Practice Areas
Richard has dealt with almost every type of medical negligence claim.
The bulk of his cases concern the following:
Brain injuries sustained at birth and shortly thereafter
Surgery to the brain and spine
Complex orthopaedic surgery, including joint replacement and reconstructive surgery
Delays in diagnosing cancer and other serious illness
Richard also has considerable experience in medical product liability claims, and has led several large group actions.
He also conducts a number of professional negligence claims, against other firms of solicitors, concerning the management of clinical negligence and personal injury actions.
Richard manages a team of solicitors based in the York office. He is responsible for the screening of the firm’s new cases, and also for its response to the recent reforms to the recovery of legal costs.
Work Highlights
Richard’s practice largely consists of the following:
Birth injury and neonatal brain injury claims
Spinal surgery cases, including cauda equina syndrome claims
Complex orthopaedics, including joint replacement, limb reconstruction, bone cancer and amputation cases
Cases concerning delays in diagnosing cancer and other serious illnesses
Richard led a successful group action of 400+ product liability claims against a multinational orthopaedic device manufacturer, concerning hip replacements
He led a successful group action against a French manufacturer of ankle replacements
He led a successful clinical negligence group action against a number of surgeons and NHS Trusts concerning the use of mismatched hip replacement devices
Richard is part of the Thirlwall Inquiry team at Switalskis, representing six of the families named in the criminal indictment against former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby. This Inquiry will explore the circumstances surrounding the tragic events leading to the deaths of and harm to innocent babies within the healthcare system. The Inquiry will seek to provide answers for the victims’ families in an effort to determine accountability and what must be done to prevent such incidents from ever happening again.
