John has extensive experience of litigating clinical negligence claims arising from advice relating to surgery, surgical performance and the aftermath of surgery.
John’s cases include failures to admit or refer for surgical opinion, inappropriate surgery, surgical mishap, failures in diagnosing post-operative infection, radiology failures and cases involving issues surrounding informed consent.
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
LM v STHNHST [April 2020]
Acting for Claimant in claim arising from negligently performed gastric bypass surgery. Liability denied but settlement achieved following expert joint meetings for damages of £1.95m
MO v UHBNHST [June 2019]
Acting for Claimant in catastrophic iatrogenic injury to major arteries during nephrostomy, causing loss of bowel and significant loss of life expectation. Settlement achieved at JSM for £740,000 capitalised damages and £230,000pa PPOs
KH v Dudley Group of Hospitals NHSFT (August 2018)
Acting for the Defendant in achieving a nuisance value settlement in a claim pleaded to 2m. Issues of urological surgical negligence interwoven with allegations of historic sexual abuse
PB v Hywel Dda LHB (July 2018)
Acting for the Claimant in a claim arising from negligent hip replacement surgery and chronic pain, resolving at JSM for 550,000
JE v University Hospitals Birmingham NHST (July 2018)
Acting for Claimant in case arising from “wrong level” spinal surgery with poor outcome. Damages 340,000
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
AMB v University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (March 2018)
Acting with Leading Counsel for the Claimant, who was left with permanent tracheostomy and psychiatric injury following oesophageal surgery. Case settled at JSM for damages of 750,000
MB v Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust (October 2017)
Acting for the Claimant who sustained permanent spinal injury during an operation in her early teenage years. Her youth and her prior condition created uncertainty in casting future damages, especially in relation to her accommodation claim at an uncertain time in the law. Settled at JSM for 1m
HL v Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (February 2017)
Acting for the Defendant Trust, damages agreed at 100,000, successfully defended a claim at Trial arising from sciatic nerve palsy following total right hip replacement.
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) 1997
