Charlie Sparling

Charlie is recognised as a leading junior in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. He appears for Claimants and Defendants, regularly advising on liability in serious or fatal EL/PL and RTA matters. His work includes accidents resulting in brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and reduced life expectancy.

Charlie has a particular specialism acting in cases involving mild to severe brain injury, functional neurological disorders and chronic/somatoform pain conditions.

Examples of recent defendant work include:

E v A [2023] (KB) Charlie acted for the Defendant in this brain injury matter pleaded at over £5.9 million instructed by Horwich Farrelly on behalf of Zurich. Opposing counsel was William Waldron KC of Exchange Chambers instructed by Irwin Mitchell. Matter recently settled for a confidential sum prior to trial at JSM.

C v NR [2022] (KB) Charlie acts for the Defendant instructed by DAC Beachcroft in this High Court FND claim pleaded in excess of £2 million, in which the Claimant brings claims for accommodation and lifetime personal assistance. Lionel Stride of Temple Garden Chambers instructed by HCC solicitors appears for the Claimant, trial likely 2025.

C v SC [2022] (KB) Charlie acts for the Defendant instructed by Clyde and Co in this High Court brain injury claim in which the child Claimant was tackled during a 1^st XV rugby game and suffered anoxic brain injury. Liability is denied, and the matter will progress to a full trial in 2025. Stephen Killalea KC of Devereux Chambers appears for the Claimant.

Examples of recent claimant work include:

T v F [2023] (KB )- Charlie acts for the Claimant instructed by Field Fisher in this High Court  MTBI matter in which the Claimant employee sustained a head injury due to a falling cellar door at his work premises. The Claimant presents with ongoing neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological symptoms including cognitive deficit and personality change. Matter is scheduled for trial in 2025.

F v IT [2023] (KB) – Charlie acted for the Claimant instructed by Minster Law in this High Court RTA in which the Defendant collided with the Claimant’s motorcycle at high-speed causing an open book fracture of the pelvis and a range of other serious orthopaedic injuries resulting in permanent loss of movement and disability. Matter settled for a confidential sum.

H v MOD [2022] (KB), Charlie acted for an NCO injured by the negligence of a fellow soldier whilst on a training exercise in Germany. C’s leg and arm were crushed between two vehicles resulting in discharge from the army and loss of a promising career in close protection work. Matter settled at JSM.

Charlie is regularly instructed to conduct High Court budgeting hearings, attend detailed assessments at the SCCO, and advise on costs recovery issues on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants.

Charlie recently appeared in the detailed assessment matter of Tomson v Allen [2023], Birmingham CC (Costs Judge Rouine) in which he successfully argued on behalf of the paying Defendant that the rarely-invoked procedure set out in Pamplin v Express Newspapers (the receiving party must voluntarily disclose a privileged document or prove an entitlement to costs without reliance on that document) should be adopted in respect of documentation relied upon by the receiving party.

Tomson v Allen [2023], Birmingham CC (Costs Judge Rouine)

North v Khan [2022] 4 WLUK 318 (QB)

Wakefield v NJS Scaffolding [2021] EWHC 2078 (QB)

Leadbetter v Sheffield CC and Amey Hallam EWHC QB [2017]

Keeble (deceased) v. East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust EWHC QB [2017]

Anderson v Kent CC and Ors HC EWHC QB [2016] (led by Jane McNeill KC)

Douglas v UK Athletics (1) Coni Sevizi SpA (2)[2016] (led by Ben Collins KC)

Martin v British Petroleum EWHC QB [2015] (led by Nigel Cooksley KC)

Douglas v O’Neill [2011] EWHC 601 (QB) (at Court of Protection stage in conjunction with Ben Collins KC)