Gemma has established a thriving and busy clinical negligence practice acting on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants. She has a wealth of experience in all stages of a litigation, from inquest to trial, and brings a successful combination of robust advocacy with sensitivity for a client’s individual needs. She regularly advises in writing or in conference and can draft pleadings at short notice where necessary.
Gemma has particular experience of advising in cases of delayed or mis-diagnosis; gynaecological claims, oncological matters and failures in cosmetic procedures. Examples of her recent work include succeeding at trial in a claim involving failure of a hernia repair which caused major internal injury; being lead by Paul Bleasdale QC as part of the group action against Dr Pattinson, disgraced breast surgeon; securing settlement for the family of a young patient who died following a tracheotomy failure; defending an NHS Trust over an alleged failure to obtain consent and acting for the mother in a neo-natal fatality claim.
Examples of Gemma’s recent work include:
- Patterson – lead by Paul Bleasedale QC acting on behalf of a group of over three hundred patients who were wrongly treated at the Spire Hospital by rogue surgeon Mr Patterson; each individual claim had to be quantified so as to apportion damages.
- H v NHS Trust – acting for D in an ongoing case of alleged delay in diagnosing breast cancer and thereafter a failure to obtain proper consent in respect of the surgical procedure performed and the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy, which was further delayed to allow for harvesting of eggs.
- P v NHS Trust – acted for D in claim concerning alleged failure to perform wide local excision or otherwise diagnose bilateral breast cancer. Breach of duty was admitted but causation was in dispute, in particular, as the type of cancer in each breast was different, there was dispute as to whether bilateral mastectomy and adjuvant therapy could have been avoided.
Memberships
MCCBA
Free Representation Unit
Gray’s Inn (Lord Uthwatt Scholarship 2005)
Qualifications
M.A Oxon; Philosophy, Politics and Economics (New College, Oxford)
GDL BPP Law School (Commendation)
BVC BPP Law School (Very Competent)
