Clinical negligence

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

Peter Ellis
1

Peter Ellis

Hailsham Chambers
Dr. Ellis's background in medicine assists him in absorbing vast amounts of medical records and medical evidence rapidly, spotting legal and medical issues, and identifying strategic advantages and disadvantages in the Claimant's and Defendant's case. He also has excellent client empathy and people skills that allow him to build instant rapport with clients who are going through difficult and stressful circumstances. In addition, he has an exceptional ability to stay calm and think on his feet, presenting compelling complex arguments, counterarguments, and legal principles clearly during difficult and intense Round Table and Joint Settlement Meetings.
Catherine Ewins
1

Catherine Ewins

Hailsham Chambers
Catherine is an excellent barrister in the field of clinical negligence. I cannot speak highly enough of Catherine and trust and value her advice on all manner of complex cases. She has an in-depth knowledge in this area, and her approach to understanding complex medical issues is forensic. Her attention to detail and preparation for conferences, hearings, and round table meetings is always impeccable and impressive. She deploys very astute tactics during negotiations with defendants.
Jane Tracy Forster
1

Jane Tracy Forster

Hailsham Chambers
Anna Hughes
1

Anna Hughes

2 Temple Gardens
Anna Hughes is an excellent barrister. She is highly capable, well-prepared, and very easy to work with. She has strong technical knowledge, sound judgment, and a calm, practical approach to difficult issues. What particularly stands out is her collaborative style. In co-defended matters, she is constructive, sensible, and focused on achieving the best overall outcome. She communicates clearly, works well as part of a wider legal team, and is very effective at identifying the key issues. Her advocacy is clear, measured, and persuasive. She is robust where needed, but always professional and balanced. I would not identify any weaknesses from my experience of working with her.
Tejina Mangat
1

Tejina Mangat

Hailsham Chambers
Nicola Campbell-Clause
2

Nicola Campbell-Clause

Hailsham Chambers
Nicola Campbell-Clause is excellent in conference with experts, demonstrating a thorough and detail-focused approach and ensuring that all issues are explored in depth. She subsequently provides a clear, proactive, and well-structured framework for the progression of the claim. Nicola produced a particularly helpful and insightful case note on complex issues of breach of duty and causation, bringing real clarity to challenging aspects of the case and assisting in driving the matter forward strategically.
Harriet Jerram
2

Harriet Jerram

Outer Temple Chambers
Harriet is meticulous. She approaches every case systematically, working through the evidence with attention to detail, thoroughness, and diligence. She builds cases with strong foundations from the start. She is not afraid to challenge experts to ensure that their conclusions are supported by the evidence and by the medicine. But she is also able to humanize the litigation process for her clients, and she never forgets the person at the center of the claim. This combination of compassion and intellect makes her a formidable barrister.
Jane Mishcon
2

Jane Mishcon

Hailsham Chambers
Aidan O’Brien
2

Aidan O’Brien

Farrar’s Building
Paul Reynolds
2

Paul Reynolds

1 Crown Office Row
Paul is exceptionally thorough and detail-oriented, with a remarkable ability to analyze complex medical evidence and distill it into clear, precise, and persuasive pleadings. He works exceptionally well with experts, combining technical acuity with a compassionate and reassuring manner towards clients. In settlement negotiations, his advocacy is firm, balanced, and strategically astute. He brings considerable technical expertise to every case and consistently inspires confidence through the quality of his preparation and advocacy. He is certainly a junior to watch and will no doubt go on to achieve Silk. He is a real pleasure to work with.
Nadia Whittaker
2

Nadia Whittaker

Crown Office Chambers
She has an exceptional ability to get to grips with complex expert reports and identify the weaknesses in a claimant's causation or breach of duty case. She gives realistic, commercially-minded advice on prospects at an early stage, and strategic advice throughout. She is a master at cross-examination and she is very good with sensitive/nervous witnesses. Overall, she is down to earth and unfailingly generous with her time and advice. The kind of barrister that solicitors will want to continue working with for every case.
Richard Anderton
3

