Nina Unthank

Call 2001

“She is very pragmatic but firm and really understands the needs of the client."

Chambers UK 2025

Expertise

Nina is a specialist clinical negligence barrister. Her vast experience means that she is consistently instructed in high value, complex clinical negligence actions. Acting predominantly for Defendants, she has considerable experience of claims involving spinal injury (including cauda equina syndrome and spinal infection), neo-natal and adult brain damage, stroke, failed and delayed cancer diagnosis, claims related to obstetrics and gynaecology; orthopaedics; infection control (meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, necrotising fasciitis); cosmetic surgery; ENT; psychiatric injury; chronic pain and a broad range of failures in primary and tertiary care and by the ambulance service.

Nina is regularly instructed as a junior by leading counsel in multi-million-pound disputes.

Notable Clinical Negligence cases


NAX V King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2018] EWHC 1170 (QB)


X v University Hospital of Leicester NHS Trust (2019) LTL


Defending a GP in relation to a missed diagnosis of Charcot Arthropathy leading to amputation.


Defending an NHS Trust in a multi-million-pound claim for shoulder dystocia.


Defending an NHS Trust in a multi- million-pound claim arising out of the failure to diagnose meningitis in a 2-year-old leading to permanent neurological damage, led by Ben Browne QC.


Defending an NHS Trust in a multi- million- pound claimed arising out of the alleged failure to provide anticoagulation medication leading to stroke.


Defending an NHS Trust in a multi-million-pound claim arising out of a delayed diagnosis of ovarian cancer.


Defending 2 NHS Trusts in a multi-million-pound claim involving delays in diagnosis and treatment of a spinal abscess / infection.


Defending 4 NHS Trusts in a multi-million-pound claim relating to the failure to manage klebsiella infection.


Defending a Consultant ENT Surgeon in a claim arising out of diagnosis and treatment for Eustachian tube dysfunction.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim relating to alleged failures in the management of a long standing non-union of a scaphoid fracture.


Defending an NHS Trust in a matter relating to the alleged failure to diagnose and/ or suspect meningitis / intracranial infection leading to death.


Defendant an Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in relation to the alleged failure to recognise the signs of stroke and arrange/advise urgent face to face assessment.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim alleging substandard delivery following diagnosis of shoulder dystocia resulting in a brachial plexus injury.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim involving post operative treatment following a pharyngeal pouch repair leading to infection and abscess that required prolonged hospitalisation and feeding via a tube. The case was dismissed at trial.


Defending an NHS Trust in a high value claim arising out of the alleged misdiagnosis of active rather than latent TB leading to ethambutol toxic optic neuropathy and loss of vision, as a result of treatment.


Defending an NHS Trust in a high value claim arising out of a false positive misdiagnosis of Lentigo Maligna which resulted in an unnecessary surgical excision of a lesion to the Claimant’s right cheek causing facial scarring and severe psychiatric injury leading to inability to work and pension loss.


Defending an NHS Trust in a high value case involving delayed diagnosis of melanoma.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim relating to the alleged failure to diagnose and treat bowel perforations following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.


Defending a GP in a claim relating to the failure to refer a 3 week old baby to a paediatric surgeon resulting in septic arthritis in the hip.


Defending an NHS Trust in a 3 -week trial arising out of an alleged failure to diagnose and treat cauda equina syndrome, led by Michael de Navarro KC.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising out of an alleged failure to provide reasonable antibiotic therapy following surgery resulting in meningitis and significant brain injury, led by Michael de Navarro KC.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising out of an alleged failure to diagnose and treat breast cancer.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising out of the alleged negligent performance of an open sigmoid colectomy procedure.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising from an allegedly negligently performed hip replacement.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising from an alleged failure to diagnose and treat lung cancer.


Representing a GP and NHS Trust in a claim arising from a delayed diagnosis of caecal cancer.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim for lingual nerve damage arising from an allegedly negligent extraction of a wisdom tooth.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising from hypoxic brain injury that the Claimant suffered after undergoing a Whipple’s procedure.


Defending an NHS Trust in a 6 day trial in a claim for alleged HHE Syndrome in a child arising out of delayed treatment of an epileptic fit, led by Michael de Navarro KC.


Defending an NHS Trust in relation to a claim for the alleged failure to diagnose bowel cancer.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising out of an alleged unnecessary and inappropriate ERCP procedure causing perforation.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising of the alleged delay in prescribing bisphosphonates to the Claimant who suffered from osteoporosis.


Defending an NHS Trust in a claim arising from an attempted laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the removal of the Claimant’s gallbladder.


Defending an NHS Trust in relation to a claim for brain damage in a child arising out of an alleged failure to diagnose and treat meningitis.


