James Plant

James is an outstanding professional who is strategic and highly knowledgeable

Legal 500

James Plant

  • Called in 2004

Personal Injury

James’ practice concerns claims involving serious injuries and death.   He is instructed predominantly by Defendants but remains regularly instructed by Claimants (particularly in Employer’s Liability and eScooter claims).

James is developing a niche practice in e-scooter claims and presented a webinar on this subject which can be viewed here.

He has extensive experience in Employer’s Liability work.  He regularly assists in claims that have complex technical and/or regulatory backgrounds – for example construction, factories, chemicals and agriculture.  He has given numerous talks and written articles in this area.

He is also regularly instructed in RTA, Highway and other Public Liability accidents.

In many claims where he is instructed by Defendants, medical causation is hotly contested.  Injuries typically include subtle brain injuries, amputation, serious orthopaedic injuries, pain conditions, psychological and/or neuropsychological injuries.

He has substantial experience in allegedly dishonest claims.  On numerous occasions Claimants have been found to be Fundamentally Dishonest following James’ cross-examination at trial.  See Civil Fraud section.

View full profile >>

Notable Cases

C v A and 1 other (ongoing)
Acting for Defendant where Claimant alleges a fall on stairs at the Defendant’s premises. Pleaded at approximately £500k. Liability, causation and quantum all in issue. Trial timetable reset following surveillance and social media evidence. Trial expected in 2025.

H v A (2024)
Acted for Claimant Police Officer facing allegation of malingering / fraud following spinal injuries / chronic pain after a road traffic accident. Advised throughout and appeared at the Multi Track trial. The Claim was successful and a Part 36 offer (made following advice from James) was narrowly exceeded.

Y v SB and 1 other (2024)
Acted for Defendant Insurer in a claim where the Claimant pedestrian was run down by a truck. Claim pleaded at over £300k plus provisional damages. There were complex issues in respect of pre-existing comorbid conditions and medical causation generally. The matter was settled at JSM for approximately a third of the sum claimed with no provisional damages.

Read more

P v MS (2024)
Acted for Executrix in Fatal Accident claim following the death of a volunteer handyman caused by a fall from height during unpaid work. Atypically high dependency claim notwithstanding deceased’s advanced age. Settled favourably by way of Part 36 offer following service of Claimant’s Schedule pleaded at approximately £400k.

B v F and 1 other (2024)
Acted for Claimant in claim where Claimant was thrown off pallet truck due to defective trailer floor / uneven surface between trailer and dock leveller. Liability, causation and quantum all in issue in a claim where Defendants blamed each other and the Claimant. Settled favourably at JSM for £200k.

T v D (2023)
Acting for Defendant in a liability-admitted claim arising out of burns suffered in a workplace. Claimant alleged that her severe burns lead to permanent pain and psychological trauma. Her life altered its course post-accident and she suffered from alcohol and substance addiction and she lost custody of her children. The matter was pleaded significantly in excess of £1m and was settled at JSM for approximately a third of the pleaded value.

S v E (2019)
Acted for Defendant in pedestrian running down case. Severe leg injuries lead to protracted treatment and eventual amputation. The Claimant was a relatively young man with an active job and leisure pursuits. There was significant agreement between experts about his past and future needs (including prosthetics, accommodation, employment, care and treatment). Claimed at almost £3m and settled at JSM at a significant discount.

Read less

If you would like to instruct James Plant or would like help or advice in doing so, please call and talk to our excellent clerking team, led by Chief Executive/Director of Clerking, Paul Cray. Our phone number is +44 (0)20 7583 9241. Alternatively, please email us at chambers@farrarsbuilding.co.uk

For more information about our clerking team, please click here for the clerks page.

Appointments & Memberships

Personal Injuries Bar Association

South Eastern Circuit

Advocate (formerly Bar Pro Bono Unit)

Free Representation Unit

Education & Qualifications

Harmsworth Scholar, Middle Temple

BVC (Bar Vocational Course), College of Law, London

PgDL (Postgraduate diploma in law), College of Law, London

BA (Hons) English Language and Literature, Liverpool University

Directory Quotes

James is ranked as a ‘Leading Junior’ in Personal Injury in Legal 500. Testimonials include:

‘James is an outstanding professional who is strategic and highly knowledgeable.’ Legal 500 2025

Previous Employment

Prior to being called to the Bar James worked for a leading PR and Marketing Communications agency.  His work included the research and production of business conferences, the management and development of staff and future business strategy.  His conferences received national and European media coverage and covered a broad range of industries: air transport, rail transport, media, utilities and the financial services.

He finds that this past experience continues to assist him today – he has had the benefit of working in a commercial (and non-legal) arena and also has a good understanding of the workings of many different commercial and technical environments.

Personal Interests

Primarily James’ time off work is spent with his wife and young children.  He enjoys cooking (occasionally competently) and tries to balance this out with sporting endeavours – weight training, running and basketball.

He is also interested in antiques (every so often finding a diamond in the rough at antiques fairs), interior design and gardening.

He always has several books on the go at any one time and one day hopes to finish one again.