Oliver May specialises in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, and Inquests.
Oliver has a particular interest in claims involving unusual or complex causes of action. Oliver has considerable experience of the appellate courts for a barrister of his call.
Oliver has been instructed in cases at all levels of the civil courts in England and Wales, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Most notably, Oliver appeared before the Supreme Court in the landmark case of Paul & Anor v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2024] UKSC 1, led by Henry Pitchers KC. Oliver is also one of the Counsel to the Inquest for HM Coroner’s Investigations and Inquests into the Deaths of the Patients of Ian Paterson, led by Jonathan Jones KC.
In addition to court work, Oliver has a busy paperwork practice. He is experienced at drafting advice, pleadings, and inter partes correspondence.
Alongside his practice, Oliver is a committed advocate for equality and diversity. Oliver’s contributions have included being a founding member and former Chair of Neurodiversity in Law, a member of the BSB Race Equality Task Force, and the Bar Council’s Disability Panel.
Oliver’s efforts were recognised with his nomination for Future Leader: Diversity & Inclusion at the Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards 2021. While Oliver was Chair of Neurodiversity in Law it was a finalist for two awards at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2023.
Oliver’s practice includes all areas of Clinical Negligence. He accepts instructions from both claimants and defendants.
Oliver regularly leads conferences with experts, often involving nuanced factual matrices and complex medical causation. He is experienced in in cases concerning delay, failure to diagnose, and/or mistreatment of: bowel injury; cancer; chronic illness; consent; cosmetic surgery; gastrointestinal illness; obstetrics and gynaecology, including pregnancy and birth injury; ophthalmology; orthopaedic injuries; psychiatric injury; pulmonary disease; renal and bladder injury; spinal injury and surgical complications.
Oliver has considerable experience of the appellate courts for a barrister of his call.
Oliver accepts instructions for, inter alia, advising in conference; written advice on liability; written advice on quantum; drafting pleadings; drafting schedules or counter schedules of loss; CMCs and CCMCs; interim hearings; and trials.
HM Coroner’s Investigations and Inquests into the Deaths of the Patients of Ian Paterson (ongoing)
Junior Counsel to the Inquests, led by Mr Jonathan Jones KC. These inquests concern the deaths of more than 60 patients who received breast surgery from former Consultant Surgeon Ian Paterson between the 1990s and 2010s.
Paul & Anor v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2024] UKSC 1
Instructed on behalf of the second claimants/appellants, led by Mr Henry Pitchers KC. The second claimants’ claims were for psychiatric injuries suffered as secondary victims, as a result of the death of their daughter. Paul is the landmark authority on secondary victim claims.
MVA v NHS Trust A & NHS Trust B (ongoing)
Acting for both Defendant Trusts in a fatal accident claim arising from the alleged delay in diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.
JJK v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Defendant in a claim regarding alleged delayed diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer.
HMR & ZYK v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Claimants in a birth injury claim arising from negligent mismanagement of gestational diabetes and negligent use of forceps during birth. The matter concerns both primary and secondary victim injury.
VHF v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Claimant in a fatal accident claim resulting from the death of a child in the neonatal intensive care unit. Oliver also represented the family at inquest.
OGE v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Claimant in a spinal nerve injury claim resulting from negligent failure in diagnosis following a road traffic accident.
RAD v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Claimant in a fatal accident claim resulting from negligent failure to diagnose and manage pulmonary embolism. Oliver also represented the family at inquest.
VTL v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Defendant in a fatal accident claim regarding alleged delayed treatment of hemopericardium and aortic root dissection.
ZFU v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Claimant in a claim arising from the negligent treatment of pneumonia that resulted in avoidable empyema, causing significant disabilities arising from surgical scarring and reduced lung function.
YAA (a Child) v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Defendant in a claim arising from alleged 18 month delay in diagnosis of a kidney stone.
FME v NHS Trust (ongoing)
Acting for the Claimant in a fatal accident claim following the death of an inpatient awaiting surgery. The clinical management of the deceased resulted in his death from starvation ketoacidosis. Oliver also represented the family at inquest.
LCC v NHS Trust (2025)
Acting for the Defendant in a claim arising from alleged failures in the treatment of a broken ankle suffered in 2013. The Claimant had undergone numerous surgeries in the subsequent 6 years. Oliver represented the Trust at mediation, following which the Claimant agreed to discontinue his claim.
