Department profile
RWK Goodman

Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant

UK Guide 2026 : South West


RWK Goodman

Rankings

About

Provided by RWK Goodman

From acquired brain injuries and dental negligence, to birth injuries and spinal injuries, our team of expert medical negligence solicitors have exhaustive experience of claims and compensation. Whatever you need to claim for, we know how best to go about it. As medical negligence solicitors, we've been helping clients make successful claims for decades, and pride ourselves on getting to grips with the complex needs of every case to deliver a speedy resolution.

Our team is led by Simon Elliman, who has strong experience and experience in cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy claims, and also specialises in spinal injury. Partner Paul Rumley specialises in birth injury, fatal, cardiology and cancer cases, and has a particular interest in developing areas of medical claims, such as involving genetic conditions. Partner Kerstin Scheel's main area of interest lies in birth injury, cerebral palsy, Group B strep claims, wrongful birth, and Erb's palsy claims. Partner Ali Cloak has won impressive results for her clients (including novel dependency issues and overcoming liability issues in medically complex cases). She specialises in birth injury, psychiatric claims, high value orthopaedic, amputation, and surgery related claims. Hannah Blackwell is a Senior Associate who has secured multi-million pound settlements for clients who suffered brain injury at birth. Senior Associate Naomi Todd heads up the Dental Negligence team. 

Industries (1)

  • Private clients

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant - South West

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For
RWK Goodman is a premier Somerset firm with a large team that offers expertise in a broad range of high-value clinical negligence matters including birth injury, failures in diagnosis and surgical negligence. Its team is also recognised for its strong capabilities in Erb's palsy cases. The firm is often called upon to represent clients at inquests. It also provides Court of Protection and trust advice to provide a holistic service for clients.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team work well together and clearly communicate well. They clearly build a strong rapport with the clients, gaining understanding of the individuals and their needs.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
  • The team are amazing. They really put you at ease and for the first time I felt I was being heard. Their compassion is a huge strength.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
  • They have an impressive understanding of both the legal and medical aspects of claims, and provide excellent client care with great sensitivity and understanding of the difficulties.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
  • The clinical negligence team at RWK Goodman has an exceptional blend of experience, knowledge and empathy.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
  • They are very compassionate lawyers who are very intelligent, experienced and really care about the people they represent, so clients feel supported.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Kerstin Scheel
    Band 1Kerstin Scheel

    Kerstin Scheel

    Kerstin Scheel possesses considerable expertise in claims concerning complex brain injuries, including cerebral palsy. She also represents families at inquests.

    • Kerstin clearly has a great understanding of the complexities of clinical negligence claims. She is very knowledgeable and reliable, and her communication is always sensitive and reassuring.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • Kerstin has a clear focus on achieving the best results for her clients. She is able to distil complex legal argument into words that clients can relate to and understand.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • She has excellent judgement and is very pragmatic. She will spot the potential difficulties in her cases and take them into account.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • Kerstin leads a fine team and shows obvious compassion and empathy with the patients.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • The best claimant litigator in the South West. She fiercely fights for her clients and has a practical, hands-on style.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
  • Band 1Paul Rumley
    Band 1Paul Rumley

    Paul Rumley

    Paul Rumley is recognised for his considerable experience in claims relating to brain damage arising from birth injuries, delay in diagnosis and Erb's palsy.
    • Paul is formidably intelligent, tactically brilliant and utterly determined to get the best possible result for his client.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • Paul has a very warm and friendly approach to clients and others which puts people at ease and is a great asset when dealing with very sensitive and emotive subject matter.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • A great leader and a superb solicitor.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
  • Band 1Simon Elliman
    Band 1Simon Elliman

    Simon Elliman

    Simon Elliman is a highly regarded clinical negligence solicitor who heads the team at RWK Goodman. He has considerable expertise in cases concerning brain injuries at birth and surgical negligence.

    • He's vastly experienced and thoroughly pragmatic.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • Simon is a superstar of clinical negligence.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • Simon absolutely knows his stuff. He is an excellent litigator.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
  • Band 3Ali Batchelor
    Band 3Ali Batchelor

    Ali Batchelor

    Ali Batchelor has notable experience handling misdiagnosis cases and also regularly acts for clients in complex inquests.

    • She is thorough, conscientious and runs difficult cases extremely well.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • Ali has an excellent set of qualities that combine a really bright analytical mind with a down-to-earth, client-friendly attitude.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
  • Up and ComingAbigail Ringer
    Up and ComingAbigail Ringer

    Abigail Ringer

    Abigail Ringer is noted for her handling of high-value birth injury and cerebral palsy claims.

    • An excellent solicitor and future star of the medical negligence field.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • She is brilliant at presenting a complex matter and has a tremendous eye for detail.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • Abigail is deeply committed to her clients and advocates fiercely for them.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    • Abby understands both the complexities of clinical negligence claims and the need for empathy and emotional awareness when dealing with her clients.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

Ranked Individuals at RWK Goodman (5)

South West

Members

Provided by RWK Goodman

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