Clyde & Co houses a broad practice known for handling fatal accident inquiries, inquests, and criminal proceedings. Claire Petts (who divides her time between Manchester and London) co-leads the team alongside ‘absolute dynamo’ Vanessa Splaine and Sarah Woodwark. Splaine’s primary areas of expertise include brain and spinal injury cases in both newborns and adults, with a successful record in settling claims by way of periodical payment orders. Woodwark often handles cases concerning cosmetic surgery, oral cancer, and dental procedures. Rachel Barnes is particularly adept at handling clinical claims against nurses, and laser eye surgery cases. Louise Jackson, noted for her work for the Medical Protection Society, is ‘tireless, highly intelligent and meticulous‘ in her representation of private clinicians and primary care practitioners.

DAC Beachcroft LLP houses a ‘vastly experienced’ team in Manchester, known for handling GP indemnity issues, claims concerning mental health services, and product liability and clinical negligence matters relating to medical devices. Team lead Simon Wortley assists a diverse client list of independent healthcare providers, insurers, and hospitals with a variety of issues including methods of consent. Sean Doherty, who is praised by clients for being ‘proactive and knowledgeable‘, is particularly adept at wrongful birth claims, and group actions against the NHS concerning the actions of orthopaedic surgeons. The ‘very clever and thorough’ Claire Fitzgerald regularly acts for UK insurers in overseas claims.

The Liverpool-based group at Hill Dickinson LLP handles the full spectrum of clinical negligence mandates, with notable clients including NHS Resolution, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, and CNA Hardy. Andrew Craggs acts as the group’s national team lead, alongside David Locke. Craggs is well-known for his vast expertise in claims involving sexual assault and bullying, while Locke handles a wide variety of cases related to gender reassignment, neonatal death, and collective claims against NHS bodies. Joanne Hughes has deep knowledge of GP claims, and the ‘wonderful‘ Nick Citron‘s caseload primarily consists of brain and spinal injuries, and amputations. Claire Christopholus assists NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICB) with mandates involving mental capacity and deprivation of liberty safeguards.

Working out of the Liverpool office, Weightmans LLP routinely acts in public inquiries and large-scale group actions. Regularly acting for private healthcare providers and NHS trusts, co-head Richard Jolly has extensive knowledge of birth injury cases, while Vicky Morris routinely advises clients on patient safety incidents and group actions. Ian Critchley is noted for his longstanding experience in spinal injury and delayed diagnosis cases. In Manchester, Lisa Spencer is particularly adept at handling claims concerning foetal exposure to sodium valproate, and Chris Dexter is an expert in claims brought by clients under the NHS Resolution General Practice indemnity schemes and dental negligence cases. Samuel Harland is an expert in blood borne infections and chemical exposure, often engaging in alternative dispute resolution methods.

Leveraging its national network, Browne Jacobson LLP acts for a varied client base which notably includes the Medical Protection Society, Dental Protection Limited, and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. Clinical negligence litigator Amanda Callaghan heads up the Manchester team, and Rachael Mounsey has broad expertise in high-value obstetric claims, in addition to deep knowledge of public law. Nigel Wood and Carena Fullerton joined the group from Hempsons and DAC Beachcroft LLP respectively in December 2023. Wood often acts for medical defence organisations and NHS trusts, with a strong focus on elective ophthalmic treatments, while Fullerton is known for her broad expertise in claims involving serious brain injury and orthopaedic surgery.