Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant
UK Guide 2025 : Midlands
Band 1
Email address
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03301 001 014About
Provided by Freeths LLP
Our Nottingham, Leicester, Sheffield and Leeds Clinical Negligence team is headed by the nationally rated partner Jane Williams who has over 29 years’ experience conducting high value, complex claims. The team are a pre-eminent force consolidating the firm’s reputation not only as a regional but also national heavyweight. The team continue to excel and expand with Katy Barnett joining on qualification in March this year.
The team are known for their depth and breadth of experience in catastrophic injury claims, delay in diagnosis and misdiagnosis of cancer and other conditions, surgical errors, incorrect treatment and Inquests.
Jane Williams continues to attract high quality instructions cementing the team’s reputation as a leading force in this area as is demonstrated by the work highlights. The team has seen continued growth in their work with a new group action in the last twelve months. The team have received an increasing number of clients as a result of the Maternity Services scandal at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The claims range from maternal injuries, stillbirths, birth injury claims and neonatal deaths.
We believe we remain a pre-eminent team in the East Midlands region and leading player in the national field.
Chambers Review
Freeths has a long-established team with a notable presence across the East Midlands, offering expert advice on the full spectrum of clinical negligence mandates. The firm has offices across the region, including Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham and Leicester. The team demonstrates significant prowess in group action matters, with additional experience in surgical error, delayed diagnoses, high-value birth injury, issues of medical consent and fatal claims.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Freeths has top, top solicitors who are a real pleasure to work with."
"I am always impressed with the speed, accuracy and diligence of its approach."
"Freeths handled a very complex matter with great expertise and knowledge. It is extremely organised and methodical in its approach."
"The team knows exactly what the customer wants, what the customer needs and then how to deliver that service to them."
"Freeths is a very strong group in clinical negligence. The firm offers great quality and it has a large team."
"Freeths has top, top solicitors who are a real pleasure to work with."
"I am always impressed with the speed, accuracy and diligence of its approach."
"Freeths handled a very complex matter with great expertise and knowledge. It is extremely organised and methodical in its approach."
"The team knows exactly what the customer wants, what the customer needs and then how to deliver that service to them."
"Freeths is a very strong group in clinical negligence. The firm offers great quality and it has a large team."
Notable Practitioners
Consultant Paul Balen has extensive experience in the clinical negligence arena, with mandates ranging from post-operative care to birth-related cases. He often handles alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
"Paul is very good to work with. He is thoughtful and collaborative."
"Paul Balen is very experienced and strong in this area. He is also very well-liked."
"Paul is a well-known and prominent solicitor."
Jane Williams is head of the clinical negligence department for the East Midlands and North East at Freeths. She offers extensive expertise across a range of matters, including delay and misdiagnosis claims, surgical error cases and birth injury claims. She also advises on psychiatric injury claims.
"She is practical, pragmatic and collaborative. It goes without saying she is an absolute expert in her field."
"Jane Williams is hugely experienced and she is completely unphased by any difficulty in a case."
"Jane is very hands-on. She knows her clients, keeps everyone involved and does not silo people or work."
"Jane Williams is my number one recommendation. She is very collaborative, and is somebody who is a real top-tier clinical negligence lawyer. She is also somebody who gets the work sorted."
Karen Reynolds is head of the firm's clinical negligence department in Derby. She possesses strong expertise in birth injury cases, often involving cerebral palsy, as well as delay and misdiagnosis claims. She also has experience handling group actions.
"Karen Reynolds is very targeted, to the point and concise. I would certainly recommend her."
"Karen Reynolds is very strategic, down-to-earth and highly intelligent."
"She is incredibly hands-on, always excellent and communicates well."
"Karen Reynolds understands her client's red lines and limits. She makes sure things run on time and makes sure all the documents are in order."
Gemma Bedford is a managing associate, with experience handling claims stemming from negligently performed surgery, including those relating to informed consent. She also acts on birth and psychiatric injury claims.
"Gemma Bedford is absolutely fantastic and will be a leading light in clinical negligence. She is very conscientious, calm and unphased by difficult situations."
"She is very keen to have the clients' interests at the forefront in these sensitive cases. In a field with difficult and sensitive information, she is fabulous."
"Gemma is a safe pair of hands and is always good to work with. She thinks things through very well."
Jessica Atkin is a senior associate assisting on a variety of clinical negligence claims. She regularly deals with neurological and maternal negligence claims and has experience assisting on groups actions.
"She has the legal skills to deliver an astounding result, but also has the compassion and empathy to deal with you when you are facing the most difficult times."
"Everything is immaculately presented and she gets on and does it to an excellent standard."
"She is strong and meticulous in her note taking and it always amazes me how on the ball and up-to-date she is on the case. She has never missed a deadline."
Ranked Lawyers at
Freeths LLP
Midlands