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About
Provided by David Knifton KC
Career
David specialises in high-value personal injury and clinical negligence cases, particularly those involving brain or spinal cord injuries and amputations. He acts exclusively for claimants, where his abilities as an outstanding advocate are widely recognised. He is consistently recommended as a leading silk in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, and was shortlisted as PI Silk of the Year by the Legal 500 in 2023 and 2024.
He is regularly instructed in claims of the utmost severity, and consistently achieves settlements totalling around £20m-£30m per year. His enormous experience, meticulous preparation and analysis, tenacity in difficult cases, excellent client skills and pragmatic approach are highly-valued by clients.
David generally only accepts new instructions in cases with a value in excess of £1m.
In addition to contested litigation, he has acted at a number of high-profile Inquests and public inquiries, including the North Wales (Waterhouse) Child Abuse Inquiry and the ‘Blue 25’ Inquest concerning the deaths of 5 UK servicemen shot by a rogue Afghan policeman.
David regularly provides lectures and training on topical legal issues both through Chambers and to organisations including AVMA, APIL, SCIL and PIBA, and is a frequent contributor to Chambers’ PI Newsletter.
He has over 20 years’ experience sitting as a Recorder in the Crown and County Courts.
Personal
Beyond the Bar, he enjoys choral singing, cycling and occasionally playing keyboards in a band. He was responsible for instigating an award-winning pro bono partnership between Exchange Chambers and the National Autistic Society.
Chambers Review
UK Bar
David Knifton KC is a talented silk who specialises in acting for claimants who have suffered catastrophic brain and spinal injuries and amputations, notably those with complicating factors such as disputed liability and contributory negligence. He is skilled at preparing schedules of loss.
David Knifton KC acts exclusively for claimants in complex clinical negligence cases. He frequently handles obstetric injury, surgical negligence and delayed diagnosis claims, and offers expertise in cases involving complex issues of consent.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Full of energy; never stops advocating his client's case. He's a tireless advocate for his client."
"His ability to marshal expert conferences is second to none. I certainly recommend him for of his preparation and ability to get to the fine details of a case and then argue cases out in court."
"David is excellent. He's extremely committed, hard-working and with a very fast response time."
"David is quite simply brilliant. He is calm and measured in his approach, and all over the issues in a case. He is very sensible and level-headed yet compassionate and empathetic with lay clients."
"David is a highly intelligent and exceptional advocate. He takes on the most difficult cases and handles them with skill and confidence."
"David provides exceptional analysis of the evidence, has fantastic communication skills with clients and navigates through complex issue with ease and commercial astuteness. He is a great advocate."
"Full of energy; never stops advocating his client's case. He's a tireless advocate for his client."
"His ability to marshal expert conferences is second to none. I certainly recommend him for of his preparation and ability to get to the fine details of a case and then argue cases out in court."
"David is excellent. He's extremely committed, hard-working and with a very fast response time."
"David is quite simply brilliant. He is calm and measured in his approach, and all over the issues in a case. He is very sensible and level-headed yet compassionate and empathetic with lay clients."
"David is a highly intelligent and exceptional advocate. He takes on the most difficult cases and handles them with skill and confidence."
"David provides exceptional analysis of the evidence, has fantastic communication skills with clients and navigates through complex issue with ease and commercial astuteness. He is a great advocate."
Discover other Barristers at
Exchange Chambers
Silks (KC)
North Eastern (Bar)
Northern (Bar)
