Shoosmiths LLP

Richard Bannister

Richard has acted successfully in a variety of clinical negligence claims, drawing on his wealth of experience. Since 1992, he has undertaken claimant clinical negligence claims exclusively. He is highly admired for being “very focused and experienced”, “practical and pragmatic” and “a very reliable and effective practitioner”, in addition to establishing “good practical solutions to difficult problems”. His standing in the field is well-known and respected, especially in complex issues which include obstetrics, oncology, orthopaedics, brain injury, general surgery, fatal accidents and representation at inquests. Richard has been accredited to the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) Specialist Solicitor’s Referral Panel since 1997. He is routinely top ranked in the Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession as a leading Clinical Negligence Lawyer who is a “people person” and “popular with clients”, “highly regarded” and “very pragmatic, direct and sensible”. In 2019, the Chambers Guide recognised him as an Eminent Practitioner in this field.  

Natasha Read

Natasha is a Principal Associate Solicitor in the Medical Negligence department at Shoosmiths. She qualified as a solicitor in 2009 after already working in clinical negligence for one year during her training contract. Natasha has been ranked in the Legal 500 as rising star and described in the same directory as 'exceptionally well prepared, very bright and focussed. Natasha never misses a point and always gets the very best for clients. Natasha has a very caring way with clients and gives them sensible practical advice.' Similarly, Natasha is ranked in Chambers and Partners, and described as 'phenomenally bright, extremely hard working and very determined', and as 'an exceptionally able solicitor who never gives the opposition an inch. Tireless, tenacious and fierce.' Natasha has a varied caseload of serious injury claims against NHS trusts, private hospitals/practitioners and General Practitioners. She has particular experience in cases relating to spinal injury, often caused by cauda equina syndrome, abscess/discitis, myelopathy and haematoma. Natasha also specialises in brain injury, and in particular stroke, Wernicke's encephalopathy, and birth/hypoxic injury. She also has experience in a wide range of cases such as surgical error, gynaecological injury, sepsis/infection, and ophthalmic injuries. She represents adults and children and acts on behalf of claimants only. She also has experience of assisting clients during the inquest process and representing families in the Coroners' Courts throughout the country. Natasha has a reputation for achieving positive outcomes where cases are particularly difficult, novel or have complex loss of earnings arguments. Work highlights include: • acting on behalf of an aspiring barrister who was required to change her career plans due to the severe and permanent long term effects of a delay in diagnosis of appendicitis; • acting on behalf of a successful international racehorse vet who was unable to return to her previous employment or follow her intended career path due to alleged negligent anterior cruciate ligament (knee) surgery; • acting on behalf of a widow during a four day long inquest at Birmingham Coroners court. This was a very tragic case where a vulnerable man was allowed to escape from a psychiatric ward and died from his injuries after falling from the hospital roof. A jury found that the hospital's neglect had contributed to his death. Following this, Natasha brought a civil claim on behalf of the widow who received a substantial sum in compensation; • assisting in bringing a claim in clinical negligence on behalf of a 28 year old former professional photographer and mother of three. The Claimant suffered a cauda equina (spinal) injury resulting in significant disability and inability to return to her professional photography work. The Claimant was awarded a seven figure sum in compensation at trial. • Natasha assisted in bringing a claim in clinical negligence on behalf of a 35 year old lower limb amputee which ultimately settled for a seven figure sum.  

Phil Barnes

Phil is the National Head of the 50 strong Shoosmiths Medical Negligence team. He has specialised in representing claimants in clinical negligence claims for 19 years. As an experienced litigator he has dealt with a wide range of complex and high value claims throughout his career, including neurological injury, child birth trauma, amputations, group actions involving intraocular lens implants, surgical errors, misdiagnosis and fatal claims. He has a specialist interest in infection and sepsis cases. Phil regularly appears as an advocate before Coroners and has been involved in a number of high profile inquests.