Mary Ruck KC > Chambers of Winston Hunter KC > Manchester, England > Barrister Profile
Byrom Street Chambers Offices
Byrom Street Chambers
12 BYROM STREET
MANCHESTER
M3 4PP
England
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Mary Ruck KC
Position
Mary specialises in complex medical claims. She has extensive experience in clinical negligence, medical law, human rights and healthcare, catastrophic personal injury and fatal claims. She has notable trial and interlocutory experience, including appearing at trial for over two years in group litigation against the British Government arising out of colonial-era torture and abuses and, recently, securing a significant care award and PPO at trial, defeating D’s argument that statutory funding under the s.117 regime was sufficient and arguing for new law regarding personal injury trusts (Martin -v- Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWHC 3058; [2022] EWHC 532).
Mary also recently represented the Claimant in JJS -v- Robert Smith (August 2022), where, in a novel development to the law on anonymity, a provisional damages order was secured with an anonymity order for a client with capacity.
Mary has been highly ranked in her specialism for over 20 years. She is noted for her excellent eye for detail and her calm, measured and persuasive approach to advocacy. Her clients are among some of the most disadvantaged in society and she is noted for her excellent client care skills. She is frequently instructed in claims involving psychiatric injury and brain injuries complicated by neurodivergence. Her expertise is informed by being a judge in the First Tier Tribunal, Mental Health since 2007, and in SEND since 2019.
Mary has experience of cases in the ECHR, resulting in successful Grand Chamber judgment and conclusions by way of friendly settlement.
Current cases involve liability in negligence and under the HRA 1998 for stroke while in police custody, wrongful birth, neurological injury arising from birth and neonatal brain injuries.
Mary undertakes Article 2 inquests and has been instructed in cases arising out of the Coronavirus pandemic.
She lectures regularly on current developments in law and she undertakes the training of pupils and pupil supervisors for the Northern Circuit and for Gray’s Inn. Mary supports the Evolve Foundation for International Legal Assistance, assisting Ugandan lawyers with submissions for clients on death row in Uganda.
Career
Called 1993 (Gray’s Inn);
King’s Counsel (2023)
First Tier Tribunal Judge HESC (Mental Health, 2007; SEND, 2019).
Former Editor and Assistant Editor, Fatal Accidents Chapter, Butterworths ‘Personal Injury Litigation Service’.
Languages
Basic European languages.
Memberships
PNBA; PIBA; AvMA.
Education
University of Wales, Cardiff (BA Philosophy/Psychology); University of London, King’s College (MA Medical Ethics and Law).
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Clinical negligence
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Mary Ruck KC – Byrom Street Chambers ‘Mary is extremely thorough with an eye for detail, leaving no stone unturned. She is excellent at explaining complex legal issues to clients and experts alike.’
Majority-silk set Byrom Street Chambers has members with ‘unparalleled expertise in clinical negligence work’, who often appear in highly complex catastrophic injury claims for both claimants and defendants. Head of chambers Winston Hunter KC predominantly handles cases concerning clinicians’ breach of duty and birth injury claims, the latter also being an area of expertise for James Rowley KC. David Heaton KC acts for both claimants and defendants in significant brain and spinal injury cases, and Rhiannon Jones KC has experience handling fatal accident claims arising from negligent medical treatment. Darryl Allen KC is highly skilled in advising on cases of failed diagnoses. Mary Ruck KC was appointed to silk in the 2023 round – she has expertise in cases involving vulnerable people with psychiatric injuries.