Abigail has a busy clinical negligence practice.  She has experience drafting pleadings, attending costs and case management hearings and drafting schedules of loss.

Abigail recently worked alongside a senior colleague on a case where capitalised settlement was reached in excess of £13 million. Abigail particularly enjoys the complex and intricate arguments relating to extensive therapy and accommodation needs.

Abigail enjoys conducting conferences with experts, clients and witnesses, recognising the importance of such conferences when conducting litigation.

Abigail regularly advises on liability, causation and quantum and negotiating at joint settlement meetings and mediations in all matters arising out of clinical negligence. She accepts instructions for accidents arising out of both public and private healthcare.

Appeals

Abigail has a particular interest in procedural and technical arguments. Having appeared twice in the Supreme Court, Abigail has a good understanding of the process of appeals and enjoys this aspect of litigation.

Recent Cases

Recent cases have involved:

• Delay in diagnosis resulting in a claimant suffering life changing injuries including total incontinence and constant pain.
• A failure to diagnose illness resulting in total loss of fertility in a young woman.
• Delays in delivery of a baby, resulting in hypoxic brain injury.

Nominations

Shortlisted for the Legal 500 Clinical Negligence Junior Barrister of the Year 2024

Abigail has a busy multi-track personal injury practice and is regularly instructed in a wide range of claims including road traffic accidents, employer’s liability claims and public liability claims.

Appearing in court regularly, Abigail attends hearings at all stages of litigation, including pre-action applications, allocation hearings, costs and case management hearings, application hearings, pre-trial reviews, trials and costs hearings.

Understanding the importance of client care and the need to communicate clearly, Abigail regularly has conferences with both lay and expert witnesses involved in a wide variety of personal injury cases.

Appeals

Abigail has a particular interest in procedural and technical arguments. Having appeared twice in the Supreme Court, Abigail has a good understanding of the process of appeals and enjoys this aspect of litigation.

Serious Injuries

Abigail has been involved in cases where there have been life-changing injuries, including spinal injuries, amputation of limbs and traumatic brain injuries.

Abigail recently worked alongside a senior colleague on a case where capitalised settlement was reached in excess of £13 million.

Abigail was also seconded to the personal injury team at Stewart’s Law for 2 months in 2016. She was primarily involved with catastrophic injury cases involving brain injuries and spinal injuries. This gave Abigail valuable insight into the work that such cases require and enabled her to develop all aspects of her practice, including drafting and client care.

Employer’s Liability/Public Liability

Abigail has a busy practice and is experienced in advising on all aspects of cases involving employer’s liability and/or public liability issues.

Client care is of key importance to Abigail, who is confident and comfortable dealing with both clients and experts in conference.

Abigail regularly attends hearings in relation to such matters, including allocation hearings, costs and case management hearings, application hearings and trials.

Fatal Accidents

Abigail is regularly instructed to advise in cases relating to fatal accidents.

Abigail is confident advising on all aspects of such claims, particularly noting the issues that arise from dependency claims.

Abigail recognises the importance of client care and clear advice in such cases, and is comfortable advising in writing or conferences depending upon the needs of the client.

Recent Cases

Recent cases have involved issues such as:

• Death after a person was struck by a caravan that had become detached from a car.
• Spinal injuries, resulting in chronic widespread pain disorder.
• Spinal injuries, resulting in life changing injuries those which prevented a mother to provide basic care for her young infant.

Abigail regularly provides advice and representation regarding inquests, inquiries and pre-inquest reviews.

Abigail has a particular interest in inquests relating to the provision of healthcare services.

Abigail regularly represents interested persons at inquests where there have been issues arising from medical care, and prison and probation-related deaths.

Recent Cases

• Represented the family of a woman who died after signs of post-operative internal bleeding were not identified promptly. Findings of neglect were made as part of the narrative conclusion.
• Represented the family of a man who had died following the misplacement of a naso-gastric tube, with a finding of neglect made.
• Represented the family of an elderly man who suffered a fall in hospital, with the coroner finding that failings on the part of the treating practitioners hastened his death.
• Represented the family of a baby who suffered surgical complications, but those complications were not recognised by the treating practitioners until intervention was no longer a viable option.
• Represented the family of a baby who died shortly after birth as a result of delays in delivery.
• Represented a probation officer in a case where the offender he was managing unlawfully killed an ex-partner.
• Represented the family of a child who took their own life.
• Represented the family of a child who died during surgery to remove an accidentally swallowed drawing pin.

Abigail regularly provides advice and representation regarding inquests, inquiries and pre-inquest reviews.

Abigail has a particular interest in inquests relating to the provision of healthcare services.

Abigail regularly represents interested persons at inquests where there have been issues arising from medical care, and prison and probation-related deaths.

Recent Cases

• Represented the family of a man who had died following the misplacement of a naso-gastric tube, with a finding of neglect made.
• Represented the family of an elderly man who suffered a fall in hospital, with the coroner finding that failings on the part of the treating practitioners hastened his death.
• Represented the family of a baby who suffered surgical complications, but those complications were not recognised by the treating practitioners until intervention was no longer a viable option.
• Represented the family of a baby who died shortly after birth as a result of delays in delivery.
• Represented a probation officer in a case where the offender he was managing unlawfully killed an ex-partner.

