Barratts Solicitors

Barratts Solicitors

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England

Clinical Negligence (CN) Team

Alison Brooks

Alison Brooks

Partner and Head of CN Alison is a Law Society and AvMA Clinical Negligence Panel member.  One of the first members of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel and recognised as a leading partner in the field by Legal 500. I am privileged to have acted for clients in clinical negligence cases for over 35 years. I was one of the first to agree guaranteed annual payments by the NHS to a client with cerebral palsy.  My clients are always my priority, and I am privileged to act as a Deputy for some of my clients and to also see, first hand, how lives can be improved with compensation. My work in clinical negligence and personal injury has given me a unique insight into the lives of families living with disability and loss as a result of negligent medical care or personal injury. I specialise in all areas of medical negligence, and I am also involved with Inquests; this is an opportunity to get answers for clients and, where there are failings in patient safety, to seek improvements. I juggle the skills of a lawyer, social worker, counsellor and negotiator with a lay person’s forensic analysis of medical evidence.  Most importantly I am a listening ear for my clients who put their trust and faith in me.  I cannot think of any other area of the law that is so rewarding. Recognition My clinical negligence expertise was recognised by the charity, Action Against Medical Accidents (“AvMA”) for my “work on behalf of injured patients and their families” and “longstanding contribution in the fields of clinical negligence and patient safety.” I am a member of their interview panel for solicitors applying as clinical negligence specialists. Testimonies obtained by Legal 500, an independent legal guide, note my “vast experience” and “the warmest manner which instantly puts clients at ease”. Sources also describe me as a “hardworking and tenacious advocate” who is celebrated for her “good judgment and thorough approach to a case.” Chambers, another independent legal guide, describes my “dedication to the client “and note that my “knowledge of the law is superb.”  I am recommended for steering “clients through the litigation process in the most caring and humane manner possible whilst achieving good outcomes.” And am “first rate”.  Clients state that I am “trustworthy” and  have given “the best service possible”.  Other professionals note I am “sensible, approachable and a strong lawyer”. I am a former member of the Law Society Personal Injury panel and Legal 500 have recognised my specialist experience in traumatic brain injury.  I recently settled a ground breaking road traffic claim for a brain injured client to secure Euro damages linked to earnings in another country. Charity Work For many years I have been involved with pro bono work for charities in London and Nottingham.   I am a trustee adviser for Footprints Conductive Education, a Nottingham charity helping children with neurological conditions and Downs Syndrome.  I am a former Secretary of Headway Northwest London and the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum and a former governor of School for Parents (a Scope school in Nottingham).  I have been interviewed by the media and spoken at conferences both in the UK and Australia. Director of Barratts I am co-director of Barratts, which is described as having a “small firm sense of client service, with large firm knowledge and expertise”.  Our staff are exceptional, providing a personal, specialist team of experienced senior litigators to achieve the very best for clients.
Ross Brain

Ross Brain

Managing Partner and Partner - Clinical Negligence Team. I have specialised in Clinical Negligence litigation since qualifying in 1999.  I joined Barratts as Co-Director and Managing Partner in October 2021, having spent a period outside the law developing my business skills and having previously been a senior equity partner at a top 100 law firm in London (heading up the Clinical Negligence Team) and also worked as a Defendant Clinical Negligence solicitor in a top 100 NHS Panel firm. My focus at Barratts is the role of Managing Partner for the firm.  My clinical negligence expertise covers all areas of clinical negligence, whether the mistake/error occurs in the NHS setting, the private sector or as a result of General Practitioner (GP) errors. I have expertise in claims involving injuries of maximum severity such as brain injury, spinal injury, and birth injury claims (including cerebral palsy).  My experience covers the full spectrum of medical disciplines, and I have successfully acted for clients who have had claims arising out of: obstetric & gynaecological problems. a failure to recognise and treat infectious diseases such as meningitis. orthopaedic and spinal surgery including failure to diagnose cauda equina syndrome. A&E and trauma medicine. cardiology. abdominal surgery including failure to diagnose peritonitis. chest/respiratory medicine (e.g. a failure to diagnose pulmonary embolism, coronary heart disease or DVT) failure to diagnose cancer claims I have also acted for many families who have suffered a bereavement in the clinical setting, whether that is the death of a care giver or income provider, or the still birth or death of a child. I have also represented many bereaved families at inquests, particularly involving patients in the care of mental health units.  I was also the solicitor who represented the Claimant (a sickle cell patient who died in prison) in the case of Stewart & Howard v Medway NHS Trust [2004] which was instrumental in establishing the principle that the costs incurred to attend an inquest are capable of being recovered in a subsequent civil claim for damages (as incidental to the damages claim).
Alison Brooks

