Meet the team
Jonathan Wheeler
Jonathan joined Bolt Burdon Kemp in 1998, arriving from Liverpool where he had qualified as a solicitor five years earlier, having cut his teeth on personal injury claims from day one: he says it was the best preparation for his new job at one of London's top personal injury firms.
Having joined the firm as a specialist in occupational health claims (including asbestos-related disease, "RSI" and asthma) Jonathan's work load broadened to encompass cases involving head injury and general trauma. Whilst these claims still make up a significant part of his practice, he has also developed expertise in representing adult survivors of child abuse and the firm now has an enviable reputation in this area.
Jonathan became a partner in 2003 and head of the Personal Injury Department in 2005. In 2006 he was named one of the ‘Hot 100’ lawyers of the year by The Lawyer magazine, recognising his campaigning work for survivors of child abuse and in the latest edition of the Legal 500 (an independent listing of top law firms) he is described as “a stand-out partner” (2007)
Jonathan was elected to the national executive of the influential Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) at their conference in 2008, a post he will hold for 3 years before re-election. He is also the Treasurer and a Director of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers and a past co-ordinator of APIL’s Child Abuse Special Interest Group. He regularly publishes articles and presents seminars, most recently on limitation in child abuse claims, occupational health matters and costs capping orders. He has also contributed to programmes produced by the Law Channel and Law Network TV, and is regularly asked to comment on topical matters for the local and national media, appearing live on Channel 4 News earlier this year, an experience which he describes as one of the most nerve racking of his life!
A former volunteer with North Islington Law Centre, outside work Jonathan is an avid theatre-goer, also enjoying films, good books and all social occasions.
Reported cases include:
Fashade v North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust (2001) 5 CL 203 – the highest award for glutaraldehyde induced asthma for a nurse who was involved in sterilising surgical equipment
X & Y v London Borough of Wandsworth Court of Appeal: (2006) 1 WLR 2320 : (2006) 2 FLR 727 : Times, April 28, 2006 : Independent, April 28, 2006): House of Lords (2008) 2 WLR 311 : (2008) 2 All ER 1 : (2008) 1 FLR 771 : (2008) 100 BMLR 1 : Times, January 31, 2008 – landmark case on limitation time periods for child abuse claims
Pierce v Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council (2008) 1 FLR 922 : (2008) 100 BMLR 76 : Times, December 27, 2007 – first case where damages were awarded for a failure to retain a child in care by a local authority
jonathanwheeler@boltburdonkemp.co.uk
020 7288 4837