Guildhall Chambers is a ‘standout‘ set for clinical negligence work on the Western circuit. Selena Plowden KC is ‘well suited to handling the most complex of cases‘ and heads the team. She specialises in cases involving mental health and human rights issues, and recently led the representation of the claimant in the high-profile case of Lewis-Ranwell v G4S Services Uk Ltd & Others - a claim brought by a man who was acquitted of murder on the grounds of insanity and detained under a hospital order against those who treated him prior to those events - the case addresses the question of if the claim is considered ex turpi causa. Sophie Holme has recently acted in several significant cases, including spinal surgical negligence, delayed cancer diagnosis claims, cauda equina, birth-related bowel injuries, and fatal and psychiatric negligence claims, among others. Martin Lanchester and Kriti Upadhyay both handle a broad range of clinical disputes work, while Philip Hughes is increasingly sought after for his medical expertise, which he has brought to bear in several instructions to aid in the determination of causation and quantum.
Clinical negligence in
Regional Bar
Guildhall Chambers
Testimonials
‘The clerks are great – friendly, efficient and helpful. Dan Cuthbertson and Olive Kavanagh deserve special mention.’
‘The clerks are helpful and friendly. Olive Kavanagh in particular deserves a mention – she is friendly and efficient and will go out of her way to assist. Dan Cuthbertson is also friendly and efficient.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has a great clinical negligence set.’
‘Guildhall has good strength in depth – with clinical negligence specialists from junior level up to KC.’
‘Guildhall is a very good set of chambers for clinical negligence work, with some great practitioners.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is a go-to chambers and the quality of their work is excellent. Members are available and friendly in correspondence with instructing solicitors/legal executives.’
‘Guildhall’s clinical negligence department is excellent.’
‘The clerks at Guildhall are approachable, friendly, kind and always available. Without exception, they always genuinely try to help as quickly and as efficiently as possible.’
Old Square Chambers
Old Square Chambers is a ‘first port of call’ for clinical negligence work on the Western Circuit. Sophie Beesley focuses on claimant-side matters, often for highly vulnerable clients. She has considerable experience acting in cases involving bowel and gynaecological injuries as well as the death of children at or shortly after birth. Kara Loraine possesses broad expertise, including in claims relating to obstetric care and delivery, failure of and delay in diagnosis, negligent surgical procedures, suicide, and mismanagement of chronic disease.
Testimonials
‘Paul Adams and Olivia Moliterno are brilliant clerks – nothing is too much trouble for them.’
‘Old Square goes out of its way to help with any situation and has excellent clerks. This chambers is always my first port of call.’
‘The clerks are responsive and ever so helpful.’
St John's Chambers
St John’s Chambers is one of the ‘go-to‘ clinical negligence sets on the Western Circuit and beyond. Justin Valentine is well regarded for his ‘meticulous attention to detail‘ and handles a wide range of claimant and defendant instructions, specialising in neonatal, cauda equina, and diabetes-related claims. He is counsel in several long-running, high-value claims, including those concerning historic negligence. Rachel Segal’s practice includes multiple cases involving the delayed diagnosis and treatment of cancers, particularly of breast cancer, as well as ophthalmology, gastrointestinal and colorectal surgery, and obstetrics. Lauren Karmel ‘interacts well both with medical experts and claimants’ and has been instructed in relation to over thirty clinical and dental negligence cases this past year.
Testimonials
‘Hugh Maguire and Adam Marston are excellent clerks, and very accommodating and flexible.’
‘Hugh Maguire is organised, knowledgeable and always willing to help.’
‘A set with excellent clinical negligence expertise.’
‘This set has good strength in depth at all levels of seniority.’
‘St Johns Chambers is a “go to” chambers for clinical negligence work with a wide range of available counsel.’
‘St John’s is the go to set for clinical negligence work in the South West, with strength in depth across all levels of call. They are also a very slick outfit in terms of their marketing, training, and thought leadership.’
‘Really supportive and friendly clerks.’
‘The clerks at St Johns are friendly and always available.’
Work highlights
3PB
3PB‘s clinical negligence team represents both injured claimants and defendant organisations in connection with a broad spectrum of matters, often involving complicating factors such as contributory negligence or missed diagnosis. Mark Lomas is ‘meticulous, conscientious and approachable‘ and mostly acts for claimants, including children, vulnerable clients, and those who lack mental capacity, against health care professionals including, among others, dentists. The ‘precise, insightful, and organised‘ Hamish Dunlop is regularly instructed in relation to high-value and medically complex claims and has recently acted in cases concerning the failure to identify and adequately treat the onset of such life-changing conditions as cauda equina lesions and subarachnoid haemorrhages.
Testimonials
‘Edward Holdstock is very accommodating and approachable.’
‘Abi Griffin provides an excellent service.’
‘Members and clerks at 3PB are very approachable and helpful. They go out of their way to assist you however possible.’
‘An experienced and helpful chambers with wide-range of Counsel.’
‘3PB have reshuffled their clerking and over the last year or so the team has become even stronger.’
No5 Barristers' Chambers
Led by Chris Bright KC and John Coughlan KC, members of No5 Barristers’ Chambers possess ‘a wealth of knowledge and experience‘ and regularly receive instructions from members of the public, NHS trusts, medical defence organisations, and private medical institutions, among others. The ‘incredibly clever and insightful‘ Jonathan Jones KC is an ‘excellent advocate’ who primarily handles high-value brain damage cases as well as cases involving birth trauma and serious spinal injuries.
