Steven is an insurance litigation and local authority lawyer with over twenty years’ experience of general insurance work, with particular expertise in defending local authorities, public authorities and insurers against the whole range of personal injury and civil claims brought against them. He is consistently recommended by Legal 500.
He specialises in employers’ and public liability claims, including claims against highway authorities and claims arising out of accidents at work, stress at work, bullying and harassment. He also deals with claims relating to misfeasance, education, discrimination and social services and defends insurance coverage disputes. He also advises on risk management, insurance procurement, data protection and freedom of information.
Steven frequently presents seminars and training to clients and has presented to CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy), ALARM (Association of Local Authority Risk Managers) the IHE (Institute of Highway Engineers), and at Traffex, as well as to regional local authority insurance officer and other local authority groups.
He regularly writes bulletins and blogs and has had articles published in the Solicitors Journal, the Law Society’s Litigation Funding journal, Butterworths’ Civil Costs Newsletter, the PI Brief Update Law Journal, Insurance Day, Local Government Lawyer and Public Law Today.
Steven has worked with the UKRLG on their review of Well-maintained Highways, the Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management, he was a Corresponding Member to the review of the Codes of Practice sits on the Highway Liability Joint Task Group and is a contributing author to the new edition of Well-Managed Highway Liability Risk.
Expertise
- Defending personal injury claims
- Employers’ liability claims
- Public liability claims
- Highways claims
- Claims against public authorities
- Insurance litigation
- Counter-fraud
- Health & Safety
- Risk management
Experience
- Kunnenkerilv London Borough of Enfield [2017] EWHC 1779: successful defence of a claim arising out of an assault of a foster parent by a foster child on an emergency placement.
- Mason v Satelcom Ltd & London Borough of Redbridge & others [2007] EWHC 2540: successful defence of claim looking at the ambit of statutory duty upon non-employers and the extent of their “control” under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
- Successfully defended a claim for £7 million against a former Chief Executive of a London Borough for misfeasance in public office for an alleged “threat” to compulsorily purchase a site for a City Academy.
- Successfully defended at trial a local authority social services department where a social worker was assaulted in a respite centre by a service user who had learning difficulties.
- Successfully defended at trial a claim under the Manual Handling (Operations) Regulations 1992 by a refuse worker who was required to lift a large load on to a refuse truck. The case was of importance to the Defendant as a large number of allegedly unmeritorious claims had been brought by operatives at this particular depot and the Council was keen to maintain a robust stance to these claims.
- Successfully defended a local authority after a 10 day trial against a claim for failure to educate and racial discrimination for failing to diagnose dyslexia and place a student on a statement of special educational needs against.
- Defended a suspected fraudulent claim where the Claimant alleged he had slipped due to residue left by cleaners performing their cleaning duties. The claim was defended after liability had been admitted at the pre-litigation stage. This was successfully withdrawn once proceedings were issued and the claim successfully defended at trial.
- Successfully defended a claim at trial that a statue plinth outside the V&A in London had been defectively designed so as to be a danger to road users.
- Struck out a suspected fraudulent claim brought by a Claimant who tripped on a highway defect.
- Struck out on a claim against a local authority where it was alleged a social services carer had knocked an elderly service user to the ground, causing injury.
- Obtained discontinuances against a utility company who brought a number of claims against a local authority for property damage to their underground apparatus arising out of street works.
- Acting for insurers in successfully defending a policy coverage dispute at arbitration arising out of a dispute as to whether in-house legal costs were recoverable under their insurance policy.
- Defended personal injury claims against care homes.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Best Lawyers (UK) in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation (2023-2024)
Recognised by The Legal 500 (2020-2024) for Personal Injury: Defendant
“Steven Conway is an absolute expert in his field. He has vast knowledge of the public sector claims genre and seems always to choose the right barrister if the claim proceeds to hearing. Steven is very adept at interviewing witnesses, often skillfully obtaining information that the witness didn’t realise they had within them. Lastly, Steven is very personable, and instils confidence in all those he comes into contact with.” The Legal 500 2024
“Steven Conway has an in-depth knowledge of personal injury law and is a ‘go-to’ when it comes to highways regulations.” The Legal 500 2021
Recognised by the Legal 500 2018 for Insurance and Reinsurance and Personal Injury: Defendant
“Exceptional” Legal 500 2018
Steven Conway is recognised by the Legal 500 2017 for Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation and Personal Injury (defendant).
“Keystone Law has ‘a high degree of legal expertise’ and is ‘able to work across borders in complex legal matters’. Steven Conway specialises in employers’ and public liability claims“Legal 500 (2016)“Keystone Law’s [personal injury] practice was strengthened by the arrival of Steven Conway from Browne Jacobson LLP in 2016. Conway has notable experience defending local authorities, public authorities and insurers against a range of civil claims.”Legal 500 (2016)“gets great results – he seems to have the Midas touch”. Legal 500 (2015)
“consistently able to resolve any contentious matter with a fresh perspective”. Legal 500 (2014)
“provides a fresh perspective on problematic and contentious matters”. Legal 500 (2013)
“determined to achieve the desired result for his client”. Legal 500 (2012)
“a robust and refreshing approach that leads to desired results”. Legal 500 (2011)
Career
Steven qualified as a solicitor in 1998. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2016, he worked at the following firms:
- Browne Jacobson
- Barlow Lyde & Gilbert
- Berrymans Lace Mawer
- Merricks