Defending a GP in relation to the failure to diagnose and refer an infant presenting with hip pathology.


Representing a GP at an inquest following the death of an infant.


Representing a GP at an inquest following the suicide of a patient.


Defending numerous NHS Trusts in relation to claims arising out of the alleged failure to diagnose and treat cauda equina syndrome.


Defending two NHS Trusts in relation to claims arising out of the alleged failure to diagnose and treat necrotising fasciitis.


Defending an NHS Trust in relation to a claim for the alleged failure to diagnose and treat intestinal malrotation in an infant.


Defending an NHS Trust in relation to a claim arising out of the failure to timeously diagnose and treat age related macular degeneration.


Defending an NHS Trust in relation to a claim arising out of the alleged failure to appropriately advise, obtain consent and treat Fuch’s corneal dystrophy.


Defending an Optician and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon out of an alleged failure to appropriately, advise, obtain consent and perform wavefront intralase LASIK surgery.


Junior Counsel instructed by the MDU in a multi-million-pound claim, led by Caroline Harrison KC, arising out of the prescription of anti- epileptic drugs.

Nina is a specialist personal injury barrister with a busy practice combing advocacy, drafting and advisory work. She is experienced in handling complex high value cases (regularly in excess of £1 million).

She has vast experience of claims arising out of road traffic accidents, in particular, involving the MIB and suspected fraudulent claims.

She also specialises in the field of employer’s liability, in particular, involving accidents at work, industrial disease and occupational health, including mesothelioma, deafness, repetitive strain injury, chronic pain, CRPS, stress and harassment.

Nina is also a specialist in claims arising out of accidents on the highway, occupiers’ liability and defective premises. Further, she has considerable expertise in claims arising out of sporting activities including trampolining, ice- skating, skiing, inflatable banana rides, water parks and football.

Nina is a regular trial advocate and appears in applications involving all aspects of civil procedure, including cost budgeting, relief from sanctions, disclosure, expert evidence, strike out, setting aside default judgments, limitation, costs and resiling from admissions.

Nina also represents her clients at mediation and joint settlement meetings. Her work also includes CRU appeals and inquests.

Nina is well known for her ability to draft robust pleadings and for her pragmatic advice.

Nina speaks at personal injury seminars, her recent topics have included fraudulent motor claims, exaggeration and malingering in personal injury claims, limitation and the effect of insolvency on personal injury claims.

Notable Personal Injury cases


Defending a principal contractor on an accident on a building site involving work at height.


Defending a company in a claim arising out of a tripping accident at their premises, involving issues of exaggeration.


Defending an employer and occupier in a claim arising out of a slipping accident involving complex issues of causation as the Claimant had pre -existing functional neurological disorder.


Defending a trampoline park in relation to an accident on the premises.


Defending an employer in a high value claim for an accident at work resulting in a rotator cuff tear with significant loss of earnings.


Representing a motorist in a multi-party collision involving a contested application to resile from an admission of liability.


Defending a producer of goods in a claim for personal injury arising from failure of the product.


Defending an organisation in relation to a claim arising out of an accident occurring on an inflatable water ride.


Defending a company in relation to a claim arising from an alleged fall down some stairs. The case involved issues of fundamental dishonesty.


Defending an occupier in relation to a slipping claim as a result of which the Claimant allegedly suffered significant injuries. The case involved issues of fundamental dishonesty supported by surveillance evidence.


Defending a driver in a road traffic accident. The case involved issues of fundamental dishonesty.


Representing a Claimant in a claim arising out of a road traffic accident which involved consideration of complex issues including fraud, the application of Cameron (Respondent) v Liverpool Victoria Insurance Co Ltd (Appellant) [2019] UKSC 6 and the MIB’s Untraced Drivers’ Agreement 2003.


Representing a Claimant in an oral arbitration under the MIB’s Untraced Drivers’ Agreement.


Advising a Claimant in relation to an industrial disease claim arising out of asbestos exposure.


Defending a courier company in relation to road traffic accident where the Claimant allegedly suffered significant injuries. The case involved issues of fundamental dishonesty supported by surveillance evidence.


Defending an employer in relation to a claim where the Claimant claimed to have suffered significant injury following an accident at work. The case involved issues of fundamental dishonesty.


Defending an employer in relation to a high value claim for chronic pain and psychiatric damage arising out of an accident at work.


Defending an employer in a 3 day multi track claim arising out of a manual handling accident in its factory.


Defending an occupier in relation to an accident during which a visitor was electrocuted on premises over which he had control.


Defending the MIB in a high value 4 day multi track claim under the Uninsured Drivers’ Agreement involving a major brain injury suffered as a result of a road traffic accident.


