Justin is a high value and complex personal injury and clinical negligence specialist. He also undertakes negligence claims of a more general nature on behalf of a large statutory undertaker, which has included defending a group action in a high court action arising from airborne pollution of a large residential area. Justin was appointed a Deputy District Judge (Civil) in 2015.

Clare has many years of experience in all aspects of family law, and is recommended by the <em>Legal 500</em> as “meticulous and pragmatic”. She has been involved in many of the most contentious and complex High Court level and Court of Appeal cases dealt with on the NE circuit in recent years, including cases attracting national media attention. Clients include Local Authorities, parents and relatives, interveners and CAFCASS (formerly both Guardians whether this is public law or private law and the Official Solicitor).  She has particular experience in representing clients under a disability (minors, teenage mothers and patients). Clare uses her exemplary client and solicitor care skills to put clients at ease without losing sight of the main issues. She is an excellent and experienced advocate, who regularly leads other advocates including appearances where others are being led by QC and is passionate about human rights and believes in justice for all. Clare brings a dynamic and no-nonsense attitude to her work, meticulous preparation empathy and compassion, tactical and legal insight and tenacity all of which she utilises in presenting her client’s case in the most positive terms. Clare is head of the Public Law Team.

Louise is a highly regarded specialist family law practitioner, practising in public and private law children work. She  is one of the leading juniors practising on the North Eastern Circuit in this field, being given the distinction of a Band 1 rating in the 2020 Chambers and Partners Guide. Louise is frequently instructed in care proceedings concerning allegations of serious non accidental injury and sexual abuse, often in the High Court. She is skilled at representing parties within complex and intractable private law disputes. Further, Louise is noted as a specialist nationally on the forced marriage legislation. She co-authored a well recognised practitioners guide to the Forced Marriage Act, contributed a chapter to a leading international law publication and has been invited on a number of occasions to speak on LBC radio on this topic. Louise was appointed a Recorder sitting in family law in 2012, then only 35 years of age. Louise accepts instructions on a direct access basis.

Maxine has developed a specialist family practice and accepts a broad range of instructions on matters relating to children in both public and private law proceedings. She is a highly regarded advocate and recently received recognition in <em>Chambers &amp; Partners 2022</em> as a growing expert in children law matters. Maxine prides herself on her client-centred approach, both with the lay client and the professional client. She always ensures the lay client fully understands the process before a hearing and the outcome following it. She is able to offer a tenacious and dynamic advocacy style, combined with empathy and compassion in order to achieve the best result for her client. As a hard-working and approachable advocate, Maxine maintains a high-quality service throughout her involvement.

