No5 Barristers' Chambers - Excellence is at the heart of everything we do.
Background

Esther Gamble

Call: 2001

"Esther is always approachable and gives consistently excellent advice. Her expertise in dealing with complicated medical and causation issues is really top notch."

Chambers UK 2025 (Personal Injury)

"Esther is an exceptionally intelligent barrister with very high levels of attention to detail. She is thorough, detailed and impressive on paper, in conference, and in court.  She has a wonderful manner with clients, who are often very vulnerable, and she is able to carefully and methodically unpick cases."

Legal 500 2025 (Clinical Negligence)

"Esther is ultimately personable and reasonable, but a proper fighter. She does fantastic work and I'd trust her to represent me."

Chambers UK 2025 (Personal Injury)

"Esther is a formidable advisor and advocate. She balances a sharp legal mind with exemplary client care. She has built a reputation as a leading advisor, who is ready and able to take on cutting edge cases. She takes a true team approach and is always happy to discuss strategy."

Legal 500 2025 (Personal Injury)

"Esther is one of the most intelligent, empathetic and organised barristers out there. Her knowledge is boundless and she has an excellent manner with clients who require lots of support."

Chambers UK 2025 (Clinical Negligence)

Esther Gamble is a leading senior junior in the fields of clinical negligence and personal injury litigation. She specialises in cases involving serious injury of significant value, and cases with complex or novel points of law.

She is consistently ranked as a leading barrister for both clinical negligence and personal injury work by Chambers UK and Legal 500. She was named “Birmingham Law Society Barrister of the Year” in 2020/21 and was shortlisted for “Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year” at the 2023 Chambers Bar UK awards.

She recently appeared in the Supreme Court in the seminal case known as “Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust”, dealing with claims by secondary victims of clinical negligence.

Esther prides herself on being accessible and responsive, and working as a team with her instructing solicitors. Professional clients often instruct her in the most delicate cases, for her sensitive and empathetic approach and her ability to win the confidence of vulnerable, challenging or anxious clients and witnesses. She also has a reputation for impressive attention to detail and an easy grasp of technical medical issues.

Expertise

Clinical Negligence

Esther specialises in clinical negligence litigation, with a well-established practice spanning a spectrum of medical fields.

She is regularly instructed in cases where medical accidents have resulted in catastrophic consequences including brain injuries and paraplegia. She has wide experience in cases involving various types of cancer and has achieved provisional damages for numerous clients facing a risk of cancer recurrence. She has in-depth knowledge of the particular issues that arise in claims involving fatalities. She also has extensive experience in cases involving birth trauma, from severe maternal injury to shoulder dystocia to stillbirth, as well as a host of surgical errors and mismanagement of serious infection.

Esther recently appeared in the seminal Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in the case known as Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, acting for the claimant Purchase, concerning claims by secondary victims of clinical negligence.

Brain Injury & Cerebral Palsy

Esther is experienced acting in cases involving catastrophic brain injury resulting from medical mismanagement, including those resulting in paraplegia and quadriplegia.

Most recently Esther achieved a settlement of £1.6 million (capitalised value) in a case of catastrophic brain injury resulting from the mismanagement of a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Recent cases include:

  • Mismanagement of subarachnoid haemorrhage resulting in Korsakoff Syndrome
  • Mismanagement of seizures resulting in cardiac arrest, catastrophic brain damage and quadriplegia Hypoxic brain injury in vulnerable adult with pre-existing brain damage
  • Mismanagement of cerebral shunt in brain-injured child
  • Hypoxic brain injury sustained at birth
  • Most recently Esther achieved a settlement of £1.6 million (capitalised value) in a case of catastrophic brain injury resulting from the mismanagement of a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Cancer

Esther has extensive experience dealing with cases involving delays in diagnosis and mismanagement of cancer and is well-versed in the particular complexities that often feature in cancer-related cases such as tumour doubling times and survival statistics. She has acted in cases involving breast, cervical, bowel, rectal, bladder, prostate, lung, gallbladder, oesophageal, oral, neuroendocrine and bone cancers. She is known for her sensitivity working with clients facing a terminal diagnosis and bereaved family members. She has achieved provisional settlements, addressing the risk of cancer recurrence, and has expertise in the technicalities of claims involving fatality.

