Barcan+Kirby LLP‘s clinical negligence department specialises in a broad range of medical injury claims, including those involving cerebral palsy, severe birth injuries, head and spinal injuries, amputations, and spinal accidents. Additionally, the group represents clients in inquests. Richard Harries is practice head and sports experience in delayed cancer diagnoses, birth injuries, and negligence cases involving GP, surgical, and A&E care. Claire Hurrell is an expert in cases arising from negligent obstetric care, while Helen Franklin regularly handles claims pertaining to cerebral palsy, amputation, and delayed cancer diagnoses. Senior associate Jay Nathwani acts on behalf of adults and children with particular knowledge in complex brain injury and ophthalmology issues.

Hailed as ‘the top lawyers in the south west for clinical negligence matters’, Enable Law‘s clinical negligence practice is active across the firm’s five South West offices and excels at handling high-value, complex cases, including those relating to neonatal death and brain injuries. The firm has further cemented its status as one of the go-to claimant-side clinical negligence firms with the acquisition of Ince & Co‘s practice group in April 2023, with Gillian Clark and managing associate Frances Wright among the additions to the team. Robert Antrobus leads the team and is experienced in a broad range of negligence claims, including meningitis and orthopaedic injury matters. Specialising in representing adults with serious injuries, Paul Sankey is another key name to note, and ‘fantastic negotiator’ Mike Bird regularly acts on behalf of children in brain injury cases.

The clinical negligence team at Irwin Mitchell, led by Julie Lewis, possesses extensive expertise in a variety of cases including negligent obstetric treatment, delayed cancer diagnosis, and brain and spinal injury claims, and group action litigation. Representing both children and adults who have suffered serious injuries, the practice is active across the firm’s Bristol, Southampton, and Cardiff offices. Obstetric cases are a particular area of expertise for senior associate Kate Easy, while associate Luke Trevorrow acts on behalf of claimants against private and NHS healthcare providers.

RWK Goodman is a well-respected firm with a notable standing in clinical negligence work. The practice possesses extensive experience in handling high-value claims, especially in respect to catastrophic birth injuries, and also occupies a unique niche with its dental clinical negligence team. The group also deals with mental health treatment and drug rehabilitation-related claims, surgical errors and delayed cancer diagnoses. Simon Elliman heads up the team, which counts ‘steely and committed solicitor’ Kerstin Scheel among its main practitioners. Paul Rumley, whose experience encompasses cerebral palsy as well as cardiology and cancer cases, is another name to note alongside inquest and clinical negligence specialist Ali Cloak.

Tozers Solicitors LLP has a primary focus on birth injury claims, specifically in regard to Erb’s Palsy. Under the joint leadership of Endurance Arthur and Stuart Bramley, the team has experience representing adult clients who have suffered severe injuries due to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Clair Hemming is a key port of call for claimants with catastrophic neurological injuries, while Simon Mansfield is praised as ‘intelligent and experienced’.

Praised as a ‘leading clinical negligence team in the South West’, Clarke Willmott LLP sports both regional and national capabilities acting for claimants in matters ranging from birth injuries to stroke and meningitis cases. Marguarita Tyne acts as co-head of the practice and is noted for her experience in brain injury as well as fertility cases. The ‘supportive’ Kerry Fifield is a key contact for paediatric matters and completes the leadership duo.

Neurological injury cases, surgery-related claims, and birth injury mandates form part of Coodes Solicitors‘ advisory portfolio in the clinical negligence space, and the practice is also well-versed in gynaecology claims as well as those arising out of mental health issues. Practice head Rachel Pearce has particular expertise in relation to birth injury matters and frequently represents claimants at inquests. Obstetrics and gynaecology matters are handled by Julie Hatton alongside delayed diagnosis issues, fatal claims, and surgery error work.

At Thompsons Solicitors LLP, the clinical negligence department has made a name for itself by handling claims that stem from gynaecological mesh implant surgery, though the practice is active in a range of other matters including birth injury cases. Madeleine Pinschof leads the group and also oversees the firm’s mesh litigation work at a national level. A noted authority in rectopexy mesh cases, Sonia Fu‘s workload also includes birth injury, delayed cancer diagnosis and fatal cases.

Elizabeth Smith leads the team at Wolferstans, which specialises in complex medical negligence cases, often involving patients with severe injuries to the spine and brain, including those sustained at birth. With ‘great courage in taking on challenging cases‘, Simon Parford sports in-depth experience in cases relating to cerebral palsy as well as catastrophic injuries. Holly Bowditch was promoted to partner in 2022 and is a go-to contact for brain injury claims in adults and children.

At Coles Miller Solicitors LLP, the clinical negligence practice is based in Poole and represents claimants nationwide. Adrian Cormack is ‘a safe pair of hands’ and leads the team jointly with David Simpson, whose areas of focus include cases relating to amputations, surgical errors and cauda equina.

The clinical negligence claims handled by the practice at Dutton Gregory LLP range from catastrophic injury cases to mental health matters and delayed cancer diagnosis issues. The trio consisting of Carol Maunder and Melanie Reynolds as well as Emma Menzies in Chandler’s Ford leads the practice. Fatal injury and cerebral palsy claims are part of Michael Kingsman’s expertise.

Led by ‘shrewd tactician’ Oliver Thorne, Slee Blackwell has a clinical negligence practice that is active in a variety of cases with niche expertise in dental negligence and cosmetic surgery claims. Caroline Webber Brown is noted for her experience in matters pertaining to laporascopic ventral mesh rectopexy and birth injuries.

Trethowans LLP‘s clinical negligence team is based across Poole and Salisbury, where the group represents claimants suffering from a range of injuries including those sustained at birth or from error in surgery. Steered by John Hall, the practice also fields Clare Carter, who is particularly well versed in cerebral palsy cases.

With a ‘growing reputation nationally’, Wollens sports a clinical negligence practice that is noted for its expertise in delayed diagnosis and surgical error claims including those stemming from cosmetic surgeries, and necrotising fasciitis. Head of dispute resolution Simon Bean leads the team together with the ‘helpful and supportive’ Elizabeth Larner.