Practice Overview
Before studying law, William was a surgeon specialising in plastic surgery. He graduated from Oxford University in medicine in 2001; also attaining a first-class honours degree in Physiological Sciences in 1998. In his postgraduate surgical practice William pursued interests in hand surgery and trauma reconstruction.
William’s medical background gives him a particular interest and advantage in clinical negligence and personal injury and related claims. “He has an excellent understanding of medicine and the law. His experience and knowledge is well beyond his call.” (Chambers & Partners, 2017). William also has particular interest and experience in claims involving both initial conventional personal injury and then also superadded medical negligence in treatment thereafter, advising and assisting as to contribution claims and apportionment. He has also been instructed in cases regarding the sale and supply of goods and services, motor insurance and uninsured drivers, property damage and general commercial matters.
“Exceptionally diligent. He has a very good grasp of medical negligence matters.”
“Well liked, personable and has a particular insight into claims given his medical background.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2018)
“He possesses excellent advocacy skills and is calmness personified when under pressure.”
(Legal 500, 2017)
William appears regularly in trials and applications in the High Court and County Courts. He has conducted successful appeals and appears in mediation and settlement meetings for clinical negligence, personal injury and commercial matters. He is pleased to consider work on a conditional fee basis.
William practised medicine for 6 years. He taught anatomy at Cambridge University and undertook research in intensive care, anatomy and plastic surgery. After general surgical training in A&E, colorectal surgery, trauma and orthopaedics and cardiothoracic surgery, he attained Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons and then specialised in plastic surgery including hand surgery, trauma and cancer reconstruction, burns and cosmetic surgery.
William is able to quickly understand and appreciate the medical evidence and issues in a case and then frame and assess their legal implications. “He has an excellent understanding of medicine and the law; his experience and knowledge is well beyond his call” (Chambers & Partners, 2017). “He is very good with witnesses and experts in conference” (Legal 500, 2016). “His medical qualifications and professional approach to cases makes him a very popular choice” (Chambers & Partners, 2016).
He is pleased to consider cases on a conditional fee agreement and to review cases at an early stage to give preliminary advice as to merits and as to the instruction of appropriate experts.
Notable cases include:
- Ian Paterson Breast Surgery Litigation (QBD, September 2017, settled), acting for the NHS defending claims arising from the actions of Mr Ian Paterson in the private sector, led by Michael de Navarro QC
- B v O v B NHS (QBD Birmingham, ongoing), acting for defendant driver in RTA claim, also Part 20 contribution claim against treating hospital for medical negligence in CT-contrast extravasation injury
- H v R NHS (QBD, ongoing), claim concerning delayed diagnosis of colorectal cancer
- E v P NHS (Southampton CC, ongoing), claim concerning poor outcome from ophthalmic squint surgery
- C v P NHS (Bournemouth CC, February 2018, settled), acting for claimant in a claim concerning negligence in surgical fixation of a clavicle fracture, resulting in damage to nerve and blood supply to arm, causing some paralysis/weakness of hand; also consent issues
- C v R NHS (QBD, January 2018, settled), claim concerning bowel injury during gynaecological endometriosis surgery
- J v R NHS (Central London CC, December 2017, settled), acting for NHS defendant in claim arising from admittedly negligent abdominal hernia surgery: ssues as to causation and quantum, especially as to assessment of exacerbation of pre-existing back pain
- C v L (QBD, October 2017, settled), acting for defendant cosmetic surgeon in claim arising from facial infection after filler injections
- T v R, MIB, E NHS (QBD, March 2017, settled), acting for MIB in road traffic accident claim, also with medical negligence in subsequent hospital management of complex ankle fracture
- A v W (QBD Sheffield, January 2016, settled), claim concerning missed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome by a GP
- S v B NHS (Central London CC, 25-26 November 2015), successful defence of a claim arising from a decision to operate on an incarcerated abdominal incisional hernia; also consent issues
- D C v I (QBD, November 2015, settled), claim concerning alleged negligence of a radiologist
- T v RC NHS (QBD, 9-11 March 2015), claim concerning a missed diagnosis of scoliosis
- M v W NHS (Central London CC, January 2015, settled), quantification of losses arising from maternal obstetric injuries
- S v U NHS (QBD, June 2014, settled), leg amputation following negligent vascular surgery, led by Martin Porter QC
- E v G NHS (Central London CC, 28-29 January 2014), successful defence of a claim concerning a fall in a physiotherapy falls-prevention class
- T v N-T (Central London CC, 17-20 June 2013), successful defence of allegedly negligent hysteroscopy and polypectomy procedure during in-vitro fertilisation
- M v N NHS (QBD, 26-30 November 2012), mismanagement of prolapsed lumbar spinal disc in A&E
- Multi-million-pound catastrophic PI and clinical negligence cases led by Benjamin Browne QC and Sarah Vaughan-Jones QC.
William has also been instructed in cases involving:
- Delayed diagnosis including cancer, retinal detachment, septic arthritis and cauda equina syndrome
- Mismanagement of hand injuries and orthopaedic injuries
- Iatrogenic injury during general, urological and gynaecological surgery and during pleural aspiration
- Failure to warn of risk
- Failure to warn of alternative treatment
- Obstetric mismanagement during delivery, including catastrophic hypoxic foetal injuries and other traumatic injuries to mother and child
- Hypertrophic and keloid scarring
- Poor aesthetic outcomes after cosmetic surgery
- Chronic pain
- IVF and assisted reproduction
- Complications in eye surgery
- Anaesthetic negligence
- Assault of third parties by psychiatric patients
- Secondary victim claims for nervous shock
William has a broad experience of both Claimant and Defendant personal injury claims. His practice includes occupier’s and employer’s liability claims, claims arising under the Highways Act 1980 and claims following road traffic accidents, including claims involving alleged fraud and staged accidents, low velocity impacts, credit hire and uninsured drivers.
William has acted regularly for the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, led by Benjamin Browne QC, on several multi-million-pound catastrophic injury claims, between them covering almost all issues in personal injury quantum including past and future care provision, accommodation issues, loss of earnings and pension claims, periodical payments (including payments in foreign currencies and indexation to foreign indices) and provisional damages.
William also has particular interest and experience in claims involving both initial conventional personal injury and then also superadded medical negligence in treatment thereafter, advising and assisting as to contribution claims and apportionment.
Notable cases include:
- B v O’K v B NHS (QBD Birmingham, ongoing), acting for defendant driver in RTA claim, also Part 20 contribution claim against treating hospital for medical negligence in CT-contrast extravasation injury, severely disabling the one limb that had been spared in the original accident
- T v R, MIB, and E NHS (QBD, March 2017, settled), acting for MIB in road traffic accident claim, also with medical negligence in subsequent hospital management of complex ankle fracture
William has particular experience of product liability relating to medical devices, where issues of medical negligence and the sale and supply of goods can also apply.
Notable cases include:
- E v Manufacturer & Hospital (Southampton CC, 2016, settled), acting for claimant in successful claim against a manufacturer and against a private hospital as supplier in respect of leaking silicone breast implants.
Notable cases include:
- A claim in respect of commission payments to and claw-backs from a financial adviser within a partnership, achieving a six-figure structured secured settlement at mediation
- A contractual dispute arising from a boat collapsing on a hard-standing when taken out of the water for winter maintenance
- A claim for property damage and loss of profits following a reactor vessel at a chemical works being dropped during a lift by a crane