Toby Wynn

Toby Wynn

Called to the Bar: 1982, Gray's Inn

Education

  • LLB (Hons) University College London
  • Arden Scholar of Grays Inn and recipient of the Hilbery Award.

Areas of Practice

Civil practitioner. Specialist in all aspects of Police Defence work, industrial disease litigation and personal injury work. One of only three practitioners outside London and the only one on the North Eastern Circuit included in Chambers ‘Leaders at the Bar’ in respect of Police Work and described in Referred to in the Legal 500 as : “approachable Toby Wynn is the circuit expert on police law”. He is qualified by the Bar Council to take Direct Public Access cases.

Police

Vast experience of all aspects of misfeasance claims against the police. Regularly instructed by five police forces. Has conducted more than 80 civil jury trials. Many employer’s liability claims, including numerous High Court Actions. Instructed in many claims and inquests arising from deaths in custody including three separate suicide claims and deaths of persons in transit, whilst in police custody. Involved in many claims concerning Police liability for negligence. Advised and conducted mediation hearings. Experienced in disciplinary proceedings both as acting for the appropriate authority and Counsel to the Panel.

Conducted numerous hearings in respect of Closure Orders, licensing matters Football Banning Orders and Sexual Offences Prevention Orders.

Specialist in advising in relation to all aspects of disclosure particularly in relation to Public Interest Immunity. Advised in relation to Data Protection, protection of informer’s identity, use of surveillance material and intercepted telephone calls, disclosure following complaint investigations by the PCA, and seizure and use of legally privileged material. Acted as Independent Counsel in major criminal investigations involving the execution of search warrants at solicitors' offices.

Personal Injury and Industrial Disease Litigation

Conducted and defended many claims arising out of clinical negligence including cerebral palsy claims relating to obstetric care and general personal injury. Specialist in Fatal Accident claims, and all aspects of Limitation.

Disease Litigation

Leading member of Chamber’s disease litigation team with vast experience in particular of claims in respect of HAVS, VWF and noise induced hearing loss. Specialises in limitation.

Reported Cases

  • Swinney v Northumbria Police - police duty of care/immunity
  • Hardaker v Northumbria Police - duty of care owed by rescuers
  • Oliver v Calderdale MBC - right to jury trial in false imprisonment/malicious prosecution cases
  • Bannister v SGB Plc & Others - Ord 17r11.
  • Cummings & Ors v The Chief Constable of Northumbria Police - Leading case on reasonable grounds to suspect
  • Scott v The Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police - Police duty of disclosure in relation to unsubstantiated complaints

Lectures/Seminars

Regularly lectures to the professions.

Recent topics include:

Limitation, Fatal Accident Claims, Recent developments in Police Law, Disclosure in Police Civil Claims, Police Duty of Care and the Immunity Defence, Confidentiality in Psychiatric Practice, Sexual Offences Prevention Orders, The disclosure of Electronic Documents, Personal Injury Updates.

Publications

Author of "Confidentiality and Disclosure: A Practitioner's Guide" (Sweet & Maxwell).

Professional Membership

  • North Eastern Circuit