At 2TG our people are hard-working, forward-thinking and approachable. We believe our supportive culture is one of our greatest strengths.
With the set comprising around 60 barristers, we know each other well and work effectively together. We often operate in large teams with clients. Our practice management team is modern and commercial, matching barrister experience thoughtfully to clients’ requirements.
At 2TG our barristers are expert in a broad range of complementary practice areas and we enjoy repeat instructions from a variety of loyal clients.
Practised advocates from the start, all our Silks and the vast majority of our Junior barristers are recognised as leaders in their chosen fields. Many of us are at the forefront of shaping the law in our specialist areas and we pride ourselves in having excellent industry knowledge.
At 2TG our barristers have excellent experience acting across a range of industry sectors and we are able to offer advice in an informed and commercial context.
Our combination of practice area excellence and industry expertise means we possess real insight into the commercial realities facing our clients operating in these areas. Secondment plays an important part of our commitment to developing our skills and understanding.
2TG is home to award-winning accredited mediators, arbitrators, adjudicators and experts with considerable experience of alternative dispute resolution.
Our barristers are also skilled as advocates in different alternative dispute resolution procedures and work strategically with clients to understand their commercial objectives, and then to resolve litigation as cost-effectively and expeditiously as possible.
Work with an international dimension forms a significant part of many barristers’ work at 2TG.
We appear in international courts and arbitral tribunals all over the world, frequently acting on complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. We are particularly well-known for managing cross border litigation on matters of jurisdiction and applicable law and appear regularly in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
At 2TG, in addition to our professional advice, we are recognised for our excellent contribution to education and development. We provide regular high-quality training.
Our reputation among the legal profession and other clients for our first-rate webinars and in-person conferences is very important to us. We also contribute frequently at industry events and as editors of leading texts and authors on topics of legal interest.
Howard Palmer KC is joint leader of the Insurance and Reinsurance practice at 2TG and our most experienced Silk in the area of Travel and Jurisdiction.
His practice also encompasses professional negligence, sports law, construction and property damage, and personal injury.
Chambers UK and the Legal 500 have recommended Howard as a Leader in his chosen fields for many years. He is noted to have “…an agile mind and an ability to cope with whatever the judge throws at him”; and is admired “for his cool, calm and collected approach in the courtroom, his ability to reassure clients, and his skilled analysis of complex insurance and liability issues”.
Howard’s experience includes major appeals in the House of Lords (Harding v Wealands; Haward v Fawcetts) and in the Supreme Court (Durham v BAI – the Employers’ Liability Trigger Litigation).
Both 2TG and Howard Palmer are recommended as leaders in the field of insurance and reinsurance in Chambers UK and the Legal 500.
Howard’s practice includes:
Howard has been instructed to give expert evidence on the English insurance law of non-disclosure and misrepresentation to the US courts.
He concluded the appeal to the Supreme Court in the Employers’ Liability Trigger Litigation.
Howard Palmer has conducted many high-profile cases in the constantly evolving area of law concerning the jurisdiction of the English courts over foreign claims and the law applicable to the resolution of claims with a foreign element.
Under the Private International Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995, he acted for the respondent in the landmark House of Lords appeal in Harding v Wealands [2007] 2 A.C. 1.
He has also been involved in many disputes on whether English or foreign law is applicable to claims arising in foreign jurisdictions – Hamill v Hamill – Spain or England?; Beauregard v Sturrock – England or Florida?; Wortham v Deerhurst Resorts –England or Ontario?
The temporal application of Rome II was successfully argued in Bacon v Nacional Suiza before Tomlinson LJ in 2010 – the only English decision on the question before the CJEU came to its decisive ruling in Homawoo.
On issues of jurisdiction, Howard is expert in the application of the Brussels Regulation (44/2001) as well as CPR Pt 6 (service out of the jurisdiction). He has advised extensively on available jurisdictions for:
Other cases include:
Recommended in the Legal 500 in professional negligence (“First Rate”), Howard’s experience encompasses litigation in the fields of insurance professionals, architects and engineers, construction services, solicitors and accountants.
Haward v Fawcetts
He appeared for the successful appellant accountants in the House of Lords.
