A ‘leading clinical negligence set’, 1 Crown Office Row is highlighted for ‘strength in depth‘ across the whole of the range of clinical litigation the set’s silks and juniors operate in. The team is active in disputes involving NHS, private healthcare providers, along with medical defence organisations in both domestic and cross-border cases. Typically active in complex, multi-layered disputes, the set represents clients and defendants in birth injury mandates, including severe cerebral palsy cases. In addition, the set’s practitioners are experienced in a range of spinal cord, surgical errors, cardiac and medicinal issues litigation. Notably, Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC and Neil Sheldon KC represented a claimant in CDE v Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, a high value birth injury case that reached the Court of Appeal involving the application of the Bolam and Bolitho tests.

Noted as fielding some ‘some truly brilliant legal minds as members’, 7BR‘s clinical negligence practitioners operates on behalf of both claimants and defendants in predominately high-value, multidimensional cases. As part of the full spectrum of clinical negligence work, such as brain, spinal cord, amputation and psychiatric claims, the team is active in various novel liability and quantum trials, including those that reached the Supreme Court. Richard Baker KC notably acted in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a quantum trial involving catastrophic cognitive injury valued at £15m, which was granted permission to appeal by the Supreme Court. In addition, Timothy Meakin was involved in Leputa v Leeds Hospital Foundation Trust, a complex birth injury claim involving the mismanagement of an antenatal screening and failure to sufficiently diagnose genetic issues, and sees both liability and quantum in contention.

Highlighted for its ‘strong showing in clinical negligence’, the clinical negligence practitioners at Hailsham Chambers offer ‘quality advice and excellent results’ across the full spectrum of medical negligence litigation. In addition to their extensive work for NHS Resolution, the set’s members routinely take on highly sophisticated medical negligence disputes pertaining to surgical and medicinal negligence, along with advisory and diagnostic errors. David Pittaway KC  was recently instructed in SJ v IM v University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, in a case regarding the failure of a GP to appropriately advise a claimant to undergo vaccination prior to starting immune suppressants, resulting in a bacterial infection, optical damage and amputation of a leg. Additionally, Clementine Coram James represented the claimant in a trial pertaining to a catastrophic infection caused by an injury during intubation, where liability and quantum were both in contention.

Highlighted as ‘a cut above most other sets’, Serjeants’ Inn Chambers is noted for its broad selection of barristers with ‘phenomenal experience in clinical negligence work.’ Operating in the full range of regular clinical negligence, the set’s barristers are experienced in liability and quantum mandates pertaining to birth, cognitive and surgical injuries, along with novel issues pertaining to psychiatric negligence resulting in harm or fatalities. Angus Moon KC and Eleanor Morrison were involved in NKX v Barts Health NHS Trust, in which one of the largest ever periodic payments order was granted, while Heidi Knight  was active in a claim involving negligence occurring during knee replacement surgery and prosthetic placement, and sees the primary contention in liability.

A ‘top-drawer set for clinical negligence’ , 2 Temple Gardens fields ‘real depth of experience in both claimant and defendant work’. Barristers in the set offer their services to NHS bodies, private insurance providers and medical defence organizations, in both domestic and cross-border cases. An example of this is Benjamin Browne KC’s role in a birth injury claim, concerning a US resident, valued at $78m. The team is additionally active in various surgical and amputation disputes, such as Beatty v Lewisham & Greenwich NHS , which saw Anna Hughes represent a defendant in a case regarding an alleged failure to diagnose and treat a patient’s foot, which ultimately led to its amputation, whom she successfully defended.

Noted for its high quality counsel and strong organisational skills’, the clinical negligence practitioners at 39 Essex Chambers offer ‘strong depth of counsel and practice areas’, with a strong focus on representing NHS and other medical boards. Romilly Cummerson is a notable practitioner in high-value clinical negligence claims, and was the sole counsel in Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust v Bogmer, representing NHS Resolution in a claim pertaining to a coronary artery bypass procedure and the veracity of symptoms claimed by the defendant. The set also includes notable senior barristers such as Susan Rodway KC, active in novel cases spanning clinical negligence and personal injury.

