Sophie is a specialist employment barrister. Her practice includes all areas of employment law, from whistleblowing to wages and everything in between.She is recommended in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for employment law.The guides say she is <em>“everything one wants in a barrister"</em>. She has been described as <em>“an outstanding advocate”</em>, <em>“commercially astute” </em>and <em>“fiercely bright”</em>.Sophie prides herself on being approachable to clients, and explaining complex legal concepts in a way that is easy to understand.She is a member of Parklane Plowden’s equality and diversity committee. She also does pro bono work via the Employment Tribunal Litigants in Person Scheme (ELIPS) and Employment Law Appeal Advice Scheme (ELAAS).In her spare time, Sophie enjoys playing football (badly) and, when she can get away, snowboarding and surfing (also badly).&nbsp;

Iain is a specialist children practitioner. His practice encompasses all aspects of the law relating to children, including public and private law proceedings, adoption and cases with an international element. Iain has a reputation as particularly adept in complex cases of abuse and serious harm.  He is regularly instructed as a junior to leading counsel as well as in his own right in both Family Court and High Court proceedings, including those involving serious physical abuse, sexual abuse, non-accidental injury (including head injuries), fabricated and induced Illness (FII), secure accommodation and chronic neglect.Iain is well respected by his peers and prides himself on his approachability. He has a reputation for building a good rapport with clients and is able to be personable, but professional, with lay clients. He has a wealth of experience in dealing with cases involving parents with mental health difficulties, capacity issues and learning difficulties.<strong>Chambers and Partners UK Bar:</strong><strong>2026 – Band 2:</strong>"He is strong, careful and certainly a sensible barrister who will fight his corner hard."<strong>2025 – Band 2:</strong>"An exceptionally good barrister. He is dedicated and hard-working and has excellent communication skills. He has a very high level of knowledge and expertise and relishes challenges.""A skilful and diligent advocate.""Iain is an excellent advocate and provides an exceptional level of client service."<strong>2024 – Band 3:</strong>"Iain is a committed barrister with great client care skills.""He is excellent with clients. His advocacy is clear and precise.""He's hard-working, smart, has good people skills and a good eye for the evidential detail."<strong>2023</strong>:"Iain fully commits to the case he is involved in and works tirelessly to obtain the best outcome. He is a pleasure to instruct.""Iain is great at collaborating with instructing solicitors, he makes every effort to achieve the outcome instructed and has a highly effective manner with clients and opposite advocates.""Iain is excellent. He has taken on cases and managed matters which are incredibly complex with a maturity far beyond his years. His advocacy skills are great, and he is very well thought of by the judiciary."<strong>The Legal 500:</strong><strong>2025: Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private) Tier 2:</strong> "His advocacy is well-targeted and effective, and he is thorough, well-prepared, and considered in his approach to cases."<strong>2024: Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private) Tier 2:</strong> "Iain is extremely professional in his style and ability to put anxious clients at ease. His advocacy is always measured and focused."<strong>2023: Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private) Tier 3:</strong> "Iain is a confident barrister, unfazed by appearing against senior silks in a case. He has superb analytical skills."<strong>2022</strong>: <strong>Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private):</strong> "Very hardworking, approachable, and able to explain a situation in a calm and focused way to lay and professional clients."

