Jamie is widely recognised as a specialist in clinical negligence claims involving spinal injury. He has been praised by Chambers UK as being “particularly knowledgeable in spinal injury” (2017) and for displaying an “impressive aptitude in tackling difficult causation and quantum issues in claims involving spinal injuries” (2023).
He is experienced in cases of spinal cord injury of the utmost severity, including a recent 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).
His experience of severe spinal cases also includes:
- Cases involving myelopathy caused by infection, including two recent cases involving the failure to promptly diagnose spinal tuberculosis, one which settled for 550,000.
- Claims involving the failure diagnose cauda equina syndrome, including a recent claim where liability was firmly in dispute, but which settled at a roundtable meeting (against Leading Counsel) shortly before trial for a six-figure sum.
- Cases involving failure to diagnose spinal cancer leading to paraplegia.
- Spinal cord injury caused by the negligent administration of anaesthetic, including a recent case involving the negligent placement of a spinal block which settled for 450,000.
- Cases of delayed diagnosis of spinal compression, including a recent case where causation was in dispute, but which Jamie settled at a RTM (against Leading Counsel) for 387,500.
More generally, Jamie 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”.
For details of the other specialist areas of Jamie’s clinical negligence practice, please select his Clinical Negligence CV from the drop-down menu at the top of this page.
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 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 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 T (2018)
Failure to diagnose spinal tuberculosis in a prison, leading to spinal cord injury and paraplegia, settled for GBP 550,000.
Re R (2017)
Negligent administration of a spinal block causing spinal cord injury, settled for GBP 450,000.
Re J (2017)
Alleged failure to diagnose cauda equina syndrome where liability was firmly in dispute. Settled at a roundtable settlement conference against a Q.C. shortly before trial for a six-figure sum.
Memberships
Personal Injuries Bar Association
AvMA
Qualifications
MA (Cantab) Law (Selwyn College, Cambridge University)
BVC (Inns of Court Schools of Law)
