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

Thomas Beasley

Call: 2020

"Tom is a really promising junior. His drafting, ability to question experts and client care is impressive. He has the ability to read a room very well and is very knowledgeable and through when it comes to providing advice. Tom is always very well-prepared in conference and that shows in his advocacy."

Legal 500 2025

Thomas Beasley practises in the areas of clinical negligence and personal injury.

Thomas has a thriving clinical negligence practice and is regularly instructed by both Claimants and Defendants across a wide range of medical specialisms. Thomas has a particular interest in inquest work and has regularly acted at inquests arising out of clinical treatment. In this respect, Thomas is currently instructed as counsel to the inquest, led by Mr Jonathan Jones KC, in the inquest touching upon the deaths of the patients of Mr Ian Paterson.

Thomas’ personal injury practice covers a broad spectrum of claims, including claims arising out road traffic accidents, public liability claims and employer’s liability claims. Thomas has particular expertise in advising on cases that raise complex issues of procedure or law.

Expertise

Clinical Negligence

Thomas has a thriving clinical negligence practice and is regularly instructed by both Claimants and Defendants across a wide range of medical specialisms.

Thomas has a busy paperwork practice and is often instructed to plead matters for both Claimants and Defendants. Furthermore, Thomas has experience of conducting conferences with experts, in order to assist in identifying potential strengths and weaknesses in parties’ cases, both in respect of liability and quantum.

Thomas regularly appears in interlocutory hearings, including case and cost management hearings and application hearings.

In addition to appearing in Court in respect of his ongoing cases, Thomas has also been instructed in a number of cases at an early stage. He has a particular interest in inquest work and has acted for families at inquests with a view to then pursuing clinical negligence claims. Thomas is currently instructed in respect of a number of inquests, including: (1) for the family of an elderly gentleman who died shortly after spinal surgery due to aspiration caused by post-op ileus; the inquest is listed for four days; (2) for the family of an elderly gentleman who suffered a neurological injury during a hospital fall; the inquest is listed for two days; and (3) for the family of a woman who died from infection having sustained a ureteric injury during surgery. Thomas also recently represented the family of a baby who died following hypoxic brain injury at a pre-inquest review.

Recently completed inquests include: (1) representing the family, at a two day inquest, of a woman who committed suicide a few days after being discharged from hospital following psychiatric evaluation; and (2) representing the family, at a week-long inquest, of a woman who died during a neurosurgical procedure.

Thomas is also instructed as counsel to the inquest, led by Mr Jonathan Jones KC, in the inquest touching upon the deaths of the patients of Mr Ian Paterson. The inquest is listed for 12 months commencing in October 2024.

Notable Clinical Negligence Cases


HM Coroner’s Investigation into Ian Paterson

Thomas is instructed as part of the Counsel to the Inquest Team for His Majesty’s Coroner’s investigation into Ian Paterson. Ian Paterson was the breast surgeon who was imprisoned for twenty years after being found guilty of seventeen counts of wounding with intent. Due to some of Mr Paterson’s patients subsequently dying, His Majesty’s Coroner has now opened a series of Article 2 inquests in respect of the deceased. The inquest will also examine wider issues of accountability and knowledge within the various institutions where Mr Paterson worked and will build upon the previously published public reports/investigations into Mr Paterson’s practice. The inquests are listed to commence in October 2024 and are listed to last twelve months.


LG (PR of Estate of TG) v Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Thomas was instructed as sole counsel for the family in a recent week-long inquest into the death of TG. TG was admitted to the Trust for a selective amygdalohippocampectomy to treat her epilepsy. In the course of the procedure, the surgeon made three aberrant tracts, all of which were of the incorrect length and of the incorrect trajectory, leading to TG’s death.

The inquest involved questioning seven clinical witnesses; three expert witnesses, including a Neuropathologist and two expert Neurosurgeons; and the Deputy Medical Director of the Trust.

The inquest raised issues in respect of unlawful killing. Whilst the Coroner ultimately concluded that the negligence was not ‘gross’, and therefore a finding of unlawful killing was not appropriate, the Coroner did return a narrative conclusion highlighting several matters of concern in respect of the surgery.

The Trust were represented by a silk and the surgeon by a senior junior at the inquest. The clinical negligence claim arising out of the above remains ongoing.


JJEW v MOD

Thomas is instructed to act as junior counsel for the Defendant, the Ministry of Defence, led by Mr Richard Grimshaw, in a case involving the alleged misdiagnosis of Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome (“PAES”). The Claimant, a soldier in the Army until his medical discharge, alleges that he was incorrectly diagnosed with, and surgically treated for, Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome. The Claimant avers that the correct diagnosis was one of PAES and had that diagnosis been made at the correct juncture the Claimant would have, following correct surgical treatment, remained within the Armed Forces.

The Claim is pleaded at well over one million pounds and liability and quantum remain in dispute. The Claim is listed for a three week trial in the High Court in 2025.


Inquests, Public Inquiries & Coronial Law

Thomas has a particular interest in inquest work and is currently involved in a number of inquests that relate to clinical treatment.