<p style="text-align: left;">Abigail has a busy personal injury, clinical negligence and inquests practice and is regularly instructed both to advise and attend hearings.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Abigail is an accredited mediator. She also regularly attends mediations and settlement meetings in her capacity as a barrister.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Abigail is a confident advocate, appearing regularly in both the civil courts and coroners court, and this is an aspect of her practice that she takes particular pleasure in.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Abigail has a particular interest in complex cases, for example, those involving extensive therapy and accommodation needs. Abigail enjoys working as part of a team, problem solving and analysing large volumes of evidence. She is regularly brought in to work with a senior colleagues on complex clinical negligence cases. One recent case involved life-changing injuries to a child in which the capitalised value of the settlement exceeded £23 million.</p> Abigail enjoys a difficult and technical argument. As a result, she enjoys working on appeals and has appeared in the Supreme Court twice: <ul> <li> Edwards (on behalf of the estate of the late Arthur Watkins) v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 132, a case concerning the correct date for assessment of damages in professional negligence claims.</li> <li> Barton v Wright Hassall [2018] UKSC 12 a case involving issues regarding compliance with civil procedure rules, service and litigants in person.</li> </ul> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Recommendations</span></p> <em>"Abigail is an excellent communicator, straight to the point and direct when she needs to be. She's a force to be reckoned with on her feet in court. Her technical knowledge and cross-examination skills are second to none." </em>The Legal 500 (2026), Clinical Negligence, Tier 1"<em>Abigail is a fantastic barrister and is always one of my go-to barristers. Her advocacy and analytical skills are second to none. She also has a human and empathetic side when speaking with clients".</em> Chambers and Partners (2026), Clinical Negligence, Band 1"<em>Abigail is an excellent advocate and provides brilliant, tactile advice."</em> Chambers and Partners (2026), Clinical Negligence, Band 1<em>"She is very approachable and super friendly. Her attention to detail is excellent; she covers all possibilities on a case. Abigail has a great manner which resonates with clients." </em>Chambers and Partners (2026), Inquests &amp; Public Inquiries, Band 2 <p style="text-align: left;"><em>"Abigail is very thorough, forensic in her approach and also adept at client care. Abigail Telford is a very capable counsel with a wealth of experience. She is able to advise on complex matters." T</em>he Legal 500 (2026), Personal Injury, Tier 2</p> <em>"Abigail is always the smartest person in the room. She is an excellent personal injury barrister."</em> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'She has a formidable grasp of detail and regularly identifies points that can turn a claim around. A very insightful barrister, whose manner with clients is particularly helpful as she explains complicated areas of law with patience and compassion. Her advocacy is both forceful and helpful to the court. She is experienced beyond her years.'</em> The Legal 500 (2025), Tier 1, Clinical Negligence</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'A junior who is brilliant with clients. When she speaks, people listen'.</em> The Legal 500 (2025), Band 1, Inquests and Inquiries</p> <p style="text-align: left;">'<em>A junior who provides high quality and pragmatic advice to clients</em>'. The Legal 500 (2025), Personal Injury</p> Shortlisted for the Legal 500 Clinical Negligence Junior Barrister of the Year 2024 <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'A fearless junior, unusually diligent and has excellent judgement. Her advocacy is very persuasive</em>.<em>'</em>  The Legal 500 (2024), Clinical Negligence</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'A fearless and highly intellectual barrister</em>.<em>'</em> The Legal 500 (2024), Inquests and Inquiries</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'Abigail is an industrious junior, who is very good in conference with clients and experts. Her advice is always clear</em>.<em>'</em> The Legal 500 (2024), Personal Injury</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'Abigail is excellent, thorough, and has a great ability to engage with clients. She can also dilute complicated cases.'</em> Chambers &amp; Partners (2024)</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'Abigail is an up-and-coming star: very impressive quality of work and dedication as well as being knowledgeable and very personable.' </em>Chambers &amp; Partners (2024)</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>'She is very bright and well informed, and great at cross examination.' </em>Chambers &amp; Partners (2024)</p> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Teams</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Abigail is an active member of the serious injury, clinical negligence and inquest teams. She</span> regularly gives seminars and talks regarding topics touching on all areas of her practice.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Abigail is a longstanding committee member of the Leeds &amp; District Medico-Legal Society.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Abigail is a member of the Parklane Plowden Pupillage Committee and leads the recruitment of civil pupils. Abigail regularly attends and organises events relating to pupillage with Parklane Plowden.</span></p>

Anna is a specialist Clinical Negligence and Court of Protection barrister. In 2020 she was appointed as a Fee-Paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal, assigned to Health Education and Social Care (Special Educational Needs and Disability).She is recommended as a leading barrister by the Legal 500 for Clinical Negligence. The guide describes her as <em>'very pragmatic in her advice and pleadings which helps to cut through a lot of the complexities of medical negligence'. </em>Anna prides herself on being approachable and she is able to work collaboratively with solicitors to assist at all stages of proceedings. She is able to quickly build a good rapport with lay and professional clients and give straightforward advice in complex cases. Anna aims to return paperwork promptly, whilst giving detailed and focused advice.Since 2019 Anna has been a tutor on the medical ethics module for University of Leeds medical students.Anna is the Vice President of the Leeds and District Medico-Legal Society.Anna is the head of Chambers Clinical Negligence Team.&nbsp;<!--EndFragment-->