Richard Anderton

Hailsham Chambers
He is excellent with both clients and experts, and consistently pitches his advice and advocacy at precisely the right level. He has an impressive ability to identify the key issues swiftly and to explore them with clarity and confidence, ensuring that everyone involved understands both the strategy and the risks. His drafting is clear, precise, and persuasive, with meticulous attention to detail that materially strengthens the case. He is well prepared and unflappable, and his calm, authoritative approach inspires confidence in clients and experts alike. In court, he is a strong and effective advocate, presenting submissions succinctly and responding thoughtfully to judicial intervention. He is also a pleasure to work with as part of a wider legal team and adds significant value to every case.
Laura Elfield
3

Laura Elfield

Deka Chambers
Laura Elfield is an exceptional barrister. Her attention to detail and drafting skills, in particular, are of a very high standard. She is as good on her feet with excellent advocacy skills. She does not shy away from some of the more difficult and complex cases and has a fantastic track record of getting these cases over the line. She is undoubtedly one of the rising stars in clinical negligence litigation and one who any clinical negligence solicitor would want on their side.
Vaughan Jacob
3

Vaughan Jacob

39 Essex Chambers
Vaughan's advocacy is calm, clear, and precise. He distills complex factual and legal issues into direct, persuasive oral submissions. A significant strength is his management of experts and witnesses at the conference and pre-trial stage. He rigorously tests the evidence, exposing any vulnerabilities and stress-testing experts' conclusions. This ensures weaknesses are identified in advance and not at trial. In respect of written advice, again his submissions are direct. He is unafraid to provide advice and stand by it, even if this assessment runs contrary to clients' expectations or perceptions of the case. He delivers robust, clear advice, ensuring the client is aware of all the risks and protecting their position. In respect of papers, Vaughan is responsive and easily contactable.
Christopher Kemp
3

Christopher Kemp

Outer Temple Chambers
Rebecca Livesey
3

Rebecca Livesey

39 Essex Chambers
Rebecca is an excellent junior barrister and a pleasure to work with. She demonstrates strong attention to detail and consistently produces thorough, well-considered work. She has excellent client care, with a high level of empathy, which clients clearly value and respond well to.
Kate Lumbers
3

Kate Lumbers

7BR
Kate Lumbers is an exceptional advocate and a clear star in clinical negligence work. She combines calm authority with highly persuasive advocacy, bringing real clarity and control to cases involving complex and sensitive medical evidence. Her submissions are incisive, strategically astute, and consistently effective, with an ability to secure key points decisively while remaining measured and professional. Kate’s preparation is meticulous, and her grasp of medical and factual detail is outstanding, allowing her to adapt seamlessly as evidence develops. She inspires real confidence in both solicitors and clients, particularly in high-pressure and emotionally charged cases, and is valued for her sound judgment, reassurance, and approachability. She has no discernible weaknesses and is consistently impressive—an advocate of the highest calibre and a pleasure to work with.
Justin Meiland
3

Justin Meiland

Hailsham Chambers
Justin Meiland is far more experienced than his year of call would suggest and is particularly impressive in complex medical negligence cases. He is meticulous in his preparation and leaves no stone unturned in conference, demonstrating a forensic understanding of both the medical and legal issues. Justin is a highly persuasive and effective advocate at joint settlement meetings, consistently achieving excellent results for clients. He has an extremely high level of knowledge and provides a genuinely first-class level of service throughout.
Gemma Witherington
3

Gemma Witherington

Crown Office Chambers
Gemma is an exceptionally talented barrister who consistently impresses in a number of key areas. Her courtroom presence is outstanding — she commands the attention of the court with a natural authority. Her preparation is meticulous. Gemma arrives at every hearing with a thorough and detailed command of the papers, and this preparation is evident in the quality and precision of her written submissions, which are clear, well-structured, and persuasive. Gemma's advocacy style is measured and precise. She is notably strong in strike-out applications, demonstrating a clear grasp of procedural law and an ability to deploy it with real tactical intelligence. Gemma responds well to judicial questioning and thinks clearly under pressure, adapting her submissions fluidly without losing the thread of her argument. Her overall advocacy is persuasive, confident, and highly effective.
Heather Beckett
4

Heather Beckett

Goldsmith Chambers
Heather Beckett has been a pleasure to work with on a complex clinical negligence matter. She combines excellent technical knowledge with a practical and collaborative approach, making her a highly valued member of the legal team. Heather’s written advice is consistently clear, thorough, and strategically focused. She can distill complex medical and legal issues into concise, persuasive arguments and provides pragmatic guidance that assists both the client and the solicitors in progressing the case effectively. Her advocacy is measured, confident, and persuasive. She is exceptionally well prepared, demonstrates a strong command of the evidence, and is adept at responding to developments as they arise. Clients find her approachable and reassuring, while her professionalism and attention to detail inspire confidence throughout the litigation process. Heather is also highly responsive and easy to work with, maintaining excellent communication and fostering a collaborative working relationship with instructing solicitors. I would not hesitate to recommend her for clinical negligence work.
Stuart Brady
4

