Mary Ruck KC

Practice Areas

Mary specialises in clinical negligence, medical law and human rights, catastrophic injury and Fatal claims.

Mary is recommended for her excellent eye for detail, her calm, measured and persuasive advocacy and her excellent client care skills.

Successful negotiated outcomes involve significant settlements for psychiatric injury arising out of failures to implement safe systems of work within the Ministry of Defence (where adverse inferences relating to the Defendant’s choice of witnesses and approach to disclosure were to be raised at trial) and for human rights violations and tortious compensation for an unnoticed stroke while in police custody. Sample ongoing cases involve neurological injury arising from birth brain injuries resulting in, or complicated by, neurodivergence.

She has notable trial experience, securing a significant care award and PPO at trial and arguing for new law in Martin -v- Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWHC 3058; [2022] EWHC 532. She appeared at trial for over two years dealing with multiple interlocutory applications and extensive submissions against the British Government in group litigation arising out of colonial-era torture and abuses. She undertakes Article 2 inquests.

Her expertise is informed by being a judge in the First Tier Tribunal, (Mental Health and SEND).

She lectures regularly and trains other barristers and solicitors.

Mary supports the Evolve Foundation for International Legal Assistance, assisting Ugandan lawyers with death row appeals.

Career

Called 1993 (Gray’s Inn);

King’s Counsel (2023)

First Tier Tribunal Judge HESC (Mental Health, 2007; SEND, 2019).

Professional Memberships

PNBA; PIBA; AvMA