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Stephen Friday

Called 1996 Email Stephen

Stephen is consistently recognised in the independent guides to the legal profession as a leading junior in the fields of clinical negligence and personal injury and he practices exclusively in these areas.

The independent guides describe him as "Excellent in every way”; "Highly intelligent and tactically canny" who is "a good team leader when dealing with multiple expert witnesses” and is "very good both for his courtroom skills and his ability to grasp a number of complex issues in a very short period of time."

Stephen previously served as an officer and fast-jet pilot in the Royal Air Force.

"Absolutely brilliant. He's great with clients and puts them at ease, speaking to them in a language they understand."

Chambers & Partners 2020

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Areas Of Expertise

Areas of Expertise

Personal Injury

Catastrophic Injuries

Stephen acts in brain injury, spinal injury and amputation cases. One of his recently completed cases was acting for a Claimant with a below knee amputation which settled at a JSM for a sum in excess of £1.7million.

Fatal Accidents Claims

Stephen is recognised as having particular skill and knowledge in cases arising out of the death of a person whether as a result of accident or clinical negligence and has been instructed in a wide variety of cases including: the death of earning and non-earning spouses and parents; where there are complex issues of income dependency arising from benefits and capital assets and where the dependency status of cohabiting dependents ae in issue.

Chronic Pain Cases

Stephen continues to be instructed by both Claimants and Defendants in chronic pain cases, whether organic or non-organic in origin and is fully conversant with the various medical issues, the necessary medical expertise and the specialist treatment options including spinal cord stimulation. He has been recognised in the independent guides to the legal profession as having particular expertise in this type of claim.

Clinical Negligence

Clinical Negligence is the major part of Stephen's practice and has been for many years.

He is instructed by Claimants and Defendants and has experience of a considerable variety of clinical negligence claims routinely but not exclusively of high value and involving catastrophic injuries.

Stephen is very experienced in all aspects of clinical negligence litigation from pre letter of claim through to trial. He has wide experience of negotiating settlement at mediation or JSM and of Part 8 approval proceedings.

His experience includes:

Failures in GP and hospital diagnosis. For example: cervical radiculomyelopathy, many types of cancers (often fatalities), various kidney diseases (leading to End Stage Renal Failure and kidney transplant or the risk of the same), orthopaedic injuries and conditions, DVT, compartment syndrome, hernia, sepsis.
Failed surgical procedures. For example: various failures in spinal surgery, abdominal surgery, parathyroid surgery, cosmetic surgery.
Failures to obtain informed consent. For example: before hip replacement, before spinal surgery (e.g. resulting in cauda equina syndrome).
Birth complications. Including hemiplegic cerebral palsy, intrauterine death (e.g. placental abruption) and neonatal deaths.
General GP, hospital, nursing and psychiatric treatment failures. For example: inappropriate high flow oxygen treatment for COPD (fatality), amiodarone induced hypothyroidism, failure to treat infection leading to lower limb amputation, gentamicin induced ototoxicity, failure to treat depression resulting in suicide.
Secondary victim claims.

Examples of current or recent case load:

Hospital delayed diagnosis of tumour in the third ventricle and/or hydrocephalus leading to frontal lobe impairment and consequential cognitive and behavioural problems.
Hospital failure to diagnose cervical discitis resulting in permanent, severe spinal cord injury and paralysis as well as a life-threatening sepsis with bowel complications that required extensive resection of dead bowel as an emergency and a stoma.
Surgical failure to avoid or recognise and correct right lung torsion during oesophagectomy leading to right pneumonectomy and consequential complications.
GP failure to diagnose DVT leading to lower limb ischaemia, fasciotomy and above knee amputation.
GP and hospital failure to adequately treat community acquired pneumonia resulting in the death of a young mother.

Recommendations

Chambers & Partners 2021 - Clinical Negligence - Band 2

"He has a very good eye for detail and takes a very hands-on, commercial approach to case-building." "He is always extremely well prepared and he knows his cases very well." "A very clever lawyer who is kind and thorough with clients."

Chambers & Partners 2021 - Personal Injury - Band 2

"He provides sound advice and is excellent with clients."

Legal 500 2021 - Clinical Negligence - Tier 2

‘Stephen is very forensic in his approach to cases. He is able to filter through the large volumes of information to get to the issue(s) in a case. Able to comfortably stand his ground against more senior counsel.’

Legal 500 2021 - Personal Injury - Tier 2

‘He is impressive. Attention to detail. Breadth of knowledge and ability to think on his feet. Very analytical and advice is spot on.’

Chambers & Partners 2020 - Personal Injury - Band 2

Offers a broad practice representing defendants and claimants alike. He is particularly experienced in cases concerning chronic pain, brain injury and amputation, as well as others arising in a clinical setting. He also takes on claims relating to fatal traffic accidents.
Strengths: "Absolutely brilliant. He's great with clients and puts them at ease, speaking to them in a language they understand."

Chambers & Partners 2020 - Clinical Negligence - Band 2

Handles a range of issues, with a focus on delayed diagnosis and failure to diagnose. His caseload includes complex claims concerning brain injuries and fatalities, and he boasts strong expertise covering issues surrounding informed consent.
Strengths: "He will expedite work where I need him to and is always available by email should I have quick questions." "He is always well prepared, very thorough, and delivers high-quality paperwork quickly."

Legal 500 2020 - Clinical Negligence - Tier 2

"Practice includes delayed diagnosis and surgical negligence cases."

Chambers & Partners 2019 - Personal Injury - Band 2

"Very good in high-value and complex cases. He has a good manner with clients and always gives very practical advice."