Mike has a well-established reputation as a busy, key clinical negligence barrister boasting strong medical expertise informed by his previous occupation as a dentist. He represents both claimants and defendants in clinical negligence claims of all types and is especially known for his dental negligence expertise. <strong>"Demonstrates extensive knowledge of Clinical Law generally and dental claims specifically. Is particularly impressive with complex and or high value dental claims, respected by both patients and experts alike. Continues to serve with impressive speed on issues of opinion and drafting." </strong>[<em>Legal 500</em>, 2020] <strong>"He is always approachable, extremely knowledgeable and very good on his feet." "He excels in simplifying really complex cases and is very good with clients."</strong>  [<em>Chambers &amp; Partners</em>, 2020]. <strong><em>"Highly experienced in dental negligence claims"</em>  </strong>[<em>Legal 500</em>, 2019] <em><strong>"Invaluable experience in dental negligence claims."</strong></em> [<em>Chambers &amp; Partners</em>, 2019]. <em><strong>"He has a good rapport with clients and is excellent with expert witnesses. He is thorough, has a good understanding of the law and, with his dental background, has strong medical knowledge also."</strong></em>  [<em>Chambers &amp; Partners</em>, 2017]. Recent cases include: <ul> <li>Spinal Surgery <ul> <li>Inadeuate decompressions</li> <li>Cauda equina</li> </ul> </li> <li>Delayed diagnoses: <ul> <li>Neoplasias</li> <li>Appendicitis</li> <li>Fractures</li> <li>DVT</li> <li>Vestibular schwannomas</li> </ul> </li> <li>Toxicity cases: <ul> <li>Clozapine</li> <li>Hypervitaminosis D</li> </ul> </li> <li>Orthopaedic surgery: <ul> <li>Hip replacements</li> <li>Hip resurfacing</li> <li>TKRs</li> <li>ORIF</li> </ul> </li> <li>Abdominal Surgery <ul> <li>Bowel surgery</li> <li>Gynaecological surgery</li> <li>Cholecystectomy</li> <li>Gastric banding</li> </ul> </li> <li>Dental Claims <ul> <li>Periodontal mismanagement</li> <li>Caries mismanagement</li> <li>Technical execution claims: <ul> <li>Crown and bridge placement</li> <li>Endodontics</li> <li>Implant placement</li> <li>Implant restoration</li> <li>Extractions <ul> <li>OACs</li> <li>Lingual nerve injuries</li> <li>Inferior alveolar nerve injuries</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> His extensive client base includes leading regional and national law firms as well as insurers. Mike provides training to the NHS upon medico-legal matters and risk minimisation.  He provides training to lawyers upon medical and dental claims. Mike has his own clinical negligence and dental negligence focused and blogging website: <a href="http://www.mikehillbarrister.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.mikehillbarrister.co.uk</a>

<em style="font-size: 1.1rem;"><strong>"An excellent communicator who gets to grips with complex cases quickly. An impressive advocate who makes claimants and respondents feel at ease." </strong>- Legal 500 2023 (Rising Star - Employment) </em> <em><strong>"Amy gets to grips with complex cases quickly and homes in on the key legal issues to brief clients in an efficient and practical way. Very approachable and makes clients feel at ease." </strong></em>- <em>Chambers and Partners 2023 (Up and Coming - Employment) </em> &nbsp; Amy is recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ (Legal 500, 2023) and an ‘Up and Coming’ (Chambers and Partners,2023). Amy is appointed to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel of Counsel (C Panel). Amy is an experienced employment law junior and enjoys advising and drafting as well as representing clients at preliminary hearings, final hearings and judicial mediations. Amy acts for both claimants and respondents and is regularly instructed as sole counsel in multi-day hearings. More recently Amy has enjoyed successfully representing a respondent at a full panel appeal hearing before the EAT. Expertise includes, but is not limited to: <ul> <li>Unfair and wrongful dismissals</li> <li>All forms of discrimination claims</li> <li>Jurisdiction issues</li> </ul> &nbsp; Amy also has broad experience of personal injury litigation. She is regularly instructed in trials and interim hearings on all tracks. Amy acts on behalf of claimants and defendants in matters including employers’ liability, occupiers’ liability and Highways Act claims. Many of Amy’s cases involve suspected fraudulent or exaggerated claims. She is experienced in advising on such claims from an early stage through to trial. Prior to starting pupillage Amy studied Law at Queen Mary University of London and gained First Class awards in Medical Law and Company Law. Amy also competed in advocacy competitions at an international level and enjoyed her time advising on employment law matters at a Legal Advice Centre. Amy has previously professionally trained in acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). In her spare time Amy enjoys going to the theatre, as well as playing netball, surfing and exploring the North East coast with her dog.

