Patrick Sadd

Year of Call:
1984
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Yes
patrick.sadd@outertemple.com Email
+44 (0)20 7353 6381
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Patrick Sadd is renowned for his empathetic approach combined with vast expertise in inquests and inquiries, personal injury and clinical negligence. He is also recognised as one of the leading barristers in the UK in European road regulatory law.

Patrick is regularly instructed on behalf of haulage and coach operators as well as by the DVSA in public inquiries, appeals to the Upper Tribunal and the Administrative Courts. Most recently, he acted for the Secretary of State for Transport in a recent test case on large goods’ vehicles and emission control (Midland Container Logistics Limited & Others v Secretary of State for Transport) as well as for the DVSA in two of the largest ever public inquiries in Scotland.

He has recognised expertise in historical and present day abuse claims involving religious institutions and groups, schools, care and foster homes, football clubs, youth and scouting groups and family settings, as well as acting for vulnerable adults in long-term residential or psychiatric care. He was Lead Counsel in both the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (2013-2016) and in the IICSA investigation into the sexual abuse of children in the care of the Nottingham Councils (2017-2019). Chambers & Partners quote him as having “superb medical knowledge needed for complex inquest cases.”

Patrick also has a busy clinical negligence and personal injury practice. He is highly sought after in sensitive cases involving still-birth and neo-natal deaths, as well as in inquests including those arising out of clinical treatment and psychiatric care. He also specialises in catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims. Legal 500 say of Patrick; “He has significant amounts of experience in dealing with these most complex of cases.”

His experience also extends to medical device litigation and group actions including the Leicester Epilepsy claims, Trilucent Breast implant, PIP litigation and De Puy litigation.

Expertise

European Road Transport Regulation

Patrick is a recognised leading expert in European road regulatory law. He is regularly instructed on behalf of UK and European haulage and coach operators as well as by the DVSA. He appears at business-critical public inquiries under the Goods Vehicle Licensing of Operators Act and the Transport Act and in appeals to the Upper Tribunal and the Administrative Courts.

In January and May 2023, he acted for the DVSA in the two largest ever public inquiries in Scotland in M&M Kerr Ltd/RW Stewart Ltd.

He acted for the Secretary of State for Transport as specialist counsel in the leading test case test case on large goods’ vehicles and emission control, Midland Container Logistics Limited & Others v Secretary of State for Transport [2020] UKUT 0005(AAC).

Since Brexit, he has advised a broad range of businesses based both in the UK and in the EU on issues relating to cabotage under the retained EU Regulation 1072/2009, the UK Exit Regulations 2019/208 and the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2000 as well as operating under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (May 2021) in relation to ATA carnets.

He also advises hauliers on civic penalties in clandestine migrant cases (most recently in 2023) as well as a broad section of specialist haulage business on applicable exemptions under tachograph and operator licence regulations including water utility, waste disposal and motorway maintenance contractors.

He is now widely seen as an authority in this area of transport and logistics and is regularly invited to speak at logistics events as well as being invited to speak before Traffic Commissioners at their annual review meetings.

Notable Transport & Logistics cases

Re: A (2023)

Advising road haulier in this regulatory case on use of a fleet of specially designed vehicles on exemption from EU regulations and obligation to have operator’s licence. Special vehicle classification. Issue whether abnormal indivisible load vehicle or engineering plant ‘permanently fixed’. Critical impact on business.

Re: C (2023)

Specialist utilities company carrying out repair and maintenance for water companies and operating under a restricted licence called to public inquiry following concerns regarding correct operating entity. Instructed to represent at inquiry. Patrick filed a written case and drafted witness statements. Public inquiry did not go ahead.

Re: E (2023)

Advising film production company operating throughout Europe under a restricted UK Operator’s licence on regulatory issues. Concerns about risk to lorries being impounded under cabotage rules. Application of the Trade & Co-operation Agreement (2021) in relation to use of ATA carnets.

A combined local authority (2023)

Advising on the regulatory impact of proposed environmental regional transport plan.

M&M Kerr Ltd/RW Stewart Ltd (2023)

Instructed by DVSA in two substantial public inquiries relating to a large number of driver infringements carried out in each case by substantial number of drivers. Detailed evidence over 4 and 5 days respectively. These were two of the largest ever public inquiries in Scotland (M&M Kerr Ltd/RW Stewart Ltd (2023) )

Re: L (2023)

Acted in a successful appeal in the Upper Tribunal against revocation of standard international operators’ licence. Procedural and administrative unfairness.

