
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, JSMs and inquests involving suggestions 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, obstetrics, diabetes management, emergency care, mental health, dental, nursing and residential care.
Recent matters include:
Road Traffic Accidents
Tom is very experienced in all manners of RTA claims in both the High Court and the County Court. He acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants. He also has a busy paper practice, including advising on liability and quantum. Recent matters include:
Public, Product 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 at High Court and County Court level. Recent matters include:
Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals
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.
Tom has been involved in numerous inquests during pupillage and since becoming a tenant. He is primarily instructed in relation to healthcare-related deaths, but also accepts instructions concerning deaths in the workplace, prison deaths and road traffic fatalities. He is experienced in drafting submissions, advising on strategy, pre-inquest reviews and final hearings.
Recently concluded cases include:
Tom is particularly experienced in section 21A applications, section 16 applications, final hearings and round table meetings between the parties. He also has experience of cases where there is an overlap between the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983. He has a keen interest in health and welfare matters, having studied medical and mental capacity law at post-graduate level.His practice benefits from his clinical negligence work and his experience in dealing with parties that lack capacity arising out of injuries. Tom takes a collaborative approach and is willing to advise informally from the outset.
He accepts instructions in all areas, including:
Recent and ongoing matters include:
Tom is also a member of the Court of Protection Practioners Association
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 regularly instructed on behalf of Claimants and Defendants to attend contested costs hearings in a variety of matters, but particularly in relation to clinical negligence claims.
Recent matters include:
Inquest touching the death of Audrey Allen (2018)
Tom represented the family of Miss Allen. The inquest investigated failings in the care provided to the deceased at a care home operated by the local authority. The Coroner may critical findings against the care home, holding that the deceased would have survived had appropriate risk assessments been in place. The inquest was followed by the first CQC prosecution of a local authority. The authority entered an early guilty plea and was fined £500,000 for failing to provide safe care and treatment. Tom's article for AvMA covering the inquest can be accessed here. The BBC's article covering of the CQC prosecution can be accessed here.
Ede & Ravenscroft Legal Prize (Pupillage Scholarship), Inner Temple (2016)
Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Prize, Leeds & District Medico-Legal Society (2016)
Exhibition Award (BPTC Scholarship), Inner Temple (2015)
Regional BPTC Leader's Scholarship, BPP Law School (2014)
RG Lawson Prize, The University of Manchester (2012)
Legal Update by Tom Semple, 21st April 2020
BPTC, BPP Law School (2016)
LLM (Distinction), Healthcare Ethics and Law, The University of Manchester (2013)
LLB (Hons), The University of Manchester (2012)
Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA)
Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA)
Leeds & District Medico-Legal Society
Employment Lawyers Association (ELA)
Court of Protection Practitioners Association (CoPPA)
Inner Temple
16—04—2020