Martin Spencer QC

Year of call: 1979

Year of silk: 2003

Specialist areas: Clinical negligence, personal injury, professional negligence, regulatory and disciplinary.

Education: Hertford College, Oxford University: MA (jurisprudence) and Bachelor of Civil Law

Appointments: Recorder (2001)

• Wright v Secretary of State for Health [2009] 2 WLR 267. HL. Care Standards Act 2000 declared incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

• Chester v Afshar [2005] 1 AC 134.  Leading case on causation and the duty to warn in clinical negligence.  His argument was described by Lord Steyn as follows: "This was a powerful argument and persuasively presented".

Publications and lectures

• Kemp & Kemp (Editorial Board and chapter contributions)

"The 'really outstanding' Martin Spencer QC is a widely respected silk known for his excellent work when acting for claimants in birth injury cases...an 'excellent team player who invites and appreciates your input,'... 'good with clients, bullish when he needs to be' and has a 'phenomenal work rate'." Chambers UK 2012

"...‘one of the most user-friendly silks on the clinical negligence circuit'... ‘enthusiastic, helpful and extremely thorough, with excellent interpersonal skills'." Legal 500 2011

"Clients are fulsome in their praise of his work and his approach, and say: 'He's an exemplary lawyer with a very able legal mind, whose analysis is second to none'." Chambers UK 2011

"Martin Spencer QC is ‘an utter delight to work with'; he is ‘clever', ‘sees the bigger picture' and provides ‘sensible, sound grounded advice, taking a tough line when necessary'." Legal 500 2010

"Researchers were overwhelmed with positive feedback for Martin Spencer QC.'His technical skills are undoubtedly impressive and he maintains an accessibility and approachability that makes him a user-friendly silk for solicitors.' Spencer is consistently successful when handling high-value quantum cases and liability matters, and is endorsed as 'combining the gravitas required in the courtroom with the sensitivity that makes him popular with clients'." Chambers UK 2010