Gynaecology & Obstetrics

Esther is regularly instructed in cases involving mismanagement of pregnancy and birth, including the tragedies of stillbirths and neonatal deaths; and mismanagement of gynaecological and women’s health conditions.

She achieved a £1.15million settlement for a bereaved mother following the loss of her newborn, which resulted in severe psychiatric injury.

She achieved a £500,000 settlement for a new mum who sustained a fourth degree tear at birth resulting in severe colorectal consequences.

She has achieved significant settlements for several clients with Erb’s Palsy resulting from shoulder dystocia at birth.

Other recent cases include:

  • Failure to offer caesarean section
  • Misuse of forceps
  • Failures to recognise third and fourth degree tears Negligent removal of placenta causing uterine inversion Mismanagement of retained products of conception
  • Mismanagement of trial without catheters Mismanagement of UTIs and prolapses

Medical / Surgical

Esther acts in all manner of claims involving delays in diagnosis, mismanagement of medical conditions and injuries, and negligently performed surgery.

Recent cases include:

  • Failure to diagnose scaphoid fracture
  • Failure to diagnose torn biceps Mismanagement of penile fracture Mismanagement of sepsis
  • Failure to treat infection, resulting in sepsis Negligently conducted hip replacement Negligently conducted knee replacement Mismanagement of tendon injuries
  • Delay in diagnosis of limb-threatening ischaemia Negligently performed surgery resulting in foot drop Delay in diagnosis of aortic dissection Mismanagement of fistula

Spinal Injury

Esther is regularly instructed in claims involving spinal injuries of the utmost severity. Recent cases include: a claim involving negligently conducted surgery for spinal tumour, resulting in paraplegia a claim involving a delay in diagnosis of a spinal tumour resulting in paraplegia several claims involving delays in diagnosis of cauda equina.

Notable Clinical Negligence Cases


Purchase v Ahmed (conjoined with Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust) [2024] UKSC 1


Settlement of £1.6 million (capitalised value) in case of catastrophic brain injury resulting from delayed
diagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage



Settlement of £1.1million in case of mismanaged birth resulting in loss of child and resultant psychiatric injury



Settlement of £700,000 in case of delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer (fatal)



Settlement of £575,000 in case of delayed diagnosis of bowel cancer (fatal)



Settlement of £570k in case of Erb’s palsy



Settlement of £500,000 in case of mismanagement of bowel cancer



Settlement of £500,000 in case involving mismanagement of fistula



Settlement of £450k in case of negligently-conducted spinal surgery resulting in paraplegia (low life expectancy).



Settlement of £425,000 in case of delayed diagnosis of breast cancer



Settlement of £380,000 in case involving failure to diagnose sepsis (fatal)



Settlement of £325,000 in case of negligently conducted surgery resulting in foot drop.


Personal Injury

Esther is very experienced in the field of personal injury litigation, with a career that has encompassed all manner of accidents – road, industrial, property-related – involving all manner of injuries including catastrophic injuries, complex matters involving multiple defendants, motorcyclist and other multiple injury claims and fatalities.

She provides in depth analysis and advice at the earliest stages of a claim, with a pragmatic approach which facilitates expeditious resolution. She works closely with professional clients to ensure a case strategy is realistic and robust. She is known for her reassuring manner with clients and witnesses, and her ability to clearly explain complex and difficult matters to the most anxious and vulnerable lay clients.

Catastrophic Injury

Esther is regularly instructed in claims involving injuries of the utmost severity including brain and spinal injuries. As well as such claims arising out of accidents she also has extensive experience in such claims arising from clinical negligence.

  • Recent cases include:
  • Traumatic brain injury in young child in road accident
  • Spinal injury sustained by cyclist in road accident
  • Brain injury resulting from rare arterial dissection in road accident
  • Hypoxic brain injury in resident of care home following accident, overlaying existing brain injury
  • Traumatic brain injury in teenager in road accident

Notable Personal Injury Cases



Settlement of £1.2 million in case involving superimposed brain injury for resident of care home, arising out of accident.



Settlement of £715,000 in case involving life-changing leg injury in road traffic accident



Settlement of £500,000 in case involving fatal car accident.



Settlement of £375,000 in case involving crush injury to foot sustained in accident at work.



Settlement of £200,000 in case involving loss of sight in one eye in road accident.


