Pump Court Chambers

Roy Donnelly specialises in health law including clinical negligence, health professional regulatory and disciplinary matters, inquests / inquiries, and general health law advice.

Roy has medical and business qualifications and practised as a doctor and senior medical manager in Australia for many years prior to becoming a lawyer. He qualified as a solicitor in Australia in 2007 and was first admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 2017. He is a past practising Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and the Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine, Royal College of Pathologists Australasia.

Before relocating to the UK in 2021 Roy managed a busy practice primarily in clinical negligence matters, health practitioner regulation, as well as providing occasional pro-bono criminal law advice and representation.

Since moving to the UK in 2021 Roy has obtained significant experience advising and representing medical practitioners at Inquests, as well as advising doctors, dentists, pharmacists and nurses in complex regulatory matters.

In terms of clinical negligence claims, Roy has a unique blend of experience and knowledge as a doctor, health manager and lawyer and is able to manage both claimant and defendant matters across a wide range of medical and surgical fields.

Roy has also developed a particular expertise in research governance and ethics being a Deputy Chair of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (Sydney), reviewing high level research and clinical trial proposals, advising on complex matters involving the ethics of new healthcare treatments, and advising and investigating allegations of research misconduct.

• Member, Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers UK
• Fellow, Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine, Royal College of Pathologists Australasia, 2016
• Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, 2000
• Registered Medical Practitioner, Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (currently non-practising)
• Registered Medical Practitioner, General Medical Council, UK, (without license to practise)

• Called to the Bar of England and Wales, Middle Temple, 12 Oct 2023
• Admitted as Barrister to the New South Wales Bar Australia, 28 Aug 2017
• Admitted as Solicitor New South Wales Supreme Court Australia, 7 Dec 2007
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) University of Technology Sydney, 1998
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) University of New South Wales (equiv. upper second-class honours), 2006
• Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), University of New South Wales, 1990