Melissa Gardner

Practice Areas

Melissa specialises in cases involving children who have sustained brain injuries around the time of birth, with particular focus on neonatal jaundice (kernicterus), birth asphyxia and hypoglycaemia. She also acts for children and young adults with orthopaedic injuries such as hip dysplasia, SUFE (slipped upper femoral epiphysis). Melissa has extensive experience of acting for clients in cauda equina syndrome cases, many of which are of high value.

Recent successes include the cerebral palsy cases of A v E Hospital Trust and OM v W Hospital Trust, which both settled in 2018 for £22.3 million and £22 million respectively.

Melissa has a high level of expertise in cases specifically relating to cauda equina syndrome failures and obtained £2.1 million for a client in 2020.

The same year Melissa secured £1.35 million for a teenager who suffered a misdiagnosis of a slipped upper femoral epiphysis and will have lifelong disabilities.

Career

Qualified 2005. Joined JMW’s Clinical Negligence Dept. 2006. Partner from 2015.

Professional Memberships

Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel since 2010. APIL and AvMA member.

Personal

BA (Hons) University of Sheffield.