Clyde & Co has a wide-ranging medical negligence offering that runs the gamut of defender work, leading to regular instructions from insurers, indemnity organisations and private companies. Led by solicitor advocate Graeme Watson, who acts for healthcare professionals on negligence claims and before regulators, the Edinburgh-based team has a proven track record representing clients in large multi-party claims and group litigation across product liability and fatal accident claims, inquests and regulatory proceedings. Duncan Batchelor represents healthcare regulators and companies in medical product liability litigation, while legal director Claire Raftery, dual qualified in Scotland, and England and Wales, is noted for her cosmetic procedure claims expertise. Associates Lyndsey Combe and Chris Dunn are other key members of the team.
Medical negligence: defender in Scotland
Clyde & Co
Responsables de la pratique:
Graeme Watson
Autres avocats clés:
Claire Raftery; Chris Dunn; Duncan Batchelor; Lyndsey Combe
Les références
‘Claire Raftery and Chris Dunn are a fantastic team – every case is superbly prepared. They both work so hard for their clients, and you can see it in the results they achieve.’
‘Claire Raftery: A class act, excellent preparation, great with clients, excellent witness statements and sound judgment. Chris Dunn: Easily partner level performance.‘
‘Clyde & Co is the leader in the field of private sector defenders’ medical negligence. It has the best profile, people and resources.‘
Principaux clients
Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd
Stryker/Depuy International (Finsbury Orthopaedics)
Principaux dossiers
- Successfully defended the manufacturers of a metal-on-metal hip implant, Finsbury Orthopaedics, in the first such Scottish case to proceed to proof.
- Acting for a global manufacturer of pelvic mesh products, Johnson & Johnson, on the largest personal injury litigation in Scotland. The sums sued for totalled approximately £45,000,000 plus interest and expenses. The litigation was also highly political with separate independent inquiries into the products in Scotland and England.
Brodies LLP
Brodies LLP‘s full-service medical negligence practice advises clients on claims across various specialist areas, including ophthalmology, dentistry, product liability and social care. The firm has a growing cosmetics and aesthetics claims practice and is particularly skilled at representing governmental and private sector clients in national medical inquiries. Laura McMillan and Lynn Livesey now lead the team following the departure of former practice head Duncan Mawby to BTO Solicitors LLP in 2022. McMillan, an experienced clinical negligence solicitor advocate, acts for private healthcare clients on contentious and non-contentious matters, while associate Livesey advises insurers and private healthcare clients on fatal accident inquiries and cosmetic surgery cases. Associate Kate Donachie is another key individual.
Responsables de la pratique:
Laura McMillan; Lynn Livesey
Autres avocats clés:
Kate Donachie; Lara Graham; Ellen Andrew
Les références
‘Practical and commercial advice, delivering great client outcomes from a team with a sound knowledge of the sector.’
‘A team of very able and focussed individuals. The service they provide to clients is outstanding, since they are skilled at identifying key issues, diligent in pursuing those (for example by identifying leading experts and instructing expert evidence) and giving measured and robust advice to clients about their options.’
‘Their use of technology is appropriate while never losing sight of the human dimension, which most clients value.’
Principaux clients
Association of Optometrists
Scottish Government
RSA
RPC
Scottish Care
Principaux dossiers
- Instructed by the Scottish Government to act in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry. The inquiry is a UK-wide public inquiry investigating how men, women and children treated by the NHS were given infected blood and infected blood products.
BTO Solicitors LLP
Acting for major UK medical defence organisations, BTO Solicitors LLP represents doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in complex, high-value and fatal clinical negligence claims before Scottish courts. Public inquiries are another strength of the firm, as are cosmetic claims, which constitute a growing focus area for the team. The group is also regularly instructed by insurers and individuals to defend claims in the private sphere. Practice head Laura Donald is a seasoned litigator with significant experience in fatal accident inquiries and public inquiries, while associate Jill Harris acts for medical and dental professionals. Other key individuals include associates Jennifer King, Natalie McCartney and Cara Docherty, as well as former Brodies LLP partner Duncan Mawby, who joined the firm as a consultant in February 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
Laura Donald
Principaux clients
The Medical Defence Union Limited (MDU)
Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS)
Medical Protection Society (MPS)