Oliver’s practice includes all areas of Personal Injury work. He has experience of claims regarding: accidents at work; the Animals Act; the Highways Act; occupiers’ liability; road traffic accidents; and secondary victims. He has extensive experience of claims in which fundamental dishonesty is alleged.
Oliver accepts instructions from both claimants and defendants.
Oliver has a particular interest in claims involving unusual or complex causes of action. Oliver has considerable experience of the appellate courts for a barrister of his call.
Oliver accepts instructions for, inter alia: advising in conference; written advice on liability; written advice on quantum; drafting pleadings; drafting schedules or counter schedules of loss; CMCs and CCMCs; interim hearings; and trials.
ETO v Insurance Company (ongoing)
Acting for the Claimant in a fatal accident claim arising from a death in a road traffic accident. The claim is pleaded in excess of £2 million.
MCG v MHI
Acted for the Defendant, an individual, in an Animals Act claim arising from an attack by a dog. The Defendant’s insurer denied indemnity because the dog was fostered via an animal charity. Oliver advised on the matter, and drafted the Defence and Part 20 claim against the animal charity. The matter settled, with the animal charity indemnifying the totality of the Claimant’s damages and costs.
FEC v Housing Association & Commercial Landlord
Acted for the Claimant, a wheelchair user, in claim arising from an injury caused by the malfunction of the communal door at the entrance to a block of flats. The Defendant’s each denied liability, denying responsibility for the workers who were presumed to have caused the malfunction. The matter went to trial. Skeleton arguments were exchanged, but the trial was vacated at the door of court. Having exchanged skeleton arguments, the parties settled for near to full value before the trial was re-listed.
WGZ v Television Production Company & Contractor A & Contractor B
Acted for the Claimant in a claim arising from a scaffolding pole falling from height onto his head during the filming of a television series. The complexity and opacity of the relationships between the various crews / contractors / sub-contractors meant that there seven possible defendants. Oliver advised on the appropriate parties to include, pleaded the Particulars of Claim, and advised on prospects and quantum. The matter settled for near full value.
VHM (a Child) v A School
Acted for the Claimant, a primary school aged child known to have severe learning difficulties, in claim against their school. The Claimant had fallen while using bucket stilts while on an uneven playing field and had suffered injury. Liability was denied and the matter went to trial. The Claimant was unfit to give evidence, so the trial turned on Oliver’s cross-examination of the supervising teacher and the Head Teacher. The claim succeeded, with the Judge finding that the School had failed to give regard to VHM’s specific needs while supervising and giving instructions.
Oliver’s represents Interested Parties in coronial inquests concerning deaths caused by accidents, including in clinical settings. Oliver also accepts instruction as Counsel to the Inquest.
HM Coroner’s Investigations and Inquests into the Deaths of the Patients of Ian Paterson (ongoing)
Junior Counsel to the Inquests, led by Mr Jonathan Jones KC. These inquests concern the deaths of more than 60 patients who received breast surgery from former Consultant Surgeon Ian Paterson between the 1990s and 2010s.
Re VHF
Represented the family at an inquest concerning the death of a child in the neonatal intensive care unit. Oliver also acts for the Claimant in the related clinical negligence claim.
Re RAD
Represented the family at an inquest concerning the death of a patient caused by pulmonary embolism. The Coroner found that the death had been contributed to by neglect. Oliver also acts for the Claimant in the related clinical negligence claim.
Re FME
Represented the family at an inquest concerning the death of an inpatient awaiting surgery. The clinical management of the deceased resulted in his death from starvation ketoacidosis. The Coroner found that the death had been contributed to by neglect. Oliver also acts for the Claimant in the related clinical negligence claim.
News 15 Sep, 2025
To find out more, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)20 7427 4907 or Harry Gamble on +44 20 7427 0808 for a confidential discussion.
● The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
● Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA)
● Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA)
● Neurodiversity in Law
● Member of the Bar Council Panel of Disability
● BPTC, Very Competent, BPP University (2018)
● GDL, Commendation, BPP University (2016)
● BSc (Hons) Economics and Politics, University of Bath (2013)
