Christopher Boxall

Year of call:

2014

Education:

2012 - 2012 Université Jean-Moulin Lyon III, French Law

2013 - University of Leeds, English Law with European Law LLB (Hons)

2014 - BPP Law School Leeds, BPTC (‘Very Competent’)

Career:

2015 - Pupil at Park Square Barristers

2016 - Tenant at Park Square Barristers

Appointments:

2013 - Director, BPP Legal Advice Clinic (Leeds) 2013-2014

2016-2020 - Head of Mini-Pupillage 2016-2020

CPS Grade 1 Prosecutor

Memberships:

Personal Injury Bar Association North Eastern Circuit

Awards:

2013 - University of Leeds, Senior winner

2014 - BPP Regulatory Law Prize

Chris has a wide-ranging personal injury practice, representing both Claimants and Defendants, including claims funded by a CFA.

Chris has extensive experience dealing with claims on the Fast Track to the Multi Track arising from:

  • Road traffic accident (RTA) claims;
  • EL/PL claims (including Highways Act claims);
  • Holiday sickness claims

Chris also accepts instructions to draft pleadings and advices on quantum and/or liability. He is happy to work to short deadlines where papers need to be turned around quickly.

Chris regularly provides training and seminars on all aspects of personal injury litigation, including:

  • Fixed costs
  • Credit Hire
  • Practical tips: trial bundling and claims handling

Credit Hire

Chris has particular expertise in high-value claims involving credit hire. He has extensive knowledge of the developing case-law in this area and is regularly called upon for cases involving complex engineering evidence regarding roadworthiness, and cases involving profit-earning chattels (including taxis).

Recent Cases

  • Bell v Leeds City Council [2023] Successful application for a finding of fundamental dishonesty following discontinuance in PL tripping claim – local press coverage click here.
  • Kavanagh v Hunt [2023] Multi Track taxi hire and storage claim exceeding £45k reduced to £1500 loss of profit – Hussain v EUI Limited applied.
  • Vilkaitis v Fresca Group Ltd [2023] Successful defence of EL claim in respect of a slipping accident at a food factory. Judge was persuaded that neither breach of duty nor causation was made out – Hufton v Somerset City Council [2011] ELR 482 considered.
  • B v MOJ [2020] Acting for Claimant in PL claim where he had sustained dental injuries whilst in prison. Complex medical evidence involved.
  • L and Ors v Thomas Cook [2019] – Successful dismissal of holiday sickness claim, despite 2 of 3 Claimants providing a positive stool sample on their return to the UK.
  • F v Jet 2 [2019] Acted for Claimant in successful claim under the Montreal Convention for scalding injuries caused to a minor aboard the Defendant’s airplane. The claim included a claim for future treatment expenses as a result of permanent scarring.
  • Wright [2018] Acted for Claimant in a successful Multi Track claim for injury arising out of an accident in the kitchens of a hotel. As well as injury, the case involved significant claim for a Smith v Manchester award.
  • Mason v NYCC [2017] Acting for Claimant motorcyclist in a Highways Act claim wherein surface grit caused him to crash. The case involved detailed examination of the concept of dangerousness pursuant to Mills v Barnsley MBC [1992] PIQR.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207

Chris has wide-ranging experience of prosecuting a range of regulatory offences on behalf of HMRC, the Food Standards Agency, the Insolvency Service and various local authorities.

Chris is often instructed as Defence Counsel in respect of motor crime offences where the Defendant has the benefit of insurer funding, particularly where serious injury has resulted. He is able to draw upon his extensive experience of road traffic personal injury litigation to ensure that any alleged criminal liability is properly defended.

Chris regularly acts for police authorities, including applications for Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.

Professional Discipline

Chris has a particular interest in professional discipline matters and is expanding his practice in this area. He welcomes instructions from both individuals and regulators, and is keen to develop his practice within the following sectors:

  • Health and social care;
  • Legal;
  • Sports.

Coronial Law

Chris is expanding his practise into inquest work. His established personal injury expertise and experience of fatal accidents claims means he is well-placed to provide representation to interested parties, particularly where civil proceedings are contemplated.

Inquest touching the death of PH – attended inquest on behalf of road traffic insurer where the deceased had died in a road traffic collision. The inquest concerned whether the deceased had committed suicide, or whether the collision was accidental.

Training

Chris has previously provided training to inspectors at the Health and Safety Executive, to include advising on effective trial preparation, witness handling and disclosure.

Chris also provides disclosure training to local authorities across the North of England.

