Overview
Conor joined Chambers in 2021, following the successful completion of his pupillage. He is developing a broad practice across all of chambers’ core areas with a focus on product liability, professional negligence and property damage. He also has a particular interest in cases with an international element.
Highlights of Conor’s recent work include:
- Instructed (led by Charles Dougherty QC and Isabel Barter) in litigation arising out of the Grenfell Tower Fire.
- Assisting Toby Riley Smith QC and Anna Hughes in multiple claims brought by patients against the manufacturer of a sterilisation device.
- Assisting Howard Palmer QC and Alistair Mackenzie in an arbitration dispute concerning the applicable law of a multi-party insurance agreement.
- Assisting Rehana Azib in investigating allegations of race discrimination complaints by cricketer Azeem Rafiq against Yorkshire County Cricket Club, as documented in the press.
- Acting as sole counsel for the applicant in a successful claim for interim relief.
In 2019-2020, Conor was judicial assistant to Lady Justice Asplin in the Court of Appeal, where he worked on a number of cases including Barton v Gwyn-Jones [2019] EWCA Civ 1999 (concerning the effect of parties’ contractual arrangements on a claim in unjust enrichment); Koza Limited v Koza Altin [2020] EWCA Civ 1018 (concerning abuse of process and the proper jurisdictional basis for granting an injunction); and Borwick Development Solutions Ltd V Clear Water Fisheries Ltd [2020] EWCA Civ 578 (concerning the ownership of fish in a commercial fishery).
Prior to joining Chambers, Conor graduated from the University of Oxford with a First Class degree in Law. He read for the BCL the following year where he studied Conflict of Laws and Commercial Remedies.
At school, Conor was a successful debater, winning several national competitions.
Conor is developing a busy practice involving a range of product liability issues. During pupillage, he obtained particular experience with cases involving white goods and medical devices.
Recent examples include:
- Assisting Toby Riley Smith QC and Anna Hughes in a number of claims brought by patients against a leading manufacturer of a birth control product.
- Assisting Charles Dougherty QC and Isabel Barter in group litigation concerning defective vaginal mesh products.
- Acting as sole counsel in a claim involving an allegedly defective car which burst into flames.
- Instructed (led by Charles Dougherty QC and Isabel Barter) in litigation arising out of the Grenfell Tower Fire.
- Assisting senior counsel with a claim involving a house fire caused by a defective fridge-freezer.
Conor has experience (both led and unled) in a range of professional negligence matters:
- Acting as sole counsel for a leading electrical goods manufacturer regarding the defective installation of a shower unit.
- Acting as sole counsel for a claimant in a claim concerning the defective installation of a driveway.
- Acting as sole counsel for a construction firm in a claim concerning the scope of a professional’s duty of care when following the instructions of the police.
- Instructed (led by Charles Dougherty QC and Isabel Barter) in litigation arising out of the Grenfell Tower Fire.
- Assisting Isabel Barter in a successful strike out application (and subsequent appeal) giving rise to issues concerning continuing duties in solicitor’s negligence cases.
During pupillage, Conor gained a wide range of experience in claims concerning fires, floods and fallen trees. Conor also regularly appears as sole counsel in property damage matters in the County Court.
Recent examples include:
- Acting as sole counsel for the successful defendant in a claim concerning a vehicle which burst into flames causing damage to the claimant’s property.
- Acting as sole counsel for a leading electrical goods firm regarding the defective installation of a shower unit.
- Instructed (led by Charles Dougherty QC and Isabel Barter) in litigation arising out of the Grenfell Tower fire.
- Assisting Sonia Nolten and Jack Harris in a claim brought against multiple defendants concerning flooding to a care home following the diversion of a river through a culvert.
Conor has a particular interest in private international law and cases with an international element, having studied the subject in-depth on the BCL.
Recent examples include:
- Appearing as sole counsel in a claim concerning the applicability of the 2002 Motor Insurance Directive and whether there was a cause of action under Italian law.
- Assisting Howard Palmer QC and Alistair Mackenzie in a dispute concerning the applicable law to a multi-party insurance agreement.
- Assisting Marie Louise Kinsler QC in a claim concerning the applicable law of a recoupment claim brought by a foreign government.
During pupillage, Conor gained experience in a variety of matters across the full commercial spectrum:
- Acting as sole counsel in a successful application for interim relief, including an order for delivery up and an order for a mandatory injunction.
- Assisting Charles Dougherty QC and Isabel Barter in a claim worth c £600m+ involving questions of contractual interpretation, contribution, and transferred loss.
- Assisting Stuart Benzie in an ex parte application for a freezing injunction.
- Acting as sole counsel (ongoing) in a claim involving questions of breach of bailment, liens and conversion.
- Assisting Isabel Barter in a claim in the Commercial Court involving allegedly defective printers.
- Assisting senior counsel in a dispute concerning the arbitrability of an unfair prejudice petition.
Conor has experience in and practises across the full spectrum of personal injury litigation. He has a particular interest in matters involving personal injuries sustained abroad, employer’s and public authority liability, and injuries arising out of defective premises.
Recent examples include:
- Instructed (led by Charles Dougherty QC and Isabel Barter) in litigation arising out of the Grenfell Tower Fire
- Assisting Benjamin Browne QC in a claim giving rise to novel issues regarding vicarious liability and the scope of an employer’s duty of care.
- Acting as sole counsel for the defendant in a claim involving serious injuries sustained as a result of the defendant counsel’s defective premises.
Conor is particularly interested and has experience in cases with an employment/sports crossover.
- Assisting Rehana Azib in investigating allegations of race discrimination complaints by cricketer Azeem Rafiq against Yorkshire County Cricket Club, as documented in the press.
- Assisting Robert Cumming with a claim in the Jersey courts in a landmark case considering the definition of disability in Jersey’s bespoke disability discrimination legislation.
During pupillage, Conor obtained experience in a broad range of clinical negligence claims. Conor has a particular interest in claims arising out of defective medical products.
Recent examples include:
- Assisting Robert Cumming in a number of claims arising out of the high-profile vaginal mesh litigation.