The clinical negligence team at Stewarts Law LLP comprises ‘premier league leaders in the field’, and is focused on high-value, complex claims including those involving delayed diagnosis of meningitis and sepsis; birth injury and cerebral palsy; and mental health diagnosis where failure in care leads to catastrophic injury. The group also has particular expertise regarding spinal claims of the highest complexity. In collaboration with the firm’s sports disputes team, the sports injury sub-team continues to grow in strength. Muiris Lyons, a ’leading light in the clinical negligence field’, heads up the practice. The team has notable experience in claims involving cauda equina syndrome, an area in which Robert Dransfield and Hugh Johnson have specialist knowledge. Amy Heath is a ‘formidable opponent with total mastery of her cases’, and is leading the department’s project to promote collaborative working with NHS Resolution and defendant firms. Alison Goldney is also recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Premier league leaders in the field, operating in London and the North. They leave no stone unturned in their case investigation and development and get the very best results possible for their clients.'
- 'Amy Heath is a lethal litigator and formidable opponent with total mastery of her cases.'
‘Hugh Johnson is hugely knowledgeable and very highly regarded in the sector. Keen eye for detail but also able to see the bigger picture in a claim. A good strategic thinker.'
- 'Katherine Fitter is a very impressive litigator. She runs her cases with calm and meticulous efficiency.'
‘The team is ably led by Muiris Lyons who has been a leading light in the clinical negligence field for many years.'
‘Undoubtedly a Tier 1 firm in clinical negligence, with astonishing strength in depth. They only take on maximum severity cases and allocate a small number of cases to each partner, ensuring that they are given all of the attention that they need.’
'They manifestly work as a very effective team, with good oversight and mutual responsibility.'
'The quality of the work which Stewarts attract, seek, obtain and maintain must remain amongst the best in the clinical negligence field. No firm is better qualified to investigate and fight cases of the utmost severity and highest value.'
Work highlights
- Secured admissions of liability in a claim involving the failure to recognise an infection in a newborn leading to Group B streptococcal meningitis and a profound brain injury.
- Recovered £13m on a capitalised basis for a 26-year-old woman with bilateral below-knee amputations and bilateral amputation of fingers following the failure to treat a suspected infection.
- Acted for a 51-year-old man in a claim relating to the mismanagement of cervical spine stenosis leading to incomplete tetraplegia at C4.
Lawyers
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Leading partners
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Stewarts Law LLP
Partner
Hugh specialises in complex healthcare claims, particularly those involving spinal cord injury. He has been described as having a "truly excellent grasp of clinical negligence and the issues in a case".
Hugh solely undertakes claimant clinical negligence claims, whether against the NHS or private healthcare providers. He has substantial experience of spinal claims and the complications arising from such injuries, as well as with regard to issues arising from the provision of healthcare insurance cover, indemnification and recovery.
A significant part of Hugh’s practice includes substandard management of mental health conditions and injuries associated with the failure to protect individuals from harm, both within a hospital environment and in the community.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Stewarts Law LLP
Partner
Alison specialises in high value and complex clinical negligence claims for individuals who have sustained spinal and brain injuries. She is committed to securing excellent results for her clients and recognises the importance of early access to rehabilitation following a life changing injury.
Alison has significant experience in running spinal cord injury claims. She has particular experience in claims arising from the delayed diagnosis of spinal abscesses, injuries resulting from mismanagement of spinal injury, cauda equina and spinal surgery claims. Alison also has experience of running brain injury cases.
Notable cases:
Alison has recently recovered damages for a 78 year old Claimant who was rendered tetraplegic following negligent spinal surgery. The damages were awarded by way of annualised payments for care for the rest of his life and a lump sum for the remainder of the damages. The capitalised value of the damages was £3m, based upon the Claimant living for his projected life expectancy.
Alison recently acted for a Claimant who was a horse enthusiast rendered an incomplete paraplegic following the delayed diagnosis of a spinal abscess. Damages of £3m were recovered which assisted the Claimant to return to her main passion in life, riding her horses. The Claimant has also used the damages to purchase and adapt a property which will enable her to live with her horses on site.
Alison recently advised a client in relation to the delayed diagnosis of a spinal abscess, which resulted in her client sustaining paraplegia. Following an admission of liability, Alison secured a significant six figure interim payment enabling her client to move to adapted accommodation and to fund much needed additional care and rehabilitation. The served Schedule of Loss totalled £10m.
Alison secured a seven figure settlement for a brain injured client in relation to the delayed diagnosis in A&E of a subdural haematoma following an assault.
Alison secured a seven figure settlement for a client following the delayed diagnosis of spinal TB.
Stewarts Law LLP
Partner
Amy has over 10 years’ experience acting for individuals who have sustained catastrophic, life changing injuries as a result of clinical negligence.
Amy acts in claims where delayed diagnosis, surgical and post-operative mismanagement and medical mismanagement have caused life changing injuries.
Amy has an expertise in claims involving spinal cord injuries and with a particular interest in claims that involve the delayed diagnosis of spinal infection and injuries resulting from spinal surgery. Amy’s practice also involves cases where injuries have resulted from the mismanagement and delayed diagnosis of sepsis and meningitis.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Muiris Lyons