Jonathan
Wheeler
Jonathan qualified as a solicitor in Liverpool in 1993, having cut his teeth on personal injury claims from day one. He says that this was the best preparation for his new job at one of London's top personal injury firms when he joined Bolt Burdon Kemp in 1998.
Initially specialising in major trauma and occupational health claims, Jonathan has since developed expertise in representing survivors of child abuse which now make up the majority of his practice.
Jonathan became a partner in 2003 and head of the personal injury group 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, work which continues today.
Jonathan’s work outside the firm includes a strong commitment to the influential lobbying organisation the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). Having held the post of co-ordinator of APIL’s Child Abuse Special Interest Group for 2 years, he was then elected to the national executive in 2008, and became a Fellow of the organisation in 2009. He was re-elected to the executive committee in April 2011 and will now hold his seat for a further 3 years. Jonathan is also the treasurer and a director of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers and has been a member of the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel since 1997. Other memberships include the Human Rights Lawyers Association, the UK Psychological Trauma Society, and Amnesty International.
As one of APIL’s recognised trainers he regularly writes articles and presents seminars, most recently on evidence in child abuse claims, acting for children, and the withdrawal of expert witnesses’ immunity from suit. He has contributed to programmes produced by the Law Channel and Law Network TV and is regularly asked to provide comment on topical issues for the national media; among his claims to fame he lists being interviewed live on Channel 4 News, and being quoted on the front page of The Times.
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 (High Court, London)
Y v Wandsworth London Borough Council [2006] 1 WLR 2320 – established that a local authority is vicariously liable for the actions of one of its teachers abusing a child even where the abuse occurred off school premises (Court of Appeal)
A v Hoare & related appeals [2008] 1 AC 844 – landmark case which extended the time periods for bringing child abuse claims (House of Lords)
Pierce v Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council [2009] 1 FLR 1189 – first case where damages were awarded for a failure to retain a child in care by a local authority (Court of Appeal)
BJM v Eyre & others [2010] All ER (D) 139 (Nov) – substantial damages awarded in case where child abducted and sold into prostitution (High Court, Leeds)
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