Insurance
Russell-Cooke LLP’s claimant clinical negligence team handles a broad range of high-value and sensitive claims, from catastrophic birth injuries and wrongful birth, to maternal trauma, spinal damage, and delayed cancer diagnoses. Janice Gardner brings decades of expertise in brain and spinal injury claims, while Dominic Fairclough leads the inquest offering and regularly acts as advocate in complex coronial proceedings. Lucy Lawson and Sarah Towler run high-stakes cases involving cancer and surgical negligence, and Bernadette McGhie, drawing on her experience as a paediatric nurse, leads the brain injury practice. The team is particularly active in maternity-related claims and has recently been appointed to the Birth Trauma Association’s Trusted Legal Partner panel.
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Work Department
Personal injury and clinical negligence
Position
Janice is a partner in the personal injury and clinical negligence team.
In her 30 years of practising as a clinical negligence and personal injury solicitor she has seen all manner of negligently acquired injuries and is un-shockable. She has a huge amount of experience to bring to each case because of her experience and technical skills.
She has a varied caseload of both clinical negligence and personal injury cases, but her main area of expertise is in infection, spinal injuries and brain injuries.
She has successfully won many cases at trial and never shies away from those cases at the more difficult end of the spectrum.
As now the most senior lawyer in her team, she focuses her energies on the cases that she thinks she can add most value to, namely those that are technically difficult or very high value. She also enjoys working on cases where she can push the legal boundaries and challenge bad law.
Career
Trained Anthony Gold; qualified 1993; assistant solicitor Anthony Gold specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence 1991-97; assistant solicitor Jones Maidment Wilson specialising exclusively in clinical negligence 1997-99; assistant solicitor at Russell-Cooke (until made partner in 2001) specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence.
Frequent contributor to Lawtel, Clinical Risk and APIL's Focus Magazine.
Memberships
- Law Society, Clinical Negligence Specialist Panel Member
- Member of APIL and AvMA
- Back-up Legal Panel member
- Trustee of the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre (specialising in riding for disabled children)
- Volunteer and Committee Member of Hemel Hempstead Recreational Ski Group for disabled skiers
Education
Tulketh High School, Preston, Lancashire; Swansea University (BA Hons History 2(1)); York College of Law.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Bernadette McGhie is both an exceptional person and professional. She is extremely knowledgeable, kind, caring and determined. She has very high standards and always delivers regardless of barriers. She is tenacious yet empathetic. She always goes that extra mile for her client.’
‘The ability to help the client achieve a realistic outcome and the ability to empathise with the client.’
‘My case was the first of its kind in the UK and I have nothing but praise for the way it was dealt with. Nothing was too much trouble and considering that they were working in unknown territory it was dealt with with professionalism.’
‘Dominic Fairclough is a client‑focused solicitor with a calm, reassuring manner even in the most challenging situations.'
‘Quite a small, tightly knit team in my experience. They obviously all share a passion for the work they do and are not afraid to help each other. The client care is exceptional. I have recommended them to potential lay clients which is probably the highest praise I can give.’
- 'Dominic Fairclough is a class act: hugely experienced and you would trust him with the most important cases.'
‘Good team headed by charismatic Janice Gardner undertaking heavy work diligently.’
‘Janice Gardner at Russell-Cooke leads the team in heavy duty PI and Clin Neg. Is a real fighter who stands her ground and gives realistic and proper advice to her clients. She is hugely experienced, has a lightness of touch and brings tactical nous to all her decisions.’