Expertise

Julian acts for claimants who have sustained spinal cord and severe brain injury, amputations, and for the families of fatal accident victims. He is also a leading legal commentator, author and lobbyist on legal issues relating to complex injury claims. Julian has successfully recovered more than £160m for clients injured in the UK and across the globe.

In addition, Julian specialises in the costs, insurance and funding of high-value and complex litigation across all of Stewarts practice areas. He heads the firms and Cost & Funding disputes and advisory services to external clients. As Risk & Funding partner, Julian is responsible for developing improvements to the legal services Stewarts provides to all of its clients, including development of the Stewarts Litigate insurance facility.

Publications and Media

Julian has authored and contributed to:

• Funding International Arbitration by Petit et al, Globe Law & Business
• Compensation for Future Losses: An International Comparative Review; JPIL
• Personal Injury Schedules textbook by Latimer-Sayer et al; Bloomsbury Press
• Ogden Tables, 8th Edition, lead author of section D (Fatal Accidents), summer 2020

Accreditations and Memberships

• Chair of the Forum of Complex Injuries Solicitors (FOCIS)
• APIL Fellow and accredited specialist in Accidents Abroad, Spinal Injury and Fatal Accidents
• Member of International Spinal Cord Society (ISCOS)
• PEOPIL member
• CJC wider consultation group and CIArb working group, both on third party funding

Experience

Julian fought the case of Harding v Wealands up to the House of Lords, who agreed the assessment of damages for this Australian accident should be in accordance with English law. Not only did that lead to Mr Harding recovering £5.5m compensation for his spinal cord injury, it also set a precedent which helped countless others injured in accidents abroad to recover full compensation.

Another prominent example of Julian’s work is acting for the family of Jules Bianchi, who died nine months after suffering a severe brain injury during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix in 2014.

Foreign Jurisdictions

Julian has global experience and has been involved in cases throughout Europe (That include Austria, Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland.), Middle East and Asia (Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Africa (Morocco, South Africa, Zambia), Bermuda and the USA.

Career

Julian joined Stewarts in 2000 and was appointed a partner in 2002. He founded the International Injury department in 2007, and built it to become top tier in both Chambers and Legal 500. He is the firm’s Risk & Funding Partner and chair of the Risk and Funding committee responsible for developing and implementing innovative cost and funding options.

Recognition

Julian is a member of The Legal 500’s illustrious Hall of Fame and the sole recipient of Chambers’ Star Individual rating in his field. “Julian Chamberlayne is a legend, responsible for developing this outstanding team,” the guide says.

He also has the rare accolade of a ranking in both the Claimant Personal Injury and Travel: International Injury sections of Chambers. Chambers comments that “Julian Chamberlayne handles an impressive catastrophic injury and fatal claims portfolio…including high-profile mandates. He is a standout practitioner in the travel law space.” Commentators say “Julian is at the top of his field. He’s details-driven and handles very difficult cases extremely well.”

In 2024 Julian was appointed an APIL Ambassador, in recognition of his long-standing lobbying and commentary on the personal injury discount rate.

Personal

Julian cycled solo the length of the Americas, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in 1999-2000, a total of 15,000 miles. He still braves the streets of London on a bike on a daily basis. He is also an avid off-piste snowboarder, keen dog walker of three, father of two and lapsed gardener.