Fielding ‘some excellent KCs’, along with its ‘strength in depth, particularly in defence work’, the clinical negligence counsel at Crown Office Chambers are involved in a range of complex and high-value cases. Alexander Antelme KC, for example, represented NHS Resolution in GHK v King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, a case pertaining to a liver transplant performed on a 7-month old, in which liability and quantum was in dispute – the matter settled. Charlotte Jones  was notably active in Paul, Polmear and Purchase v Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust and others, a leading case in clinical negligence that reached the Supreme Court testing the law on claims by individuals who suffered psychiatric injuries after watching a loved one coming to harm as a result of negligence.

Fielding a ‘great spread of really good barristers at all levels’, Deka Chambers represents claimants and defendants in a broad spectrum of regular clinical negligence work, ranging from high-value cognitive injuries acquired at birth, to catastrophic surgical errors seeing disputes over causation, breach of duty and quantum. Edward Bishop KC was also notably active in Mongan v University of North Midland NHS Trust, a case pertaining to cognitive injury at birth triggered by poor monitoring of nutrients following birth, and raised the question of contribution of damage by medical staff, along with complex quantum calculations.

Referred to as ‘one of the heavyweights in the industry’, the clinical negligence practice group at Outer Temple Chambers is highlighted for its ‘good range of talent and experience’. Operating predominately in highly complex disputes, the set’s cases encompass surgical errors, spinal injuries, cognitive injuries, along with various natal claims. Robert Dickason‘s recent activity is an example of this, such as Masih v The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, an ongoing case pertaining to sudden cardiac death while under treatment for acute pancreatitis, which saw both breach of duty and causation under scrutiny. Senior barrister Nathan Tavares KC  was recently active in CB v Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, an ongoing matter regarding the liability of mental health services and the extent of any responsibility to share information.

Holding a a ‘strong presence in the clinical negligence sector’  12 King’s Bench Walk fields a ‘wide range of barristers with different strengths’, such as senior barrister William Audland KC, whose activity extends to cognitive, cardiac, and spinal injury litigation, along with delayed diagnosis cases. Maycock v East Kent University Hospitals NHSFT is an example of an ongoing case that he typically operates in, involving a delay in a spinal cord surgery where medical causation, breach of duty and liability are in dispute. Isaac Hogarth is highly active in disputes pertaining to cognitive injuries, cancer and psychiatric claims.

The clinical negligence practitioners at Cloisters are noted as ‘strong advocates for severely injured and vulnerable’, offering expertise ‘excellent expertise and breadth’. Simon Dyer KC demonstrates this with his broad expertise in high-value natal, cognitive injury and surgical claims, with significant expertise in asphyxia-induced brain damage during births, seen in his recent cases, including one settled for £18.5m. New silks Anna Beale KC and Sarah Fraser Butlin KC do a broad spectrum of high-value claims, with a special focus on complex causation claims, crossing over with expertise in separate but related fields such as inquests.

Fielding practitioners noted as ‘strong at all levels of seniority’, Devereux's members are active in a broad spectrum of clinical negligence cases, including major cognitive and spinal injuries, serious surgical errors, as well as pursuing high-value birth injury claims requiring expertise in gynaecology and obstetrics cases. The set hosts expertise such as Robert Weir KC, who was notably active in McCulloch v Forth Valley Hospital  and Paul and Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, both major cases regarding patient information and secondary victim claims, respectively, resolved in the Supreme Court. Junior barrister Robert Hunter is frequently involved in fatal accident and cognitive injury claims, such as a claim brought against a GP for failing to act on a potential sepsis case with sufficient urgency.

Old Square Chambers‘ clinical negligence practice fields ‘an expanding and impressive body of expertise’, overseeing a range of professional medical issues, including birth injuries, surgical errors, misdiagnosis and mental health-related negligence. Ben Collins KC is a port of call for highly sophisticated and valuable negligence disputes that sees medical causation, expert evidence, factual consistency and quantum in contention. Sophie Beesley is highly active in representing clients in litigation pertaining to maternal injuries, such as stillbirths and cerebral palsy, as well as matters pertaining to mental health negligence, such as self-injuries and PTSD.