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Tom has a particular interest in clinical negligence, which has become a significant part of his practice since joining chambers. He acts on behalf of patients, hospital trusts, GP practices and individual practitioners. He has experience in drafting statements of case, advising on prospects and quantum, CCMCs and inquests involving allegations of clinical negligence. His practice benefits from his experience in a busy clinical negligence department at a leading law firm before coming to the bar. He is happy to advise in matters on an informal basis, particularly in the early stages of claims.

Tom’s practice covers all areas of clinical negligence, including orthopaedic surgery, diabetes management, emergency care, mental health, dental, nursing and residential care.

Tom has been involved in numerous inquests during pupillage and since becoming a tenant. He is primarily instructed in relation to healthcare-related deaths. He is experienced in drafting submissions, advising on strategy, pre-inquest reviews and final hearings. 

Recently concluded cases include:

• Re RG: A two-day inquest involving a death following a head injury. The issues centred on the advice given to the deceased by the paramedics.

• Re DC: An inquest involving a death shortly following discharge from the community psychiatric care team.

• Re AA: A three-day inquest involving a death following a fall in a care home, where the Coroner concluded that the death would have been avoidable had the care home carried out risk assessments. Tom acted on behalf of the family.

• Re KF: An inquest concerning a death that occurred whilst the deceased was undergoing an angioplasty.

• Re LJW: A three-day inquest with a jury concerning a death following the development of septicaemia. The inquest involved four interested parties and questions over whether the deceased had received appropriate care in hospital and in the community after developing foot ulcers, which became infected.

• Re PH: A three-day inquest concerning the death of a patient with dementia who had been injured in a road traffic accident, after he managed to leave a hospital ward without the staff noticing. The Coroner concluded that the failures of the nursing staff amounted to neglect and this contributed to the death. Tom acted on behalf of the deceased's family.

• Re CAJ: An inquest concerning the death of a pedestrian involved in a road traffic collision with a taxi. The conclusion was accidental death. Tom acted on behalf of the taxi driver's insurer.

Tom has a particular interest in health and welfare matters, having studied medical and mental capacity law at post-graduate level. He accepts instructions in areas including:

• Deprovation of Liberty Safeguards;
• Welfare decisions;
• Deputyships; and
• Removal of the Nearest Relative.

Road Traffic Accidents

Tom regularly appears in the County Court regarding RTA claims. He acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants. He also has a busy paper practice, including advising on liability and quantum.

Public and Employers’ Liability 

Tom is experienced in EL/PL matters, both from his work before joining chambers and since becoming a tenant. He is regularly instructed to draft statements of case, advise in conference, and attend trials in the County Court. 

Criminal Injuries Compensation

In pupillage and since becoming a tenant, Tom has experience in advising on and attending CICA appeals. He has particular experience in disputes over whether the assailant lacked capacity.

Credit Hire

Tom is regularly instructed to appear in the County Court in credit hire matters, particularly on behalf of insurance companies. He is well versed in the arguments over need, period, enforceability, impecuniosity, mitigation, intervention and rates. He has been successful in getting credit hire claims dismissed due to misrepresentation.

Indemnity

Tom is experienced in indemnity disputes arising from road traffic accidents owing to his work at a national defendant insurance law firm before pupillage.

Tom has a growing employment practice and he accepts instructions on behalf of Claimants and Respondents. He has experience appearing in the employment tribunal and advising on merits in the early stages of claims. He has a particular interest in discrimination matters.

Tom is instructed on behalf of Claimants and Defendants to attend CCMCs in a variety of matters, but particularly in relation to clinical negligence claims.