Lucy MacKinnon > Hailsham Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Lucy MacKinnon

020 7643 5000 lucy.mackinnon@hailshamchambers.com

Position

Lucy specialises in all aspects of medical law including clinical negligence claims and disciplinary proceedings. Lucy is listed in The Legal 500 as a leading junior in Clinical Negligence and Healthcare in which she is described to be a “determined advocate” known for her “overt reasonableness”. The 2017 edition says Lucy “provides sound judgment”. She also has a successful personal injury practice with a particular emphasis on fraud and credit hire claims.

Lucy’s main area of expertise is clinical negligence and personal injury. Lucy acts for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of clinical negligence claims. She recently acted as junior counsel in a cerebral palsy claim which concluded after a five-day liability trial with a settlement totalling £1.5m following an alleged failure to diagnose meningitis in a four month old baby. She was involved in the MMR vaccination litigation having advised a claimant on a complex procedural issue.

Lucy regularly represents practitioners in disciplinary proceedings before the Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council and British Psychological Society, with a particular emphasis on misconduct, competency and health issues. By way of example, Lucy has successfully defended nurses accused of inappropriately touching patients, sleeping on duty and making serious medication errors. Lucy successfully defended the nurse in NMC v C (2009), who was accused of exposing herself to a patient, which was widely reported in the tabloid press. In the general medical law field, Lucy has experience of data protection claims, disability discrimination, and limitation and consent issues. Lucy regularly attends inquests, most notably having represented the family of respected author, Luke Bitmead, concerning his death which was widely reported in the press. Lucy also has experience of mental health review tribunals.

Lucy has an established practice in personal injury law, representing both claimants and defendants, with particular experience in road traffic accidents and large vehicle claims, fraud, credit hire, employer’s liability, and slip and trip claims. Lucy has a number of reported cases in the personal injury field. Lucy is able to work in the jurisdiction of New York State. When admitted to the New York Bar in June 2004, she was one of the youngest people ever to have passed the New York Bar exams. She has been awarded the honour of being an ‘Empire State’ Counsel by the New York State Bar Association.

Lucy accepts instructions in all areas of clinical practice, and she has considerable experience in unusual claims. By way of example, Lucy acted in Moore v Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust (2010) LTLPI 12/5/2010, a case which involved excessive doses of Linezolid. Lucy recently represented a young claimant who obtained a settlement following a delay in providing appropriate treatment for hepatitis.

Lucy has also earned the title of ‘Clinical Negligence Lawyer of the Year’ in Lawyer Monthly’s Women in Law Awards 2017!

Career

Recipient of Sir Thomas More Bursary 2002; called 2003, Lincoln’s Inn; admitted to New York State Bar 2004. Publications: Cover Stories, (2005) 41 Personal Injury Law Journal 6. Dependency claims: defining a household, (2006) 42 Personal Injury Law Journal 2.

Languages

Basic French and German.

Memberships

New York State Bar Association; Personal Injury Bar Association; Action Against Medical Accidents; Dental Law and Ethics Forum; Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers; Professional Negligence Bar Association; West Berkshire Citizen Advocacy Service; Free Representation Unit, Bar Pro Bono Unit.

Education

Kendrick Girls Grammar School; University of Reading (1999-2002, LLB Law, 2:1 Hons); BPP Law School (2002-03, BVC, Very Competent); Central Law Training (2003-04, New York Bar exams).

Leisure

Sailing, dog walking, American sports.