Thomas Beamont

Tom works the range of cases of clinical negligence. He appears at a range of hearings, advises on liability and quantum, and settles pleadings, for claimants and defendants. He is instructed as a junior for several silks in Chambers and accepts instructions in complex matters in his own right.

“Thomas is bright and reliable.” (Legal 500 2024)

Selected Cases

• Advice, drafting and settlement at RTM of a claim on behalf of a child with four-limbed dystonic cerebral palsy, led by Angus McCullough KC.
• Advice, drafting and settlement at RTM of a fatal claim brought in respect of treatment provided to the Deceased following a stroke.
• Advice and drafting in a claim on behalf of a child with very severe cerebral palsy (GMFCS 5), led by Sarah Lambert KC.

Tom has a busy inquest practice. As a new tenant he was seconded for six months to a leading inquest law firm, appearing almost daily in the Coroners’ Courts. He is often instructed in inquests convened under article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights, including with a jury.

He acts for families and institutional Interested Persons. He has experience of acting in both the coronial and subsequent civil proceedings arising from the death of a family member.

Selected Cases

• Inquest touching upon the death of TS: Tom acted for the family in this article 2 jury inquest into the death following ingestion of ‘spice’ of a patient detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
• Inquest touching upon the deaths of PH and SO: Tom acted pro bono for the family in this article 2 inquest which considered procurement systems in the NHS. Prevention of Future Deaths reports were written to several recipients including NHS England and the International Standardization Organization (ISO).
• Inquest touching upon the death of JT: Tom acted for an NHS trust in this article 2 inquest into the death of a patient following attendance by the ambulance service.
• Inquest touching upon the death of EB: Tom acted for the family in this inquest into the death of a toddler from sepsis.
• Inquest touching upon the death of JS: Tom acted for the family in this inquest which led to a Report for the Prevention of Future Deaths to a London university, Universities UK, and the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Tom is developing a busy practice in personal injury. He regularly appears in a range of interlocutory and final hearings, and advises and settles pleadings in a variety of claims for personal injuries. Tom has gained significant experience in very high-value cases on secondment at a leading firm.

He has particular experience in fatal cases, appearing in related inquest proceedings and acting in the subsequent civil claim. In addition to his broad personal injury practice, he has a specialist practice in claims arising out of childhood abuse and neglect, set out below.

“Very organised and willing to push and explore new areas for success.” (Legal 500 2024)

Selected Cases

• Beirut Port Explosion: Acting for several victims of the explosion in the Port of Beirut in 2020 in High Court proceedings (led by David Hart KC).
• Drafting and representation at RTM in a workplace accident claim, involving very severe orthopaedic and psychiatric injuries (led by Henry Witcomb KC).
• Advice and drafting in a fatal claim arising out of a workplace accident, following instruction in the jury inquest into the death of the Deceased.

Tom is keenly developing his practice in representing survivors of abuse and neglect. He appears regularly at pre-trial hearings, including applications for strike-out and for limitation to be tried as a preliminary issue, and settlement approval hearings. He advises claimants on limitation, liability, and quantum.

Tom acts in ‘failure to remove’ claims in negligence and under the Human Rights Act 1998, as well as claims against those vicariously liable for abuse. He has experience of the tactical issues arising in claims against the tortfeasor.

In addition to his experience in civil claims, Tom provides advice and advocacy in Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority proceedings.

Selected Cases

• E v a care home: Settlement of a claim against a care home following the death of a resident, including issues of neglect.
• J v a Local Authority: Claim under the Human Rights Act 1998 arising from a Local Authority’s failure to remove the Claimant from the parental home.
• G v a Local Authority (Bristol District Registry, 2019): Resisting a strike out application in a claim for historic sexual abuse, which subsequently settled.
• A v a Local Authority (QBD): Resisting an application for limitation to be heard as a preliminary issue in a claim for historic sexual abuse.
• C v a Tortfeasor Defendant (Newcastle County Court, 2019): Post-trial application by the tortfeasor Defendant to make use of documents disclosed during trial for collateral purpose.

Tom developed his interest in public law during pupillage, assisting with pleadings and advice on several matters. He accepts instructions in judicial review in a range of areas within public law.

He is also a member of the Attorney-General’s ‘junior junior’ panel.

Selected Cases

• Richards v Environment Agency and another [2022] EWCA Civ 26: Tom acted in the High Court and Court of Appeal in this landmark judicial review brought under the Human Rights Act 1998, led by David Hart KC.
• Advice on the management of ‘protected material’ under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Tom has been instructed on Counsel to the Inquiry team on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry since August 2019.

Tom is particularly interested in environmental law. He has acted for the Environmental Law Foundation, and is keen to develop this area of practice.

In 2020 Tom was jointly nominated for Advocate’s Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year award.

Selected Cases

• Richards v Environment Agency and another [2022] EWCA Civ 26: Tom acted in the High Court and Court of Appeal in this landmark judicial review brought under the Human Rights Act 1998, led by David Hart KC.
• Advice in a proposed claim engaging a range of alleged breaches of environmental statutory and common law principles.

Human rights intersect with a number of areas of Tom’s practice, most commonly in immigration and inquests. He contributes to the UK Human Rights Blog.

Selected Cases

• Beirut Port Explosion (2021): Representing victims of the 2020 Beirut Port Explosion.
• A v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Upper Tribunal): Grounds of Appeal against refusal of entry clearance to the Upper Tribunal on the basis of article 8.
• Inquest into the death of JT: Represented an institutional Interested Person in this three-day Middleton inquest into the death of a patient in hospital.