<p style="text-align: justify;">Simon is a specialist Family (children) and Court of Protection barrister. In 2020 he was appointed to be a Recorder sitting in the Family Court on the North Eastern Circuit.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon prides himself on ensuring that he builds a good rapport with clients whilst giving firm and frank advice. He is keen to be approachable to lay and professional clients alike and has established a reputation for his forensic approach - focussing on the key issues in the case in order to achieve the best results possible, whether in advice, negotiations with other parties or presenting a case in court.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon has been recommended in both Chambers &amp; Partners and the Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for both his Family and Court of Protection work. He has a keen interest in cases involving a crossover between the two jurisdictions and a particular grasp of issues surrounding children and young people and deprivation of liberty, regularly being instructed to represent children and local authorities in cases in the High Court invoking the inherent jurisdiction or where there is a cross-over between the Family Court and the Court of Protection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">He is happy to get involved in cases from the outset and advise on case management issues at the start of a case. At final hearings he ensures that he thoroughly prepared with a good grasp of the evidence at his fingertips.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon has had multiple articles published in Jordan's Family Law Journal (the publication of record for family practitioners) and in 2022 joined the editorial team of Butterworths Family Law Service (published by LexisNexis UK).</p>

Jim is a highly respected personal injury law barrister with particular expertise in occupational disease and military claims. He is ranked in the both Legal 500 (Tier 1) and Chambers &amp; Partners legal directories for his expertise in Personal Injury law, and recognised nationally in Chambers &amp; Partners for his specialism in Industrial Disease.His practice spans all areas of personal injury work, including employers liability and complex cases involving military personnel. Jim's unique insight into military claims comes from his decade-long service as a Major in the Royal Marines Commandos, an experience that proves invaluable in military cases and indeed any situation involving employer-employee relationships.He has served on the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel but has chosen to let it lapse in the near future. As such, he has represented a variety of public bodies in personal injury matters, often including the Ministry of Defence. He also coordinates the Industrial Disease Group within chambers, providing training and support to instructing solicitors.Jim enjoys building strong, effective partnerships with both solicitors and clients. He is known for his practical application of the law, tailored to the unique circumstances of each case, consistently achieving excellent results. This approach has made him a favoured choice of counsel among both claimants and defendants, appreciated for his ability to clearly communicate and strategies for the best possible outcomes.Embracing modern technology, Jim has maintained a paperless working environment for many years, favouring the efficiency and accessibility of electronic document handling.Outside Chambers, Jim leads an active lifestyle. He has completed four Ironman triathlons and stays busy with his family and his enthusiastic black Labrador, Chief.Jim maintains his own website – <a href="https://www.jimhester.me/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jimhester.me</a> - which he keeps up-to-date with relevant articles, a directory of useful Judgments and other resources and a newsletter of the latest developments for busy personal injury law practitioners.

Bryony successfully completed her pupillage in Chambers in October 2009 under the supervision of Philip Kramer (now a full time District Judge and Recorder) and Christopher Williams. Since then she has cultivated a practice in the fields of Employment, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence accepting instructions locally and in courts and tribunals across the country. Bryony has an extensive paperwork practice and is happy to provide advice or pleadings on an urgent basis. She has been praised by solicitors and clients as being responsive and down to earth.

Tim joined Parklane Plowden Chambers in 2009, having previously worked for leading firms of solicitors in London and Yorkshire. He now specialises in employment law, representing clients in tribunals across the country.  Tim regularly receives repeat instructions, with solicitors and clients praising his professionalism, determination and client-focused approach.Tim was re-appointed to the Regional Treasury Panel as junior Counsel to the Crown in 2023, and is now Panel A.Tim’s employment practice centres on multi-day and multi-week hearings in a wide variety of cases. Tim has extensive experience of working with a wide variety of respondent clients, both private and public.  He regularly acts for NHS bodies, which sits well alongside his treasury panel practice.Recent cases in the Employment Tribunal include three weeks acting for the NHS in a claim of disability and age discrimination and appearing for a government body in a lengthy hearing involving claims of discrimination and victimisation.  Tim has also appeared in the Employment Appeal Tribunal on numerous occasions.Tim is able to accept instructions on a direct access basis.Twitter: @TimJWilkoLinkedin: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-wilkinson-7045488a/">Tim Wilkinson</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Andrew successfully completed pupillage under the supervision of Philip Kramer and Seamus Sweeney. Andrew was appointed Treasury Counsel in November 2015.

