After studying law at the University of Birmingham, Chris moved to Guildford in 1982, attending the College of Law and then completing his training with a local firm of solicitors before joining this firm as a solicitor in 1985 and becoming an equity Partner in 1990. Since 1st May 2017, Chris has been the Sole Principal at Campbell Courtney & Cooney.
Chris heads Campbell Courtney & Cooney’s Litigation Department which includes the personal injury compensation, clinical negligence compensation and professional negligence compensation teams. Chris has 25 years’ experience of handling personal injury and clinical negligence work and has acted for Claimants in a number of high profile disaster cases, including the Herald of Free Enterprise (Zeebrugge ferry), the Ufton Nervert rail crash (Reading rail crash) in 2004, and for seven Claimants in the Ibiza Airport aircraft accident in 1998.
Chris has been a member of the Law Society Panel of Specialist Personal Injury Lawyers (“The Law Society PI panel”) since 1994, confirming his expertise in the field of personal injury work.
Chris is also a long-time member of the Spinal Injuries Association and has been an approved lawyer in the SIA Directory. He has represented many spinally injured and paraplegic clients and has settled a number of claims on their behalf in excess of £1 million each.
Chris has been a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) since 1991 and is accredited by APIL with Senior Litigator status.
Chris has been a member of the Pan-European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers (PEOPIL) since its foundation and has knowledge and expertise of bringing personal injury claims in foreign jurisdictions, including Belgium, France, Scotland and Turkey.
Chris is also an active member of the Professional Negligence Lawyer’s Association (PNLA), and is a member of the Commercial Litigation Association (CLAN)
Outside of work, Chris enjoys interests including football, skiing and motorsports
In addition to his legal work, Chris has worked as a motor racing journalist for independent radio including County Sound (now Eagle FM) presenting live Formula One Grand Prix practice and race reports, and has had the privilege of interviewing many well-known Grand Prix and sports car drivers.
Chris is an Honorary lifetime member of the Ford RS Owners Club having undertaken the legal work to set the club up as a Company limited by guarantee over 20 years ago and has served as a Committee Member on the club for many years.
Chris is a keen Leicester City FC fan and has managed Guildford team Onslow Boys FC over a period of five years from Under-8s to Under-12s, achieving regular promotions in the Surrey Primary League. Chris still occasionally “strolls” the right wing during 5-a-Side football.