Over the course of his career, and acting for both sides, John has been involved in the widest range of cases involving medical mismanagement.
John has worked over the years on countless cases involving failures in GP care. Beyond these, examples of his cases include prescription errors, errors in paramedic and A and E assessment, missed diabetic conditions and mismanagement of diabetic complications, failures to assess and investigate early signs of cardiac and respiratory complications, failures to act on signs of post-operative infection and sepsis, ophthalmology failures, and failures in psychiatric care.
John’s current workload includes many such cases, and a number of resolved examples appear below.
John is particularly adept handling expert witnesses in conference and at Trial and enjoys working closely with the solicitor client on difficult cases. He is regularly commended for his client care skills.
John is consistently recommended in the directories and has in recent years achieved Top Ranked status from Chambers UK Bar and Leading Individual Tier 1 status from Legal 500.
Recommendations
"John’s strengths are his attention to detail, practical advice, and view of the bigger picture. He is a fantastic advocate, calm and measured whilst getting his points across skillfully. He is also very good with witnesses, putting them at ease and very approachable. Overall, he is a very safe pair of hands."
Legal 500 2023 - Clinical Negligence
“He is responsive, meticulous in his written work and unflappable in court.”
Chambers UK 2022 - Clinical Negligence
“Fantastic level of attention to detail, excellent client care skills and sublime advocacy skills at Trial or hearing. One of the best in his field.”
Legal 500 2022 - Clinical Negligence
“A very insightful barrister - he is calm, measured and gets to the heart of issues quickly.” “An undoubted talent. His advice is first-class and he can be relied upon to produce the very best results possible, regardless of value and complexity. He is an extremely talented advocate and his attention to detail is second to none.”
Chambers UK 2021 - Clinical Negligence
“A formidable advocate with razor-sharp knowledge and excellent client care skills with catastrophically injured clients.”
Legal 500 2021 - Clinical Negligence
“He is an absolutely standout barrister who can turn around any kind of case.” “He is able to advise clients in very technical issues in a concise, straightforward manner.” “He has a brilliant manner with clients and has an aura which makes all of those involved feel at ease.”
Chambers UK 2020
“An extremely diligent barrister with a keen eye for the details.”
Legal 500 2020
Notable Cases
SA v UHBNHST [2020] EWHC 3384 QB
Acting for Defendant at Trial and in High Court appeal covering many aspects of the law on limitation, including detailed analysis of the application of the s.33 discretion in clinical negligence cases
AH v NBNHST [December 2020]
Acting for Claimant in claim for loss of vision arising from failures in monitoring effects of TB medication. Settlement achieved shortly after JSM for damages of £375,000
NJ v WMSANHST [November 2020]
Acting for deceased’s family in claim against paramedics who saw the deceased shortly before his cardiac arrest. Liability dispute and complex issues surrounding life expectancy and dependency calculations. Settlement achieved at mediation for damages of £590,000
IB v SWBNHST [September 2020]
Acting for Defendant against silk and junior opponents in liability admitted claim arising from failures in correcting sodium levels, resulting in central pontine myelinolysis and very substantial disability. Settlement achieved at £2.6m shortly after mediation in context of evolving law in relation to accommodation claims
CB v ABUHB [May 2020]
Acting for Claimant in consent and surgical mismanagement of bowel condition case where liability disputed but settlement achieved at JSM some months prior to Trial for damages of £525,000
CW v UHNMNHST [April 2020]
Acting for Defendant in case involving above knee amputation arising from admitted failures to intervene in vascular disease. £1m settlement at JSM
AP v UHBNHST & ors [Dec 2019]
Acting for Claimant in successful nine-day High Court Trial against Silk and Junior opponents in claim arising from failure to manage signs and symptoms of duodenal ulcer that went on to perforate. Complex issues of law and fact in relation to GP and specialist clinician breach of duty and causation.
Re MD [July 2019]
Appearing at Inquest for family of toddler negligently and neglectfully misclassified by NHS 111 systems who died of a twisted bowel
RR v PHE & ors [March 2019]
Acting for deceased’s family in FAA claim arising from death following pancreas transplant with infected donor organ. Appearing at Inquest and subsequently resolving the claim at JSM for damages of £375,000
CL v BJS [February 2019]
Acting for Claimant who suffered meningitis as an infant allowed to go unchecked by his GP. Life-altering consequences involving multiplie peripheral surgeries and leg amputation in mid-teens. Settled shortly after JSM in context of discount rate change for damages of £2.5m
MR v Whittington Health NHST (January 2019)
Successfully defended High Court Trial for Trust alleged to have inserted intra-uterine contraceptive coil without Claimant’s consent
AR v Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHST (November 2018)
Acting for Claimant in a case arising from misdiagnosis of anti-phospholid syndrome, resulting in loss of career as police officer. Liability disputed but resolved at JSM for 400,000
AR v Central Manchester UHNHST and ors (July 2018)
Acting for the Claimant against multiple Defendants in respect of failures in management of vasculitis resulting in seizure and long-term renal damage. Resolved at JSM for 600,000
SB v Queen Elizbeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHSFT (July 2018)
Acting for Claimant on Fatal Accidents Act claim arising from death of partner due to failure to manage listeria meningitis. Complex issues of medical causation. Case resolved at mediation for 240,000
JM v (1) Utopia Bathrooms (2) University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (3) GA (4) Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (February 2018)
Acting for two Defendant Trusts in a mixed personal injury and clinical negligence claim, concluded at mediation for gross damages of 950,000
MD v Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust (January 2018)
Acting for the family of a detained psychiatric patient who died from pulmonary embolism contributed to by immobility and dehydration, where there had been delays in instituting proper fluids and medical management. Appearing at Inquest and subsequently acting through to settlement at JSM for damages of 600,000
SL v (1) Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (2) University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust [2017] EWHC 1900
Acting for both Defendant Trusts throughout and at Trial, successfully defended a claim arising from arm amputation following cardiac surgery. The Claimant criticised several periods of delay in returning her to theatre and the quality of surgery when she arrived. Likely value in excess of 1m had the claim succeeded
CT v Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust [2017] EWHC 3244
Acting for the Defendant Trust at Trial, successfully defended a Fatal Accidents Act claim arising from alleged delay in A and E and subsequent investigations of signs of oesophageal cancer
Re TB (April 2017)
Advising the Claimant and her children in Fatal Accidents Act claim arising from the death of her husband from a heart attack shortly after discharge from a minor injuries unit. Liability disputed but claim settled for 337,500
PR v Royal Berkshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2015] EWHC 719
Acting for the Claimant in a quantum-only Fatal Accidents Act claim arising from the failure of an A and E department to investigate the early signs of DVT and pulmonary embolism, recovering 200,000 following Trial
Carver v BAA [2008] EWCA Civ 412
Appearing below and in the Court of Appeal in controversial case relating to Part 36 Offers
Collins v Tesco [2003] EWCA Civ 1308
Court of Appeal guidance in relation to the approach to knowledge under Limitation Act 1980 s.14
Appointments
Queen’s Counsel (forthcoming, 2021)
Director and Member of Chambers Management Committee, No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Advocacy Trainer, Midland Circuit
Memberships
Midland Circuit
Personal Injuries Bar Association
AvMA
Qualifications
BCL (Oxon) 1998
LLB (Hons) (Bris) 1997
