Andrew Lewis QC

Key dates

• Head of Chambers: 2011
• Deputy High Court Judge: 2010
• Year of Silk: 2009
• Recorder: 2001
• Year of Call: 1985

Expertise

For very many years, the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories have routinely rated Andrew as a Band 1 silk and ‘one of the most approachable silks in the country’ providing ‘meticulously thought-out advice’, ‘remarkably pragmatic, user-friendly and terrifically strong on his feet’.

Andrew has vast experience of personal injury claims, with particular expertise in fatal and catastrophic claims, brain and spinal cord injury cases and industrial disease claims. He has particular experience in work involving subtle brain injury, chronic pain and somatoform disorder. In his employer’s liability work, Andrew has defended health & safety prosecutions as well as conducting Inquests.

Andrew offers vast experience in all areas of clinical negligence work. He has represented claimants and defendants in cases of all types including the most serious cerebral palsy negligent birth claims. He has particular experience of accident & emergency and orthopaedic failures, obstetric claims (cerebral palsy/shoulder dystocia), paediatric cardiac surgery, delayed diagnosis of cancer, gastro-intestinal claims and failed cosmetic surgery. Recent cases include acting for the claimant in a negligent birth case who recovered in excess of £24m in compensation.

Drawing on this legal expertise and his experience as a Deputy High Court Judge, Andrew’s skill set is eminently suited to his work as an Evaluator for IE. He analyses each case in forensic detail, advises on the likely outcome of the dispute should it go to court and then facilitates the parties towards the optimal settlement.

Andrew also trains others in the process and skills of Independent Evaluation.

Notable cases

• Riaz v Norwich Union [2009]
• Burgin v Sheffield [2005]
• Hensar Leather v Securicor [2002]
• Totty v Snowden [2001]

Memberships

• North Eastern Circuit
• Personal Injury Bar Association

Publications & articles

• Contributing editor of Butterworth’s Personal Injury Litigation Service.

Directory Quotes

“Arguably the best and most experienced Silk in personal injury work east of the Pennines. Gets quickly to the heart of a case. Disarmingly effective.”
“He is practical, pragmatic and solution oriented.”
Legal 500, 2021, PI

“He is very calm, reassuring, thorough and always extremely well prepared.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021, PI

Andrew “has the ability to communicate well with families and put them at ease.”
“He is highly skilled, extremely approachable, and excellent both in court and in negotiations.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021, Clinical Negligence

“A legendary QC who is rightly regarded as one of the best around.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020

“An outstanding silk for personal injury and clinical negligence matters.”
The Legal 500, 2019

“Extremely good. Down to earth, approachable and combative when he needs to be. He’s realistic and easy to deal with and he has good attention to detail.” “Someone we really trust for high-value cases.”
“He focuses his skills on multimillion-pound cases and has an outstanding reputation for acting in claims involving serious injury.”
Chambers & Partners, 2018

“Queen’s Counsel and head of chambers with deep experience in complex clinical negligence. He is frequently sought out to handle major birth injury claims that typically involve cerebral palsy and other brain damage to babies.”
“He’s very pleasant, very personable and he knows what he’s doing. He’s formidable, but he’s a nice bloke with it.” “Has a wonderful manner both in court and with clients and experts. He’s a skilled advocate and negotiator.”
Chambers & Partners, 2018