Mark Slater

Director and Head of Clinical Negligence

Mark is a renowned specialist in Clinical Negligence claims; he holds primary responsibility for the complex and often challenging legal areas of this sector and with fellow director Chris Gawne, he has overseen the growth and day-to-day running of our Clinical Negligence team, one of the largest in the country.

His understanding and analysis of the medical processes which must be followed – and the lack thereof which lead to Clinical Negligence cases – is unparalleled. He frequently takes on cases that others in the sector are afraid of, particularly in the arena of inappropriate psychological care leading to negligence. He has worked on group actions which arose out of experimental and ultimately improper use of LSD as a medical treatment and ECT.  He has recovered damages following preventable suicide attempts resulting in life changing injuries. He secured millions in compensation from the MoD for a group of veterans with undiagnosed or untreated PTSD.

Mark acted for the family of one of the few women in the UK to die following a negligently performed amniocentesis and was the first solicitor to push the concept of female impotence as an injury following a challenging case whereby a botched episiotomy left a young woman with psycho-sexual disfunction. At that point the law and guidance on quantum cared only about reproductive ability and only considered the concept of impotence as injury for men.  Mark has represented clients with acquired brain injury, brain injury at birth and won cases covering complex orthopaedic claims. He has acted for clients who suffered sight loss post-diabetic retinopathy and following missed retinal detachment.  Mark says: “I’m not afraid of unusual, often messier cases that really need a solicitor who is happy to take on the harder fights.” He is the lead partner on the vast majority of settlements won by the team.

His reputation for Clinical Negligence expertise is outstanding, his depth and breadth of knowledge much sought after by peers and clients alike. Throughout his career he has not only achieved millions of pounds in damages for clients but also secured those vital packages of treatment and rehabilitation that are crucial to his clients’ recoveries, improving their quality of life and longer-term prospects.

Responsible for training our junior specialist medical negligence solicitors, he runs an ongoing programme of knowledge transfer and mentorship, guiding and teaching those involved so as to facilitate their career progression.  His team of Clinical Negligence solicitors are known for fearlessly pushing the boundaries of Clinical Negligence litigation, all with the sole and purpose and intent of improving outcomes for their clients.