Department profile
No5 Barristers' Chambers

Clinical Negligence

UK Bar Guide 2026 : Midlands (Bar)


No5 Barristers' Chambers

Rankings

About

Provided by No5 Barristers' Chambers

No5 Barristers’ Chambers is home to one of the largest and most highly regarded Clinical Negligence teams in England and Wales. The group comprises more than 40 specialist barristers, including King’s Counsel and medically qualified practitioners, acting in complex and high-value claims for both claimants and defendants.

Members are regularly instructed in cases involving catastrophic birth injuries, brain and spinal cord damage, delayed diagnosis, surgical negligence, fatal claims, human rights issues, mental health matters and medical ethics. The team has extensive experience in multi-party litigation, group actions and cases arising from defective medical products and treatment.

The group acts for a broad range of clients including NHS Trusts, medical defence organisations, insurers, private healthcare providers and individuals. Its members are recognised for combining technical excellence with a practical and client-focused approach.

The team's strength in depth, collaborative culture and consistent delivery of exceptional service was recognised when No5 was awarded Clinical Negligence Set of the Year at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards. Members are regularly instructed in some of the most significant and high-profile clinical negligence cases across the jurisdiction.

Members are supported by a dedicated and experienced clerking team, providing commercial, strategic and client-focused support to both solicitors and counsel throughout the life of a case.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Clinical Negligence - Midlands (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

No5 Barristers' Chambers is the leading set on the Midlands Circuit for complex clinical negligence matters, noted by instructing solicitors for its "excellent technical and strategic advice." The set houses a strong bench of barristers, including several medically qualified professionals, who are noted for their experience handling high-value cases stemming from surgical and dental negligence, birth injuries and failures in diagnosis. Additional areas of expertise for the team include catastrophic brain and spinal injuries and multiparty claims involving medical devices. The set's members are regularly instructed to act for both claimant and defendant clients, including private individuals, medical defence organisations and NHS trusts. Recent highlights include a complex cerebral palsy case arising out of the alleged mismanagement of the claimant’s birth, resulting in an eight-figure settlement.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The service levels and responsiveness of the clerks is always prompt and helpful; they are extremely user-friendly from the end user perspective.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Tracey Witherford is exceptionally good and I can always rely on her to administer matters swiftly and smoothly.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are amazing. They're headed up by Will Theaker and he regularly gets in touch to check if everything is good. They are quick to accommodate. All the clerks are brilliant.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • No5 Barristers' Chambers has a very good clerking system. They have a team approach; there's always someone on hand to speak to or contact.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Will and Pete are the people who go above and beyond to address any problems or difficulties. They are easy to work with and are approachable.

    Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsEsther Gamble
    Star IndividualsEsther Gamble

    Esther Gamble

    Esther Gamble is an impressive senior junior with a substantial clinical negligence practice. She demonstrates proficiency in cases relating to obstetrics, surgical error and delayed diagnosis, covering both physical and psychological injury. She is widely praised for her client care skills and her detailed approach to difficult claims.

    • Esther is great with clients, can always be relied upon to get the best out of experts and is clear and concise in her advice.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Esther is excellent at advocacy and settlement meetings, and that is where she comes into her own.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Esther is very bright and has a sharp mind.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Esther combines meticulous attention to detail with a deeply empathetic approach. Her advocacy is both passionate and precise, grounded in technical analysis that is second to none.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Chris Bright
    Band 1Chris Bright

    Chris Bright

    Chris Bright KC is a highly regarded silk who frequently represents both claimants and defendants in diverse and complex instructions. He possesses a wealth of experience in serious brain damage cases including those involving cerebral palsy. His broad expertise covers areas including surgical negligence, obstetrics and delayed diagnosis claims.

    • Chris is always incredibly courteous. He is a great guy to be against as he really knows what he's doing. He is really experienced and has a high level of expertise.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • With Chris in your corner, you feel like you're in utterly safe hands. He's a skilled advocate who doesn't let his feathers get ruffled by any opponent.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Chris is very knowledgeable. His experience shows in his advice and in how he works with the legal team and clients. He gets excellent results.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Gemma Roberts
    Band 1Gemma Roberts

    Gemma Roberts

    Gemma Roberts is regularly instructed in complex gynaecological and oncological claims, and has experience acting for both claimants and defendants. She is also recognised for her expert handling of claims arising from missed or delayed diagnoses and surgical negligence. She also frequently appears for her clients at inquests.

