News

Baroness Harman's Report

Posted by Piba · September 16, 2025 9:10 AM

Dear members,

As you will have seen, the Bar Council has published Baroness Harman’s report on the independent review of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar.

News and social media

The Bar Council press release provides a useful overview of the report and includes quotes from Barbara Mills KC and Baroness Harman. 

Help spread the word

Please consider if you wish to sign up to the webinar with Barbara and Harriet taking place at 6pm on Wednesday 17 September. Questions can be submitted in advance via [email protected].   PIBA will be represented by Helen Bell. 

An outline of the report:

• The independent review was commissioned by the Bar Council following its report in 2023 detailing experiences of bullying and harassment reported through Barristers’ Working Lives and Talk to Spot
• Baroness Harman’s report makes 36 detailed recommendations to tackle what she describes as a culture of “collusive bystanding” and “impunity”
• The review received over 170 written submissions from individuals and organisations, and Baroness Harman visited every circuit to meet barristers and gather information
• The report makes uncomfortable reading, but the Bar Council considers that the impact of bullying and harassment on individuals is huge and decisive action is needed
• The Bar Council is considering the recommendations carefully and will develop a plan for change

We would like to remind you of sources of support, including the following options:

• Talk to Spot – use Talk to Spot to anonymously and confidentially raise concerns about inappropriate and abusive behaviour or seek support to make a report to the BSB, police or other appropriate body
• Speak to the Bar Council team – email the equality and diversity team in confidence for support and advice
• Call the Assistance Programme – available to everyone working in and around the Bar. The programme is run by Health Assured and provides fully funded confidential support. Call 0800 169 2040. Visit the Wellbeing at the Bar website

PMC Judgment Handed Down

Posted by Piba · August 28, 2025 7:42 PM

Judgment has been handed down in PMC v Cym Taf Morgannwg University Health Board [2025] EWCA Civ 1126.

Please see PIBA's press release, which can be downloaded here.

Facts and Figures 2025/26

Posted by Piba · July 17, 2025 9:48 AM

Sweet & Maxwell are due to publish the latest edition of FACTS & FIGURES 2025/2026 TABLES FOR CALCULATIONS OF DAMAGES in September.

PIBA members are being offered a 20% discount

Below are the formats & and standard rate prices.  – Print,  Ebook  or Print & Ebook bundle.

To order a copy, please email David Dooley at Thomson Reuters indicating which format you want :- .  

[email protected]

Sweet and Maxwell discount

Posted by Piba · May 28, 2025 1:13 PM

As part of the partnership with Thomson Reuters Sweet and Maxwell, PIBA members can now enjoy a 20% discount on various publications of relevance to personal injury practitioners.

Publications include:

Foskett on Compromise 10th Edition – September 2024

Charlesworth & Percy on Negligence 16^th edition – June 2025

McGregor on Damages 22^nd edition mainwork & 1^st supplement – June 2025

McGregor on Damages 22^nd edition, 1^st supplement only – June

Clerk & Lindsell on Torts 24^th edition mainwork & 2^nd supplement – July 2025

Clerk & Lindsell on Torts 24^th edition, 2^nd supplement only – July 2025

Jackson & Powell 9^th edition mainwork & supplement – December 2024

Jackson & Powell 9^th edition, 3^rd supplement only – December 2024

Gatley on Libel & Slander 13^th edition mainwork & 1^st supplement – November 2024

Gatley on Libel & Slander 13^th edition, 1^st supplement only – November 2024

Asbestos: Law and Litigation 2^nd edition – June 2022

Medical Negligence 6^th edition – September 2021

Brain Injury Claims 2^nd edition – June 2020

The Regulation of Healthcare Professionals 2^nd edition – June 2019

Personal Injury Pleadings 6^th edition – May 2019

To make your order please email [email protected] and quote discount code 2025PIBA or visit www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk and apply the code at checkout.

BSB Update on the Claims Management Question

Posted by Piba · April 01, 2025 11:12 AM

Following a meeting with the BSB this afternoon, PIBA has been asked to share the following message from the BSB:

This year’s Authorisation to Practise (AtP) process contained a new question, asking about barristers’ involvement in claims management activity.

 Following feedback from the Bar Council, the Personal Injuries Bar Association (PIBA) and a number of individual barristers, we recognise that the question’s framing and supporting guidance created confusion as to how respondents should answer.

We would like to apologise for any confusion.

We are aware that individual barristers have taken different views on how to answer the question, and so the data will not provide the level or quality of intelligence we hoped to gather.

On that basis we will not be using the data from this question and will delete it once the AtP process is completed, at the end of April. This question will not appear on next year’s AtP.

If you have already answered the question, the data will simply be ignored.  There is no need to contact BSB records or seek to change any answer given thus far.  If you have not yet completed your ATP, answer the question “no”.

They will be sharing this updated guidance more widely on their website and messaging.  PIBA has also informed the Bar Council and the PNBA.  Please feel free to share this message far and wide.