Testimonials
‘Will Theaker is brilliant. He is very responsive and willing to help wherever possible. He is excellent at events as well.’
‘Will Theaker is very enthusiastic and engaging, lots of good ideas and makes things happen.’
‘Excellent. Will Theaker and Peter Mottam stand out for their efficiency and helpfulness.’
‘No 5 chambers is an excellent set of chambers offering a wealth of knowledge and experience and they offer a wide range of excellent courses.’
‘Excellent set with strength across the board, supported by first-class clerking.’
‘A good variety of counsel.’
Guildhall Chambers
Testimonials
‘The clerks are great – friendly, efficient and helpful. Dan Cuthbertson and Olive Kavanagh deserve special mention.’
‘The clerks are helpful and friendly. Olive Kavanagh in particular deserves a mention – she is friendly and efficient and will go out of her way to assist. Dan Cuthbertson is also friendly and efficient.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has a great clinical negligence set.’
‘Guildhall has good strength in depth – with clinical negligence specialists from junior level up to KC.’
‘Guildhall is a very good set of chambers for clinical negligence work, with some great practitioners.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is a go-to chambers and the quality of their work is excellent. Members are available and friendly in correspondence with instructing solicitors/legal executives.’
‘Guildhall’s clinical negligence department is excellent.’
‘The clerks at Guildhall are approachable, friendly, kind and always available. Without exception, they always genuinely try to help as quickly and as efficiently as possible.’
Old Square Chambers
Old Square Chambers is a ‘first port of call’ for clinical negligence work on the Western Circuit. Sophie Beesley focuses on claimant-side matters, often for highly vulnerable clients. She has considerable experience acting in cases involving bowel and gynaecological injuries as well as the death of children at or shortly after birth. Kara Loraine possesses broad expertise, including in claims relating to obstetric care and delivery, failure of and delay in diagnosis, negligent surgical procedures, suicide, and mismanagement of chronic disease.
Testimonials
‘Paul Adams and Olivia Moliterno are brilliant clerks – nothing is too much trouble for them.’
‘Old Square goes out of its way to help with any situation and has excellent clerks. This chambers is always my first port of call.’
‘The clerks are responsive and ever so helpful.’
St John's Chambers
St John’s Chambers is one of the ‘go-to‘ clinical negligence sets on the Western Circuit and beyond. Justin Valentine is well regarded for his ‘meticulous attention to detail‘ and handles a wide range of claimant and defendant instructions, specialising in neonatal, cauda equina, and diabetes-related claims. He is counsel in several long-running, high-value claims, including those concerning historic negligence. Rachel Segal’s practice includes multiple cases involving the delayed diagnosis and treatment of cancers, particularly of breast cancer, as well as ophthalmology, gastrointestinal and colorectal surgery, and obstetrics. Lauren Karmel ‘interacts well both with medical experts and claimants’ and has been instructed in relation to over thirty clinical and dental negligence cases this past year.
Testimonials
‘Hugh Maguire and Adam Marston are excellent clerks, and very accommodating and flexible.’
‘Hugh Maguire is organised, knowledgeable and always willing to help.’
‘A set with excellent clinical negligence expertise.’
‘This set has good strength in depth at all levels of seniority.’
‘St Johns Chambers is a “go to” chambers for clinical negligence work with a wide range of available counsel.’
‘St John’s is the go to set for clinical negligence work in the South West, with strength in depth across all levels of call. They are also a very slick outfit in terms of their marketing, training, and thought leadership.’
‘Really supportive and friendly clerks.’
‘The clerks at St Johns are friendly and always available.’
Work highlights
3PB
3PB‘s clinical negligence team represents both injured claimants and defendant organisations in connection with a broad spectrum of matters, often involving complicating factors such as contributory negligence or missed diagnosis. Mark Lomas is ‘meticulous, conscientious and approachable‘ and mostly acts for claimants, including children, vulnerable clients, and those who lack mental capacity, against health care professionals including, among others, dentists. The ‘precise, insightful, and organised‘ Hamish Dunlop is regularly instructed in relation to high-value and medically complex claims and has recently acted in cases concerning the failure to identify and adequately treat the onset of such life-changing conditions as cauda equina lesions and subarachnoid haemorrhages.
Testimonials
‘Edward Holdstock is very accommodating and approachable.’
‘Abi Griffin provides an excellent service.’
‘Members and clerks at 3PB are very approachable and helpful. They go out of their way to assist you however possible.’
‘An experienced and helpful chambers with wide-range of Counsel.’
‘3PB have reshuffled their clerking and over the last year or so the team has become even stronger.’
No5 Barristers' Chambers
Led by Chris Bright KC and John Coughlan KC, members of No5 Barristers’ Chambers possess ‘a wealth of knowledge and experience‘ and regularly receive instructions from members of the public, NHS trusts, medical defence organisations, and private medical institutions, among others. The ‘incredibly clever and insightful‘ Jonathan Jones KC is an ‘excellent advocate’ who primarily handles high-value brain damage cases as well as cases involving birth trauma and serious spinal injuries.
Testimonials
‘Will Theaker is brilliant. He is very responsive and willing to help wherever possible. He is excellent at events as well.’
‘Will Theaker is very enthusiastic and engaging, lots of good ideas and makes things happen.’
‘Excellent. Will Theaker and Peter Mottam stand out for their efficiency and helpfulness.’
‘No 5 chambers is an excellent set of chambers offering a wealth of knowledge and experience and they offer a wide range of excellent courses.’
‘Excellent set with strength across the board, supported by first-class clerking.’
‘A good variety of counsel.’