Sophie is a specialist employment and personal injury barrister. She is recommended in Chambers and Partners and the <em>Legal 500</em> for employment law. The guides describe her as <em>"up and coming"</em>, <em>"everything one wants in a barrister" </em>and <em>"incredibly bright".</em> She is the head of Parklane Plowden's under 10 years' call civil and employment team and a member of its equality and diversity committee. Sophie volunteers for the Employment Tribunal Litigant in Person Support Scheme (ELIPS). In her spare time, she enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and craft beer. &nbsp;

Iain is a specialist children practitioner. His practice encompasses all aspects of the law relating to children, including public and private law proceedings, adoption and cases with an international element. Iain has a reputation as particularly adept in complex cases of abuse and serious harm.  He is regularly instructed as a junior to leading counsel as well as in his own right in both Family Court and High Court proceedings, including those involving serious physical abuse, sexual abuse, non-accidental injury (including head injuries), fabricated and induced Illness (FII), secure accommodation and chronic neglect. Iain is well respected by his peers and prides himself on his approachability. He has a reputation for building a good rapport with clients and is able to be personable, but professional, with lay clients. He has a wealth of experience in dealing with cases involving parents with mental health difficulties, capacity issues and learning difficulties. <strong>Directories:</strong> <strong>Legal 500 2023</strong> - Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private) Tier 3: ‘<em>Iain is a confident barrister, unfazed by appearing against senior silks in a case. He has superb analytical </em>skills.’ <strong>Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2023</strong>: <em>"Iain fully commits to the case he is involved in and works tirelessly to obtain the best outcome. He is a pleasure to instruct."</em> <em>"Iain is great at collaborating with instructing solicitors, he makes every effort to achieve the outcome instructed and has a highly effective manner with clients and opposite advocates."</em> <em>"Iain is excellent. He has taken on cases and managed matters which are incredibly complex with a maturity far beyond his years. His advocacy skills are great, and he is very well thought of by the judiciary."</em> <strong>Legal 500 2022</strong>: Leading Juniors: Child Law (Public and Private):  Very hardworking, approachable, and able to explain a situation in a calm and focused way to lay and professional clients.

Abigail has a busy personal injury, clinical negligence and inquests practice and is regularly instructed both to advise and attend hearings. She is also comfortable attending mediations and joint settlement meetings. Abigail is a confident advocate, appearing regularly in both the civil courts and coroners court, and this is an aspect of her practice that she takes particular pleasure in. Abigail enjoys a difficult and technical argument. As a result, she has a particular interest in appeals and has appeared in the Supreme Court twice: <ul> <li>Edwards (on behalf of the estate of the late Arthur Watkins) v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 132, a case concerning the correct date for assessment of damages in professional negligence claims.</li> <li>Barton v Wright Hassall [2018] UKSC 12 a case involving issues regarding compliance with civil procedure rules, service and litigants in person.</li> </ul> &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Abigail is an active member of the serious injury, clinical negligence and inquest teams in chambers. She</span> regularly gives seminars and talks regarding topics touching on all areas of her practice. Abigail also attends and organises events relating to pupillage with Parklane Plowden. Abigail is a committee member of the Leeds &amp; District Medico-Legal Society. <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Abigail is also Head of Civil Pupillage and is therefore involved in the organisation and recruitment of civil pupils.</span>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Simon is a specialist Family (children) and Court of Protection barrister. In 2020 he was appointed to be a Recorder sitting in the Family Court on the North Eastern Circuit.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon prides himself on ensuring that he builds a good rapport with clients whilst giving firm and frank advice. He is keen to be approachable to lay and professional clients alike and has established a reputation for his forensic approach - focussing on the key issues in the case in order to achieve the best results possible, whether in advice, negotiations with other parties or presenting a case in court.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon has been recommended in both Chambers &amp; Partners and the Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for both his Family and Court of Protection work. He has a keen interest in cases involving a crossover between the two jurisdictions and a particular grasp of issues surrounding children and young people and deprivation of liberty, regularly being instructed to represent children and local authorities in cases in the High Court invoking the inherent jurisdiction or where there is a cross-over between the Family Court and the Court of Protection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">He is happy to get involved in cases from the outset and advise on case management issues at the start of a case. At final hearings he ensures that he thoroughly prepared with a good grasp of the evidence at his fingertips.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Simon has had multiple articles published in Jordan's Family Law Journal (the publication of record for family practitioners) and in 2022 joined the editorial team of Butterworths Family Law Service (published by LexisNexis UK).</p>