Re: M (2023)

SEMTA public inquiry. Restricted licence. Instructed on behalf of operator against whom allegations were made of fronting (running an operator’s licence on behalf of revoked operator & disqualified director) and illegitimate ‘Phoenix’ operation. Operator allowed to continue.

Re: CE Ltd (2022)

UK wide company with 900+ fleet and 8 operator licences. Police and DVSA investigation into serious defected lorry running on public road. Called to preliminary hearing before Traffic Commissioner – comprehensive review of nationwide transport management and compliance – Patrick represented at hearing and there was no need to go to public inquiry.

JXG (2022)

Disqualified director applying to have disqualification lifted to be able to apply for operator’s licence. Written application – Traffic Commissioner determined on paper and disqualification lifted.

EXR (2022)

Patrick advised a European and UK based logistics company on applicable UK cabotage regulations and permissible EU haulage in UK under the Licensing of Operators and International Road Haulage (Amendment Etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/SI 2019 No.708 and the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2000 and impact of Nolan Transport v (1) VOSA (2) Secretary of State for Transport.

London tour bus operator (2022)

Advising large European tour and hotel group regarding operating tour buses under TfL London Service Permits. Called to inquiry with other operators over concerns of operating without operators’ licence. Following written submissions the Traffic Commissioner decided an inquiry no longer necessary.

PSV case (2021)

Advising substantial regional bus operator on response to bus monitoring report. Local bus regulations involving financial penalties for timetable failures.

Midland Container Logistics Limited & Others v Secretary of State for Transport [2020] UKUT 0005(AAC)

3 day test case before Upper Tribunal instructed by DfT on recommendation of Upper Tribunal (‘specialist counsel needed’). Permission of Attorney General needed to instruct non-government counsel. Emissions in HGV and use of emulators to disguise lack of emission control. Level and severity of regulatory penalty in using fraudulent device. Three separate operators’ appeals – Midland Containers.

Patrick is regularly instructed to represent bereaved parents at inquests into the deaths of neo-natals, infants, and young children. He is also instructed for families at inquests arising out of deaths in hospital and psychiatric units.

Patrick was Counsel to the Independent Jersey Abuse Inquiry (2013-2016) and Lead Counsel in the investigation into the sexual abuse of children in the care of the Nottinghamshire Council as part of the national Independent Inquiry in Child Sexual Abuse (2017-2019) chaired by Professor Alexis Jay.

He is recognised by Chambers & Partners (Band 3) for his expertise in inquests and inquiries; “Patrick is measured and on top of details in difficult matters” and “He provides exceptional client care and has superb medical knowledge needed for complex inquest cases.”

Legal 500 also include Patrick as a Leading Junior in their rankings (Tier 3); “Patrick is a bright advocate with good judgement, who quietly commands the attention of his audience.”

Notable Inquests

  • Death of Baby E (2022)
     Acting for parents following death of premature daughter following pulmonary hypertensive crisis. Treated in NICU. Concerns raised about timing of intubation and extubation as well as level and extent of monitoring by nursing staff and doctors. On-going clinical negligence claim.
  • Death of Baby K (2021)
    Acting for parents following death of premature twin in neo-natal care. Multiple concerns re medical treatment in utero and on delivery. First twin died shortly after delivery, second twin 36 hours later. On-going clinical negligence claim.
  • Death of Baby L (2020/2022)
    Acting for parents in this inquest. This was an uncomplicated pregnancy but  the mother in the labour ward for 8 hours without monitoring. Mother requesting monitoring. Baby L delivered in critical condition and admitted to NICU. Baby L died 8 days after birth. 3 day inquest – Coroner instructs medical expert and finds death contributed by neglect. Coroner notified the Trust of concerns. Parents subsequently brought a claim against Trust claiming cost of surrogacy. Claim settled (2022).
  • Death of HT (3 years) (2020/2022)
    Acting for parents. Child admitted to A&E with stomach pain but discharged home after examination with medication. 5 hours later, child was unable to be revived at home. Investigation into care of paramedics and A&E doctor. Subsequent secondary victim clinical negligence claim. Settled.
  • Death of HK (2020)
    Death in hospital claim. Cardiac surgery delayed. Treatment by different hospitals and consultants. Alleged failure to organise CT scan. Widower subsequently brought claim against Trust. Settled.

