Jamie practices exclusively in the areas of personal injury and clinical negligence. His practice now primarily focuses upon claims involving catastrophic injury of substantial value.
He is band 1 (top ranked) as a leading barrister for clinical negligence work with both Chambers UK and the Legal 500, having been described therein as “a great all-round barrister” who is “very good with clients and is approachable and dependable with a sharp mind”.
Jamie has experience in all areas of clinical negligence practice, including those that appear below. For more details in relation of his expertise in the areas of practice that appear below, please click on the links under the “Specialist Areas” heading on this page.
Brain Injury and cerebral palsy
Jamie has considerable experience of severe brain injury litigation and is recognised in Chambers UK as displaying “impressive aptitude in tackling difficult causation and quantum issues in claims involving spinal and brain injuries”. He is currently involved in a number of cerebral palsy claims of very significant value, acting both with and without a Leader. He has recently been involved in the settlement of the issue of liability in three such claims, and a further settlement (with Leading Counsel) of 4.6 million plus periodical payments varying with age and concluding at 288,000 per annum from adulthood (capitalised equivalent in excess of 12 million).
Spinal Injury
Jamie has long been recognised as a specialist in cases of severe spinal injury, including by Chambers UK (“particularly knowledgeable in spinal injury” (2017); “he displays impressive aptitude in tackling difficult causation and quantum issues in claims involving spinal and brain injuries” (2023)). Recent settlements in this area include a case (with Leading Counsel) of spinal cord compression suffered by schizophrenic man whilst a psychiatric inpatient, rendering him a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, that settled for a lump sum of 1.5 million plus periodical payments of 347,000 per annum (capitalised equivalent in excess of 3 million), a case of lumbar spine compression leading to foot drop where causation was in dispute (387,500), a claim for spinal cord injury caused by the negligent administration of a spinal block (450,000), and a failure to diagnose spinal tuberculosis resulting in cervical myelopathy (550,000).
Gynaecology, obstetrics and urology
Jamie has extensive experience in relation to such claims and is recognised by Chambers UK as offering “expertise in wrongful birth cases”. He has recently settled two wrongful birth cases, both arising out of the negligent failure to diagnose microcephaly during antenatal scanning, at roundtable settlement meetings: one (where he acted alone against Leading Counsel) for 800,000 and one (with Leading Counsel) for 6 million.
Amputation
Jamie has been involved in a number of cases involving lower limb amputation, including cases that have settled for in excess of 1 million, and is experienced in the issues (such as surrounding prosthetic provision) that arise in such claims.
Cancer
Jamie continues to be involved in a considerable number of claims arising out of the delayed diagnosis of cancer, including colorectal and breast cancers, and has extensive experience of the complex causation issues that can arise in such claims. He has recently settled a claim for delayed diagnosis and negligent treatment of breast cancer for 135,000 at a mediation, and a case (where liability was in dispute) of delayed diagnosis of anal cancer leading to permanent colostomy for 250,000.
Jamie is a member of the LexisNexis expert panel for answering queries relating to personal injury and clinical negligence claims, and regularly provides seminars to professional clients on a variety of subjects.
Recommendations
“He displays impressive aptitude in tackling difficult causation and quantum issues in claims involving spinal and brain injuries, and offers further expertise in wrongful birth cases. Jamie is very reliable and insightful. He won't shy away from tackling difficult issues. He has a good eye for detail and is tactically astute. Jamie can quickly get to the heart of complex matters."
Chambers UK Bar 2023 - Band 1 (top ranked) Clinical Negligence
“Jamie has a very sharp mind and is able to get to the issues in the case very quickly. He is particularly strong with the medical evidence in the case. He turns around work quickly and his drafting skills are excellent.”
Legal 500 2023 - Band 1 (top ranked) Clinical Negligence
"He is extremely analytical and approaches clinical negligence cases forensically and thoroughly. He has a very clear thought process and works through the issues efficiently. His preparation with experts is outstanding and he delivers his work when he says he will. He's also very good with clients and is approachable and dependable with a sharp mind."