Stuart Brady

Farrar’s Building
Stuart is an excellent barrister and a fantastic advocate. His written advice is clear, detailed, considered, and thorough. He is superb when advising and speaking to all parties in conference. His advocacy is excellent, and he is able to deal with any matter that arises in court, often without warning. He is kind to clients when they have faced the most horrendous and difficult situations and shows real empathy.
Ella Davis
4

Ella Davis

Deka Chambers
Ella Davis is an exceptional barrister with outstanding attention to detail. She combines a highly empathetic and approachable manner with a calm and confident presence that puts witnesses at ease. Her advocacy is excellent: persuasive, incisive, and focused on the key issues, enabling complex arguments to be presented clearly and compellingly. She consistently gets to the heart of the matter and provides clear, strategic advice on even the most complex cases, helping clients and instructing solicitors navigate difficult issues and identify the most effective way forward.
Tom Emslie-Smith
4

Tom Emslie-Smith

Farrar’s Building
Tom Emslie Smith is extremely thorough, articulate, and has exceptional attention to detail.
Frances McClenaghan
4

Frances McClenaghan

Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Frances is meticulous in her preparation and clearly reviews her cases in significant detail. She demonstrates a strong grasp of the factual and legal issues when representing and is always thoroughly prepared. Importantly, she exercises excellent judgment, recognizing when it is necessary to robustly advance and defend the client's position while remaining pragmatic and focused on achieving the best outcome. She is approachable and makes lay clients feel comfortable speaking with her. She is empathetic and clearly explains her advice.
Helen Pagett
4

Helen Pagett

Crown Office Chambers
Olinga Tahzib
4

Olinga Tahzib

Outer Temple Chambers
I have instructed Olinga on a number of clinical negligence matters and would not hesitate to recommend them to other instructing solicitors. Their legal analysis is consistently impressive. They have a thorough understanding of the complexities inherent in clinical negligence work, including causation, breach of duty, and the interplay between medical evidence and legal principles. Their written advice and pleadings are clear, well-reasoned, and meticulously drafted, which gives both me and my clients considerable confidence in the case strategy.
Spencer Turner
4

Spencer Turner

39 Essex Chambers
Simon Wheatley
4

Simon Wheatley

7BR

Rising stars

Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.

Bramble Badenach-Nicolson
1

Bramble Badenach-Nicolson

Hailsham Chambers
Bramble is always exceptionally well prepared, approachable, and thorough. I have instructed her on a number of clinical negligence matters, including conferences with clients and experts, and have always found her advice to be clear, considered, and practical. She has an excellent ability to structure conferences and ensure that the key issues are addressed while also making sure that the client feels involved and understands what is being discussed. She is particularly good at putting clients at ease and explaining complex issues in a clear and accessible way. She is also very supportive of clients throughout the process and takes the time at the conclusion of conferences to answer questions and ensure that they are comfortable with the advice given. I have always found her very easy to work with and would have no hesitation in instructing her again.
Grace Corby
1

Grace Corby

Cloisters
Excellent understanding of schedules and evidence with good attention to detail.
Thomas Hayes
1

Thomas Hayes

1 Crown Office Row
Thomas is a skilled advocate in the inquests I have instructed him on. He drafts pleadings very well and is overall very reliable. His medical background is very useful for this work as he grasps complex medical issues very easily and can then question experts well in conference. He puts clients at ease as it is clear he does a lot of preparation before conferences and knows what he is talking about. We will be using him at the firm for many years to come, I am sure.
Matthew Turner
1

Matthew Turner

Doughty Street Chambers
Matthew is extremely sharp and excellent in conferences when questioning experts and obtaining the key evidence he needs to support his client's case. He has a sharp knowledge of the law, particularly with regard to claims under the Human Rights Act. He has confidence in his own practice, and this becomes evident to instructing solicitors and clients very quickly. His drafting is impeccable. He has a very strong inquests practice and clearly is extremely able and dedicated to his clients and their causes too.