Simon Readhead KC

Call: 1979     |    Silk: 2006

E sreadhead@dekachambers.com
T +44 (0)20 7832 0500
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Simon Readhead KC is currently the Joint Head of Chambers at Deka Chambers.

Simon has a wide ranging practice for both claimants and defendants in all aspects of medico-legal law.

His work includes clinical liability, professional liability and indemnity claims including claims involving industrial accidents and occupational diseases, health and safety claims and product liability.

Simon has a special interest and expertise in catastrophic injury claims including birth trauma, other neurological injuries particularly involving the head and spine and high value and complex quantum claims.

Simon is recognised as a Tier / Band 1 King’s Counsel in the current editions of both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners legal directories. He has been shortlisted for Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024. He is also listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom.

Simon was the founding author of piBlawg (an online clinical negligence and personal injury blog). He has also collaborated on piCalculator (a cloud based encrypted damages calculation tool).

Simon’s practice spans clinical liability and related claims, professional liability claims relating to clinical negligence / personal injury, personal injury and related claims and product liability. He is regularly instructed by nationally ranked solicitors’ firms acting for both claimants and defendants and by leading individuals within those firms.

Simon is frequently involved in cases against other top ranked KCs validating his own ranking in the top Tier / Band of the various legal directories.

  • Lecturer in law at the Hammersmith and West London College: 1977-1979
  • Legal Adviser to News Corporation Limited: 1978-1986
  • Junior of the Midland & Oxford Circuit: 1989-1990
  • Member of the General Council of the Bar’s Costs Panel: 1992-1998
  • Recorder of the Crown and County Courts: 2000
  • Trustee of the Permanent Exhibition of Judicial and Legal Costume, Royal Courts of Justice: 2011
  • Trustee of the Rolls Building Art and Educational Trust: 2012
  • Master of the Bench of the Middle Temple: 2012
  • Head of 1 Chancery Lane Chambers: 2017–2022
  • Joint Head of Deka Chambers: 2022
  • President of the Medico-Legal Society: 2022-2024

  • Lincoln College, University of Oxford (BA Jurisprudence 1977; BCL Civil Law 1978; MA Jurisprudence 1982)

  • CXS v Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [2023] EWHC 14 (KB); 2023 WL 00162846; L.F. 2023, 143(Feb), 20.  Civil procedure; Legal Profession; Personal injury. Cerebral palsy; Clinical negligence; Costs budgets; Costs management orders; Hourly fees; Solicitors’ remuneration.
  • Hopkins (A Child) v Akramy [2020] EWHC 3445 (QB); [2021] Q.B. 564; [2021] 2 WLR 893; [2020] 12 WLUK 259 (QBD); [2021] Med. L.R. 244 Negligence – Duty of care – Primary care trust – Group of companies providing primary medical services pursuant to contract with primary care trust – Whether primary care trust liable in respect of negligent provision of such services – Whether primary care trust owing non-delegable duty of care to protect patients from harm – National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), s. 83.
  • Sanderson v Guy’s and St. Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 20 (QB) Rotational instrument delivery – Interpretation of NICE Guidelines on fetal monitoring – Role of clinical assessment – Logical basis for decisions – Expert evidence – Material contribution to injury.
  • Jabang v (1) NHS Commissioning Board (2) Wadman (3) Pool (4) East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (5) Underhill [2017] EWHC 1894 (QB); [2017] 7 WLUK 544. Breach of duty of care; Clinical negligence; Paralysis following delayed diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis; Screening for infectious diseases; Causation; Costs orders
  • Spire Healthcare v Brooke [2016] EWHC 2828 (QB); [2017] 1 W.L.R. 1177; [2016] 11 WLUK 352; [2017] P.I.Q.R. P6. Abuse of process – Cause of action estoppel – Clinical negligence – Contribution – Interim payments – Statutory interpretation – Limitation periods
  • Nyang v G4S Care and Justice Services Limited [2013] EWHC 3946 (QB); [2013] 12 WLUK 302. Breach of duty of care; Causation; Clinical negligence; Detention pending deportation; Doctors; Immigration removal centres; Mental disorder; Mental health assessments; Nurses; Paralysis; Professional negligence; Self-harm.

  • Colombos Public International Law Essay Prize

Endorsements

“Simon is very collaborative and his attention to detail is second-to-none. He is extremely diligent and thorough.”

Legal 500 2024

“He expertly handles experts and defendants. He’s meticulous, thorough and willing to fight even the most difficult of cases.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“Simon has an excellent client manner, while being able to get to the crux of an issue. He is a robust advocate and is always extremely well prepared. His attention to detail is meticulous.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“Simon's attention to detail is second to none. He is extremely knowledgeable and dependable.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“A truly outstanding silk; extremely knowledgeable and skilful.”

Legal 500 2023

“Simon has exquisite attention-to-detail, a go-to for detailed and complicated cases. He is an outstanding advocate and an all-round sensible, safe pair of hands on any high-value, complex case.”

Legal 500 2023

“Fantastic, very thorough and he has an eye for detail. He will always go the extra mile for his clients and is a brilliant advocate. He's very persuasive in court.”

Chambers & Partners 2022

“He is incredibly sharp and forensic when it comes to evidence which means he is never caught off guard.”

Chambers & Partners 2022

“He has a charming manner with clients and solicitors. He pinpoints the main points of concern and dispute and focuses on those to ensure that they can be overcome.”

Chambers & Partners 2022

“Always meticulously thorough, extremely well prepared and highly responsive.”

Legal 500 2022

“Highly experienced and really great on complex cases.”

Legal 500 2022

“He takes a methodical approach and knows his cases back to front. He is always very calm and reassuring with clients.”

Chambers & Partners 2022

“Very experienced and meticulous in his preparation – he leaves no stone unturned. He’s charming with experts, clients and opponents alike.”

Legal 500 2022

“He's excellent to work with and is very approachable.”

Legal 500 2022

“He has a wonderfully reassuring manner with clients.”

Legal 500 2022

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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