Leigh Day

Suzanne White

Partner

Emmalene Bushnell

Emmalene has been a Partner in the Clinical Negligence team since April 2015, having qualified and joined Leigh Day in 2004. She has over 16 years of experience practising in Clinical Negligence.  Emmalene runs a mixed caseload of high value and complex cases. She has a special interest in obstetric and gynaecology cases arising from childbirth, particularly cases of cerebral palsy and brain injury suffered at birth. She also acts for mothers who have suffered third and fourth degree tears, and vaginal and rectal prolapse as a result of childbirth. She regularly acts for parents of newborn babies who have suffered serious injuries arising out of Group B Strep infection and works alongside the charity, Group B Strep Support.  

Olive Lewin

Olive has been considered one of the leading lawyers in the field of clinical negligence for many years. She is a former registered nurse who acts on behalf of claimants in a wide variety of complex cases. ​  ​She has recovered multi-million pound settlements for clients who have suffered brain damage; cerebral palsy; spinal cord injury, and neurological injury as a result of lithium and gentamicin toxicity. Olive has also recovered substantial damages for clients who have suffered endocarditis, and clients who have suffered 3rd and 4th degree tears.   ​ Olive was the solicitor instructed for the claimant in Hassell v Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Trust on the issue of informed consent and recovered in excess of £4.4 million for her client.

Maria Panteli

Maria has extensive clinical negligence experience and manages a wide range of cases. Maria is extremely dedicated and tenacious in her approach to exploring the core issues of a case and to achieving the best possible outcome for her clients. She is meticulous in the organisation and running of cases. Maria’s commitment to claimant clinical negligence work derives from a passion to improve healthcare by identifying where changes can be made to avoid future errors and to ensure that patients who have been harmed are properly compensated for their injuries. Maria has won plaudits in claims involving the delayed diagnosis of breast cancer, retinopathy of prematurity and maternal birth injuries such as perineal tears as well as other gynaecological injuries. Maria also specialises in cases for children who have suffered brain damage, adult brain injury, spinal injury and cardiac cases. Maria consistently achieves exceptionally high awards in claims where traditionally the damages can be quite low, such as in claims involving stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Maria also represents parents at the inquest into the death of their child as well as assisting families who have suffered the death of an adult family member. In addition to this, Maria’s cases also include best interest cases and claims for compensation by patients who have suffered abuse by healthcare professionals. Maria’s recent cases include: the settlement of a brain injury case for a seven figure lump sum and periodical payments for life for an adult man who has been left with permanent brain damage and disabilities as a result of a catastrophic mid-brain haemorrhage due to a failure to carry out a cervical blood patch earlier. Mr X suffered a catastrophic mid-brain haemorrhage as a result of the hospital’s negligence, leaving him with permanent brain damage and disabilities. Mr X is married with 3 adult children; Six figure compensation for the parents of a baby who died 8 hours after delivery as a result of a failure to deliver the baby sooner. Ms X had an uncomplicated pregnancy. She gave birth to a baby girl who died 8 hours after her delivery. There were various failures by the medical staff at the hospital during the labour, including failures to carry out continuous CTG monitoring and a delay in seeking a consultant review. A decision was made to proceed to a caesarean section but there was a delay in carrying this out. On delivery, the baby was noted to be in a poor condition with no spontaneous respiratory effort, poor oxygen saturations and her heart rate was noted to be less than 60bpm. She was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit where she died approximately 8 hours later; £480,000 settlement for the young son of a woman who died after a lengthy delay in diagnosing her breast cancer following an administrative error made by her GP. The case proceeded to trial. The GP admitted that he had been negligent in that Ms X’s breast cancer should have been diagnosed earlier, but disputed that with earlier treatment she would have been cured. Other cases include: a substantial six figure sum for a claim relating to the failure to diagnose and treat cellulitis promptly, which led to renal failure, septicaemia and the development of osteomyelitis; a substantial six figure sum settlement for the failure to diagnose and treat a cerebral aneurysm. As a result, Maria’s client’s husband suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage and died; the achievement of a six-figure settlement on behalf of a widow for the death of her husband at 47, leaving her with 4 children. The case concerned the failure to investigate a cardiac arrhythmia thoroughly; compensation for the husband of a woman whose breast cancer diagnosis was delayed by more than one year, leading to her premature death; significant compensation for a young woman who suffered a third degree tear when giving birth. The hospital failed to identify that she had suffered a third degree perineal tear and to carry out an appropriate repair; damages for a client whose full term baby girl was stillborn at the Bloomsbury Birthing Centre (UCH) as a result of the failure to identify signs of fetal distress and to expedite the delivery of the baby; a significant six figure sum for the failure by West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust to identify that Maria’s client was pregnant during a gynaecological procedure which led to the stillbirth of the baby; compensation for a woman who was fitted with a contraceptive coil when she was in fact 21 weeks pregnant unbeknownst to her. The GP failed to recognise that her uterus was enlarged and palpable. The baby died soon after delivery following a premature labour and delivery; damages for the parents whose baby died shortly after delivery at North Middlesex Hospital as a result of the hospital’s failure to manage the second stage of labour and to perform an instrumental delivery/caesarean section earlier.