Notable Inquiries

  • Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (2013-2016)
    Inquiry into the abuse of children in care on the island from 1945 to 2013 following the police investigation into historical physical and sexual abuse at Haut de La Garenne.  Chaired by Frances Oldham QC. Took the majority of witnesses including officer in charge of investigation, previous Director of Children’s Services, past and present Bailiffs, survivors, social workers, managers of homes and alleged perpetrators. Appeared before State’s standing committee. Advised Chair and panel on raft of issues. Advised on draft report.  Gave opening and closing addresses. This case has also been covered extensively in Channel 4, read here.
  • Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse: the sexual abuse of children in the care of the Nottinghamshire Councils (2017-2019)Chaired by Alexis Jay. Lead counsel to the Nottinghamshire investigations. Took the majority of witnesses including survivors, past and present Directors of Children’s Services, police officers, social workers and children home managers. Advised on draft report. Gave opening address. More coverage in ITV news article here.
  • Infected Blood Inquiry
     Advice on to institution on disclosure to inquiry. Application of the Inquiries Act 2005: extent and breadth of disclosure. 
  • Medomsley Detention Centre (acted 2021/22)
    Advising on and drafting letter to relevant Minister to hold a statutory public inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 to investigate the physical and sexual mistreatment of inmates over a prolonged period by prison officers in institution and the responses of the police, the Home Office and politicians. Reliance on Articles 2 and 3 of the ECHR and the Equality Act 2010. October 2023 independent investigation launched.

Patrick has a long-established personal injury practice acting predominantly for claimants in high-value cases involving mainly serious orthopaedic injuries, amputations and brain injury.

He also has over twenty years’ experience in claims arising out of abuse of children and vulnerable adults in a whole variety of institutional and other settings. He has advised the Official Solicitor on a series of claims in the wake of the Supreme Court decision in GN v Poole (2019). He has acted for claimants in group actions and for Irish citizens claiming redress for childhood abuse in Industrial Schools. He was also instructed in the Savile litigation.

Patrick has written various articles and appeared on BBC News and radio on abuse claims. He is also ranked by Legal 500 (Tier 3) for his expertise in this field; “Patrick is an extremely sensitive and able child abuse barrister. He has significant amounts of experience in dealing with these most complex of cases.”

Notable Personal Injury Cases

  • Settled; PXA v HJ Ltd (2023)
    Acting for claimant regarding a workplace accident in 2018. The claimant had a fall down concrete stairs and suffered multiple injuries – concussion, hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, severe depression. There were pre-existing psychological issues. Retired on medical grounds. Conflicting medical report. Settled at £290,000.
  • On-going: TXR
    Acting for claimant. Total body injuries to 6 year-old trapped in mechanical ride at amusement park. Extensive skin grafts, scarring and psychological consequences. Agreement to await full maturation for definitive prognosis.
  • On-going: JXM v SF
    Acting for claimant child aged 11. 2016 accident incurring multiple injuries in car accident: head injury, left sided limb fractures, extensive surgery, intensive care and a long period of rehabilitation. Severe PTSD and ongoing issues re definitive prognosis.
  • Settled: SXP (2022)
    Acting for claimant. 8 year-old eye penetrated with pen. Eye surgery, needing annual review. Multiple attendant risks in the future including retinal detachment (5-10%). Risk of admission being withdrawn. Deduction of full value. Settled at £40,000 court-approved.
  • Settled: SH (2021)
    Acting for claimant who was run over by taxi aged 4. Severe degloving head injury and uncertainty as to whether damage due to brain injury or psychological reaction. Settlement delayed by agreement between parties to assess on maturation. Complex psychological interplay between claimant and his parents who carried guilt for accident. Issue as to whether on-going issues aged 19-20 attributable to accident and whether need for support in the future and likely loss of earning opportunity. Settled at £200,000 on instructions from claimant (with capacity) against advice.