Chambers UK Bar 2022 - Band 1 (top ranked) Clinical Negligence
"Jamie is a prodigious worker and is highly intelligent."
Legal 500 2022 - Clinical Negligence
“Very bright, attentive and good on his feet. He has a good manner with clients and is very self-assured – he puts people at ease”
Chambers UK Bar 2021 – Clinical Negligence
“An expert drafter who is excellent at getting to grips with the medical issues in a case”
Legal 500 2021 – Clinical Negligence
"He has an excellent eye for detail and grasps complex medical and legal issues swiftly, providing detailed advice. He is really efficient, very thorough and he will go above and beyond for his client."
Chambers UK Bar 2020 – Clinical Negligence
“A very approachable and likeable character who builds a rapport with clients and instructing solicitors”
Legal 500 2020 – Clinical Negligence
"Aside from having an excellent grasp of complex medicine, his main strength is his ability to build a rapport with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, which is very important in this area. Clients really appreciate his ability to explain complex aspects to them in a straightforward manner. Fiercely intellectual, with a very analytical brain."
Chambers UK Bar 2019 – Clinical Negligence
“He has an incredibly sharp mind”
Legal 500 2019 – Clinical Negligence
Notable Cases
Re P (2022)
Cerebral palsy claim (with Leading Counsel). Settled following roundtable meeting for 4.6 million plus periodical payments varying with age and concluding at 288,000 per annum from adulthood (capitalised equivalent in excess of 12 million).
Re G (2022)
Failure to diagnose and treat a ruptured duodenal ulcer leading to death and leaving a dependent child who suffered from severe autism and a significant intellectual disability. Unusual claims for commercial care and accommodation in a fatal accident case. Settled at a roundtable meeting (with Leading Counsel) for 750,000.
Re D (2021)
Delayed diagnosis of spinal compression in the lumbar spine leading to foot drop, complicated by history of pre-existing back pain, substance abuse and ancillary depressive disorder. Causation in dispute. Settled at roundtable meeting (against Leading Counsel) for 387,500.
Re M (2020)
Negligent hip replacement surgery. Complex issues surrounding quantification of value of business for entrepreneur requiring expert accountancy evidence. Settled at a roundtable settlement conference for 700,000.
Re B (2021)
Spinal cord compression suffered by schizophrenic man whilst a psychiatric inpatient, rendering him a wheelchair-bound paraplegic. Complex issues surrounding whether B should live in residential accommodation or in the community and involving issues of statutory funding and the structure of periodical payments. Settled (with Leading Counsel) for a lump sum of 1.5 million plus periodical payments of 347,000 per annum (capitalised equivalent in excess of 3 million).
Re B (2020)
Wrongful birth claim arising out of negligent failure to diagnose microcephaly during antenatal scanning. Settled at roundtable meeting (with Leading Counsel) for 6 million.
Re M (2020)
Delay in diagnosis of mastoiditis leading to brain empyema causing brain damage and uncontrollable generalised epilepsy. Liability initially in dispute. Settled at a roundtable meeting (with Leading Counsel) for 6.5 million.
Re B (2020)
Wrongful birth claim arising out of negligent failure to diagnose microcephaly in twins during antenatal scanning. Settled at mediation (against a Q.C.) for 800,000.
Re M (2020)
Negligent hip replacement surgery. Complex issues surrounding quantification of value of business for entrepreneur requiring expert accountancy evidence. Settled at a roundtable settlement conference for 700,000.
Re K (2020)
Delay in ophthalmic surgery leading to severe visual impairment. Causation in dispute. Settle at roundtable settlement conference for 700,000.
Re M (2018)
Negligent hand surgery. Settled at a roundtable settlement conference for 485,000.
Re T (2018)
Failure to diagnose spinal tuberculosis in a prison, leading to spinal cord injury and paraplegia, settled for 550,000.
Re M (2016)
Negligent abdominal surgery leading to compartment syndrome in both legs, settled at a roundtable settlement conference for 625,000.
Memberships
Personal Injuries Bar Association
APIL
AvMA
Qualifications
MA (Cantab) Law (Selwyn College, Cambridge University)
BVC (Inns of Court Schools of Law)