John Mowlem v Neil F Jones (CA)
George Fischer v Multi Design & DLE (TCC - HHJ Hicks QC)
Gray & Ors v T P Bennett & Son & Ors (TCC)
Howard Palmer has experience of most of the major national and international forms of Building and Engineering Contracts: JCT (and DOM, NSC and NFBTE/FASS forms of sub contract), ICE (and FCEC forms of sub contract), CRINE General Conditions for Offshore Services, FIDIC forms, I Chem E forms, GC Works forms, NEC form, Hong Kong GC form, Singapore Institute of Architects form.
Howard also deals with arbitration and court control of arbitral proceedings under domestic and international regimes (see Birse Construction Ltd. v St. David Ltd. (CA), Jones v Thyssen (CA), John Mowlem v Carlton Gate (TCC)).
Howard has been instructed in heavy engineering and civil engineering disputes (oil rig construction, shipbuilding, marina construction, subsea engineering etc).
Howard is particularly skilled in litigating disputes with a high technical content (weld failures, fatigue cracking, steel erection and piling failures, bearing seizures, fires, electrical and electronic control failures etc).
He has conducted several high-profile flood cases, including Bybrook Barn Centre Ltd. v Kent C.C. and Arscott v The Coal Authority in the Court of Appeal. “His involvement in the Hazelwood [flooding] case highlighted his ‘absolutely terrific’ skills in dealing with complicated scientific matters” (Chambers UK recommendation as a leading Silk).
Other property damage specialities include tree root law (L E Jones v Portsmouth (CA [2003] 1 W.L.R. 427); Kirk v London Borough of Brent (CA [2005] EWCA Civ 1701); Berent v London Borough of Islington (CA Case No: A1/11/1575, 20.3.12).
Howard has very wide experience of more than 30 years of all aspects of personal injury and clinical negligence. He combines this experience with his expertise in understanding and analysing complex mechanical processes in the context of catastrophic injury claims. His understanding of the formation of mesothelioma and the liability of employers and others for asbestos-related diseases has enhanced his ability to deal with the complex insurance issues which arise.
Similarly, comparison between foreign and domestic legal systems for the assessment of damages requires a firm grounding in the domestic system, as well as an ability to deal with expert evidence on foreign law (he “converses well with experts” – Legal 500).
Craig & Ors v Railtrack plc & Ors
Multiple fatalities due to bearing failure on railway carriage.
Jolley v London Borough of Sutton
House of Lords – Foreseeability of damage in unforeseeable circumstances.
DoT v HPC Coatings & Ors
TCC – Multiple fatality caused by collapse of gantry.
Hanson v Airedale Hospital
Failure to diagnose possible heart attack.
Williams v London Borough of Lewisham
Causes and effects of long-term Carbon Monoxide emissions.
Howard has very wide experience of more than 30 years of all aspects of personal injury and clinical negligence. He combines this experience with his expertise in understanding and analysing complex mechanical processes in the context of catastrophic injury claims. His understanding of the formation of mesothelioma and the liability of employers and others for asbestos-related diseases has enhanced his ability to deal with the complex insurance issues which arise.
Similarly, comparison between foreign and domestic legal systems for the assessment of damages requires a firm grounding in the domestic system, as well as an ability to deal with expert evidence on foreign law (he “converses well with experts” – Legal 500).
Craig & Ors v Railtrack plc & Ors
Multiple fatalities due to bearing failure on railway carriage.
Jolley v London Borough of Sutton
House of Lords – Foreseeability of damage in unforeseeable circumstances.
DoT v HPC Coatings & Ors
TCC – Multiple fatality caused by collapse of gantry.
Hanson v Airedale Hospital
Failure to diagnose possible heart attack.
Williams v London Borough of Lewisham
Causes and effects of long-term Carbon Monoxide emissions.
Howard regularly advises in high profile Product Liability cases.
Howard Palmer uses his considerable experience in sensitive commercial disputes and insurance law in all aspects of his sports practice. His expertise is well suited to litigation which explores the interface between liability for sports injuries and recovery under insurance policies, regularly advising and appearing in court in cases involving complex contractual interpretation.