Chambers & Partners 2019 - Clinical Negligence - Band 2

"I find him methodical and accurate and I always feel incredibly confident in the advice and guidance he gives. He's approachable and is always willing to provide general advice as well as technical explanations of the law." "His paperwork is detailed and thorough and he is a persuasive advocate too."

Legal 500 2018/2019

"He has excellent technical knowledge."

Chambers & Partners 2018 - Personal Injury - Band 2

Retains a broad practice representing defendants and claimants alike. He is particularly experienced in cases concerning chronic pain, brain injury and amputation, as well as others arising in a clinical setting. He also takes on claims relating to fatal traffic accidents.

Strengths: "Excellent in every way." "He's very thorough, he gets to grips with the issues quickly and he's good with clients."

Chambers & Partners 2018 - Clinical Negligence - Band 2

Handles a range of issues, with a focus on delayed diagnosis and failures to diagnose. His caseload includes complex claims concerning brain injuries and fatalities.

Strengths: "He's technically very able and he leaves no stone unturned." "Stephen is very insightful as well as approachable. He establishes a good rapport with clients quickly and easily."

Legal 500 2017

"Highly intelligent and tactically canny."

Stephen is recognised in Chambers & Partners Guide to the Bar as a Leading Junior in personal injury litigation (Band 1).

Chambers & Partners 2017 - Clinical Negligence - Band 1

Continues to build a strong reputation for his handling of lower-value but complex cases including fatal and stillbirth claims from delayed diagnosis of medical conditions. Also advises on surgical negligence cases.

Strengths: "In conference, he is good at getting experts to answer questions in a way that is easy to understand.""He is a good team leader when dealing with multiple expert witnesses who are distresssed or upset.

Chambers & Partners 2016

Acts for both claimants and defendants in a range of cases including those concerning chronic pain, amputations, and brain and spinal injuries. Particular experience regarding claims involving military personnel, having previously served in the RAF.

Strengths: "His strengths are preparation, hard work and a good client manner. He is well respected by judges for those reasons." "He is excellent in every respect."

Chambers & Partners 2015

Adept at complex personal injury matters, with particular expertise in chronic pain cases and RTAs causing severe injuries.

Expertise: “He works very hard and will always try his best for the clients. He is widely respected by the judiciaries.” “He did an excellent job in negotiating the compensation figure and explaining that to the client.”

Chambers & Partners 2014

Specialises in complex personal injury and clinical negligence cases, acting for both claimants and defendants. He is noted both for his technical ability with particularly difficult cases and for his client manner.

Expertise: "He has a gravitas about him. He exudes experience and confidence, and he's excellent with clients." "He's very good both for his courtroom skills and his ability to grasp a number of complex issues in a very short period of time."

Chambers & Partners 2013

"a personal injury and clinical negligence specialist who handles a broad range of claims, including road traffic accidents and accidents at work."

Chambers & Partners 2012

"Stephen Friday advises defendants and claimants on a stream of chronic pain cases."

Chambers & Partners 2011

"Sources were keen to stress Stephen Friday's 'approachability and all-round excellent manner', as well as his undoubted technical skills. He handles the full spectrum of personal injury cases, including employers' liability, RTAs and fatal accidents."

Chambers & Partners 2010

"He attracted a wealth of stellar feedback from interviewees, who explained: 'He is a technically sharp and persuasive advocate in court, who will stand his ground and is difficult to defend against unless you are on your game.'"

Notable Cases

Recently Concluded Cases

AA v S & T Hospitals NHS Trust. Failures to identify and treat hydrocephalus leading to significant brain injury. Capacity, condition and prognosis and need for care all in issue. Proceedings issued. Settled at joint settlement meeting (JSM). High Court approval of settlement for £830,000 plus a PPO of £60,000 p.a. for life
B v M. Serious leg injury eventually leading to below knee amputation complicated by difficulty rehabilitating to prosthesis and pre-existing CRPS in the remaining leg. Proceedings issued. Settled at JSM for £1.7million (including provision for 3 lower leg prosthetics and suitable single storey accommodation).
D v B Teaching Hospitals NHS F T. Failure to perform CT scan and to identify aneurysm leading to sub arachnoid haemorrhage, brain injury and hemianopia. Proceedings issued. Settled at JSM for £450,000.
P v F and B Productions Ltd. Acted for stunt performer injured filming Game of Thrones. Liability and Quantum in issue. Settled at JSM for £500,000 a few weeks before High Court trial.
K v B & Z INS PLC. Multiple injuries in an RTA leading to chronic pain. Causation and quantum in dispute. Proceedings issued. Settled at JSM for £485,000.

Examples of Current Caseload

Hospital failure to undertake timely revascularisation procedure leading to cardiac arrest and catastrophic hypoxic brain injury. Protected party with substantial permanent care needs and presently in unsuitable accommodation.
GP failure to carry out repeat blood tests on patient with raised blood creatinine and low eGFR and failure to refer to the renal clinic leading to delayed diagnosis of IgA nephropathy resulting in end stage renal failure and need for kidney transplant.
Hospital failure to diagnose cervical discitis resulting in permanent, severe spinal cord injury and paralysis as well as a life-threatening sepsis with bowel complications that required extensive resection of dead bowel as an emergency and a stoma.
Hospital cytology department failure to identify dyskaryosis on cervical screening leading to the development of advanced cervical cancer and death. Young working mother with dependant spouse and children.
Surgical failure to avoid or recognise and correct right lung torsion during oesophagectomy leading to right pneumonectomy and consequential complications.