Department profile
Hailsham Chambers

Clinical Negligence

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Hailsham Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Clinical Negligence - London (Bar)

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

Hailsham Chambers is described by instructing solicitors as hosting "an excellent cohort of very experienced counsel" who are "willing to go the extra mile to achieve the best possible result." The team is highly regarded for its expert representation of both claimants and defendants in a wide range of clinical negligence cases, and offers considerable strength in brain and spinal injury, obstetric and fatal claims. Members are also recognised for their adroit handling of claims involving allegations of surgical negligence and failures in diagnoses. Its barristers recently acted in JD v Circle Healthcare, a brain damage claim following surgery. The case raises important points of law surrounding private healthcare treatment.

Stephen Smith is the senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks at Hailsham are second to none. They are prompt, efficient, friendly and knowledgeable.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are very communicative, approachable and organised.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are very approachable and happy to assist. The management team, in particular the marketing team, always go the extra mile

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • I have always found the clerks to be extremely helpful, they are prompt in their responses and always on hand to answer any queries that may be had.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks at Hailsham are lovely, you really get to know them which helps when you deal with issues like timing of conferences.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Alexander Hutton
    Band 1Alexander Hutton

    Alexander Hutton

    Alexander Hutton KC is a highly sought-after silk with over 20 years' experience of practising within the field of medical law. He is entrusted by both claimants and defendants to handle cases of high value and complexity.

    • He is my first choice for high value complex cases. He is a great advocate and very good with clients. He is absolutely at the top of his game.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He has a calm and reassuring presence, he is quick to assimilate information and to identify issues and solutions.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He really understands my clients and their needs and outlook. He works hard to achieve a fair outcome. He is approachable, very helpful and easy to work with.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • His advice has always been beyond compare and delivered in an easy manner. The matter required a team player and that was what Alex was.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Dominic Nolan
    Band 1Dominic Nolan

    Dominic Nolan

    Dominic Nolan KC has amassed a wealth of knowledge over his lengthy career. His particular area of expertise lies in high-value matters involving breach of duty and causation, specifically in relation to severe brain and spinal injury claims. He handles claims for both claimants and defendants.

    • He is very good.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Dominic is superb on his feet and a brilliant negotiator. Has very sound judgement in the most taxing cases. He is excellent with clients and great on detail.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He is fantastic.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Jane Mishcon
    Band 1Jane Mishcon

    Jane Mishcon

    Jane Mishcon is a highly regarded junior with a broad clinical negligence practice encompassing a range of matters, including spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, fatal accidents and failures to diagnose. She has chaired several independent inquiries. She represents both claimants and defendants.

    • Jane is a wonderful and hard-working barrister and her knowledge on clinical negligence is second to none. She works at silk level.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Jane Tracy Forster
    Band 1Jane Tracy Forster

    Jane Tracy Forster

    Jane Tracy Forster handles all manner of clinical negligence matters, ranging from relatively straightforward claims concerning anaesthesia to highly complex cases involving surgery. She continues to devote much of her practice to birth-related injury claims, and also regularly handles cerebral palsy and obstetric matters. She represents both claimants and defendants.

    • Jane has handled a sensitive case with care and thought, but in a straightforward way.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Jane is extremely detail-oriented and a perfectionist. She has a great eye for detail and often appears to know the medicine better than the experts.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Matthew Jackson
    Band 1Matthew Jackson

    Matthew Jackson

    Matthew Jackson is hailed for having a brilliant legal mind which he applies to a wide range of cases, including those concerning neurosurgery, spinal injuries, cardiology and plastic surgery. He almost exclusively acts on behalf of defendants such as the MPS and NHS Resolution. He has appeared in numerous high-stakes cases involving surgeons and cardiologists.

    • He shows an excellent standard of work in complex matters, providing careful, practical and robust advice. He has fantastic awareness of the law in this area.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Matthew is always a strong advocate providing sensible advice and support.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Nicholas Peacock
    Band 1Nicholas Peacock

    Nicholas Peacock

    Nicholas Peacock is routinely instructed by both patients and medical organisations to undertake clinical negligence matters at all levels. He often appears in the High Court. He also provides high-quality representation at inquests and professional discipline cases.

    • He is very personable, sees the issues very quickly and provides robust advice.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He's a great person to work with and a steely negotiator.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He is extremely analytical and a very experienced advocate. He is approachable and provides realistic advice for clients.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He is calm but gives very robust advice, presented in excellent detail. He has good communication and a flexible approach.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He is adept at responding to unfolding developments with agility, crafting arguments that are both persuasive and responsive to the specific context of any case, no matter the complexity.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Peter Ellis
    Band 1Peter Ellis

    Peter Ellis

    Peter Ellis is a leading barrister who handles complex matters such as those pertaining to spinal cord and brain injuries. He is regularly instructed by leading UK firms to undertake very severe cases. His understanding of the evidential issues is informed by his medical background.

    • Peter is an outstanding advocate, and my go-to barrister on complex matters. His medical knowledge, advice, client care and interpersonal skills are second to none.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He is, in a nutshell, the perfect counsel. He has an eye for detail, insight and the ability to package that in difficult conversations in trying circumstances.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He is a very knowledgeable barrister who really gets to grips with the medicine. He's very personable and good with client care.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He is a very experienced and knowledgeable barrister who is particularly good in mediations and joint settlement meetings.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Catherine Ewins
    Band 2Catherine Ewins

    Catherine Ewins

    Catherine Ewins has a diverse caseload and regularly tackles complex, high-value claims. She demonstrates considerable strength when handling matters pertaining to delayed diagnosis and failure to diagnose. She is also well able to contend with cases involving catastrophic injuries and fatalities. She is adept at handling litigation, mediation and inquests.