In this respect, Thomas is currently instructed as counsel to the inquest, led by Mr Jonathan Jones KC, in the inquest touching upon the deaths of the patients of Mr Ian Paterson. The inquest is one that engages Article 2 and is listed for 12 months commencing in October 2024.

Thomas has also regularly acted for acted for families at inquests with a view to then pursuing clinical negligence claims. Thomas is currently instructed in respect of a number of inquests, including: (1) for the family of an elderly gentleman who died shortly after spinal surgery due to aspiration caused by post-op ileus; the inquest is listed for four days; (2) for the family of an elderly gentleman who suffered a neurological injury during a hospital fall; the inquest is listed for two days; and (3) for the family of a woman who died from infection having sustained a ureteric injury during surgery. Thomas also recently represented the family of a baby who died following hypoxic brain injury at a pre-inquest review.

Recently completed inquests include: (1) representing the family, at a two day inquest, of a woman who committed suicide a few days after being discharged from hospital following psychiatric evaluation; and (2) representing the family, at a week-long inquest, of a woman who died during a neurosurgical procedure.

Personal Injury

Thomas’ personal injury practice covers a broad spectrum of claims, including claims arising out road traffic accidents, public liability claims and employer’s liability claims. Thomas accepts instructions from both Claimants and Defendants.

Thomas has a busy paperwork practice and regularly advises in conference in respect of both liability and quantum. He also regularly appears in Court, in both interlocutory hearings and trials.

Thomas a particular interest in cases that raise complex issues of law or procedure, and recent examples of the same include: (1) advising an insurer in respect of abuse of process in relation to a road traffic accident where subsequent proceedings seeking recovery of credit hire sums have been issued following the settlement of a previous personal injury claim; (2) advising on claims against the MIB, including considering both the Untraced Drivers’ Agreement and Uninsured Drivers’ Agreement; (3) advising on the applicability of EU Directives in RTA claims against the MIB following the European Union (Withdrawal) Agreement 2018; (4) advising on the technical requirements under the Electrical Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 for an individual who sustained a brain injury following electric shock in a domestic setting; (5) advising on claims under the Animals Act 1971; (6) advising on the interaction between the 1957 and 1984 Occupier’s Liability Acts where the trespasser asserts an implied license; and (7) representing a client in respect of an application under CPR Pt. 31.22 for collateral usage of documents used in previously settled proceedings in fresh contribution proceedings.

Fraudulent Insurance Claims

Thomas has regularly acted for insurers alleging fundamental dishonesty on the Fast Track and has successfully secured findings of fundamental dishonesty on numerous occasions. Thomas’ detailed and thorough approach to cases is well-suited to the task of exposing inconsistencies in fraudulent claims.

Related News, Resources and Events

Publications


Beware a Claimant Bearing Fixed Costs Consent Orders

Beware a Claimant Bearing Fixed Costs Consent Orders: Reference to ‘detailed assessment’ disapplies fixed costs Woe betide the Defendant who takes great efforts to amicably…

News


Supreme Court Provides Guidance About Qualified One-way Costs Shifting (“QOCS”)

In addition to raising questions about the reactiveness of the CPRC to issues when they arise (covered by Alex Mellis here), Ho v Adelekun raises important…

View all related news

    
  • Student of the Year, University of Law (awarded for the highest overall mark on the BPTC). [2021]
  • Opinion Writing Prize, University of Law (awarded for the highest mark in the opinion writing module on the BPTC). [2021]
  • Certificate of Honour, The Honourable Society of Middle Temple. [2020]
  • Queen Mother Scholarship, The Honourable Society of Middle Temple. [2019]
  • Blackstone Entrance Exhibition, The Honourable Society of Middle Temple. [2019]
  • Counsel to the Inquest, HM Coroner’s investigation into Ian Paterson (led by Jonathan Jones KC).
  • Attorney General’s Civil Panel Counsel: Junior Junior Panel (2021 – 2025).
  • Bar Professional Training Course with LLM, University of Law [2019-2020]: Outstanding (placed first in year); (Distinction in LLM).
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Law [2018]: Distinction.
  • MA (hons) Theology, University of St Andrews [2012-2016].

Related News, Resources and Events

Publications


Beware a Claimant Bearing Fixed Costs Consent Orders

Beware a Claimant Bearing Fixed Costs Consent Orders: Reference to ‘detailed assessment’ disapplies fixed costs Woe betide the Defendant who takes great efforts to amicably…

News


Supreme Court Provides Guidance About Qualified One-way Costs Shifting (“QOCS”)

In addition to raising questions about the reactiveness of the CPRC to issues when they arise (covered by Alex Mellis here), Ho v Adelekun raises important…

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

Portfolio Builder

Select the expertise that you would like to download or add to the portfolio

    Download    Add to portfolio   
    Portfolio
    TitleTypeCVEmail

    Remove All

    Download


    Click here to share this shortlist.
    (It will expire after 30 days.)