Although his practice extends to a wide range of sports, he has a particular interest in motorsports, watersports, skiing, riding and shooting.
Howard sits as a Recorder in criminal cases. As well as civil and (some) criminal court work he has experience of most forms of arbitration and ADR.
Howard is a keen cricketer and member of the MCC.
Wagenaar v Weekend Travel Ltd
Skiing accident rendering Claimant tetraplegic – successful defence of ski instructor in High Court Action – issues of French law and skiing standards in French Alps (Winchester High Court).
R v A (confidential)
Acting for claimant rendered tetraplegic in yachting accident off the coast of Portugal; allegations concerned complex issues of sailing technique (Admiralty Court – settled before hearing).
Cripps v Goodman
Riding accident on a road; management techniques of rider when trying out horse for first time; acted for successful Defendant (CA).
Concerning the meltdown of the Prince Jefri “empire” in Brunei.
Flood damage caused by overtopping of the River Taff at Aberfan – the “common enemy” defence.
Insurers’ liability under a public and products liability policy to indemnify insured potentially responsible for crane collapse.
Whether Rome II applied to accident occurring in 2008.
Fraudulently exaggerated claim for fire damage to bathroom store.
Helicopter accident on a flight from Minnesota USA to Wisconsin USA; whether English or Florida Law applied.
Tree root damage after Delaware.
Claim under Package Travel Regulations, which defendant sought to pass on to party responsible for hotel.
Massive paint failure on structural steelwork; collateral contract and duty of care in tort; re. Didcot B Power Station).
LJJ stay under section 9 Arbitration Act 1996.
Whether a contract came into existence.
Policy trigger in a mesothelioma case under a public liability policy.
German student injured in accident in Scotland but issues of German law arising.
Extent of liability under s.151 RTA 1988 and European Motor Insurance Directives.
Liability of highway authority for bridge/culvert obstructing river flows.
Liability for asbestos exposure under public liability policies.
Liability under 1960s policy which excluded asbestosis but not mesothelioma).
Insurance for deliberate ramming by a motor car.
Offshore PI claim for indemnity.
Mechanical causes of derailment leading to multiple fatalities.
Liability in contractual assignment case, where assignor suffered no loss.
Accident on cruise liner subject to Athens Convention.
Collapse of gantry off Severn Bridge – multiple fatality and massive economic loss claim by DoT.
Whether EL policy responded to injury sustained or injury caused during policy period.
Brain injury case; periodical payments.
Expert witness on English law of lnsurance; relating to Zyprexa product liability claim.
Threatened Group Litigation claim for foetal damage caused by anti convulsive drugs used to treat epilepsy in pregnant women. Proceedings averted.
Consideration of Sale of Goods legislation vis à vis supply of filo pastry making machine.
R.T.A, whether insurer of vehicle or insurer of driver liable to indemnify.
Recoverability of damage suffered by subsidiary of contracting party; foreseeability of damage at the time of contract.
My contact details:
ICO Reg No: Z551783X
Address: 2 Temple Gardens, London, EC4Y 9AY
Email: clerks@2tg.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7822 1200
The type of personal information I collect
To enable me to provide you with legal advice and representation in courts, tribunals, arbitrations and mediations, I currently collect and process the following personal information:
Personal identifiers, contacts and characteristics (for example, name, date of birth and contact details), bank and financial details, your background and circumstance and education.
Other personal data relevant to, or included in instructions to provide legal services, including data specific to the instructions in question and data included in documents provided to me as part of instructions or otherwise.
Such information may include personal information relating to family members, associates, agents, employees, shareholders or beneficial owners. By providing such personal information to me, you automatically confirm that you are authorised to do so. It is not reasonably practicable for me to provide the information set out in this Privacy Notice to those individuals. Accordingly, where appropriate, you are responsible for providing this information to any such individuals.
Where necessary, I may also need to process Special Category data about you including
How I get the personal information and why I have it
Most of the personal information that I process is provided to me directly by you or via the professional you have instructed such as a solicitor or consultant or other professional adviser who instructs me on your behalf to provide legal services.
