39 Essex Chambers is 'a heavyweight personal injury set'. The team is active across a broad range of matters, including high-value brain and spinal injury claims, amputation, and complex liability disputes. Christian Du Cann is a key contact for catastrophic injury work, with a practice focused on serious claims involving disputed liability and quantum. Susan Rodway KC continues to act for claimants and defendants in claims arising from severe injuries, and Nina Goolamali KC is 'a fearsome negotiator' who regularly acts for insurers in maximum severity claims.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Position
With regard to clinical negligence work, Susan specialises in high-value claims and complex medical and scientific issues, including cerebral palsy and other birth injuries as well as acquired brain damage, failures to diagnose and serious spinal injuries. She also acts in related medical matters arising out of inquiries or inquests, disciplinary proceedings and pharmaceutical product liability. She also acts in related medical matters arising out of inquiries or inquests, disciplinary proceedings and pharmaceutical product liability. She was involved in the LSD and ECT group litigation. Her expertise in this area has seen her advice sought from solicitors in overseas jurisdictions. Notable cases: Dymott v Southampton University NHS Trust; Neame v Kent and Medway NHS; Breeze v Ahmad. Furthermore, Susan has extensive experience in catastrophic injuries in every aspect of personal injury litigation. This includes carbon monoxide poisoning, overseas road traffic accidents to UK nationals, paraplegia and tetraplegia, catastrophic brain injury, occupational disease; including stress from harassment. She has been instructed in several very high-profile cases recently which have drawn a lot of media attention and all will involve damages calculated in excess of £5m. Notable cases: Dawson and others v The Chief Constable of Northumbria Police; Phethean-Hubble v Mr S Coles; Gibbons v Telford. Within the area of sports law, Susan acts for claimants and defendants in all cases arising out of equine arena. Notable cases: Camila Milbank v Luca Cumani; Kinane v Belstane and others.
Career
Called 1981; Middle and Inner Temple; Accredited Mediator 2001; QC 2002; chairman NHS Tribunal 2000-04; Lay member Clinical Standards Committee, Guy’s & St Thomas’s NHS Trust, 1998-2001; bencher of Middle Temple 2009.
Languages
French, Italian.
Memberships
Committee member PNBA; PIBA.
Education
Cheltenham Ladies College; King’s College London; City University, London.
Content supplied by 39 Essex Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Jamie Tucker, Joe Ralph, and Harry Airth are simply excellent.'
- 'Harry Airth is great; he is efficient, responsive, and always a pleasure to deal with. He brings a calm professionalism to every interaction and consistently goes the extra mile to ensure smooth communication and support. A real asset to 39 Essex Chambers.'
- 'Gemma Aldeen is a rising star.'
- 'Fantastic clerking team.'
- 'Great depth in chambers across all aspects of personal injury work.'
- '39 Essex is a superb set.'
- 'A powerhouse chambers.'
- 'The set has great strength in depth.'