- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Civil Fraud
- Clinical Negligence & Healthcare
- Commercial, Chancery & Property
- Court of Protection
- Credit Hire
- Crime
- Family Law
- Financial Crime
- Inquests & Inquiries
- Personal Injury
- Police Law
- Professional Negligence
- Public Sector & Human Rights
- Regulatory & Disciplinary
- Travel & Cross Border Claims
Theodore Bunce
Call: 2017
Theo is a versatile and tenacious barrister with a burgeoning court and paper practice. Specialising primarily in personal injury litigation, but also frequently instructed in family law matters and commercial disputes, he provides clear, strategic, and client-focused solutions.
Theo delivers pragmatic and commercially sound advice to both Claimants and Defendants at all stages of personal injury litigation. He is particularly adept when it comes to cases involving relatively novel circumstances where liability is fiercely contested.
A certified mediator, Theo accepts instructions to advise on, represent participants in, and oversee a broad range of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods.
Beyond the Bar, Theo is an enthusiastic sportsman, playing weekly five-a-side football and learning padel, suffers through the occasional half-marathon, and is a devoted supporter of Premiership side Brighton & Hove Albion FC.
Theo primarily specialises in personal injury litigation, providing pragmatic and commercially sound advice to both Claimants and Defendants at all stages of the process. He is particularly adept when it comes to cases involving relatively novel circumstances where liability is fiercely contested.
A persuasive and diligent advocate, he is regularly instructed in Multi-Track and Intermediate Track trials, as well as a broad range of interlocutory applications. His practice covers advisory work, written advocacy, and representation across a wide spectrum of claims, including:
- Road Traffic Accidents
- Employer liability claims
- Occupiers’ liability claims
- Product liability claims
- Defective Premises Act claims
- Highways Act claims
- Animals Act claims
- Sexual abuse claims
Theo also advises and represents individuals pursuing or contesting decisions in Criminal Injuries Compensation and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit claims.
He has significant experience handling costs disputes in civil litigation, particularly arguments concerning fundamental dishonesty, multi-party issues, and non-party costs orders. He frequently provides standalone advice to professional clients on complex costs matters.
He accepts instructions on a CFA or DCFA basis in appropriate cases.
Notable Civil & Personal Injury cases
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A v D [2025]
RTA. Advised as to six-figure settlement for C involved in a collision which left them with serious injuries, including a perforated bowel and complex PTSD.
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M v D & Ors [2024]
RTA. Secured damages for C injured in multi-vehicle collision on the M5 motorway. Both defendants conceded liability shortly before trial. See more here
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D v S [2024]
Public Liability. Advised and represented C in a claim arising from failure of her parascending equipment. C’s Part 36 offer accepted shortly before trial on liability and quantum.
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T v S [2023]
Public liability. Obtained judgment on application for C in high value slipping claim at a nightclub, after D sought to dispute that the pre-action admission relied upon was made on its behalf. Successfully established that the admission was binding. Matter settled before the Defendant’s application to resile was heard.
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K v DWP [2022]
Employer’s liability. Obtained settlement before trial on liability for C who was stabbed by a member of the public whilst performing their role as a work coach at a London Job Centre. See more here.
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U v H [2021]
RTA. C was involved in a head on hit-and-run collision, immediately rendered comatose and suffered traumatic brain injury. Advised pre-issue on expert neurological and neuropsychological evidence, the applicability of the Uninsured Drivers’ Agreement, and quantum. Claim settled pre-issue. See more here.
Public Law
Theo is regularly instructed by local authorities and children’s guardians in care proceedings involving neglect, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and inflicted injury. He provides strategic advice and representation from the initial stages of public law cases (EPO/ICO) through to Fact-Finding and Final Welfare Hearings.
His background in personal injury litigation gives him a particular strength in interpreting and challenging expert evidence, making him a natural choice for cases where central threshold criteria are in dispute.
Theo is also experienced in High Court applications under the inherent jurisdiction, including cases involving missing or abducted children and Forced Marriage Protection Orders.
Private Law
In private family matters, Theo represents clients in divorce proceedings, child arrangements matters, and applications for non-molestation, occupation, and transfer of tenancy orders.
With a sharp focus on the issues that matter, combined with a straight-talking, approachable manner, he is well-regarded by lay clients, professional clients, and tribunals alike.
Court of Protection
Theo often appears in the Court of Protection, acting predominantly for Local Authorities involved in challenges to DOLS authorisation and in applications surrounding the medical care of patients without capacity. He is well-versed in applications under the property and affairs pathway, where he represents both institutional and lay clients.
Notable Family & Court of Protection cases
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H v T [2021] (Private Law; Fact-Finding)
Instructed on behalf of the Applicant Father in in a 2-day fact-finding involving allegations of rape and forced miscarriage. Secured a compromise on the factual nexus at trial, excluding any such findings. Subsequently resisted an application by the Respondent to re-open the fact-finding process on the basis of further allegations of sexual violence, and obtained a non-party costs order against Cafcass as a result of its failure to report on the basis of the determined facts.
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Re. M [2021] (Fact-Finding)
Represented the Local Authority at a 7-day fact-finding hearing involving inflicted facial injuries. There were no witnesses to the assault, the child was unable to give a detailed account and her parents denied involvement. Theo secured findings of inflicted injury and failure to protect.
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Re. E [2021] (Deprivation of Liberty)
Theo represented the Local Authority in this application under the inherent jurisdiction. P suffered Herpes Simplex Encephalitis, which progressed so as to leave permanent brain injury, with psychological and behavioural damage. The argument surrounded the extent to which P’s parents could provide consent and the minority dicta in Re D (A Child) [2019] UKSC 42.
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MPS v Bile & Ors[2019] EWHC 1868
Instructed by the Metropolitan Police in an application for Forced Marriage Protection Order. After just 3 months of practice, he was praised by Holman J [at 14] for his “skilled, measured approach” to the application at final hearing.
Theo advises and represents clients in a broad range of commercial disputes, providing clear, pragmatic advice with a sharp focus on achieving the best outcome. His practice includes:
- Credit hire litigation
- Contractual disputes
- Property disputes
- Possession proceedings
- Inheritance Act claims
- Injunction applications
- Professional negligence claims
He is also experienced in insolvency matters and has appeared in high-value bankruptcy disputes, including a case involving £4 million in liabilities and international assets.
Endorsements
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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