistic approach is highly regarded by his professional and lay clients alike. His eye for detail and excellent client manner in an asset in any case in which he is instructed.

Robert’s recent cases include:

  • Brain Injury
  • Orthopaedic Injury
  • Psychiatric Injury
  • Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia/SSD
  • Fatal Accident Claims

Notable Personal Injury cases

  • Y v Z (Brain Injury)

    Recovered in excess of £6million for a young male who sustained a catastrophic brain injury leaving him in a minimally conscious state.

  • S v T (Brain Injury)

    Recovered substantial compensation for a 46-year-old male who sustained multiple orthopaedic injuries together with traumatic brain injury leading to a loss of career and need for ongoing buddy support.

  • R v M (Orthopaedic Injury)

    Recovered in excess of £2million for a young apprentice engineer who sustained catastrophic injuries in a motorcycle accident rendering him unable to pursue a promising career and facing a bleak future with limited use of an upper limb.

  • E v R (Orthopaedic Injury)

    Recovered in excess of £2million for a former member of the armed services who suffered a below knee amputation.

  • L v S (Orthopaedic Injury)

    Recovered significant damages on a provisional basis for a young cyclist who sustained lifechanging lower limb injuries with a significant future risk of substantial deterioration in her mobility.

  • X v Y (Psychiatric Injury)

    Recovered significant compensation for a paranoid schizophrenic with learning difficulties who, as a result of a road traffic accident, sustained a permanent relapse in her condition giving rise to the need for 24-hour supervision where there were difficult issues of liability and causation.

  • A v B (Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia/SSD)

    Recovered significant compensation for a female who, following a road traffic accident, developed chronic symptoms of fibromyalgia where causation was very much in dispute.

  • Y v S (Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia/SSD)

    Recovered significant compensation for a female who, following a road traffic accident, developed Somatic Symptom Disorder to a disabling degree which curtailed her promising career as a teacher.

  • T v L (Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia/SSD)

    Recovered significant compensation for a female who, following a tripping injury, experienced chronic regional pain syndrome in her upper limb which restricted her ability to work or supporting her family.

  • P v Q (Fatal Accident Claims)

    Recovered over £500k for a widow’s claim for dependency where the deceased husband provided substantial daily care due to the widow’s health condition.

  • C v D (Fatal Accident Claims)

    Recovered significant compensation for a dependency claim on behalf of a widow and her children where there we issues in respect of liability, proof of cohabitation and relevant benefits income.

Robert has experience of representing both claimants and defendants where clinical practice is in issue. He is very familiar with the workings of medical institutions and clinical practices.

Robert has extensive experience of cross-examining experts on highly technical points of medical procedure. His attention to detail is valued by those by whom he is instructed.

Notable Clinical Negligence & Healthcare cases

  • Advice & Consent

    Failure to provide appropriate advice as to the range of treatment options.
    Failure to advise as to relative risks and benefits of proposed surgical treatment.
    Negligent recommendation of sub-optimal treatment.
    Failure to obtain consent for the surgical treatment undertaken.

  • Investigation & Diagnosis

    Failure to undertake appropriate investigations leading to death.
    Failure to act on the results of an ECG leading to death.
    Failure to diagnose necrotising pneumonia in a toddler, leading to lobectomy.
    Failure to diagnose sepsis, leading to death.
    Failure to diagnose developing cauda equina, leading to lower limb sensory and mobility loss.

  • Treatment

    Negligent performance of surgery leading to permanent restriction in sexual function.
    Negligent assisted delivery leading to permanent disability in a newborn.

Robert has extensive experience of inquests arising from death in a wide range of circumstances both within a personal injury and a clinical negligence setting.

Many of the inquests in which Robert has acted were complex and lengthy, involving a number of interested parties and witnesses. Robert is well used to acting in inquests that involve a potential for criminal prosecution for serious offences and/or a large shadow civil claim. He is well able to navigate his clients through the significant media attention many of these cases attract.

Robert’s clear and persuasive style of advocacy enables him to represent his clients’ best interests in a manner that is both effective and appropriate for the setting. His user-friendly approach has been particularly appreciated by the bereaved families for whom he has acted.

Notable Inquests cases

  • Advising and representing at inquest parents whose six-year old boy was drowned during a Scouting trip. This sensitive case involved consideration of appropriate supervision of groups, risk assessment and training of leaders, and detailed pathology evidence surrounding cause of death.

  • Advising on liability and appearing at inquest in respect of a fatal accident in the course of a motorcross event. The matter involved issues of course layout, bike handling and marshalling provision.

  • Advising and representing a family whose mother was killed in front of her young daughter whilst horse riding. The matter involved detailed expert evidence on mechanical issues involving the HGV involved as well as expert equine evidence on horse behaviour.

  • Advising and representing at inquest the family of a person killer at a country fair by a run away horse and carriage.

  • Advising and representing at inquest the families of four men crushed to death on a construction site due to collapsing steel works.

  • Advising the family and dependents of a construction worker killed by a collapsing wall.

  • Advising on liability and appearing at inquest in respect of a lift engineer who was crushed to death whilst servicing a lift. The matter involved detailed consideration of health and safety provision both documented and in practice.

  • Advising and representing at inquest the family of an elderly lady who died in hospital as a result of an alleged failure in care.

Endorsements

“Robert pays excellent attention to detail and is very thorough.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Rob is a very safe pair of hands. I always feel confident that he will have reviewed the papers in detail in advance of conferences and he has a very calm approach when dealing with clients.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Robert is meticulous, detailed, very knowledgeable and wonderful with clients.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Getting to the crux of the issues was Rob's real skill. His analysis was very clear and impressive, and he analysed the expert evidence in a very skilful way.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Robert is an excellent barrister. He maintains a passion and curiosity in relation to his cases.”

Legal 500 2025

“Robert is very astute and meticulous when dealing with complex issues of medical causation, and is excellent with experts and clients.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“Technically strong, attention to detail, clear communication and excellent with clients.”

Legal 500 2024

“Robert is down to earth, fantastic with clients and very meticulous.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“Robert has a keen eye for detail and is able to get to the heart of complex issues. He has a great manner with clients and gives them clear and considered advice.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“He is professional and meticulous in his approach and his approachable manner goes down very well with clients.”

Legal 500 2023

“He is a diligent advocate, who always has command of the detail in a case.”

Legal 500 2017

“He provides good, concise, common-sense advice.”

Chambers & Partners 2017

“He is absolutely brilliant with clients because he’s very down to earth and speaks in a language they can understand.”

Chambers & Partners 2016

“High level of knowledge and attention to detail.”

Legal 500 2015

“Great team player who can always be relied upon to provide sound and clear advice.”

Legal 500 2021

“He has an excellent manner with clients and explains complex legal principles in a very clear way.”

Chambers & Partners 2021

“Very personable and really knows his stuff – I always feel I am in safe hands with him.”

Chambers & Partners 2021

“Intelligent, very client-focused and an eye for detail.”

Legal 500 2020

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate.


View my privacy policy.

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate.


View my privacy policy.

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Deka Chambers: 5 Norwich Street, London EC4A 1DR

© Deka Chambers 2024

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