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17 December 2019 | Firm News | Article by Ruth Powell

Spotlight on our award winning entry “Clinical Negligence Team of the Year”


At the end of November we were proud to announce that we won the award for ‘Clinical Negligence Team of the Year’ at The Personal Injury Awards 2019. The ceremony took place on 27th November at the Hilton Hotel in Deansgate, Manchester.

We would like to showcase the hard work from the team and commitment to their clients that resulted in the team taking home the award.

The judges’ comments on the night:

Mari Rosser, Head of Medical Negligence said:

“We are delighted to have won the prestigious Clinical Negligence Team of the Year award. The team has been representing victims of medical accidents throughout the UK for in excess of three decades. The skills and experience we have developed over this period has helped us to deliver the outstanding service which our seriously injured clients deserve. This area of law continues to face huge challenges as a result of policy changes. Hugh James will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the patient’s interests are served in the face of those changes.”

Key facts about the team

Our Medical Negligence team is one of the largest teams of its kind in the UK, a combined 30 years + experience that includes 6 partners and 17 qualified lawyers, with national reputation amongst clients & peers. Consistently ranked in top tiers for Chambers UK & Legal 500 independent legal directories and regularly appears in UK news, articles & legal publications.

The team specialises in high-value cases that include; cerebral palsy, spinal injuries, brain injuries, psychiatric and obstetric cases. The team is not shy to take on complex and unique cases and is often at the forefront of topical issues and developments, aided by Stephen Webber’s insight gained through his role as chair of SCIL.

In excess of £30m recovered for clients last year including:

  • Gynaecological surgical injury due to negligence, case value: £3m;
  • Patient suffered permanent colostomy & bladder damage;
  • Mismanagement of arteriovenous malformation resulting in significant brain injury, case value: £2.5m;
  • Birth injury claim transferred from another firm of solicitors due to delay in progressing, £11.5m* settlement;
  • Birth injury cerebral palsy claim, £9.8m* settlement;
  • Spinal cord injury case, £3m* settlement;
  • Negligent scoliosis surgery case, £9.35m* settlement;
  • Birth injury claim, full liability, Case value: £16m*;
  • Negligent neuro-surgery case, Case value: £4.5m;
  • Inquest Cases of Amy Allen and Lilly Mae Tamasi which both received extensive coverage in the national media and most television news outlets; and
  • Representing 7 maternity cases relating to the independent review of Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board & key role in discussions.

*Capitalised damages

Further support for our clients

The Clinical Negligence team is supported internally by a number of other teams that provide first-class ancillary support way beyond the end of a case:

  • Court of Protection team (acts as a professional trustee for over 130 clients with total assets £150m+)
  • In-house IFAs(managing in excess of £100m)
  • UK-leading Nursing Care team which has recovered over £100m for clients
  • Experienced private client team assists with PI trusts
  • Social services & state funded benefits support

What people say about us

Some recent comments from our clients and peers include:

  • I would definitely recommend Hugh James to anyone who was looking for the best
  • Thank you for everything you have done for me these past 4 years. You made my claim so easy and non-stressful I honestly couldn’t have wished for a better solicitor. . . I have finally gained back my confidence and I truly feel that you are a part of that.
  • Hugh James has, in my experience, always put their client first and will fight, if that is necessary, tooth and nail to achieve a successful outcome.
    Rob Weir QC
  • Standout firm with an impressive bench of several highly skilled practitioners tackling a heavy caseload of complex and high-value clinical negligence mandates.
    Chambers & Partners

Key team members

Our broad team of industry leaders includes:

Stephen Webber (Head of Claimant Division)

  • Chairman of Society of Clinic Injury Lawyers (SCIL) – supports c.100 specialist clinical negligence law firms & at forefront of political debate on clinical negligence
    • Quoted by The Right Honourable Sir Rupert Jackson QC in recent talk at Hong Kong Arbitration Centre
    • Member of Civil Justice Council & in four major pieces of press coverage in role as Chairman of SCIL in July 2019, reaching online readership of 95.9million
    • Addressed Parliament at lobby against FRC
    • Member of AVMA & Law Society Clinical Negligence panels & APIL Fellow
    • Band 1 Chambers

Mari Rosser (Head of Clinical Negligence)

  • 25 years’ experience
  • Band 1 Chambers
  • Leads team that advises & assists the Welsh Community Health Councils on all aspects of medical law since 2004
  • Central to public debate around patient safety regulations
  • Member of AVMA & Law Society Clinical Negligence panels

Katie McCraith (Partner)

  • Specialised since 2005
  • Vast experience in orthopaedic, gynaecological & cardiac claims
  • Member of Law Society’s Clinical Negligence panel and APIL Senior Litigator

Ruth Powell (Senior Associate)

  • AVMA Clinical Negligence Specialist panel member
  • Member of APIL and SCIL
  • Ranked in Chambers
  • Successful in several multi-million pound cases
  • Achieved damages for woman who suffered secondary infertility as result of negligent management of miscarriage

Sarah Davies (Partner)

  • 10+ years’ experience
  • Member of Law Society’s Clinical Negligence panel and APIL Senior Litigator
  • Specialises in spinal & surgical cases

Rhian Parsons (Partner)

  • Member of Law Society Clinical Negligence panel
  • Successfully concluded several seven figure clinical negligence claims
  • Significant case brain injury case with capitalised value of £8m

Lynda Reynolds (Senior Associate)

  • Inquest specialist
  • Represented families of Amy Allen and Lilly Mae Tamasi in high profile cases in 2019
  • Member of APIL & Inquest and Legal 500 rising star

Sophie Jones (Senior Associate)

  • Acting for 21 claimants against surgeon under investigation by GMC & issued against multiple defendants as a result of indemnity complications
  • Currently working on high value brain injury cases with value of £10 million+. Many psychiatric & obstetric injury claims & runs complex arguments relating to consent & secondary victims

Helen Neville (Senior Associate)

  • Specialises in secondary psychiatric injuries, maternity & cancer claims
  • Accredited APIL Senior Litigator and Legal 500 rising star

Author bio

Ruth Powell

Partner

Ruth is a Partner and Head of our Clinical Negligence Department. She has exclusively practised in clinical negligence since qualifying in 1995 and has a wealth of experience in complex and high value clinical negligence claims.

Disclaimer: The information on the Hugh James website is for general information only and reflects the position at the date of publication. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. If you would like to ensure the commentary reflects current legislation, case law or best practice, please contact the blog author.

 

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