Catherine acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants in clinical negligence and personal injury litigation. She also deals with solicitors’ negligence claims arising out of mismanaged clinical or personal injury litigation. She frequently undertakes high value and complex cases. She appears at Inquests. She also has significant experience of disciplinary tribunal work, defending professionals before their regulatory body.
She is recommended in both legal directories for clinical negligence and is described as “… breathtakingly clever. Her ability to think on her feet is outstanding” by Chambers UK, 2022. According to Legal 500, 2022 she shows “forensic attention to detail, comprehensive preparation, detailed analysis of medicine and law, dedicated, empathetic, incredibly conscientious, excellent with clients, not afraid to be firm and combative where necessary.”
Catherine recently successfully represented a claimant in a trial on liability regarding a failure to give heparin following an arterial occlusion, resulting in a stroke: Pickering v Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2022] EWHC 1171 (QB).
In 2020 Catherine successfully represented a child in a trial on liability regarding a late diagnosis of meningitis: SC (a child) v University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWCH 1610.
From 2014 to 2017, Catherine was instructed in the Ian Paterson (breast surgeon) litigation. This large scale litigation involved many diverse issues such as whether a private hospital was primarily and vicariously liable for the torts of a surgeon and whether the NHS owed a duty of care to patients in the private sector, or to the private sector hospital itself, to take action where there were indications of malpractice in respect of an employed surgeon.
Catherine prides herself on giving straightforward and to the point advice so that clients have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their cases. She always considers it very important to understand the perspective of each individual client. She remembers that for many clients their case may be the only time they are involved in litigation. Catherine realises the importance of resolving cases in a cost-effective manner for insurers. Having taken on any case, whatever its strengths or weaknesses, Catherine will fight hard to achieve the best possible outcome.
Catherine undertakes many aspects of clinical negligence work, including claims arising out of:
Recently concluded cases include:
Catherine has considerable experience of representing nurses before their regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and has appeared at interim hearings, substantive hearings and reviews involving matters of misconduct and incompetence and health issues. She has also appeared before the Health Professions Council.
Catherine has also acted on appeals to the Administrative Court involving questions of fitness to practise and sentence.
Catherine undertakes all aspects of personal injury work, for both claimants and defendants, including:
Recent cases include:
Lawyers
Catherine specialises in cases arising out of failed or badly managed clinical negligence or personal injury litigation.
“She is hugely diligent, very responsive and gets to the heart of a problem very quickly.” Chambers UK, 2022
“Catherine is breathtakingly clever. Her ability to think on her feet is outstanding.” Chambers UK, 2022
“Forensic attention to detail, comprehensive preparation, detailed analysis of medicine and law, dedicated, empathetic, incredibly conscientious, excellent with clients, not afraid to be firm and combative where necessary.” Legal 500, 2022
“Shows a determined and unrivalled drive to achieve the best for the client.” Legal 500, 2021
“Excellent in mediations and very impressive in conference.” “She doesn’t leave any stone unturned and her eye for detail is tremendous.” Chambers UK, 2021
“She is always calm and collected and her attention to detail is really fantastic.” Chambers UK, 2020
“She is a tenacious and formidable force in settlements negotiations” Legal 500, 2020
“Really diligent Her forensic eye for detail is second to none” Chambers UK, 2019
“Great with clients” Chambers UK, 2019
“She has a great eye for detail and is a highly accomplished negotiator” Legal 500, 2019
“Clever and fantastic with figures. She is really thorough and efficient. She puts the client at the heart of everything” Chambers UK, 2018
“Robust with opponents and approachable with clients” Legal 500, 2017
“An excellent grasp of complex medical issues and investigates them thoroughly.” Legal 500, 2017
“She is extremely intelligent and has an incredible in-depth understanding of the law whilst remaining attuned to the sensitivities of the client.” Chambers UK, 2017
“She’s very clever and her attention to detail is outstanding.” Chambers UK, 2017
“Highly intelligent, competent, thorough and accessible.” Legal 500, 2016
“Catherine is a tremendous workhorse. She is very good at sifting through a lot of detail and distilling it down into something that can be worked with.” Chambers UK, 2016
“She is very easy to get along with. Nothing is too much trouble.” Chambers UK, 2016
“She has a good combination of a true eye for detail and an overall tactical awareness.” Legal 500, 2015
Pickering v Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2022] EWHC 1171 (QB) – successful trial on liability re failure to give heparin resulting in a stroke
SC (a child) v University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 1610 (QB) – successful trial on liability re late diagnosis of meningitis
SC (a child) v University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 1445 (QB) – re application to adjourn in the light of the pandemic
Bradbury & others v Paterson and others [2014] EWHC 3992 (QBD)
Jalloh v NMC [2009] EWHC 1697 (Admin) Silber J – appeal regarding fitness to practise of a nurse
NMC v Livermore [2005] All ER (D) 127 – appeal from sanction imposed by the NMC
Chabba v Turbogame [2001] EWCA Civ 1073 – service of claim form
Woolgar v Chief Constable of the Sussex Police and the UKCC [1999] 3 All ER 604 – disclosure of material to a regulatory body
Education:
ICO Data protection registration number: Z7093765.
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