Clinical negligence
By Nigel Montgomery
For all the latest news and comment in clinical negligence healthcare law
Clinical Risk
Patient expectation of successful clinical outcome can lead to disputes, which accordingly require experienced and cost effective management both in the public and private spheres.
Accompanying this are the cost pressures, which have never been so acute on clinical negligence/medical malpractice indemnifiers, and which drive our experts to work to ensure a timely and efficient response for clients. We act to ensure that unmeritorious claims are always defeated, and that just claims are settled both promptly and cost effectively.
We draw from our full spectrum of expertise across both the public and private healthcare sector to ensure you receive excellent advice and that you and your clinical staff feel fully supported.
What we do
DAC Beachcroft LLP is the market-leading and largest defendant clinical negligence and medical malpractice team in the UK. We have been acting for the NHS since its inception in 1948 and are an original panel firm for NHS Resolution (formerly the NHS Litigation Authority), as well as being proud to call the MDU and many private healthcare providers and their insurers as clients.
In addition to this, our clinical negligence and medical malpractice teams provide market leading services for insurers in both the Republic of Ireland and in Spain.
Dealing in dispute resolution and as advocates in courts, tribunals and coroner's courts, our experts provide advice on performance issues and professional disciplinary matters, as well as having experience of mediation and ADR generally.
We offer genuine end-to-end expertise, from incident management, insurance notifications, and TPA claims handling, through to the most complex litigation in this field, involving group and representative action. This includes some of the largest group actions involving the NHS today, taking a cutting-edged approach to managing the complexities of such litigation.
What we are known for
DAC Beachcroft is widely recognised as the leading strategic, commercial and regulatory legal adviser to the health and social care sector in the UK.
Our clinical risk team has the largest share of the NHS Resolution's portfolio in this field, representing the biggest indemnity spend by the NHS Resolution. We are on the Medical Defence Union panel as their preferred provider for medical negligence claims, including high value claims and dental claims, and we act for three of the UK's five largest providers of independent acute hospital services.
As experts in this field we often provide strategic advice on a range of issues affecting the NHS, working with the wider healthcare team across the UK to ensure we tackle every issue with a broad understanding of the health sector. In addition, we act for a large share of the private sector market and, in conjunction with our healthcare regulatory team, we successfully manage the interface between public and private sectors.
In addition, we are a leading light in private medical malpractice. We handle large volumes of cases for the Medical Defence Union, Spire, Bupa, Nuffield and medical malpractice insurers such as Marketform, Allied World, RSA, QBE, and Mitsui.
What our clients say
"According to clients, DAC Beachcroft LLP is ‘the prime defendant practice in the region’. The firm fields ‘a very strong and well-balanced team of sound and committed lawyers’ which attracts praise for its ‘incredible all-round service and quality in depth’." Legal 500 2017 Edition, Insurance: Clinical negligence: defendant, Newcastle
"They are a very tight, close-knit team that works very well together. They provide a uniquely outstanding service." Chambers and Partners UK 2018 Edition, Clinical Negligence: Mainly Defendant, Clinical Negligence: Mainly Defendant, UK-wide
“We have a good relationship with them. They are creative when it comes to developing solutions for clients. They are good, experienced, detailed and helpful.” Chambers UK, 2016 (Clinical Negligence: Defendant)
"DAC Beachcroft LLP has a good reputation in the insurance and healthcare sectors, and its ‘strong, relevant knowledge of the NHS sector ensures appropriate advice’." Legal 500 Edition, 2015
"DAC Beachcroft LLP’s ‘extremely experienced and competent practice’ leverages its many panel memberships (NHSLA [NHS Resolution], MDU), and its private sector (Accuvision, Nuffield) and insurance (Aviva, Zurich) client base to act on a very broad range of claims." Legal 500 Edition, 2015
"First-choice firm’ DAC Beachcroft LLP was instructed by the NHSLA [NHS Resolution] on a group action involving over 140 claims against an orthopaedic surgeon, and – separately – on all metal-on-metal hip claims." Legal 500 Edition, 2015
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Our Lawyers View All
Jonathan Bonser
Senior Associate ManchesterJonathan Bonser is a clinical risk lawyer in our Manchester office,…
Christopher Briggs
Partner ManchesterChristopher Briggs has practiced in the healthcare sector since…
Wendy Brown
Senior Associate BristolWendy Brown has extensive experience in handling high value personal…
Christian Carr
Associate ManchesterRegulation of professionals in the health and care sector Christian…
Julie Chappell
Senior Associate BristolJulie Chappell has been defending high value clinical negligence claims on…
Hazel Davies
Senior Associate ManchesterHazel Davies has been an integral part of the firm's Manchester Clinical…
Sarah Dobson
Senior Associate BristolSarah Dobson advises both independent and public sector health and social…
Heather Durston-Hillyer
Partner WinchesterHeather Durston-Hillyer is a clinical risk lawyer and partner in our…
Sara Eaton
Senior Associate BristolSara Eaton is a clinical risk lawyer deals with defendant clinical…
Joanne Fletcher
Senior Associate ManchesterJoanne Fletcher is an Associate in the Healthcare and Clinical Risk Team…
Sheryl Gearing
Senior Associate WinchesterSheryl Gearing deals exclusively with clinical negligence claims for the…
Andrew Ireland
Partner GlasgowAndrew Ireland is a solicitor advocate, and specialises in representing…
Stuart Keyden
Senior Associate BristolStuart Keyden focuses primarily on public sector clinical negligence…
Alison McAdams
Head of Life Sciences London - WalbrookAlison has advised clients on product liability and safety issues,…
Dawn McIntosh
Senior Associate NewcastleDawn has over 16 years' experience dealing with clinical negligence claims…
Rebecca Mitchell
Senior Associate ManchesterRebecca is a clinical risk lawyer in our Manchester office…
Nigel Montgomery
Partner, Head of Health BristolNigel Montgomery acts on behalf of the NHSLA, NHS Trusts, and the MDU…
Karen Rawsthorne
Senior Associate ManchesterKaren has more than 20 years' experience of healthcare defence work…
Rachel Roberts-Jenkins
Partner BristolRachel heads up the firm's highly-regarded Clinical Negligence department…
Katharine Taylor
Senior Associate NewcastleKatharine has 12 years' experience of managing clinical negligence claims.
Hannah Volpe
Partner BristolHannah joined the clinical risk team at DAC Beachcroft LLP in 2007, having…
David Weatherburn
Partner NewcastleDavid qualified with Eversheds LLP in 1987 and was a partner with…
Jane Whitehead
Senior Associate LeedsJane acts on behalf of NHS Resolution (formerly the NHS Litigation…
Justin Whitmore
Senior Associate BristolJustin has been responsible for undertaking the defence of high value and…
Simon Wortley
Partner ManchesterSimon is the location head for Clinical Risk in Manchester leading a team…
Key Contacts