Record Damages for David Knifton QC

January 9, 2019

In the calendar year 2018, his first year in silk, David Knifton QC has achieved damages on behalf of his clients totalling over £30m. Highlights of the year included:

• A total award worth more than £7m for a Navy helicopter pilot who suffered a severe brain injury when he fell from the flight deck of HMS Illustrious
• An award of £3.9m for brain and brachial plexus injuries suffered by a motorcyclist in a road traffic collision
• Damages of £2.75m for a woman who had to undergo a below-elbow amputation due to the development of chronic regional pain syndrome
• An award worth nearly £2.4m for an elderly patient who suffered a haemorrhagic stroke due to medical negligence in managing her meningioma
• Damages of over £2.3m for another motorcyclist who suffered brain and brachial plexus injuries, leading to amputation of his arm

During his last 5 years as a senior junior, David recovered damages averaging over £23m each year, so he is delighted to have achieved a record-breaking total in his first year as a QC. David said: “It has been a privilege to represent such catastrophically-injured clients. I had been involved in many of these cases as junior counsel for a number of years, so it has been wonderful to guide them to a successful conclusion as leader of the team. Having had the opportunity over the years of being led by some very experienced silks, both from within and outside Chambers, I am pleased to have been able to put all that I have learned to good effect.”