Jack Harding

Jack Harding

Call: 2004

"His attention to detail is second to none, his knowledge of travel law is incredible and he is very good at identifying issues before they arise."

Chambers & Partners 2024

Jack Harding is a popular and highly experienced practitioner who specialises in complex personal injury claims.

His practice encompasses the whole range of chambers personal injury work, but with a particular focus on two sub-specialties: public sector and human rights, and travel and cross border claims

In his public law practice, Jack is regularly instructed on behalf of authorities such as local councils, NHS Trusts and the police and emergency services against a range of tortious and statutory claims, and has been involved in high profile decisions in the field of Vicarious Liability, Sexual abuse, Occupiers’ Liability and Occupational Stress

Jack is also regarded as a leading junior in the field of travel law, regularly appearing on behalf of claimants and defendants in high profile cases. He co-authors one of the major practitioner texts in the area and is ranked by both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 in this field.


Expertise

Jack specialises in defending public sector claims, with particular expertise in cases that involve complex issues concerning duty of care, the imposition of vicarious liability, limitation, discrimination and the interplay of the common law and alleged human rights breaches.

He regularly advises social services in claims arising out of historic sexual abuse and neglect, both at common law and under the European Convention of Human Rights.

He is frequently instructed by local authorities in claims against schools,    and is regarded as a specialist in claims against highways authorities, having successfully represented defendants in a number of recent claims in the High Court.

His work for NHS Trusts comprises advice on employers and occupiers liability, as well as an increasing number of claims for Occupational Stress.

Notable Public Sector & Human Rights cases


Ali v Luton Borough Council [2022] IRLR 422

Successful defence of a local authority social services department in a data protection claim alleging vicarious liability where an employee had deliberately accessed and disseminated sensitive information about protected children.

Quick v Nottingham County Council [2021] 3 WLUK 786

Successful defence of a local authority in a claim arising out of an after-school netball club.

Murphy v Milton Keynes BC [2021] EWHC 2917 (QB)

Successful defence of a highway authority in a claim involving interconnecting issues under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 and the Highways Act 1980.

Wiles v Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority [2020] 8 WLUK 355

Jack represented the successful defendant in an unusual claim concerning injury sustained whilst crossing stepping stones over a remote river in the Yorkshire Dales national park.

Hilliard v Surrey County Council [2018] EWHC 3156 (QB)

Successful defence of Highway authority in a claim by a cyclist injured whilst participating in a large scale charity cycling road race.

Seddon v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2018]

Central London County Court – led by Andrew Warnock QC in the first case to apply the operational duty under Article 2 of the European Convention to the conduct of a police pursuit.

Edwards v London Borough of Sutton [2017] PIQR P2

Successful defence in the Court of Appeal of an Occupiers Liability Act claim against a local authority in which the Claimant sustained serious spinal injury when he fell from an ornamental bridge in a London park. Led by Andrew Warnock QC.

Bailey v Devon Partnership Trust [2014] 7 WLUK 450 (QBD)

Successful defence of an NHS trust against an occupational stress claim by a consultant psychiatrist. Led by Andrew Warnock QC.

Jack is regarded as a leading junior in the field of cross-border personal injury claims. He is ranked by both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 in this field. He is also a co-author of Saggerson on Travel Law Litigation, now in its 7th Edition, one of the leading practitioner texts in this area, having recently been cited by the Advocate-General in the Court of Justice of the European Union.

His broad practice spans all areas of travel and private international law, acting for and against tour operators, airlines, airports, foreign hoteliers and foreign insurers.

He has a particular expertise in aviation-related claims and is involved in a number of ongoing claims arising out of aircraft incidents in Barbados and Venezuela.  He advises, regularly, on the application of the Montreal Convention and EC Regulation 261/2004 as well as aviation related discrimination cases.

Jack’s expertise has been in particularly high demand given the implications of Brexit in terms of jurisdictional issues. He is regularly asked to advise on this issue.

Jack has also been heavily involved in advising travel agents and other companies in relation to their liability for cancellations arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Notable Travel & Cross Border Claims cases


Labbadia v Alitalia [2019] EWHC 2103 (QB)

Instructed on behalf of a major airline in this leading High Court authority on the interpretation of an ‘accident’ under Article 17 of the Montreal Convention.