Example Cases

  • Inquest touching the death of PH – attended inquest on behalf of road traffic insurer where the deceased had died in a road traffic collision. The inquest concerned whether the deceased had committed suicide, or whether the collision was accidental.
  • K v Leeds City Council – Acting for Local authority and securing dismissal of appeal against their decision to revoke the Appellant’s Hackney Carriage Driving Licence
  • R v Woodward & Ors – represented a slaughterman in a long running animal cruelty case relating to a halal slaughterhouse. The case received national media attention when an animal charity conducted covert surveillance of the slaughterhouse in December 2014. Suspended sentence imposed.
  • CC Humberside Police v W – successful application for a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Extensive analysis of psychiatric reports spanning 50 years used in preparation of the case.
  • R v Crosthwaite – successful prosecution of a disqualified company director who continued to act as a director contrary to section 13 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

Contact Christopher’s clerk

Madeleine Gray on 0113 202 8603

Patrick Urbina on 0113 213 5250

Imogen Brown on 0113 2135225

Chris is part of the property team in Chambers. The team is widely regarded as pre-eminent in this field, undertaking a broad range of work and acting for Local Authorities, public and private landlords, tenants of all descriptions, various applicants and other occupiers of housing.

Chris has a particular interest in the following areas:

  • Anti-social behaviour (including ASBOs, injunctions, committals, possession claims and closure orders)
  • Disrepair
  • Injunctions

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207

Chris is an established fraud practitioner in the context of road traffic, EL/PL and holiday sickness claims.

He regularly acts for most major insurers in relation to road traffic claims where fraud is suspected or explicitly alleged. He is routinely called upon to assist at all stages of litigation, from pre-action advice, conferencing and settling pleadings, through to trial advocacy.

Chris has extensive experience of multi-track and fast-track cases involving complex indemnity issues, staged accidents, ‘stooge’ vehicles, low-speed impact (LSI), phantom passengers, exaggerated and high-value credit hire and exaggerated personal injury claims that require consideration of Section 57 Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.

In addition to trial advocacy, Chris is well-versed in dealing with interlocutory applications including applications to set aside judgment, resile from previous admissions of liability, CCMCs, costs-only proceedings and relief from sanctions applications.

Chris provides regular training on all aspects of casualty fraud, particularly in respect of novel and developing trends within this sector.

Credit Hire

Chris has particular expertise in high-value claims involving credit hire. He has extensive knowledge of the developing case-law in this area and is regularly called upon for cases concerning complex engineering evidence regarding roadworthiness, and cases involving profit-earning chattels (including taxis).

Recent Cases

  • Bell v Leeds City Council [2023] Successful application for a finding of fundamental dishonesty following discontinuance in PL tripping claim – local press coverage, click here.
  • Kavanagh v Hunt [2023] Multi Track taxi hire and storage claim exceeding £45k reduced to £1500 loss of profit – Hussain v EUI Limited applied.
  • R v M [2022] – Successful defence of RTA claim and findings of fundamental dishonesty in respect of both the accident circumstances and extent of injury.
  • H v P [2022] – Fundamental dishonesty pleaded. Following Chris’ cross-examination at trial, the Claimant agreed to discontinue and pay £5,000 towards the Defendant’s costs
  • RS v PML [2021] – Acting for Defendant insurer in respect of a claim for hire charges in excess of £87k. Claim ongoing.
  • IH v MW [2020] – The Claimant suffered a genuine accident but failed to disclose a subsequent and significant road traffic accident that occurred 6 days prior to his medico-legal examination. Finding of fundamental dishonesty obtained.
  • SH v VS [2020] – Successful LVI defence in a claim brought by a credit controller who was a senior employee of the solicitor firm acting on his behalf. The Judge found that the Claimant had deceived numerous medical experts. Finding of fundamental dishonesty obtained.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207

Chris has wide-ranging experience of commercial and contractual disputes. He has particular experience of claims involving debt recovery, as well as claims relating to the provision and installation of telecommunications services.

Chris accepts instructions on behalf of Claimants and Defendants for the following:

  • Trials from the Fast Track through to Multi Track,
  • Case Management Conferences
  • Costs Case Management Conferences
  • Interlocutory Applications
  • Pre-Trial Reviews.

Christopher also accepts instructions to draft pleadings and advices on quantum and/or liability.

He is happy to work to short deadlines where papers need to be turned around quickly.

Recent Cases

  • · UI v M & A – Acting for Claimant in a debt claim relating to interior design services provided in excess of £430k.
  • RIS v Virgin – Acting for Defendant in respect of a claim for breach of contract in respect of service and installation agreements.
  • R v Y – Acted for Claimant / Part 20 Defendant in a claim in excess of £100k for unpaid service charges arising from a lease agreement. The case involved a counterclaim for damages for breach of covenant of quiet enjoyment.
  • J v S – Acted for Claimant (a firm of solicitors) in a successful debt claim in relation to outstanding legal fees.
  • K v BT Plc – Acted for Defendant in a Multi-Track breach of contract claim in relation to telecommunications services. Claim valued in excess of £67k.
  • ANF v H & W Acted for Defendants in High Court Proceedings for enforcement of a European Enforcement Order in relation to €540,000 of mortgage debt accrued on property in France.

Contact Christopher’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207