Michael Deacon represents the family at an inquest into the death of a 17 year old girl in hospital - Nov 2022
Michael Deacon has a busy practice encompassing the main areas of Chambers’ work, including clinical negligence and personal injury, inquests, costs, public law, data protection law, professional discipline and employment law.
Clinical NegligenceMichael is regularly instructed by claimants and defendants in a broad range of clinical negligence work.
Selected Cases
- Junior counsel to the Infected Blood Inquiry, also known as the contaminated blood scandal, it has been regarded as one of the most significant adverse public health events in the United Kingdom.
- Raychaudhuri v General Medical Council [2018] EWCA Civ 2027
- Acting for the claimant in a claim against a GP practice for in appropriate gynaecological care.
- Pursuing a claim under the Animals Act 1971 on behalf of a woman left with facial injuries and scarring as the result of a dog bite.
- Representing the family and estate of a former city worker killed while working on a construction site.
Michael is regularly instructed by claimants and defendants in a broad range of personal injury work.
Selected Cases
- Junior counsel to the Infected Blood Inquiry, also known as the contaminated blood scandal, it has been regarded as one of the most significant adverse public health events in the United Kingdom.
- Acting for the claimant in a claim against a GP practice for in appropriate gynaecological care.
- Pursuing a claim under the Animals Act 1971 on behalf of a woman left with facial injuries and scarring as the result of a dog bite.
- Representing the family and estate of a former city worker killed while working on a construction site.
Michael is regularly instructed in inquests by both the families of deceased persons and by interested persons such as GPs and NHS Trusts. He recently represented the family of a former city worker who was killed while working on a construction site in a week-long jury inquest.
Other examples of Michael’s experience in this area include representing a GP in an inquest relating to the death of a woman from an overdose of prescription medication, and acting for an NHS trust in an inquest relating to an alleged causative failure to properly interpret radiology.
Selected Cases
- Pursued a claim for a detailed assessment of a firm of solicitor's costs under sections 68 to 75 of the Solicitors Act 1974, involving preliminary issues relating to whether bills were interim bills or interim statute bills and whether special circumstances pre-vailed so as to allow for assessment.
- Acted as junior to Guy Mansfield KC in defending a wasted costs application made against a barrister acting as an expert witness in relation to the law of Abu Dhabi in family proceedings in England.
Michael is regularly instructed by the government in a range of public law matters. Michael most recently assisted the defence of claims under the Human Rights act 1998 made against the Ministry of Defence by Iraqi citizens. Michael acted for the FCO in the Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation.
Michael is developing his practice in professional discipline, and in particular has assisted senior members of chambers, including David Balcombe QC, in on-going regulatory prosecutions by the Bar Standards Board and the General Medical Council respectively. Most recently, he was led by Robert Kellar KC in Raychaudhuri v General Medical Council [2018] EWCA Civ 2027.
Michael has advocacy experience beyond his level of call, having been a court prosecutor in Scotland prior to coming to the bar and subsequently retained an independent practice in criminal prosecution. He has a skill set well suited to professional regulatory matters.
Michael continues to develop his practice in data protection law. Notably, he was junior counsel for the Home Office, being led by Oliver Sanders KC of this chambers (shortly prior to his having taken silk),in the case of TLT v SSHD [2016] EWHC 2217 (QB), which concerned the tort of misuse of private information, alleged data protection breaches and the application of the principles concerning quantum of damages in such claims as laid down by the Court of Appeal in the phone hacking litigation.
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Autumn 2020 – Issue 7 - Feb 2021
Welcome to the seventh issue of the Quarterly Medical Law Review, brought to you by the barristers at 1 Crown Office Row. This issue was unfortunately somewhat delayed but covers developments in...
Widening Participation with the Inner Temple and Warwick University - Feb 2020
On 12th February, four members of 1COR volunteered their time to participate in Inner Temple’s School's Day event with Warwick University's Pathways to Law students. Michael Deacon and Alice...
Public Hearings begin in The Infected Blood Inquiry - May 2019
On 30th April 2019, the first public hearings of the Infected Blood Inquiry were held in London. More are planned over the next year in Belfast, Leeds, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The Inquiry is chaired by...
Six members of chambers participate in Inner Temple outreach events - Apr 2019
Members of 1 Crown Office Row have been volunteering their time to participate in Inner Temple’s Schools Day events. These events, run in collaboration with the Sutton Trust and other organisations,...
Infected Blood Inquiry announces innovative plans to allow individuals to give evidence anonymously - Jan 2019
The Infected Blood Inquiry has announced innovative plans to allow individuals to give evidence through appointed intermediaries. The intermediaries will visit those who request their support and then...
Matthew Hill and Michael Deacon instructed as junior counsel to the Infected Blood Inquiry - Sep 2018
During the 1970s and 1980s, thousands of people (the precise number remains unknown) in the UK were infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV by blood products administered to them, in most cases in order...
Robert Kellar and Michael Deacon overturn dishonesty finding against doctor in Court of Appeal - Sep 2018
Robert Kellar has successfully defended a paediatrician in proceedings brought by the GMC alleging him to have been dishonest in the way he prepared notes of a patient consultation and in relation to...
Oliver Sanders QC and Michael Deacon in online data breach appeal - Jul 2018
Following a recent hearing, the Court of Appeal has given judgment in the case of Home Secretary v TLU [2018] EWCA Civ 2217. The case arose out of damages claims for misuse of private information...
1COR Annual Professional Discipline Seminar - Jun 2017
Last night saw a stellar line up of some of 1 Crown Office Row's finest speakers at the Royal College of Surgeons, discussing the latest developments in Professional Disciplinary law. The event was...
UK Human Rights Blog is pick of best legal bloggers by The Times - Feb 2017
1 Crown Office Row's UK Human Rights Blog and Adam Wagner have been featured in The Times today in a feature about the rise of legal blogging. Jonathan Ames has written a feature in The Times...
Is Crowdfunding the New Way of Financing Judicial Reviews? - Nov 2016
Following radical cuts to legal aid, Isabel McArdle and Michael Deacon consider how solicitors can assist clients hoping to raise the funds necessary for a judicial review claim. Read more in The...
Oliver Sanders and Michael Deacon in case about online data breach - Nov 2016
Oliver Sanders and Michael Deacon recently acted for the Home Office in an important misuse of private information and data protection case. The claims were brought by six individuals following the...
Michael Deacon acts for family in tragic construction site death - Oct 2015
Michael Deacon, acted in a jury inquest for the family of Richard Laco, who tragically died in November 2013 while working on the construction of the Francis Crick Institute in Central London. Mr Laco...
Two New Members: Diarmuid Laffan and Michael Deacon - Sep 2015
We are delighted to announce that Diarmuid Laffan and Michael Deacon have accepted our offers of tenancy and will be Members of One Crown Office Row with effect from Tuesday, 15 September on the...
We send a team to annual charity beach volleyball tournament organised by our Brighton Chambers - Jul 2015