Defending a care home in a claim arising out of an attack on a support worker by a severely autistic service user.


Defending an employer in relation to an accident which occurred during a ‘human table football match’ on an ‘away day’.


Defending a night club in relation to a tripping accident on its premises.


Defending a care home in a high value claim for chronic pain syndrome and psychiatric damage arising from an attack by a service user on an employee.


Representing a Claimant motorcyclist who sustained severe spinal injuries in a road traffic accident.


Representing a shop keeper in relation to a dog attack on its premises.


Defending a well-known leisure centre in a claim arising from a skiing accident on an indoor snow ski slope.


Defending a number of multi-claimant claims arising out of fraudulent road traffic accidents.


Defending a well-known leisure centre in 3 consolidated claims arising from ice-skating accidents on an ice rink.


Defending a bread distribution factory in 2 consolidated claims for repetitive strain injury as a result of a ‘put to light’ system.


Representing a music venue in a claim arising from a stage diving incident.


Defending an employer in a large value stress at work and harassment claim.


Lengthy inquest into the death of a company director and team leader who was killed in a gas explosion whilst undertaking a pressure test on a large gas installation project.


Numerous inquests arising out of road traffic accidents.

Privacy Policy

Nina Unthank Privacy Policy

My contact details:

ICO Reg No: Z6892327
Address: 2 Temple Gardens, London, EC4Y 9AY
Email: clerks@2tg.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7822 1200

The type of personal information I collect

To enable me to provide you with legal advice and representation in courts, tribunals, arbitrations and mediations, I currently collect and process the following personal information:

Personal identifiers, contacts and characteristics (for example, name, date of birth and contact details), bank and financial details, your background and circumstance and education.

Other personal data relevant to, or included in instructions to provide legal services, including data specific to the instructions in question and data included in documents provided to me as part of instructions or otherwise.

Such information may include personal information relating to family members, associates, agents, employees, shareholders or beneficial owners. By providing such personal information to me, you automatically confirm that you are authorised to do so. It is not reasonably practicable for me to provide the information set out in this Privacy Notice to those individuals. Accordingly, where appropriate, you are responsible for providing this information to any such individuals.

Where necessary, I may also need to process Special Category data about you including

  • racial or ethnic origin;
  • personal data revealing political opinions;
  • personal data revealing religious or philosophical beliefs;
  • personal data revealing trade union membership;
  • genetic data;
  • biometric data (where used for identification purposes);
  • data concerning health;
  • data concerning a person’s sex life; and
  • data concerning a person’s sexual orientation.

How I get the personal information and why I have it

Most of the personal information that I process is provided to me directly by you or via the professional you have instructed such as a solicitor or consultant or other professional adviser who instructs me on your behalf to provide legal services.

I use the information that you have given me in order to

  • provide legal services to you, my client, including the provision of legal advice and
  • representation in courts, tribunals, arbitrations, and mediations
  • keep accounting records and carry out office administration
  • take or defend legal or regulatory proceedings or to exercise a lien
  • respond to potential complaints or make complaints
  • check for potential conflicts of interest in relation to future potential cases
  • promote and market my services
  • carry out anti-money laundering and terrorist financing checks
  • train other barristers and pupils, and when providing work-shadowing opportunities
  • publish legal judgments and decisions of courts and tribunals as required or permitted by law.

I may share this information with

  • other professional advisers such as other legal professionals and consultant experts and other witnesses
  • courts and tribunals
  • the staff in my Chambers
  • prosecution authorities
  • pupils and mini pupils
  • lay clients
  • family and associates of the person whose personal information I am processing
  • in the event of complaints, the Head of Chambers, other individuals nominated by Chambers who deal with complaints, the Bar Standards Board, and the Legal Ombudsman
  • other regulatory authorities
  • current, past or prospective employers
  • education and examining bodies
  • business associates, professional advisers and trade bodies, e.g. the Bar Council
  • professional indemnity insurers or brokers
  • the general public in relation to the publication of legal judgments and decisions of courts and tribunals
  • If you have engaged other professional advisers to instruct me on your behalf on the matters on which I am providing legal services to you, I shall assume that I may disclose your personal information to them unless you tell me otherwise.
  • I may be required to provide your information to regulators, such as the Bar Standards Board, the Financial Conduct Authority or the Information Commissioner’s Office. In the case of the Information Commissioner’s Office, there is a risk that your information may lawfully be disclosed by them for the purpose of any other civil or criminal proceedings, without my consent or yours, which includes privileged information.
  • I may also be required to disclose your information to the police or intelligence services, where, acting in good faith, I consider it required and permitted by law.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the lawful basis I rely on for processing this information is

  • The processing is necessary for a contract I have with you, or because you have asked me to take specific steps before entering into a contract.
  • You are able to remove your consent at any time. You can do this by contacting me.
  • It may be necessary for me to share your personal data to comply with legal obligations to, for example, HMRC.