Leila is a specialist in Inquests and Inquiries, Clinical Negligence and Serious Injury.Ranked as a leading junior in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for Clinical Negligence and Inquests and Public Inquiries, she represents both Claimants and Defendants which include private clients, public authorities and government departments.Leila has a special interest in coronial law and is appointed as an Assistant Coroner in two coronial areas and is Head of the Inquests and Inquiries Team at Parklane Plowden Chambers. She has been appointed to the Attorney General's Treasury Counsel Panel A since 2010.Leila regularly acts for interested persons in high profile, media sensitive Article 2 jury inquests. Her expertise in Inquests and Inquiries feeds into her strong clinical negligence practice.Leila is currently instructed on behalf of the Surviving Victims in the Nottingham Attacks Public Inquiry.<em>"Leila is excellent counsel. She has fantastic advocacy skills" [Chambers and Partners, 2026] </em><em>"It is excellent </em><em>to have Leila supporting a case. She has a forensic mind and provides excellent advice" [Chambers and Partners, 2026] </em><em>"Leila has an excellent grasp of the facts and medical terminology in cases, deals with expert witnesses effectively, and is diligent and tenacious" [Legal 500, 2026] </em><em>"Leila instils huge confidence and is caring and empathetic, which is exactly what you need in difficult cases working for bereaved families" [Chambers and Partners, 2025] </em>“<em>Leila Benyounes is extremely assured and very well respected in inquests. As an assistant coroner, she also brings that specialist insight and knowledge to the case” [Chambers and Partners, 2025]"</em>“<em>Leila is a real asset to her Chambers. She is fantastic with the client and families, dealing with inquests in a very sensitive and understanding way” [Chambers and Partners 2025]"</em>“<em>Leila has an excellent, tactical and pragmatic approach to litigation. She is wonderful with clients and puts them at ease” [Legal 500, 2025]"</em>“<em>Her expertise in inquests and inquiries feeds into her strong clinical negligence practice. Her work covers obstetrics and birth injury cases, delayed treatment and diagnosis and surgical negligence</em>”<em> [Chambers and Partners, 2024]"</em>“<em>Leila is excellent with clients and her advice is thorough. Her advocacy is excellent. She offers very high levels of service and ensures her advice is given in a timely manner</em>” <em>[Chambers and Partners, 2023]"</em>“<em>Leila is well versed in coronial law, and her experience is such that she easily engenders the confidence of the tribunal, be that the presiding coroner of the jury. She is always on top of her brief, and has a strong but measured and pragmatic approach to her advocacy</em>” <em>[Legal 500, 2023]"</em>“<em>Leila Benyounes leads the inquest group in chambers. As a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel, she is frequently sought after to handle Article 2 jury inquests, particularly those arising from hospital deaths or involving sensitive mental health issues</em>” <em>[Chambers and Partners, 2023]"</em>“<em>Leila is an excellent tactician. She has great technical knowledge and brilliant client care skills”</em> <em>[Legal 500, 2023]"</em><em>“She is extremely well organised, extremely thorough and will explore every area of a case. She is responsive, attentive, and a fantastic communicator” [Chambers and Partners, 2022]"</em><em>“She does not back down in the face of adversity. She is extremely approachable and makes those that she is working with, whether it be those instructing, the expert or the client, feel at ease” [Legal 500, 2021]"</em>Leila sits on the Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA) Executive and EDI Committees and is one of the EDOs at Parklane Plowden Chambers. She has served as Vice President of the North Easters Circuit Women's Forum and as President of the Leeds and District Medico-Legal Society.Leila is appointed as a Recorder in Crime on the North Eastern Circuit and as a Barrister Member of the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service (BTAS).Leila is a keen runner and regularly participates in races to raise money for charity. She regularly takes part in the Great North run, fundraising for Diabetes UK and Bowel Cancer UK. She has taken part in the London Marathon raising money for a Yorkshire Charity which helps to support children with severe disabilities, PhysCap. Other races include Leeds Half Marathon held in support of the MND Association, the Rob Burrow Centre for Moto Neurone Disease Appeal, and the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise funds for the Child Brain Injury Trust.