Paul Bleasdale named as new head of No5 Chambers after death of Ralph Lewis
Barrister Paul Bleasdale has been officially confirmed as the new man at the top of one of Birmingham’s biggest chambers, after the death earlier this month of his popular predecessor Ralph Lewis.
Mr Bleasdale was named the acting head of chambers at No5 Chambers after Mr Lewis died at the start of July following a battle with cancer.
Mr Bleasdale said: "I am honoured and privileged to have been elected as the new head and aim to build on the outstanding work that Ralph Lewis QC did on behalf of No5 Chambers. Through Ralph’s leadership we have prospered and become a highly successful and forward thinking set, both nationally and internationally. It saddens me to be taking over as head in such tragic circumstances. Ralph was a not only a trusted colleague but also a close friend."
Mr Bleasdale, who was called to the bar in 1978, has been the deputy head of No5 since 2007, when Mr Lewis was elected head.
He has 30 years’ experience of personal injury and clinical negligence cases acting for both claimants and defendants as a junior counsel and a QC. He has focused particualrly on industrial disease caseslike deafness; repetitive strain injuries; workplace stress and asbestos-related disease. As a QC, he has acquired extensive experience of different catastrophic injury cases including brain damage and fatal accident claims attracting awards or high-value settlements.
No5 Chambers has offices in Birmingham, London and Bristol. Rex Tedd QC and Ian Dove QC both continue in their roles as deputy heads of chambers after the new appointment.
