Samantha Critchley

I have been a partner at Fieldfisher since 2003. I have specialised in medical negligence claims for 20 years; particularly those involving children brain-injured at birth. I have been on the specialist AvMA panel for over a decade.

I am highly regarded for my tenacity, devoted client care and strong legal expertise. I am considered to be a top-notch litigator and a go-to lawyer for clinical negligence claims.

Particular interests include: obstetrics (cerebral palsy; kernicterus; Erb’s palsy, traumatic deliveries, pre-eclampsia cases); fetal medicine (wrongful birth); cases resulting in infertility or the need for surrogacy; paediatrics and neonatology; neurosurgery, gynaecology and cancer claims.

In 2018 I secured an award of £23million for a child who suffered serious brain damage at the age of 2 due to negligent cardiac surgery which caused her to have a stroke. I also secured damages of £19 million in the case of a baby who developed neonatal jaundice which was not treated properly with a full blood exchange. This caused brain damage (kernicterus) resulting in cerebral palsy and a complex hearing disorder.

I am a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and sit on the Clinical Disputes Forum. I am an active charity fundraiser.