Weightmans LLP

Healthcare London

Legal Director - Healthcare London

Since first qualifying as a solicitor in 1994, Isobel has acted for the NHS Trusts, as well as representing NHS Resolution (previously known as NHSLA) since its inception. Isobel also has extensive experience of defending individual healthcare practitioners, surgeons and dentists acting for their MDOs and private insurers.

Her caseload is very wide-ranging defending and resolving all types of clinical negligence cases, including claims of the utmost severity (including birth and adult brain injury PPO claims, spinal claims and other catastrophic high value injuries) involving complex causation issues.

As well as dealing with the highest value cases, Isobel also is Weightmans’ NHS Resolution inquest lead and deals with a large number of Mental Health Act and Human Rights Act claims. Many of her cases involve novel or sensitive issues and also involve dealing with the media. She has group action experience, as well as both extensive trial, ADR and mediation experience. Her advice is pragmatic, robust and commercial, achieving early evaluation and resolution.

Isobel has particular interests in patient safety and learning and in cases that relate to informed consent. She speaks at sector specific events on these topics, as well as on the investigation and clinical negligence process and preparing for inquests. Her training aims to understand and identify risk profiles and trends with data, whilst minimising claims and complaints.

Isobel has experience of defending judicial review proceedings relating to healthcare provision, particularly in the mental health sector. She has also advised on best interest assessments and withdrawal of treatment cases.

Isobel studied medicine at UCLH before converting to law. Her medical background makes her ideally suited to forging strong relationships to ensure delivery of the highest quality service to all healthcare clients.

As a result "Isobel is immensely experienced and very easy to work with”. Ranked Legal 500 since 2019. Next generation partner, Rising star & Key lawyer; Ranked Chambers Directory since 2021.

High profile cases:

RAGE (Breast radiotherapy group action) Janet Birch v UCLH Foundation NHS Trust 2008 EWHC 2237 (QB) R v Camden & Islington Health Authority ex-parte K 2001 EWCA CIV 240 (CA) Bostridge v Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (2015) EWCA CIV 79.