Notable Abuse cases

  • On-going: JXM v A care provider (2022/23)
    Vulnerable adult in residential care raped by another resident. Failure to safeguard by staff at the home. Issue of capacity under Mental Capacity Act and capacity assessments. Ongoing psychiatric consequences.
  • On-going: TXG CXG  OXG SXG v A local authority (2023)
    Siblings exposed to adult violence in the home as well as domestic, substance and alcohol abuse by parents. Long-standing local authority involvement. Controversial ‘assumption of responsibility’. Alternative Article 8 claims.
  • Settled: BXW v A local authority (2023)
    Child taken into care. Over six years and several placements no definitive plan for care as placement order for adoption not revoked. Disruption of foster placements and finally placed in children’s home. Article 8 claim. Settled on £30,000.
  • Settled: BXB,EXB,XXW,MXB,AXB v A Local Authority (2023)
    Children in same home exposed to severe neglect and domestic violence between parents. Children taken into care. Local authority mishandles contact arrangements. Children traumatised. HRA claims.
  • Settled: ISXQ (2022)
    Mistreatment in special school of severely learning disabled child. Placed in locked room and strapped to a chair. Complexity of assessment of harm. Settled on £35,000 approved by court.
  • Settled: PHX v Rochdale Borough Council (2022)
    Case study from IICSA investigation. Sexual abuse in children’s home by adult from outside the home known to staff at the home. Harmful sexual behaviour by older resident; long-term psychiatric harm.
  • Settled: DR v (1) QPR (2) Chelsea (2022)
    Sexual abuse by football scout when claimant was an apprentice. Psychiatric harm and controversial loss of earnings claim.
  • MXD, KXH (2022)
    Placed in children’s home under section 20 of the Children’s Act 1989. Exposed to child sexual exploitation outside the home. Whether local authority owed a duty of care. Limitation issues. Review of judgements in High Court and Court of Appeal in HXA & YXA. Did not satisfy legal funding criteria.
  • Settled: JXA v A local authority (2022)
    Admission by local authority that failed to act sooner with child subsequently exposed to child sexual exploitation over 4-year period part of which whilst under section 20 accommodation order. The delay had led to ‘significant harm’ (CAFCASS Guardian). Settled for £18,000 under Article 8.
  • Settled : TR v A School (2021)
    ‘Historic’ sexual assault by teacher in school when claimant was aged 15/16 years old. Claim in adult-hood. Complicated causation of injury and loss – loss of earnings speculative. Settled at £85,000.
  • JXH v A local authority (2021)
    During 2000’s a child aged 15 years was placed in children’s home. Exposure to child sexual exploitation outside the home by adult males and raped. Severe psychiatric history into adulthood.  Not taken further as <50% of establishing assumption of responsibility notwithstanding local authority involvement.
  • SXM v Bishop of Chester (2019)
    Historical sexual abuse in 1980s. Claim against the Bishop of Chester of sexual assault aged 6 in Bishop’s House. Valuation of claim. Settled.
  • 50-60 anonymised ‘failure to remove’ claims (2019 to present day) – all settled
    Instructions through the Official Solicitor on behalf of minors following judgement in care proceedings critical of local authority delay in securing protection for children by not removing them sooner from dysfunctional family setting or, once removed, failing to take positive action in securing welfare (section 20 of Children Act 1989). Securing settlements under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the ECHR under Articles 3 and 8. Damages ranging from £2,500 to £49,950.

Patrick is instructed in a large number of claims relating to still-births and neo-natal deaths, birth injuries, mis-diagnoses and surgical negligence. He also provided mediated advices in the Leicester Epilepsy Litigation looking into the negligent diagnosis of over 600 children.

He acted in the Gosport Hospital deaths inquest and has been instructed in medical device litigation such as the Trilucent Breast claims and the PIP breast implant cases.

  • SW v An NHS Trust (2023) (Ongoing)
    Acting for mother of a child (aged 4) with stomach pains taken to A&E by parents mid-afternoon. Discharged with medication and advised to rest but mother wakes later with child by her side unconscious and pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Secondary victim claim – child should have been admitted mid-afternoon. Causation case – would probably have survived.
  • ZXS v A GP (2023) (Settled)
    Acting for claimant. Alleged failure by GP to send claimant to hospital as an emergency on the same day for further urgent investigations and treatment which would have prevented the onset of necrotising fasciitis and consequent debridement and major reconstructive surgery. Colorectal harm and on-going problems. Complex future treatment options.
  • WXW v An NHS Trust (2023) (Settled)
    Acting for claimant. Alleged negligently performed hysterectomy and consequent laparoscopic division of adhesions. Complex liability and injury causation issues. Whether developed chronic pain. Multiple items of past and future losses.
  • AXG v An NHS Foundation Trust (2023) (Ongoing)
    Acting for claimant. Hospital admission following developed Grade 3 pressure ulcer. Ongoing alleged failures in preventative care and consequent loss of mobility.
  • AXT v An NHS Foundation Trust (2023) (Ongoing)
    Liability admitted for negligence in treatment of osteoporosis  leading to multiple vertebral fractures: Claimant’s claim valued at £1.1 million. Patrick was instructed by NHS Resolution: drafted counter-schedule on behalf of Trust and detailed advice on settlement parameters in relation to each head of loss and Part 36.
  • LXW v A GP and An NHS Foundation Trust (2021) (Settled)
    Acting for claimant. Delay in admission then admitted as emergency. Perforated appendix – assessment of value.

