Henry took silk on 21st March 2020.
Henry has substantial experience of the full range of alleged surgical negligence cases, including ophthalmic surgery leading to blindness; hysterectomy causing ureteric injury; inguinal hernia surgery giving rise to permanent debilitating pain; vasectomy leading to excruciating and permanent scrotal pain (settled for seven figures); circumcision leading to buried penis syndrome; abdominal surgery causing bowel perforation, loss of spleen, sepsis and/or death; orthopaedics (particularly hips and knees).
Several cases have involved allegations of negligence ancillary to surgery, especially alleged failures to manage the risk of DVT and pulmonary embolism, but also issues of infection and post-surgical bleeding and deterioration.
"Henry is an experienced barrister. He is fantastic with clients." "Henry has an amazing ability to take the most complex issues and present them in a straightforward way for clients. He is an excellent negotiator and is fantastic in conference." "Henry has superb judgement and is extremely tenacious."
Chambers UK 2023
"Henry is extremely knowledgeable and experienced and deals with clients brilliantly. He is approachable, straight-forward, and has a very wide breadth of expertise."
Legal 500 2023 (Midlands)
"Henry has a whole breadth of excellent qualities; a team is strengthened by his counsel."
Legal 500 2023 (London)
“He is approachable, empathetic and patient - he is one of the easiest QCs to work with and is always keen to help and get involved. He’s contactable at all times and genuinely cares about his cases.” “Excellent on paper and he sees the bigger picture and strategy.” “Quick to get to grips with the issues in even the most complicated clinical negligence cases. He asks all the right questions, identifies all of the key issues and makes it look effortless.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Henry is extremely thorough with his paperwork and his understanding of a case. I do not think I have come across a counsel as thorough as Henry. As a result, I cannot recall a case we have lost.”
Legal 500 2022 (Midlands)
“A natural advocate. He is calm and has a way of putting everyone in the room at ease. He leads with quiet confidence.”
Legal 500 2022 (London)
“He has really good client management skills and is very charming and pragmatic in his advice." "A very thorough and personable barrister.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Great to work with, both for his thoroughness and preparation as well as his very good client care skills.”
Legal 500 2021- Clinical Negligence
“He’s very personable and nice to work with and makes you feel like you’re part of a team.” “He’s technically able, client friendly and down-to-earth.” “He’s always brilliantly empathic with his clients.”
Chambers UK 2020
“He puts clients at ease and ensures they fully understand their legal position.”
Legal 500 2020
Notable Cases
Polmear v Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust [2021] EWHC 196 (QB)
Decision of Master Cook on the test of proximity for secondary victims in clinical negligence claims; permission to appeal has been granted and the appeal transferred directly to the Court of Appeal.
Earp v University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust at [2018] 10 WLUK 675
Trial on breach of duty and causation in clinical negligence case. Issues of law concerning inferences from the absence of documentation and the failure to call a significant witness.
Wiselaw Kownacki v Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; HHJ Wood QC; (24 April 2015); Lawtel AC0146913
The trial of a clinical negligence case in which the claimant alleged that his spleen was negligently damaged during abdominal surgery.
Dennison v (1) Dennison (2) Saga Insurance (CC) 24.07.08 Lawtel AC0118457
(Future cost of paid care)
Mitson v Inglis 19 October 2005 (QB)
Silber J (costs orders on appeals)
Chase v Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd [2002] EWHC 1101 (QB)
(Use of medical records)
Memberships
AvMA
Personal Injuries Bar Association
Professional Negligence Bar Association
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Jurisprudence, Worcester College, Oxford University