Sanja Strkljevic

Sanja deals with a wide range of cases involving medical care provided to patients at NHS and private hospitals, by private doctors and GPs, resulting in serious injury or death. Sanja brings claims on behalf of adults, children and bereaved families. Sanja has a particular interest in obstetrics and gynaecology and issues affecting women's health. She has significant experience of acting for women who have been injured during childbirth and who have suffered perineal tears (3rd and 4th degree tears). She also acts for children who have sustained brain injuries at or after birth, including those who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy Sanja represents parents who have suffered the loss of a baby because of stillbirth or neo-natal death. Sanja’s other particular interest is amputation, an area in which she has a growing practice. Sanja also specialises in fatal cases, and has considerable experience in bringing claims arising from the death of a loved one. She represents and supports bereaved families through the process of a Coroner’s Inquest. Legal expertise Cases Sanja has successfully concluded include: Obtaining a six figure settlement in a claim brought by a woman who sustained life-changing injuries during the birth of her child. Securing Judgment in favour of a child who sustained a brain injury resulting in cerebral palsy during a complex delivery. Settling a claim brought by a family of a woman who died during her pregnancy after a negligent failure to diagnose and treat pre-eclampsia at a London Hospital. Securing a six figure settlement for a woman who sustained injuries in childbirth resulting in a recto-vaginal fistula. Significant six-figure compensation for the children of a woman who died following negligent treatment of a haematological condition. Obtaining compensation for the family of a young woman who died from hyponatraemia. Obtaining a six figure settlement for a woman who sustained significant psychiatric injuries from her experiences of negligent failure to diagnose post-operative complications of cholecystectomy. Settling a claim arising from a stillbirth. Settling a claim for a six-figure sum for a woman who suffered facial disfigurement after a delay in diagnosing a sarcoma. Obtaining significant compensation for a man who sustained neurological injuries as a consequence of anaesthetic and surgical negligence. Obtaining compensation for the adult children of a woman who died as a result of negligent failure to diagnose and treat thyrotoxicosis. Securing settlement for a widow and child of a man who died as a result of negligent failure to diagnose and treat post-operative complications of bowel surgery at King’s College Hospital. Settling a claim for a partner of a woman who died after a negligent failure to diagnose and treat a psoas abscess at Queen’s Hospital. Sanja in the news It's time to modernise the Fatal Accidents Act Solicitors Journal 19.9.l7 Sanja was asked to speak on Al Jazeera News on 6.3.16 when she commented on questions over Ireland's compensation for symphysiotomy victims. The first act of a costs saga Solicitors Journal 10.8.15