How I store your personal information

Your information is securely stored in Chambers or at my home. I use reasonable technical and organisational security measures such as password protection and encryption of computer generated data and keeping paper data secure to prevent personal information from being accidentally lost or destroyed, or used or accessed in an unauthorised way.

In this connection, Chambers, as data processor, acting on my behalf, will only process your personal data on my instructions and is subject to a duty of confidentiality.

The data will be held in line with any regulatory obligations and generally be kept for 6 years but may be 12 years, or longer where, for example, the case includes information relating to a minor, from the date of completion of instructions. At this point any further retention will be reviewed and the data will be marked for deletion or marked for retention for a further period.

All data will be securely deleted or securely shredded after this time without reference to you. I will store some of your information which I need to carry out conflict checks for the rest of my career. However, this is likely to be limited only to your name and contact details and the name of the case. It will not include any information that is “sensitive information” for GDPR purposes.

Your data protection rights

Under data protection law, you have rights including:

  • Your right of access – You have the right to ask me for copies of your personal information.
  • Your right to rectification – You have the right to ask me to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask me to complete information you think is incomplete.
  • Your right to erasure – You have the right to ask me to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
  • Your right to restriction of processing – You have the right to ask me to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
  • Your right to object to processing – You have the the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
  • Your right to data portability – You have the right to ask that I transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.
  • You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, I have one month to respond to you. Please contact me at 2 Temple Gardens, London, EC4Y 9AY or clerks@2tg.co.uk if you wish to make a request.

Transfer of your information outside the European Economic Area (EEA)

This privacy notice is of general application and as such it is not possible to state whether it will be necessary to transfer your information out of the EEA. If I do transfer your personal data I will use safeguards to ensure the data is fully protected as required by the UK Data Protection Regulations.

Changes to my Privacy Policy

From time to time, I may need to make chances to my privacy policy. If so, the changes will appear on my entry on the 2TG website.

Marketing

As above, I may share your personal data with Chambers who may in turn use that data to notify you by email, or post about an invitation to seminars and similar events. You may opt out of receiving any such marketing communications at any time by using the “unsubscribe” link in any emails. In relation to how Chambers uses such data, please see Chambers’ privacy policy. Other than sharing personal data with Chambers as described above, I will not share your information with any other third party for marketing purposes.

How to complain

If you have any concerns about my use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to me or to my Senior Clerk, Lee Tyler at 2 Temple Gardens, London, EC4Y 9AY or clerks@2tg.co.uk. You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data.

The ICO’s address:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk

© Briefed Ltd 2021. All Rights Reserved.

“A formidable opponent.”


Legal 500 2025

“She is very thorough at getting to grips with the issues."


Chambers UK 2025

"An exceptionally thorough, cerebral and reliable advisor."


Legal 500 2024

"She is very experienced and thorough."


Legal 500 2023

"She is prepared to take on responsibility for discrete areas of cases."


Legal 500 2023

  • Master of Moots, Cambridge University
  • Personal Injuries Bar Association, Executive Committee Member (ex)
  • 2TG Equality & Diversity Officer (ex)
  • 2TG Pupillage Committee

  • Astbury Scholar, Middle Temple
  • Lawyer Monthly Magazine Women in Law Awards 2020 winner

  • BVC, Inns of Court School of Law
  • MA (Cantab) Law, Warwick University
  • BA (Hons) History, Downing College, Cambridge University

  • PIBA
  • PNBA
  • Middle Temple

“Nina is very easy to work with and wants the best for her clients. She is very thorough at getting to grips with the issues.” “It is always a pleasure to work with Nina. She has a fantastic bedside manner and deals with matters with sensitivity when required without losing punch with her defence.” “Nina is simply wonderful. She is very pragmatic but firm and really understands the needs of the client.” “Nina is meticulous and thorough in her examination of the case in hand. She is prompt with her turnaround of work and a pleasure to deal with.”
Chambers UK 2025

“Nina has a brilliant grasp of the technical area, especially high value quantum issues on dependency claims. She is very calm and poised which is very reassuring for clients and makes her a formidable opponent.”
Legal 500 2025

“Nina is an exceptionally thorough, cerebral and reliable advisor. She has an incredible ability to forensically analyse and cut through medical and legal causation issues of the very highest complexity.”
Legal 500 2024

“She is very experienced and thorough “
Legal 500 2023

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