    • Gemma has an excellent grasp of medical issues in cases and is able to discuss cases with medical experts at a high level. She is always well prepared, approachable and able to explain complex issues.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Henry Pitchers
    Band 1Henry Pitchers

    Henry Pitchers

    Henry Pitchers KC offers expert advice on clinical negligence claims of the utmost severity and complexity. He possesses notable expertise in delayed diagnosis, treatment and surgical negligence, and operates a caseload demonstrating significant knowledge of brain and spinal injury claims. He is also regularly instructed in birth injury cases, including those involving cerebral palsy.

    • Henry is an outstanding KC. He's very knowledgeable, very efficient and very detailed in his preparations. He always delivers excellent results.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Henry Pitchers is brilliant. His knowledge of the law is second to none.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Henry's my go-to for anything serious. He is my favourite. His written work is meticulous. He's always responsive and clients love him. The experts are always getting the best from him.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Henry is extremely knowledgeable, personable and he is great with the clients. He's very responsive and easy to deal with.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Jamie Gamble
    Band 1Jamie Gamble

    Jamie Gamble

    Jamie Gamble has a strong claimant practice across a variety of complex clinical negligence instructions. He displays impressive aptitude in tackling difficult causation and quantum issues in claims involving spinal and brain injuries, and offers further expertise in wrongful birth cases.

    • He is clear in his thought process and has very good understanding of medical issues. His schedules are very well pleaded. Jamie is a first-class junior.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Jamie's preparation is impressive. He's got an understanding of the case and gives real reassurance that he knows the case before the conference begins which is really reassuring.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1John Coughlan
    Band 1John Coughlan

    John Coughlan

    John Coughlan KC is a highly regarded practitioner who acts predominantly for claimants in complex clinical matters. His broad practice takes in numerous high-stakes issues including birth injury and surgical negligence claims.

    • John is very cool and calm. He's measured, sensible and quite up for the fight when necessary. He's a go-to.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • John is meticulously well prepared. He provides commercially savvy and technical advice and handles witnesses with ease. He has an easy gravitas and is utterly unflappable.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Jonathan Jones
    Band 1Jonathan Jones

    Jonathan Jones

    Jonathan Jones KC is an eminent silk in clinical negligence. He acts for claimants and defendants in complex instructions, demonstrating significant prowess in claims relating to obstetrics. He regularly acts in serious cases, including those concerning death and catastrophic spinal injury, and is particularly well reputed for his compassionate approach with clients, as well as his finely honed attention to detail.

    • Jonathan is extremely empathetic and is able to explain very complex legal issues in a straightforward manner. He can be relied upon to pick up and deal with instructions quickly.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Jonathan is absolutely meticulous when it comes to understanding the points of the case. He is very reasonable and fair. His preparation for conferences and advocacy is really second to none.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2David Tyack
    Band 2David Tyack

    David Tyack

    David Tyack KC is a highly impressive barrister who is regularly instructed in a wide range of medically complex cases. His broad practice covers claims resulting from brain injuries, spinal injuries and surgical negligence.

    • David is extremely experienced, very knowledgeable and very careful in his approach. He is thorough and measured.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • David has very good oversight and command with experts. He's good at keeping experts on track and is very good with vulnerable clients. He is impressive.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • David is extremely hard working and helpful. He has a great deal of experience in handling high value and complex clinical negligence claims.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Jodie Kembery
    Band 2Jodie Kembery

    Jodie Kembery

    Jodie Kembery acts for both claimants and defendants in a range of complex clinical negligence claims. She has experience of handling complex surgical and obstetric cases, and has appeared in several clinical negligence inquests.

  • Band 2Paul Bleasdale
    Band 2Paul Bleasdale

    Paul Bleasdale

    Paul Bleasdale KC is a notable silk who demonstrates experience in the handling of complex brain injury, amputation and cerebral palsy claims. He is also regularly instructed in cases concerning allegations of delayed diagnosis and birth injuries, among other areas.

    • Paul is a very capable silk. He is never phased.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Teresa Hargreaves
    Band 2Teresa Hargreaves

    Teresa Hargreaves

    Teresa Hargreaves is a well-established senior junior who acts for both claimants and defendants in a range of complex and high-value matters. She has experience in conference and at trial, with expertise in cases involving catastrophic injury, delayed diagnosis and fatal accident claims.

    • Teresa is very capable.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar
    • Teresa Hargreaves is exceptionally responsive and very impressive in her range of knowledge of all the cases. She is approachable with clients.

      Clinical Negligence respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at No5 Barristers' Chambers (11)

Midlands (Bar)

Members

Provided by No5 Barristers' Chambers

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