Alison Brooks

Partner and Head of CN Alison is a Law Society and AvMA Clinical Negligence Panel member.  One of the first members of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel and recognised as a leading partner in the field by Legal 500. I am privileged to have acted for clients in clinical negligence cases for over 35 years. I was one of the first to agree guaranteed annual payments by the NHS to a client with cerebral palsy.  My clients are always my priority, and I am privileged to act as a Deputy for some of my clients and to also see, first hand, how lives can be improved with compensation. My work in clinical negligence and personal injury has given me a unique insight into the lives of families living with disability and loss as a result of negligent medical care or personal injury. I specialise in all areas of medical negligence, and I am also involved with Inquests; this is an opportunity to get answers for clients and, where there are failings in patient safety, to seek improvements. I juggle the skills of a lawyer, social worker, counsellor and negotiator with a lay person’s forensic analysis of medical evidence.  Most importantly I am a listening ear for my clients who put their trust and faith in me.  I cannot think of any other area of the law that is so rewarding. Recognition My clinical negligence expertise was recognised by the charity, Action Against Medical Accidents (“AvMA”) for my “work on behalf of injured patients and their families” and “longstanding contribution in the fields of clinical negligence and patient safety.” I am a member of their interview panel for solicitors applying as clinical negligence specialists. Testimonies obtained by Legal 500, an independent legal guide, note my “vast experience” and “the warmest manner which instantly puts clients at ease”. Sources also describe me as a “hardworking and tenacious advocate” who is celebrated for her “good judgment and thorough approach to a case.” Chambers, another independent legal guide, describes my “dedication to the client “and note that my “knowledge of the law is superb.”  I am recommended for steering “clients through the litigation process in the most caring and humane manner possible whilst achieving good outcomes.” And am “first rate”.  Clients state that I am “trustworthy” and  have given “the best service possible”.  Other professionals note I am “sensible, approachable and a strong lawyer”. I am a former member of the Law Society Personal Injury panel and Legal 500 have recognised my specialist experience in traumatic brain injury.  I recently settled a ground breaking road traffic claim for a brain injured client to secure Euro damages linked to earnings in another country. Charity Work For many years I have been involved with pro bono work for charities in London and Nottingham.   I am a trustee adviser for Footprints Conductive Education, a Nottingham charity helping children with neurological conditions and Downs Syndrome.  I am a former Secretary of Headway Northwest London and the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum and a former governor of School for Parents (a Scope school in Nottingham).  I have been interviewed by the media and spoken at conferences both in the UK and Australia. Director of Barratts I am co-director of Barratts, which is described as having a “small firm sense of client service, with large firm knowledge and expertise”.  Our staff are exceptional, providing a personal, specialist team of experienced senior litigators to achieve the very best for clients.
Vicki Holmes

Vicki Holmes

Partner I am a Partner in the Clinical Negligence Department. I have over 30 years experience in running complex, high value clinical negligence claims for adults, children and families.  I have experience in all types of clinical negligence claims including birth injury/cerebral palsy, neurological injury, spinal injury, obstetrics and gynaecology, delayed diagnosis of cancer, orthopaedic injuries, surgical injuries and fatal accident claims. I am dedicated and committed to helping clients receive the compensation they deserve after an injury.
Ross Brain

Ross Brain

Managing Partner and Partner - Clinical Negligence Team. I have specialised in Clinical Negligence litigation since qualifying in 1999.  I joined Barratts as Co-Director and Managing Partner in October 2021, having spent a period outside the law developing my business skills and having previously been a senior equity partner at a top 100 law firm in London (heading up the Clinical Negligence Team) and also worked as a Defendant Clinical Negligence solicitor in a top 100 NHS Panel firm. My focus at Barratts is the role of Managing Partner for the firm.  My clinical negligence expertise covers all areas of clinical negligence, whether the mistake/error occurs in the NHS setting, the private sector or as a result of General Practitioner (GP) errors. I have expertise in claims involving injuries of maximum severity such as brain injury, spinal injury, and birth injury claims (including cerebral palsy).  My experience covers the full spectrum of medical disciplines, and I have successfully acted for clients who have had claims arising out of: obstetric & gynaecological problems. a failure to recognise and treat infectious diseases such as meningitis. orthopaedic and spinal surgery including failure to diagnose cauda equina syndrome. A&E and trauma medicine. cardiology. abdominal surgery including failure to diagnose peritonitis. chest/respiratory medicine (e.g. a failure to diagnose pulmonary embolism, coronary heart disease or DVT) failure to diagnose cancer claims I have also acted for many families who have suffered a bereavement in the clinical setting, whether that is the death of a care giver or income provider, or the still birth or death of a child. I have also represented many bereaved families at inquests, particularly involving patients in the care of mental health units.  I was also the solicitor who represented the Claimant (a sickle cell patient who died in prison) in the case of Stewart & Howard v Medway NHS Trust [2004] which was instrumental in establishing the principle that the costs incurred to attend an inquest are capable of being recovered in a subsequent civil claim for damages (as incidental to the damages claim).

Team Services

The Clinical Negligence team has a proven record securing awards for birth injury compensation, including cerebral palsy claims - every birth injury case where we have issued court proceedings has resulted in an award of compensation.  We also represent patients who have experienced a delayed / missed diagnosis (e.g. cancer, DVT, pulmonary embolism); head injury (acquired brain injury and stroke misdiagnosis); spinal injury (such as cauda equina syndrome or spinal abscess); medical practitioner negligence (GP failings, A&E or ambulance delays, and failure to diagnoses infections / sepsis); illness and disease claims (such as sepsis, encephalitis and limb ischaemia resulting in amputation); orthopaedic claims (hip dysplasia, joint replacement); surgical mismanagement claims; fatal accidents and inquests.