    • Catherine has been excellent to work with. She is extremely thorough, tactically astute and very responsive, no matter how busy she is.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Her ability to understand complex liability arguments and explain quantum to a client is exceptional. She is great with clients and has an amazing ability to put minds at ease.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • She is extremely bright and knowledgeable, she is a tough negotiator and has excellent client care skills.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Her advice is always well considered and pragmatic. She has an excellent eye for detail. She is responsive and open to discussing approaches.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • She is an excellent all-rounder.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Julian Picton
    Band 2Julian Picton

    Julian Picton

    Julian Picton KC is a well-regarded barrister with experience acting on behalf of both claimants and defendants in high-value and medically complex clinical negligence claims. He focuses his practice on the handling of birth and neurological injury claims.

    • He has such a fantastic manner with clients and lawyers, and he is just very very reassuring. He will look at cases so forensically and he knows everything about the case.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He combines encyclopedic knowledge with emotional intelligence and client care skills.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • It is a pleasure to work with Julian. He is extremely knowledgeable and thorough and has an excellent manner with clients.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Julian is very personable and his quantum advice is meticulous. He is wonderful to work with and very intelligent. He is great with clients.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Eva Ferguson
    Band 3Eva Ferguson

    Eva Ferguson

    Eva Ferguson is regularly called upon to act for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of clinical negligence cases. Her broad expertise encompasses brain and spinal injury and failed diagnosis claims, among other matters.

    • Eva is an exceptional barrister, highly experienced and skilled in her field, with a thoroughness and eye for detail which never fails to impress.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Eva is just fantastic. She is great at marshalling experts, formulating case theory, strategising and advocacy.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • She is very personable and very good in court.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Nicholas Pilsbury
    Band 3Nicholas Pilsbury

    Nicholas Pilsbury

    Nicholas Pilsbury often represents NHS Trusts and other defendants in a broad range of clinical negligence cases. He has experience handling birth injuries as well as more niche issues such as securing the supply of medication.

    • Nicholas is superb. He is a technically excellent advocate with a laser focus on strategy and the client's objectives.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • When it comes to advocacy, Nicholas has mastered the art. He's an adept orator who is quick on his feet and has an exceptional ability to convey complex legal arguments with eloquence and precision.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Nicola Campbell-Clause
    Band 3Nicola Campbell-Clause

    Nicola Campbell-Clause

    Nicola Campbell-Clause is a talented barrister who is noted for her expert representation of both claimants and defendants in complex clinical negligence cases. She is regularly called upon to advise her clients on a range of complex matters such as cauda equina cases and brain injury claims.

    • She is an expert in complex clinical negligence cases, and takes into account commercial considerations when providing advice. She's a strong advocate.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • She went above and beyond to provide thoughtful, detailed, sensible and pragmatic advice, with a view to meeting various deadlines and ultimately securing a very good settlement.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Her empathy and understanding with lay clients is exceptional, putting clients at ease whilst at the same time her confident and clear approach is always reassuring.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • She gives excellent robust advice which is effective and clear. She is absolutely willing to go the extra mile which is especially noticeable in those tricky cases.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Thomas Crockett
    Band 3Thomas Crockett

    Thomas Crockett

    Thomas Crockett is well-regarded for his expertise in complex surgical and nursing cases and is well-versed in claims concerning the causation of psychiatric illnesses. He is also noted for his ability to handle wrongful birth claims and counts both claimants and defendants among his clients.

    • He is knowledgeable, capable and reliable. He is friendly and approachable.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He has a proven track record of successfully defending claims to trial. He has a real eye for detail and excellent in conference with experts and witnesses.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • He is highly commercial and he cuts through the case. He is a real pleasure to work with, always available, incredibly responsive and all over the detail.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Clementine Coram James
    Band 4Clementine Coram James

    Clementine Coram James

    Clementine Coram James is a respected junior who is adept at handling a variety of clinical negligence claims for both claimants and defendants. She is regularly instructed in birth injuries, delay in diagnosis claims, psychiatric and dental care claims.

    • Clementine is a pleasure to work with. Her attention to detail is notable, as is her swift turnaround of work.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • She has a wealth of experience in clinical negligence matters, bringing a sophisticated and considered approach to each matter. She has an excellent and assuring way with clients.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Clementine is always very responsive and is excellent with clients.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Henry Bankes-Jones
    Band 4Henry Bankes-Jones

    Henry Bankes-Jones

    Henry Bankes-Jones handles a range of clinical negligence mandates including complex haematological and oncological cases. He frequently acts for claimants in clinical negligence claims.

    • He was accessible and clear, and very effective in dealing with opponent and experts alike. He's definitely worth instructing.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • I rate him very highly. I feel he has my clients' interests at heart, is supportive and knows what he is doing.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Justin Meiland
    Band 5Justin Meiland

    Justin Meiland

    Justin Meiland is a well-regarded junior with experience in representing both claimants and defendants across a number of complex clinical negligence claims. He is regularly instructed in matters ranging from delay in diagnosis of cancer, cauda equina and secondary victim claims. He also has notable inquest experience.

    • Justin provides exceptional advice, is always well prepared, and goes the extra mile to ensure that the evidence is correctly prepared, which makes all the difference in a difficult case.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Hailsham Chambers (16)

London (Bar)

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