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Michael Spencer QC
Date of Call: 1970
Queen's Counsel: 1989
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
General Information
He read Law at Oxford. MA (Oxon).
Profumo Scholarship, Inner Temple.
Recorder 1987.
Practice
Product Liability
Regularly instructed on behalf of manufacturers in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industry in respect of defects alleged in drugs and medical devices and in group litigation arising therefrom. Cases include the following:
2006 Leading Counsel on behalf of John Wyeth and Brother Limited in respect of the licensing of Venlafaxine
2006 Leading Counsel on behalf of 6 human volunteers injured as a consequence of exposure to experimental drug TGN 1412 at Northwick Park Hospital
2004 Leading Counsel on behalf of De Puy International in respect of claims relating to Hylamer hip prostheses
2004 Leading Counsel on behalf of St. Jude Medical in respect of claims relating to the implantation of Silzone heart valves
2004 Leading Counsel on behalf of Sanofi-Synthelabo Limited in respect of claims relating to alleged teratogenicity of the anti-epilepsy drug Epilim/Sodium Valproate
2002 Leading Counsel on behalf of Schering Healthcare Limited and Schering AG and associate Leading Counsel on behalf of Organon Limited in respect of the successful defence of claims relating to DVT and the use of 3rd Generation Oral Contraceptives tried by Mackay J in the High Court in London in March to June 2002
1999 Leading Counsel on behalf of Proctor & Gamble and Tambrands Limited in respect of claims relating to Toxic Shock Syndrome associated with Tampax brand tampons
1999 Leading Counsel on behalf of Roche Products Limited in respect of claims relating to Roaccutane (Isotretinoin)
1999 Leading Counsel on behalf of Glaxo Smith Kline in respect of claims relating to Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
1997 Leading Counsel retained on behalf of Servier Laboratories in respect of potential claims relating to Ponderax and Adifax anti-obesity agents
1996 Leading Counsel on behalf of John Wyeth and Brother Limited in respect of claims relating to Minocin anti-acne antibiotic
1995 Leading Counsel retained on behalf of Wellcome PLC in respect of potential claims to Septrin
1995 Leading Counsel retained on behalf of Youngs Animal Health Limited in respect of claims relating to Organo-phosphate sheep dip
1995 Leading Counsel on behalf of May & Baker/Rhone Poulenc in respect of claims relating to Dimer X contrast medium
1994 Leading Counsel on behalf of Pfizer Inc. in respect of litigation relating to Shiley CC Heart Valves
1994 Leading Counsel retained on behalf of Cable and Wireless PLC relating to potential claims arising out of magnetic fields generated by mobile telephones
1994 Leading Counsel on behalf of Wellcome PLC in respect of litigation relating to AZT ("Zidovudine")
1994 Leading Counsel retained on behalf of Bristol Myers Squibb in relation to Breast Implant Litigation
1993 Leading Counsel on behalf of ICI PLC in respect of claims relating to industrially induced bladder cancer
1993 Leading Counsel retained on behalf of Smith Kline Beecham re claims arising out of dental damage caused by baby drinks
1991 Leading Counsel retained on behalf of Eli Lilli re claims relating to injury due to synthetic human insulin products
1990 Leading Counsel on behalf of Her Majesty's Government re contaminated blood products and HIV-Haemophiliacs
1989 Leading Counsel on behalf of Miles Limited (re contaminated blood products and HIV-Haemophiliacs)
1988 Junior Counsel on behalf of G D Searle & Co (re copper 7 [Intra Uterine Device])
1988 Junior Counsel on behalf of AHP/Wyeth (re Benzodiazepines [Ativan])
1988 Counsel retained by Rothmans International in respect of potential claims relating to smoking related disease
1983 Junior Counsel on behalf of Wellcome PLC (re Neomycin deafness cases)
1982 Junior Counsel on behalf of Eli Lilly & Co (re Benoxaprofen [Opren])
1975 Junior Counsel on behalf of Schering AG (re Primodos [Hormone Pregnancy Tests])
1974 Junior Counsel on behalf of ICI (re Practolol [Eraldin])
Personal Injury/Health and Safety
Has been instructed by a number of insurance companies in respect of motor and other personal injury claims. Regularly instructed by insurers and private companies in respect of health and safety prosecutions and civil claims. Cases are as follows:-
2003 Leading Counsel on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of third party claims by the DTI against Coal Mining Contractors relating to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
2000 Leading Counsel on behalf of Rio Tinto in respect of claims relating to industrial injury at Capper Pass smelting works
1998 Leading Counsel of behalf of English, Welsh and Scottish Railways relating to rail accident at Bexleyheath on the 4th February 1997
1998 Leading Counsel on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of claims by Coal Miners relating to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
1997 Leading Counsel on behalf of English, Welsh and Scottish Railways relating to the rail accident at Southall on the19th September 1997
1994 Leading Counsel on behalf of Rio Tinto and associated companies in respect of litigation relating to cancer in Uranium Miners
1991 Leading Counsel on behalf of Thames Water PLC in relation to claims relating to drinking water polluted by Cryptosporidium
1990 Leading Counsel on behalf of British Nuclear Fuels Limited (re Leukaemia cases in Sellafield workers' families)
1989 Counsel on behalf of the injured and bereaved at the Court of Inquiry into the Clapham Railway Disaster
1985 Counsel on behalf of the Medical and Public Health professions at the Committee of Inquiry into the Outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease in Stafford
Clinical Negligence
He is also instructed by the National Health Service Litigation Authority and by National Health Service Health Authorities and Trusts, in respect of clinical negligence claims brought against them, most usually involving brain damage to neonate or infant Claimants. He has also been instructed on behalf of Claimants in these and other cases.
Professional Memberships
Professional Negligence Bar Association, London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association and Midland & Oxford Circuit.
Publications/Seminars
Author of chapters on confidentiality and product liability in Powers & Harris on Clinical Negligence. Contributor to Doctors, Patients and the Law (Blackwell Scientific Publications). Joint Editor of OGrady, Dodds-Smith, Walsh and Spencer on Medicines, Medical Devices and The Law.