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Andrew McNamara

Andrew McNamara

Call 1992

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“He's an outstanding barrister and I would recommend him to anybody.”

Chambers & Partners

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Andrew was called to the Bar in 1992. He practices in personal injury, including the fatal and catastrophic; all aspects of employers’ liability, especially industrial disease; inquests; and clinical negligence.

Andrew draws upon 30 years’ experience at the Bar, as a former Assistant Coroner and a former Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (Residential Property Chamber).

Andrew regularly delivers further education by way of lectures and webinars to solicitors and insurers.

Andrew has been consistently ranked in legal directories for many years and has been described variously as a ‘superb advocate’ with a ‘robust and penetrative’ style of cross examination; ‘redoubtable in a trial’; and possessing ‘a good rapport with everybody and a very good manner in court’.

Areas of Expertise
  • Personal Injury

    Andrew acts for individuals, companies, public authorities, health trusts and employers.

    He has extensive experience of complex and high value claims including fatal and catastrophic injuries; harassment and bullying at work; serious road traffic accidents; sporting injuries; highways; and attacks upon staff in secure and educational environments.

    He is regularly involved in the resolution of high value claims by joint settlement meeting.

  • Disease

    Andrew has enormous experience of industrial disease litigation stretching from the very beginning of his legal career, including asbestos and RCS related lung diseases; noise induced hearing loss; work related upper limb disorders (in particular hand arm vibration syndrome); and sensitising agents.

    He regularly and frequently deals with related arguments concerning limitation.

  • Inquests

    From 2013 to 2020 Andrew was an Assistant Coroner for Nottingham & Nottinghamshire and North West Leicestershire.

    He has knowledge and experience of all aspects of the Coronial jurisdiction including deaths in secure environments; the workplace; intra and post operatively; in healthcare and nursing environments; mass disaster/disaster victim identification; and related arguments concerning Article 2 ECHR.

  • Clinical Negligence

    Andrew advises and represents Claimants and Defendants in claims relating to incorrect or late diagnosis; and negligently performed surgery/treatment.

About
  • Appointments

    • Accredited Mediator
    • Former Assistant Coroner (Nottinghamshire)
    • Former Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)

  • Memberships

    • Personal Injuries Bar Association
    • Professional Negligence Bar Association
    • Housing Law Practitioners’ Association

  • Education

    • BA (History), University of Southampton; LLB, University of Leeds
    • Dip. Forensic Medical Sciences (2018)

  • Notable Cases

    Newark and Sherwood Homes v Gorman [2015] EWCA Civ 764. Challenging an order declaring on a preliminary issue the council had elected to operate an introductory tenancy regime for the purposes of Section 124 of the 1996 Act and that the tenancy granted by the respondent to the appellant was an introductory tenancy for the purposes of part V of the 1996 Act.

    Michelle Draycott (2) Paul Maxwell Draycott v Hannells Letting Limited (T/A Hannells Letting Agents) [2010] EWHC 217 (QB); 3 All ER 411 (2010); HLR 27 (2010); L & TR 12 (2010); NPC 18; (2011) 1 WLR 1606. First Divisional Court appeal involving the Tenancy Deposit Scheme created by the Housing Act 2004.

    R (on the application of (1) AB (2) SB) v Nottingham City Council [2001] EWCA Admin 235. Judicial review proceedings involving a core assessment of a child and his mother’s needs, Children Act and NHS & Community Care Act, against the backdrop of alleged anti-social behaviour on the part of the child.

    Longhurst Homes Limited v Dean Killen [2008] EWCA 402. Appeal against a committal to prison arising from breach of an anti-social behaviour injunction.

    R v Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel, Ex Parte Bennett, Independent, October 2, 2000. Judicial Review of the CICAP’s interpretation of the notion of a ‘disabling mental condition’ for the purposes of the CICA’s tariff.

Blogs

08 Jan 2024

After the introduction of the reforms to the Civil Procedure Rules in 2013, you may recall some judges becoming, at...

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09 Oct 2023

What's wrong with this picture (taken from this Breathe Freely Toolbox Talk)? Introduction In July of 2023, as I walked...

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16 May 2023

In the recent Northern Irish case of Carberry (Deceased) v Ministry of Defence [2023] NIKB 54, McAlinden J delivered an...

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16 Aug 2021

Andrew McNamara and Gareth McAloon consider the correct approach to section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980, three years on...

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15 Mar 2021

Inquests can be destabilising for advocates. Although there are similarities with other work – they take place in a Court...

