Clinical Negligence: Mainly Defendant
UK Guide 2025 : Scotland
Band 1
About
Provided by BTO Solicitors LLP
Our Professional Discipline and Clinical Defence team has a successful track record in handling claims against doctors, dentists and hospitals in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts. We have considerable experience in representing the medical, dental and nursing professions and the wider healthcare and social care sector in relation to damages claims, FAIs and in dealing with complaints against them.
We are the only law firm in Scotland to act for all three mainstream medical defence unions and have recently added the BMA to our roster of healthcare clients.
The team is also involved in privately defended actions and it is instructed by niche insurers to defend clinical negligence claims against insured risks and direct by providers of care to the elderly. Our work is generally dealt with in the increasingly high profile All Scotland Personal Injury Court or in the Court of Session.
The team has been involved in every medical Public Inquiry that has taken place in Scotland under the Public Inquiries Act 2005 and been instructed out of jurisdiction to act for clinicians in two Inquiries in Northern Ireland and one in London.
We deal with the whole spectrum of clinical negligence claims representing surgeons, physicians, anaesthetists, general practitioners, plastic surgeons, gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, dentists, orthodontists, nurses and pharmacists. We also act in multiple claims in respect of medical devices which have failed.
Chambers Review
BTO Solicitors has a top-notch team of highly skilled lawyers who regularly advise medical defence organisations on the full spectrum of clinical negligence mandates. The group acts for health practitioners on fatal accident inquiries and demonstrates additional aptitude in handling the corresponding causation issues.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They are very responsive and good at giving you a timescale."
"They have exceptionally experienced partners and solicitors and they provide a very good service to us."
"They are excellent and run a very good, tight ship."
"They are very responsive and good at giving you a timescale."
"They have exceptionally experienced partners and solicitors and they provide a very good service to us."
"They are excellent and run a very good, tight ship."
Notable Practitioners
Laura Donald is proficient in a wide range of cases including delay and misdiagnosis, dental negligence and surgical error claims, including cosmetic surgery.
"Laura is a real standout - there is nothing that she doesn't know."
"She is so knowledgeable, wise and sensible."
"Laura's experience is second to none."
Jill Harris is regularly instructed by Scotland's main medical defence organisations. She also has experience in defending medical product manufacturers against class action lawsuits.
"Jill is really easy to deal with, has a great bedside manner and puts a lot of thought into her cases."
"She is wonderful, very down to earth and very responsive. She is very caring and gives sensible, pragmatic advice."
"Jill is so good with client management. She is supportive and understanding."
Natalie is solicitor advocate who handles a diverse range of clinical negligence matters, including aesthetic, psychiatric and dental claims.
"She is one of those solicitors who takes their clients' cases on as their own. You would struggle to find someone who cares about their clients' cases more than Natalie."
Ranked Lawyers at
BTO Solicitors LLP
Scotland
Members
Provided by BTO Solicitors LLP
Adam Boyle
Cara Docherty
Duncan Mawby
Jennifer King
Head of Department
Natalie McCartney
Phoebe Crane
Sophie Lennox
Clients
Provided by BTO Solicitors LLP
Medical Protection Society (MPS)
Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS)
The Medical Defence Union Limited (MDU)
Industries
Provided by BTO Solicitors LLP
Cosmetic Claims
Healthcare
Medical
aesthetic medicine