I use the information that you have given me in order to
I may share this information with
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the lawful basis I rely on for processing this information is
How I store your personal information
Your information is securely stored in Chambers or at my home. I use reasonable technical and organisational security measures such as password protection and encryption of computer generated data and keeping paper data secure to prevent personal information from being accidentally lost or destroyed, or used or accessed in an unauthorised way.
In this connection, Chambers, as data processor, acting on my behalf, will only process your personal data on my instructions and is subject to a duty of confidentiality.
The data will be held in line with any regulatory obligations and generally be kept for 6 years but may be 12 years, or longer where, for example, the case includes information relating to a minor, from the date of completion of instructions. At this point any further retention will be reviewed and the data will be marked for deletion or marked for retention for a further period.
All data will be securely deleted or securely shredded after this time without reference to you. I will store some of your information which I need to carry out conflict checks for the rest of my career. However, this is likely to be limited only to your name and contact details and the name of the case. It will not include any information that is “sensitive information” for GDPR purposes.
Your data protection rights
Under data protection law, you have rights including:
Transfer of your information outside the European Economic Area (EEA)
This privacy notice is of general application and as such it is not possible to state whether it will be necessary to transfer your information out of the EEA. If I do transfer your personal data I will use safeguards to ensure the data is fully protected as required by the UK Data Protection Regulations.
Changes to my Privacy Policy
From time to time, I may need to make chances to my privacy policy. If so, the changes will appear on my entry on the 2TG website.
Marketing
As above, I may share your personal data with Chambers who may in turn use that data to notify you by email, or post about an invitation to seminars and similar events. You may opt out of receiving any such marketing communications at any time by using the “unsubscribe” link in any emails. In relation to how Chambers uses such data, please see Chambers’ privacy policy. Other than sharing personal data with Chambers as described above, I will not share your information with any other third party for marketing purposes.
How to complain
If you have any concerns about my use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to me or to my Senior Clerk, Lee Tyler at 2 Temple Gardens, London, EC4Y 9AY or clerks@2tg.co.uk. You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data.
The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk
© Briefed Ltd 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Recommended in Legal 500 from 2007 to date and in Chambers UK from 2008 to date.
“He’s very careful and meticulous in his preparation and a very good advocate.” “Howard is an expert on tree root matters and all the surrounding literature, bringing gravitas to such matters.” “Howard is a true technician. He is incredibly mathematical and is good on the detailed points of law.” “Howard provides exemplary written and oral submissions. He also remains very approachable and is keen to be involved in the entire process.”
Chambers UK 2025
“Howard has a superb technical knowledge with an ability to make difficult arguments digestible. He has a fantastic temperament, and is a pleasure to work with.” “His skills as a trial advocate are second to none. Judges trust his submissions and he is a master tactician.”
Legal 500 2025
“Howard is a pleasant advocate who knows his stuff. He is prepared to run innovative arguments.”
“He has a remarkable ability to put everyone in the room at ease, which comes from his familiarity with the sector.”
“One of the leaders on complex international issues.”
Chambers UK 2024
“Howard is part of the bedrock of the insurance Bar. He is a wonderful team leader, and puts everyone at ease in breaking down even the most complicated insurance issues. In court, he’s a smooth operator and holds the ear of any judge all the way up to the Supreme Court.”
“Howard is very professional and client friendly, collaborative and has excellent judgement.”
“Very hard working, Howard is a great leader in any team tackling a heavy professional negligence case.”
Legal 500 2024
“Howard produces excellent written work which distils complex principles in a way that clients can understand.”
“He has a tremendously calming influence.”
“Howard is a smooth and experienced barrister.”
“He is a recognised expert.”
“He is at the top of his field.”
Chambers UK 2023
“A barrister whose technical mastery of insurance law is virtually unparalleled. A real outside-the-box thinker and incredibly hardworking. Knows how to lead a team and get the best out of everyone involved.”
“Howard has a charming manner and a razor-sharp brain. His advocacy is always very persuasive and focused.”
“The most charming silk at the bar, he can get any tribunal on side. Incredibly clever, with brilliant client management skills, and an eye for the ‘killer point’. Very hard working, Howard is a great leader in any team tackling a heavy prof neg case.”