Related News, Resources and Events

News


Secondary Victims – A New Era

In Brief With the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case known as Paul & Anor v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2024] UKSC 1…

News


No5 shortlisted in the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023

No5 Barristers’ Chambers is pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted in the below categories for the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023. The awards…

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"Esther's ability to cut through complex medical issues is impressive. She is always well prepared for conferences and is very responsive."


"Esther is a very experienced and skilled barrister with a great client manner alongside excellent advocacy skills."


"She is a brilliant barrister who is commercially aware and able to cut through complex cases."


"Esther is a very thorough and detailed barrister. She gives great advice on how to maximise the value of a claim and ensures that everything is evidenced as fully as possible to give each element of a claim the best chance of being recovered successfully."


"Esther is a very warm, friendly, thorough and detailed barrister. She gives great advice on how to maximise the value of a claim and has a great focus on getting to the issues and pulling out the information that is needed from experts and clients in a clear and detailed way, leaving no stone unturned."


Esther Gamble is a well-regarded clinical negligence and personal injury barrister. She is regularly instructed in catastrophic injury claims, ranging from severe brain injury to fatalities arising from RTAs.


"Esther is accommodating, approachable and a great intellect. She shows great empathy with clients." "She is a fierce and reliable advocate."


"She is amazing with clients and extremely thorough."


"It is always a pleasure to work with Esther. She is extremely bright and hard-working."


"Esther's dedication and commitment is exemplary. She has a keen eye for detail and leaves no stone unturned. She is one of the best court advocates who is persuasive, tenacious and precise. She is always approachable and keen to discuss ideas, rather than dictate the case strategy."


"Esther is really exceptional. She is very good at making complex medical concepts accessible and easy to understand." "Esther is excellent with clients, very understanding and empathetic. She has a meticulous eye for detail."


"Esther is an outstanding advocate and tactician." "Esther is a confident advocate who is able to handle complex matters."


"Esther is clear-headed and insightful with strong analytical skills. She is a persuasive advocate and has a great client manner."


"Strong analytical skills and able to assess complex issues incisively. Excellent advocacy skills and empathetic client communication."


"Esther is extremely capable in all aspects of practice. Her reputation goes before her. She is very responsive and takes a team approach, which helps to get the best results for clients."


"Very intelligent and an impressive advocate in court." "She has a lovely manner with clients, good attention to detail and is very considered in her advice."


"She is very impressive, gets straight to the point and has a good skill set with a human touch."


"She analyses information forensically and identifies strengths and weaknesses in a case early on."


"Extremely thorough, efficient and sensible. She is lovely with clients and is a safe pair of hands." "She is calm and collected and her written work is outstanding." "She's technically brilliant and her knowledge is unbelievable."


  • Birmingham Law Society Barrister of the Year 2020/21
  • Shortlisted for Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year 2023, Chambers UK Bar Awards
  • Ranked Tier 1 Clinical Negligence by Legal 500 Ranked Tier 1 Personal Injury by Legal 500
  • Ranked Band 1 Clinical Negligence by Chambers & Partners UK Bar
  • Ranked Band 2 Personal Injury by Chambers & Partners UK Bar
  • Recorder – Civil, Midlands
  • Bar Vocational Course – Outstanding (Middle Temple highest achiever)
  • Post-graduate Diploma in Law – Distinction (NLS award for highest achievement)
  • First Class BSc Pure Mathematics & Philosophy (awards for highest achievement in both mathematics and philosophy)
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Related News, Resources and Events

News


Secondary Victims – A New Era

In Brief With the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case known as Paul & Anor v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2024] UKSC 1…

News


No5 shortlisted in the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023

No5 Barristers’ Chambers is pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted in the below categories for the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023. The awards…

View all related news

Clerk Team

William Theaker

Practice Director, Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury

williamt@no5.com

07494 070989

Clare Radburn

Practice Director, Family, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury

clarer@no5.com

07809 407950

Pete Mottram

Practice Manager, Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury (Multi-Track)

peterm@no5.com

Matthew Reeves

Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury (Multi Track) and Regulatory Clerk

matthewr@no5.com

Tracey Witherford

Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury (Multi-Track) Clerk

traceyw@no5.com

Morgan Smith

Clinical Negligence (Multi-Track) & Personal Injury Clerk

morgans@no5.com

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