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Howard Stevens QC

Howard Stevens QC

Profile

Howard has a broadly based common law practice, including both first instance and appellate work.

In 2018 he was awarded Silk of the Year by the Legal 500 (Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence). 

Howard represented the tour operator in the inquests into the deaths of 30 British nationals in the terrorist attack in Tunisia in 2015, and is currently instructed in related civil proceedings.

He also acted on behalf of an interested party in the inquests resulting from the London Bridge / Borough Market terrorist attack, and is currently instructed in a number of other high profile inquests.

Other recent work includes representing ABTA in the appeal to the Supreme Court in X v. Kuoni – the first time the 1992 Package Travel Regulations have been considered at the highest appellate level (and now the subject of a reference to the CJEU); advising in connection with the Grenfell Tower disaster; and a number of appeals to the Privy Council.

Personal Injury and Travel

Much of Howard’s work has a cross-border dimension, including jurisdiction and conflict of law issues.

He is regularly instructed by tour operators and insurers in connection with high profile litigation and advises the travel industry on a wide range of issues.

He has extensive experience of catastrophic personal injury claims, group litigation, inquests and recovery actions, arising from disasters and accidents occurring in the UK and abroad. He is currently instructed in a number of cases involving variously severe brain injury, paralysis and amputation.

Appellate Work

Howard’s appellate work is varied, and includes cases in the Supreme Court, Privy Council and Court of Appeal.

He is frequently instructed by foreign governments and has appeared in numerous applications and appeals in the Privy Council, including constitutional, public law, human rights, extradition and criminal cases.

He has appeared in landmark constitutional and criminal cases in the Privy Council, including Ruddock v. The Queen [2016] UKPC 7, heard with R v Jogee [2016] UKSC 8 – the first time appeals in the Supreme Court and Privy Council have been heard together.

Howard also has experience of the CJEU, and has appeared before the Inter American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica, acting for a state party to a treaty.

For details of some of Howard’s cases, including reported cases in the Supreme Court, Privy Council and Court of Appeal, click on the cases tab below.

Legal Directories

Legal 500 UK Awards (2018)

  • Silk of the Year (Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence) 

Legal 500 (2018)

  • "He is a very intelligent silk and provides very clear, thorough and realistic advice".
  • "He leaves no stone unturned and provides a calm and measured approach in a field where passions can run high".

Legal 500 (2017)

  • "He is first-rate and excels at what he does".
  • "He handles judges superbly and has a keen eye for detail".

Legal 500 (2016)

  • "A great negotiator and master tactician with real steel".

Chambers & Partners 2019

  • "He's vastly experienced, superb with clients and capable of distilling the most complex issues and providing straightforward advice. A true leader in the field."
  • "He is incredibly approachable and a very strong strategic thinker who can always see the bigger picture."

Chambers & Partners 2018

  • 'A very efficient and powerful advocate who is very self-contained with a laser-like focus.'
  • 'Howard is an effective advocate and negotiator. He can make the most complex issues simple, and his attention to detail and thoroughness is excellent.'
  • 'Vastly experienced, superb with clients and capable of distilling the most complex issues and providing straightforward advice.'

Chambers & Partners 2017

  • 'He is great, down-to-earth and deals with everything in his stride.'
  • 'He is massively thorough and is a very calm, reasoned advocate.'
  • 'He's brilliant; he cuts to the chase very quickly, and has a great manner with clients and the courts.'
  • 'Howard is extremely thorough, knows every little detail and is a calm, reasoned and effective advocate.'
  • 'He's a real stickler for detail who's very good with clients.'

Chambers & Partners 2016

  • 'A fantastic advocate whose attention to detail is legendary.'
  • 'He has a superb brain and exudes a quiet confidence.'
  • 'A very impressive advocate with great attention to detail, who can turn a judge around in a matter of hours.'

Languages

French
German

Memberships

LCLCBA
PIBA
Commonwealth Lawyers' Association

Education

University of Durham (Modern Languages)
City University (Law)