Legal 500 2023
“Howard is concise and clever.” “He is good on technical legal points.” “He knows his way around a courtroom and is a master tactician.” “An imaginative and creative thinker who thinks of new ways to win his cases.” “He’s a leading light in terms of travel law.” “He grasps complicated, knotty legal problems.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Extraordinary breadth and depth and knowledge of insurance law – the perfect pick to lead a team in a difficult case and a pleasure to work with.” “He always fights hard in his client’s interest.”
Legal 500 2022
“His work process is very thorough and methodical and he easily identifies the issues.”
“Very intelligent, articulate and a pleasure to work with. He is very thorough and methodical in his work process and easily identifies issues. His work ethic and responsiveness is very impressive.”
“A very accomplished advocate.”
Chambers UK 2021
“His attention to detail is impressive”
Legal 500 2021
Very impressive on paper and extremely experienced.”
Extremely experienced and well respected.”
He is very intelligent, articulate and highly approachable – a pleasure to work with. He is also very thorough and methodical in his work process and easily identifies the issues in a case.” “A leading authority on cross-border cases.”
Chambers UK 2020
“He is very academic and very charming”
Legal 500 2020
“Extremely knowledgeable and has a very sound judgment. He’s very good in negotiations and is a top-flight practitioner.”
“He has a lot of knowledge and experience”
Chambers UK 2019
“A big figure in the reinsurance world, who is very impressive and straightforward to deal with.”
“He is very good at thinking through all the issues and calculating the best way of presenting his case to the judge.”
Chambers UK 2018
“Howard is highly approachable and a pleasure to deal with. He is very thorough in his approach and this is reflected in his advice.”
“He is great at understanding the issues, knowing what the client needs to understand and making sure that they do understand it.”
“Very methodical, very detailed and quite a cerebral character but also someone who it’s easy to work with.”
“He gets to the crux of the matter easily, deals with the relevant material and can separate the good points from the bad points.”
“His advocacy is calm and assured.”
“Howard is highly experienced and knowledgeable in cross-border personal injury cases.”
Chambers UK 2017
“Intelligent, articulate, unflappable and calm.”
“Excellent”
Legal 500 2017
“He knows everything there is to know about jurisdictional issues, his written advice is fantastic and he keeps a calm head in cases.”
“He is extremely intelligent; you’re never going to get anything past him and he is very tough.”
“He is a calm and assured advocate.”
Chambers UK 2016
“He has a track record of success and the ear of the court”
“Very good advocate”
Legal 500 2016
“He’s clearly very knowledgeable and very thorough, and his written advice is excellent.”
“A formidable leader and an excellent advocate who handled our case with outstanding competence.”
Chambers UK 2015
“He is calm and exudes an aura of authority and competence; he does not let the other party ruffle him.”
Legal 500 2015
“He is highly approachable and a pleasure to deal with.”
“He is very thorough and this is reflected in his advice.”
Chambers UK 2014
“A thorough and effective advocate with a charming manner”
Chambers UK 2013
“Stands out for his ‘constant responsiveness, quick turnaround times and excellent analysis of complex insurance and liability issues’”
Chambers UK 2012
“he is noted for ‘his cool, calm and collected approach in the courtroom, his ability to reassure clients, and his skilled analysis of complex insurance and liability issues’”
Chambers UK 2011
“has ‘an agile mind and an ability to cope with whatever the judge throws at him’”
Legal 500 2011
Chambers UK 2010
“he provides ‘incisive commercial advice’ and is ‘brilliant on any case which involves complex issues of law and the analysis of policy wordings or statutes’”“recommended for his work relating to floods and flood damage, having acted as lead counsel in two major Court of Appeal flooding cases recently”
Legal 500 2010
“his ‘gravitas and fine legal brain’ are noted as key strengths, as is his ‘ability to turn his hand to anything complex’”
Chambers UK 2009
“excels in nuisance and flood related cases… ‘absolutely terrific’ skills in dealing with complicated scientific matters”
Chambers UK 2008
“converses well with experts”
Legal 500 2008