Western Circuit
St John’s Chambers is ‘a “go to” set in the Western circuit for good quality clinical negligence work’ with ‘strength and depth at both the junior and senior junior end’. Justin Valentine, who heads the team, is ‘a passionate and effective advocate’ with considerable experience in cases involving cauda equina and neonatal claims, delayed cancer diagnosis and diabetes claims. Lauren Karmel is ‘a powerful advocate’, and is often instructed on behalf of NHS Trusts and health boards in claims. James Marwick is well versed in handling major spinal and birth injury claims and cases concerning negligent obstetric and gynaecological care. Beatrice Baskett is ‘extremely confident’ and ‘an absolute asset’.
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Work Department
Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Inquests.
Career
Call: 2021
Beatrice is a barrister specialising in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquests.
In clinical negligence Beatrice is instructed in a broad range of cases, including orthopaedic, delayed diagnosis, dental treatment and fatal accident claims. Her clinical negligence work is complemented by her expanding inquest practice, where she frequently provides representation in civil claims brought following the conclusion of the inquest. Beatrice recently provided a case law update at our clinical negligence conference.
Beatrice is regularly instructed in fast-track trials and interlocutory hearings in road traffic accidents, employers’ and public liability claims and Highways Act cases. Beatrice recently hosted a live legal debate alongside other barristers on pleading schedules in fatal accident claims, and how to defend them at our catastrophic and serious injuries conference.
She is the Legal Secretary for the Bristol Medico-Legal Society, and enjoys organising the society talks and meeting professionals based in Bristol.
Background
Prior to joining Chambers, Beatrice worked at a leading law firm as a Paralegal in the Clinical Negligence team, where she worked closely with the birth injury and fatal claims teams. Beatrice studied Law at Newcastle University, graduating with First Class Honours. During her time at Newcastle, Beatrice was President of the Bar Society and volunteered as an Adviser for the Citizens Advice Bureau. She worked closely on the Citizens Advice Bureau’s Mesothelioma Project which provided support to individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Articles:
- Public Protection: The Case for Further Reform Post Robinson v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police [2018] UKSC 4, Gray’s Inn Student Law Journal (volume XIII – 2021)
- Decriminalising Sex Work: Securing the Protection of Women under a Harm Minimisation Approach, North East Law Review (volume 7, issue 1 – 2020)
Memberships
- Bristol Medico-Legal Society (Legal Secretary)
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
- Bristol Junior Lawyers Division
- Personal Injury Bar Association
- Western Circuit
Education
- Bar Practice Course, Inns of Court College of Advocacy, London (2021)
- LLB Hons, Newcastle University (2020)
Content supplied by St John’s Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Hugh Maguire and Adam Marston are both very experienced clerks, with strong organisational and people skills.'
- 'Hugh Maguire is very approachable.'
- 'Jordan Yandell is very personable and friendly.'
- 'The clerks in the clinical negligence team are brilliant, always friendly and always very accommodating.'
- 'St John's Chambers has a brilliant clinical negligence team.'
- 'A leading set in the South West for clinical negligence.'
- 'A reliable set with a strong junior end in the clinical negligence practice area.'
- 'A professional and reliable set.'
- 'Fantastic chambers.'