Partner, Leigh Day, London
Daniel deals with complex personal injury claims, specialising in industrial disease claims and catastrophic injuries. His work is particularly focussed on asbestos disease claims.
Daniel began to focus his practise exclusively on claimant personal injury claims whilst undertaking his training with Lawfords Solicitors. Since joining Leigh Day in 2003 he has developed a particular interest in claims for industrial disease and catastrophic injuries. He became a partner at Leigh Day in 2008 and is joint head of the firm’s disease team.
He is accepted as a fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and is accredited as an asbestos and disease specialist. He has written numerous articles for journals and publications and regularly gives lectures at professional training courses. In the Legal 500 he is described as ‘outstandingly knowledgeable’ by the Bar, and ‘compassionate’ and ‘responsive’ by clients.
In July 2008 he was elected secretary of APIL's occupational health special interest group. Between 2014 and 2023, he was co-ordinator of APIL’s occupational health special interest group and then in 2023 he joined the APIL Executive Committee. He also advises on the asbestos sub-committee of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health.
Notable cases include:
• S v Circaprint Limited [2005] - highest (then) award for pain and suffering in a mesothelioma claim and established award for loss of a husband's affection.
• Graham Taylor v Cape & Others [2009] - £400,000 damages for Australian asbestosis sufferer (one of the highest value reported asbestosis claims)
• Frith v DECC & Others [2012] – successful limitation trial for “post-cut off claim” under the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation deemed 9 years ‘out of time’; (later settled £300,000 for pneumoconiosis and COPD)
• Chandler v Cape PLC [2012] – successful claim (upheld on appeal) against a parent company for asbestos exposure at a subsidiary factory
• G v S [2017] – settled a mesothelioma claim for £1.6m, one of the highest ever recorded claims for a mesothelioma victim
• Hawkes v Warmex [2018] – low level asbestos exposure case for mesothelioma victim concerning interpretation of Asbestos Industry Regs 1931