Abigail is a member of Parklane Plowden’s Serious Injury group.

She has experience working on complex and serious personal injury and clinical negligence claims involving brain, spinal or complex injuries.

Abigail recently worked alongside a senior colleague on a case where capitalised settlement was reached in excess of £23 million. Abigail particularly enjoys the complex and intricate arguments relating to extensive therapy and accommodation needs.

Abigail is confident working as part of a team alongside multiple experts, her instructing solicitors and her clients.

Abigail is an accredited mediator. To this role, she brings her considerable experience at the bar and her ability to engage with those participating in mediation in a clear and compassionate manner.

Abigail also regularly attends mediations in her capacity as a barrister and understands the value alternative dispute resolution as a means of resolving claims.

Shortlisted for the Legal 500 Clinical Negligence Junior Barrister of the Year 2024

Chambers and Partners (2025) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "Abigail is very approachable and excellent with clients." "Abigail is very bright and incredibly hard-working." "Abigail is an excellent advocate with a fantastic forensic mind."

Chambers and Partners (2025) - Inquests & Public Inquiries (Band 3) - "Abigail is very, very thorough, responsive and committed, an excellent barrister all round. She remains in control of a situation even when things get really difficult." "Abigail is a dependable barrister and a pleasure to work with. She goes above and beyond the call of duty. She is warm with clients and clear with her advice, which is faultless." "Abigail has a brilliant approach with clients, explaining complex pieces of law in a way that the family can understand clearly."

Chambers and Partners (2025) - Personal Injury (Band 3) - "Abigail has always been extremely good in terms of the presentation of hearings and making sure the client remains central and involved." "She demonstrates great preparation and advocacy." "Abigail is strong in all aspects of personal injury work."

The Legal 500 (2025) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 1) - 'She has a formidable grasp of detail and regularly identifies points that can turn a claim around. A very insightful barrister, whose manner with clients is particularly helpful as she explains complicated areas of law with patience and compassion. Her advocacy is both forceful and helpful to the court. She is experienced beyond her years.' 

The Legal 500 (2025) - Inquests and Inquiries (Band 1) - 'A junior who is brilliant with clients. When she speaks, people listen'. 

The Legal 500 (2025) - Personal Injury (Band 2) - 'A junior who provides high quality and pragmatic advice to clients'. 

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Personal Injury (Band 3) - "Abigail is a very able and approachable barrister who is very good with clients, and demonstrates excellent technical knowledge."

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Inquests and Inquiries (Band 3) - "She is very bright and well informed, and great at cross-examination."

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Clinical Negligence (Band 2) - "Abigail is excellent, thorough, and has great ability to engage with clients. She can also dilute complicated cases."

The Legal 500 (2024) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "A junior who quickly builds a rapport with clients due to his professional yet caring and compassionate approach."

The Legal 500 (2024) - Inquests and Inquiries (Tier 2) - "A fearless and highly intellectual barrister."

The Legal 500 (2024) - Personal Injury (Tier 3) - "Abigail is an industrious junior, who is very good in conference with clients and experts. Her advice is always clear."

Chambers and Partners (2023) - Personal Injury - "Abigail Telford is a well-regarded junior barrister who is noted for her handling of complex personal injury matters. She regularly acts for both claimants and defendants."

The Legal 500 (2023) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "She combines an eye for detail with a very straightforward yet sensitive approach to difficult cases."

The Legal 500 (2023) - Personal Injury (Tier 3) - "Abigail is a fantastic barrister. She is very quick and very professional with her advice, which is reliable and thorough."

Chambers and Partners (2022) - Personal Injury (Band 1) - "Very knowledgeable."

The Legal 500 (2022) - Clinical Negligence (Tier 2) - "Abigail is formidable. She is incredibly intelligent, and an excellent advocate."

The Legal 500 (2022) - Personal Injury (Tier 3) - "Abigail is intellectually rigorous, very reliable, robust and persuasive. An excellent cross-examiner who always maintains a calm composure."

Chambers and Partners (2021) - Personal Injury (Up and Coming) - "A rising star at the set. She's able to analyse complex issues and quickly cut through to the heart of the matter."

The Legal 500 (2021) - Personal Injury (Band 3) - "Abigail is a very good barrister. She is very good in conferences with a client. She is very good with her written advices. She is very approachable easy to understand. She is always available if you need to discuss a case."

Personal Injuries Bar Association; 

Association for Victims of Medical Accidents (AVMA); 

Leeds & District Medico-Legal Society (committee member);

Lord Denning Society (Lincoln's Inn).

Edwards (on behalf of the estate of the late Arthur Watkins) v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 132

Barton v Wright Hassall [2018] UKSC 12

Bar Professional Training Course, Very Competent, Manchester Metropolitan University (2011);

Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln's Inn (2010);

LLM, Leiden University (2009);

LLB (Hons), University of Sheffield (2008)