Jack specialises in complex personal injury claims. His practice encompasses the whole range of chambers personal injury work, with particular focus on vicarious liability, occupiers liability and employers liability. He is often asked to advise on novel issues concerning the existence and scope of duty of care, and on limitation arguments.

He acts for claimants and Defendants in substantial six and seven figure claims, including traumatic brain injury and spinal injury.

Notable Personal Injury cases


Ali v Luton Borough Council [2022] IRLR 422

Successful defence of a local authority social services department in a data protection claim alleging vicarious liability where an employee had deliberately accessed and disseminated sensitive information about protected children.

Quick v Nottingham County Council [2021] 3 WLUK 786

Successful defence of a local authority in a claim arising out of an after-school netball club.

Murphy v Milton Keynes BC [2021] EWHC 2917 (QB)

Successful defence of a highway authority in a claim involving interconnecting issues under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 and the Highways Act 1980.

Wiles v Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority [2020] 8 WLUK 355

Jack represented the successful defendant in an unusual claim concerning injury sustained whilst crossing stepping stones over a remote river in the Yorkshire Dales national park.

Hilliard v Surrey County Council [2018] EWHC 3156 (QB)

Successful defence of Highway authority in a claim by a cyclist injured whilst participating in a large scale charity cycling road race.

Seddon v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2018]

Central London County Court – led by Andrew Warnock QC in the first case to apply the operational duty under Article 2 of the European Convention to the conduct of a police pursuit.

Edwards v London Borough of Sutton [2017] PIQR P2

Successful defence in the Court of Appeal of an Occupiers Liability Act claim against a local authority in which the Claimant sustained serious spinal injury when he fell from an ornamental bridge in a London park.

Bailey v Devon Partnership Trust [2014] 7 WLUK 450 (QBD)

Successful defence of an NHS trust against an occupational stress claim by a consultant psychiatrist. Led by Andrew Warnock QC.

Jack acts for police forces across all areas of civil work, including employers and public liability, occupiers liability and human rights claims. He has been instructed as junior counsel in a number of high profile fatal accident claims. His recent work also includes sensitive claims involving allegations of sexual abuse of police cadets by serving officers.

Notable Police Law cases


Fernandez v Chief Constable of Essex Police [2019]

Central London County Court – led by Andrew Warnock QC in an article 2 claim which considered the scope of recoverability of loss in a claim by a relative/victim of person allegedly killed due to police failures to protect against risks posed by third parties.

Seddon v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2018]

Central London County Court – led by Andrew Warnock QC in the first case to apply the operational duty under Article 2 of the European Convention to the conduct of a police pursuit.

Recent News


Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. To see my privacy notice click here.

  • MA Law (First Class), Selwyn College, Cambridge University
  • BVC – Nottingham Law School

  • Middle Temple – Harmsworth Entrance Exhibitioner

"Jack is a peerless advocate, with a razor-sharp legal brain."

Legal 500 2024

"Jack is a pleasure to work with. He is a very acute operator."

Chambers & Partners 2023

"Jack is responsive and good on the technical points. He is very approachable."

Chambers & Partners 2023

"Top of his game. Excellent response times, great bedside manner with clients and real depth and breadth of legal knowledge and practical experience."

Legal 500 2023

"Jack is very thorough and approachable"

Legal 500 2023

"He quickly cuts through the complexities of a case and can see the wood for the trees. He also has excellent courtroom skills and is a very safe pair of hands. "

Chambers & Partners 2020

"Extremely diligent and leaves no stone unturned. He's also very approachable and enthusiastic."

Chambers & Partners 2020

"Very responsive and has extensive knowledge of travel law and international personal injury."

Chambers & Partners 2020

"He is really technical, detailed and excellent at unpicking a tricky case. He has fantastic travel law knowledge and is great with clients. A very experienced junior who gives pragmatic and sensible advice."

Chambers & Partners 2022

"Top draw in his specialist area of travel law."

Legal 500 2022

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