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Events

19th Sep 2024 @ 16:00

Register here > Ropewalk Chambers will be holding our third conference in Lincoln on Thursday 19 September 2024 at the DoubleTree...

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Webinars

30th Dec 2024 @ 14:35

To view the recording of this webinar, please click here. A review of the duty of disclosure in personal injury and industrial...

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Publications

16 Mar 2021

WFH: The New Normal ‘Lockdown’ was, unsurprisingly, word of the year for 2020 according to the editors of Collins’ dictionary. ...

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26 Jun 2014

Click here to view the Alarm National Conference 2014 Managing Risks in Austerity Highways: Practical Responses to Wilkinson v City...

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  • “He’s very knowledgeable but also friendly to clients.”

    Chambers UK 2025

  • “Andrew is an excellent barrister. I frequently instruct him across a broad range of cases and to date have not been disappointed with his work.”

    Chambers UK 2025

  • “Andrew has a relaxed manner that belies a thorough and tenacious approach. In hearings he stands out, even among silks. He also has a strong, formidable presence in the court room and is great with cross-examination.”

    The Legal 500 2025

  • “Andrew has a relaxed manner that belies a thorough and tenacious approach. Even when surrounded by silks he stands out amongst them.”

    The Legal 500 2025

  • “Andrew has a very good grasp of the matters and issues.”

    The Legal 500 2024

  • “He is great with witnesses, really knows how to put them at ease. A great advocate – has got some great concessions from witnesses. Is able to cut through and see the key issues.”

    The Legal 500 2022

  • “Excellent with clients.” “A superb advocate.”

    Chambers UK 2021

  • “An excellent advocate who is great with witnesses and provides reliable, good quality advice.”

    “A reliable advocate whose clients warm to his personable nature.”

    The Legal 500 2021

  • “His attention to detail is excellent and his cross-examining style is robust and penetrative.” “He is just excellent; he has a good rapport with everybody and a very good manner in court. He’s well organised and can turn his hand to just about anything.” “He’s brilliant with clients and is a very strong advocate.” “Very quick off the mark.”

    Chambers & Partners 2020

  • “His pleading and advice are excellent.”

    Legal 500 2020

  • “Very knowledgeable and always on top of the case.” “Friendly, persuasive and a good advocate.” arguments.” “He’s very assured and straightforward, and has a very pleasant manner with clients.” “When he’s cross-examining he’s relentless, while also being very professional and very good with witnesses.”

    Chambers & Partners 2019

  • “He is redoubtable in a trial.” “He quickly grasps complex issues.”

    Legal 500 2019

  • “A well-respected barrister.”

    Legal 500 2017

  • “Skilled at analysing complicated claims.”

    Legal 500 2017

  • “Expertise in the full spectrum of personal injury matters including industrial disease and employers’ liability claims. He assists both Claimants and Defendants. He has marked expertise in cases relating to violence in the education and healthcare sectors.” “He is quick to pick up the phone and chat through papers.”

    Chambers & Partners 2017

  • “Pragmatic, honest, professional and well respected.”

    Legal 500 2016

  • “His tactical awareness is always spot on.”

    Legal 500 2016

  • “Expertise in the full spectrum of personal injury matters including industrial disease and employers’ liability claims. He assists both Claimants and Defendants.” “Very good at explaining matters to clients. He is reliable and goes the extra mile.”

    Chambers & Partners 2016

  • “Advises on homelessness policy, introductory tenancy schemes and right-to-buy for landlords, local councils and tenants. He also sits as a judge of the First-tier Tribunal and is an assistant coroner for Nottinghamshire.” “He has vast experience with both tenants and local authorities.” “Very good in court in terms of cross-examination of witnesses and attention to detail.”

    Chambers & Partners 2016

  • “Good technical knowledge and easy to work with.”

    Legal 500 2015

  • “Very approachable and an impressive advocate.”

    Legal 500 2015

  • “He exudes confidence in what he is saying. He is not easily put off his stride and he is very sure of how he delivers his arguments.”

    Chambers & Partners 2015

  • “He’s an outstanding barrister and I would recommend him to anybody. He got to the nub of the issues involved in the case very quickly.” “He is tough and no-nonsense; he knows what he’s doing.”

    Chambers & Partners 2014

  • “He is excellent. He’s one of those people who knows how to pick a good argument from a bad one, and how to make an argument far more attractive to judges.”

    Chambers & Partners 2014

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