Samuel Burrett

Sam has a specialist personal injury practice. He routinely acts in fast and multi-track cases for both claimants and defendants. He regularly advises on tactics, liability and quantum, as well as drafting pleadings and schedules. He has extensive experience of employers’ liability, public liability, occupiers’ liability, Highways Act and road traffic accident (including credit hire) claims. In his early career, Sam gained considerable experience prosecuting and defending allegations of serious dishonesty in the criminal courts, so he is well-placed to act in personal injury claims involving fundamental dishonesty and fraud issues. 

Sam frequently acts in clinical negligence cases encompassing all branches of the medical professions, including optometrists, ophthalmologists and veterinary surgeons. He is instructed by claimants, healthcare trusts, private insurers and medical defence organisations. He has dealt with claims involving a range of complex liability and causation issues, including delayed and incorrect diagnosis, delayed referrals, surgical errors and negligent treatment of post-operative complications. He regularly advises on liability and quantum as well as drafting pleadings and schedules.

Sam is a member of Chambers’ specialist costs team. He is instructed to advise in ‘between the parties’ and ‘solicitor own client’ costs disputes and to represent in detailed assessment hearings and related applications. He has particular expertise with issues concerning enforceability of retainers, misconduct applications under CPR 44.11 and the operation of the fixed recoverable costs regime. He is also experienced in the range of costs matters associated with civil litigation, including costs and case management conferences (CCMCs), wasted costs and indemnity costs applications, Part 36 offers, and exceptions to qualified one-way cost shifting

Sam undertakes a wide range of commercial work, with a particular focus on contractual disputes and property damage cases. He has acted in cases concerning the existence and performance of contracts, interpretation of contracts, misrepresentation, enforceability and consumer contracts issues. In addition, he has a diverse property damage practice. He is instructed in claims arising from damage caused by substandard and defective construction work, weather and subsidence and tree roots. His instruction on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry leaves him especially well-placed to deal with cases involving fire-related damage in a construction context.

Sam has a significant inquiry practice. Since early 2019, he has been instructed as junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, led by Richard Millett QC (Essex Court Chambers) and Andrew Kinnier QC (Henderson Chambers). He has been heavily involved in the Inquiry’s work concerning fire safety, health and safety and the actions of the London Fire Brigade and other Fire and Rescue Services. Prior to his work on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, he was instructed by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. He is, therefore, well-versed in all aspects of the inquiry process.

Sam has a growing practice in sports-related disputes, particularly sports injury cases. Alongside his expertise in personal injury and clinical negligence matters, his experience of commercial and contractual disputes as well as his prior experience practising in employment, disciplinary and criminal matters mean he is well-placed to advise and act in sports claims which interact with those areas of law. Sam also competed internationally in hockey. That elite sporting background gives him a valuable insight into the perspective and needs of players, organisations and professional bodies when dealing with sports cases.