Chris was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 2002 and completed pupillage at a leading civil common law set in London. He additionally completed the conversion requirements to qualify as a Solicitor and therefore holds dual qualification.

Prior to joining chambers Chris was in-house counsel and head of costs for a successful legal 100 firm based in the Midlands.

Chris accepts instructions in all areas of the common law with particular emphasis on costs law, credit hire, personal injury, coroners law and regulatory work.

Chris is nationally acknowledged for his considerable expertise and technical acumen in the field of costs litigation, particularly in relation to matters concerning litigation funding.

Chris regularly represents clients (as paying and receiving parties) in the County Court, High Court and Senior Courts Costs Office; dealing with contentious detailed assessments and applications predominantly in respect of complex or high value (in excess of £1 Million) costs claims. He has been involved in a number of high profile test cases concerning the Conditional Fee Agreement regime; Generic Costs in Group Litigation claims and litigation in respect of Costs Estimates and is regularly instructed prior to settlement of litigated claims or following Judgment where conduct or other factors are likely to play a part in seeking a non-standard order for costs.

Notable Costs Cases:-

Recovery of interest on costs – Adrian Simcoe -v- Jacuzzi UK Group PLC (Leeds CC) (2011)

Decision of Regional Costs Judge to Order min-trial within detailed assessment proceedings upheld – Haywood -v- Motor Insurers’ Bureau (2010).

Minor satisfied “exceptional circumstances” rule and permitted to recover standard basis costs in fixed recoverable costs case – Carlon –v- Domino’s Pizza (2010).

Claimant ordered to pay costs of Defendant’s unsuccessful Part 20 proceedings on an indemnity basis due to poor conduct – Tiller –v- Provident Insurance (2009).

50% reduction to Claimant’s costs taking account of poor conduct – Van den Haak –v- (1) Huntsbuild Ltd and (2) Richard Money trading as Richard Money Associates TCC (2009).

Effect of cost estimate in solicitor/own client assessment – Mastercigars –v- Withers LLP (2007).

Generic costs in multi party professional negligence claim – Russell Young –v- Kevin Brown and others [2007] 2 All ER 453 (CA).

Staged insurance premium disallowed where there was a failure to provide proper notification – Heer –v- Redmill Snacks Ltd (2007).

Compliance with detailed Part 18 request required where the Claimant had BTE insurance and elected to proceed by way of a CCFA (Hutchings –v- British Transport Police distinguished) – Jonsberg –v- James Paget Hospital NHS Trust (2007).

Restriction to Claimant’s costs where proceedings were issued prematurely – Binch –v- Freeman [2006] 12 C.L. 48, Askari –v- Clucas (2006).

Away from costs, Chris has broad experience of conducting trials, applications, case management conferences and appeals in the civil and criminal courts. He has conducted Fast/Multi-track trials in respect of personal injury matters (RTA, EL and PL claims) in addition to credit hire claims, professional negligence claims, regulatory matters and driving offences (including charges of causing death by dangerous/careless driving). Chris receives frequent instructions to advise upon and conduct advocacy in respect of matters before a number of specialist first tier tribunals within the Social Entitlement, Criminal Injuries Compensation and Health, Education and Social Care Chambers.
Chris has considerable experience representing public and local authorities at inquests, receiving regular instructions from NHS Trusts and other public authorities. He recently acted for the Probation Service at an ‘Article 2’ inquest held in respect of a high profile prison murder.

Chris is able to accept instructions directly from companies, organisations and members of the public in accordance with the Bar Council Public Access scheme.

Follow Christopher Perry on LinkedIn 

Follow Christopher Perry on Twitter 

E-Mail: Christopher.Perry@palmyrachambers.com