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His preparation is meticulous, clients and experts like him and he delivers consistently excellent work
Leading Junior Ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers UK Directories
Professional Negligence
Nigel regularly acts for Claimants suing their former solicitors for mishandling personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
View full profile >>Notable Cases
Jenkinson v. Hertfordshire County Council
Whether negligent medical treatment required as a result of injury, caused by the Defendant can amount to a novus actus.
B v. Royal United Hospitals Bath
Successful claim for costs of surrogate pregnancy in USA.
O v. Southampton Hospitals
Sight loss claim settled for £3.2million.
P v. Epsom & St. Helier University Hospitals
Cauda equina claim settled for £3.3million
Hayes v South East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Trust found liable for failure to administer appropriate treatment to patient suffering asthma attack which resulted in death.
Tarren v Peterborough & Stamford Hospitals
Approval of novel reverse indemnity clause in Order for periodic payments in claim by brain-injured Claimant; gross award £3.75million.
Lac & others v Clayton
Contributory negligence of pedestrians waiting at scene of an accident.
Robert Jones Hospital v Budd
Manchester C.C. Application by Defendant for pre-action disclosure from Claimant.
Gedye v Land Rover
Barnet CC ability to continue action against one Defendant having reached settlement with another.
Lewis v Avidan
Whether Workplace Regulations impose absolute duty to keep floor of workplace free of water.
McMahon v Brett
Recovery of damages for alternative therapies.
Saed v Ealing Hospital
Failure to diagnose tuberculosis.
Conaty v Barclays Bank
Secretary at bank developing RSI as a result of excessive typing.
Walsh v Gywnedd County Council
Failure to provide adequate supervision to psychiatric patient who later committed suicide.
If you would like to instruct Nigel Spencer Ley 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
- South Eastern Circuit
- Personal Injuries Bar Association (Treasurer since 2010)
Education & Qualifications
- Harmsworth Scholar, Middle Temple
- Peterhouse, Cambridge
- Bangor Grammar School
Directory Quotes
Nigel is ranked in Band 1 for Chambers UK in the field of clinical negligence.
Nigel is also ranked as a Leading Junior in the field of clinical negligence, for Legal 500. Testimonials include:
“He works hard to do the best possible job for clients.”
“He is practical and efficient, and very easy to work with.”
“He highlights strengths and weaknesses in a case and confirms the best way to proceed.”
“Nigel provides clear advice which is easy to understand.”
“His pleadings and schedules are excellent.”
“Nigel is a very experienced and practical lawyer who is good with clients.”
“He is good with clients and experts and easy to work.”
“Nigel is a great all-rounder with great advocacy skills in round table meetings.”
Chambers UK 2025
‘Nigel is extremely pleasant to work with. His pleadings are persuasive, he is good in conference with experts and very responsive. He is easy to work with due to his personable manner, but is a tough negotiator when necessary.’
Legal 500 2025
‘Nigel is extremely pleasant to work with. His pleadings are persuasive, he is good in conference with experts and very responsive.’
Chambers UK 2024
“He’s a good all-rounder across a breadth of clinical negligence cases.”
“His standard and quality of work is always extremely high. He’s very practical and approachable.”
“He is good with clients and always explains everything in detail to them during conferences and settlement meetings. “
Legal 500 2024
“Nigel is fabulous in conferences both with clients and experts.”
“He is very easy to deal with and gets very good results.”
“He is exceptionally good in pleadings.”
Chambers UK 2023
Nigel is very knowledgeable, constantly strive to improve and remain up to date on the law. His pleadings are excellent and one of the best in the country – very clear and succinct.’
Legal 500 2023
‘His preparation is meticulous, clients and experts like him and he delivers consistently excellent work’ Legal 500 2022
A well-regarded clinical negligence barrister, noted for his expertise in cauda equina and encephalitis claims. “He is very efficient and his attention to detail is excellent.” “Calm, measured and responsive.” Chambers UK 2021
‘Great on paperwork and in conference and responsive. Very organised and approachable. Easy to work with. Always achieves a good result.’ Legal 500 2021
“His drafting is superbly clear and he is always approachable.”
Legal 500
“Experienced in acting for claimants and defendants.”
Legal 500
“…clients endorse Nigel Spencer Ley for ‘eye for detail’ and ‘excellent paperwork’.”
Legal 500
“…puts his detailed knowledge of the NHS to good use.”
Legal 500
‘Client friendly and skilled in complex cases.’
Legal 500
Publications
Nigel is the co-author of the Wrongful Birth chapter in Kemp & Kemp.
Personal Interests
Nigel enjoys playing tennis and the piano (both very badly and never at the same time). His real passion however is skiing in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland.
He is an active member of the Downhill Only Club (the DHO), one of the world’s oldest skiing clubs. He was the President of the Club between 2017 and 2022.