Daniel Edwards
Dan has specialised in all aspects of personal injury and clinical negligence work for over 25 years. As a Senior Junior who is frequently instructed in place of leading Counsel, his nationwide practice is equally spread between Claimants and Defendants. He is listed as a Leading Junior in the Directories below, and has sat as a Recorder (Civil) for nearly 15 years. He has been an Associate Editor of Charlesworth & Percy on Negligence.
Personal Injury / Catastrophic Injury:
Dan regularly acts in brain injury, catastrophic spinal injury and amputation cases, and the more serious industrial disease cases (usually involving asbestos). He is able to provide practical advice from the very outset of a claim, through to conclusion, whether at a JSM / Mediation or in the Higher Courts. Dan has a wealth of experience in such cases involving inter alia periodical payments, structured settlements, insurance disputes, complex care and rehabilitation requirements. He is routinely instructed in cases involving British Coal, British Steel, numerous Local Authorities and the Emergency Services. He is also well versed in the sensitive issues surrounding stress / bullying claims.
Clinical Negligence:
For over a decade Dan has taken a particular interest in high value clinical negligence cases and has acted both for Claimants and Medical Defence Organisations. He has dealt with claims of significant misdiagnosis in a variety of areas and in particular the failure to diagnose cancer and the consequences of the misdiagnosis of cancer. Birth injury / cerebral palsy cases form a significant part of his practice. His wealth of experience is sharply brought into focus when the issues at stake concern complex and conflicting expert medical evidence.
Counter Fraud:
Dan has extensive Defendant experience in all areas of Civil Fraud primarily (but not exclusively) in relation to Road Traffic Accidents. He is highly experienced nationwide in cases involving alleged staged and induced accidents, Low Velocity Impact, bogus passengers and phantom witnesses, and exaggerated personal injury and damage. He has secured the dismissal of claims on the grounds of fundamental dishonesty (securing costs orders pursuant to CPR 44.16(1)) and s.57 of the Courts and Criminal Justice Act 2015) and has further secured exemplary damages against dishonest Claimants.
Regulatory:
Health & Safety and Personal Injury work frequently complement one another; Dan increasingly finds that he is instructed to defend a company in a Health & Safety prosecution and then act in any subsequent Personal Injury claim. In fatality cases this routinely extends to providing representation for Interested Parties at ‘Article 2’ Inquests, and resolving Human Rights and public policy concerns.
“Daniel has a very nice manner. He is very solid tactically and has a good eye for details.” “He is very bright and is a pleasure to deal with.”
“Daniel is good at cutting through legal issues and is very pragmatic. He flags up the risks and is very clear. He is also very good with clients, emotionally intelligent and reads the room well.”
Dan is recommended in Chambers and Partners 2025
Notable Cases
Recent noteable cases
Personal Injury / Catastrophic Injury
Defendant: multi party construction site fatality settled at JSM for £1.6m (without leading Counsel).
Defendant: leg amputation following puncture injury sustained at work. Claim settled at JSM shortly after service of the Defence for less than 25% of pleaded value.
Defendant: construction site accident – claim dismissed after trial. Claimant found to be fundamentally dishonest, costs order of £90,000 secured.
Claimant: tetraplegia following fall in shower when under care supervision. Liability established, settlement negotiations ongoing (without leading Counsel).
Claimant: multiple Claimants (miners) injured in below ground fire. Global settlements in excess of £2m.
Claimant: fatal accident on board sea going vessel. Liability denied by multiple Defendants. Settlement obtained on behalf of the Estate only after matter listed for trial.
Clinical Negligence
Claimant: suicide following Trust’s negligent handling of deceased’s mental health condition. Liability established and settlement achieved at £850k (without leading Counsel).
Claimant: death of patient following GP’s failure to identify symptoms associated with thrombosis. Liability established and settlement achieved at £750k (without leading Counsel).
Claimant: structured settlement following Trust’s negligence when providing respite care for patient leading to catastrophic consequences.
Regulatory
Local Authority: 3 week Inquest concerning the death of a young man with mental health difficulties recently released from Police custody.
Local Authority: advising following death of child recently discharged by the LA into the care of his parents.
Defendant: HSE prosecution concerning fatality following fall from roof.
Recommendations and Client feedback
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2025
“Daniel has a very nice manner. He is very solid tactically and has a good eye for details.”
“He is very bright and is a pleasure to deal with.”
“Daniel is good at cutting through legal issues and is very pragmatic. He flags up the risks and is very clear. He is also very good with clients, emotionally intelligent and reads the room well.”
The Legal 500 2025
‘He has great tactical awareness and the quality of his work is superb.’
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2024
“Daniel is a tactical advocate and well liked by clients.”
“He is excellent at breaking down complex cases into individual parts and advising on practical ways forward.”
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2023
“Dan is excellent in all areas and very likeable to boot.”
“Dan is a solid all-round performer with a practical solution to most problems.”
“He has good judgement.”
The Legal 500 2023 & 2024
‘Daniel is extremely able, tactically and technically. He is a good negotiator, and a fantastic communicator with clients who puts them at ease.’
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2022
“Dan is excellent in all areas and very likeable to boot.”
“Dan is a solid all-round performer with a practical solution to most problems.”
“He has good judgement.”
The Legal 500 2022
Listed as a Leading Junior: An excellent barrister. He’s knowledgeable and very good with clients.
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2021
Daniel Edwards has a wealth of experience in brain injury, catastrophic spinal injury, and amputation cases, as well as employers’ liability claims, occupational disease, and civil fraud in relation to road traffic accidents. Very thorough on paper and an excellent advocate in court.
The Legal 500 2021
He has a really good way with witnesses and a fantastic manner in court. He’s also incredibly bright and very good on paper.
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2020
Very thorough on paper and an excellent advocate in court.
The Legal 500 2020
Technically excellent and a fantastic advocate. He grasps the key issues and generates confidence in clients, witnesses and judges. He’s very personable, really good with witnesses and has a subtle manner that goes down well with judges. He is very approachable and down-to-earth.
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2019
Highly experienced in cases involving catastrophic injuries.
The Legal 500 2019
As a court operator, he is top-drawer.
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2018
Recommended for cases involving catastrophic injuries and/or fatalities.
The Legal 500 2017
A good operator who is very personable, very thoughtful and very careful. A very good advocate and a very well-prepared opponent.
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2017
He has great attention to detail and is able to come up with creative solutions.
The Legal 500 2016
He’s very thorough, very responsive to queries and deals with papers very quickly. He is very organised and has a nice manner with clients. He is very approachable, very amendable and very good on his feet in court.
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2016
He possesses a very sharp mind.
The Legal 500 2015