Still-birth and neonatal

  • DXB v An NHS Foundation Trust (2022-3) (Ongoing)
    Acting for mother. Death of premature daughter following pulmonary hypertensive crisis. Treated in NICU. Concerns raised about timing of intubation and extubation as well as level and extent of monitoring by nursing staff and doctors. Secondary victim claim.
  • PXI v An NHS Hospital Trust (2021) (Ongoing)
    Acting for parent following death of premature twin in neo-natal care. Multiple concerns re medical treatment in utero and on delivery. First twin died shortly after delivery, second twin 36 hours later. Secondary victim claim.
  • RHX v An NHS Hospital Trust (2020/2022) (Settled)
    Acting for parents in this inquest. This was an uncomplicated pregnancy but  the mother in the labour ward for 8 hours without monitoring. Mother requesting monitoring. Baby L delivered in critical condition and admitted to NICU. Baby L died 8 days after birth. 3 day inquest – Coroner instructs medical expert and finds death contributed by neglect. Coroner notified the Trust of concerns. Parents subsequently brought a claim against Trust claiming cost of surrogacy. Claim settled (2022).
  • FDX v  An NHS Trust (2021) (Settled at mediation)
    Still-birth. High risk pregnancy. Downs syndrome. Decision to deliver at 34 weeks. Delivery delayed notwithstanding mother’s account of reduced foetal movements. Mother discharged from hospital. Returns concerned over continued reduce movements. Secondary victim claim. Significant psychiatric reaction. Claims for PSLA, bereavement, funeral, loss of satisfaction, treatment and loss of income.
  • NS v An NHS Trust  (2020) (Settled)
    Normal pregnancy. Still-birth at 32+6 weeks gestation. Failure to obtain information on foetal movements from mother, amongst other failures, to obtain full-clinical picture. Growth scan would have shown child small for age. Had further tests been carried out as should have happened delivery would have been expedited and baby would have been born alive.

Related updates

Patrick Sadd is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.

‘Particularly sympathetic and an effective operator in the Inquiry sphere.'

Inquests and Inquiries, Legal 500 2025

"Patrick is measured and on top of details in difficult matters."; "He provides exceptional client care and has superb medical knowledge needed for complex inquest cases."

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2024

‘Patrick is a bright advocate with good judgement, who quietly commands the attention of his audience.’

Inquests & Inquiries, Legal 500, 2024

‘Patrick is an extremely sensitive and able child abuse barrister. He has significant amounts of experience in dealing with these most complex of cases.'

Personal Injury, Legal 500, 2024

“Patrick has the best client care skills I have ever come across in a barrister. The feedback I have received from my clients is superb. He is really prepared and knows every inch of the notes and expert evidence.”

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers and Partners 2023

"Patrick has a huge amount of empathy and sincerity while delivering difficult advice on extremely sensitive cases. He has a forensic eye to detail and an impressive questioning skill that he uses with medical experts to put them at ease but at the same time ensuring they fully address all the medico-legal aspects. Clients have nothing but praise for him in relation to the emotional support he offers them at inquest; and his questioning of the clinicians at Inquest is extremely effective."

Inquests and Inquiries, Legal 500 2023

"Patrick is one of the leading barristers in the country dealing with child abuse litigation. He is completely on top of the complex developing areas of law."

Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Insurance Fraud, Legal 500 2023

"Excellent knowledge of the law in complex child abuse cases - he is brilliant with vulnerable clients and sensitive to their needs."

Personal injury, Legal 500 2022

"Patrick gains an accurate understanding of complex and voluminous case material in the inquiry, handles the material with care and sensitivity, and approaches witnesses, taking them through their evidence, in the same way."

Inquests & inquiries, Legal 500 2022

"Fantastic with both lay clients and expert witnesses – a true expert in the field."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2021

"Has a brilliant understanding of the effect of trauma on clients, and a kind and courteous manner."

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Legal 500 2021

"He's excellent – he has really good client care skills and is very astute and calm under pressure."

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2020

"He's not only knowledgeable but also very responsive as well."

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2020

"He is an expert in his field especially child abuse litigation."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2020

"Regularly instructed as counsel to major public inquiries and investigations. He is also sought after to represent bereaved families in sensitive inquests into deaths in hospitals and care homes."

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2020

"He's held in very high esteem for his work and his ability to marshal a vast amount of material and make it manageable and effective in oral hearings."

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2020

"He's very thorough, sympathetic and smart."

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2020

"He was really good with vulnerable witnesses and great on his feet."

Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2020

"His strengths are dealing with clients and medical experts."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2019

"He is able to work his way through very difficult causation cases."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2017

"He is well-known for his knowledge in cases involving psychiatric injuries."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2016

"Patrick has an eye for detail which is crucial on liability issues in stillbirth and neonatal death cases. I have been nothing but impressed with the sensitive way he deals with clients, whilst confidently advising and guiding them through the litigation process."

Claire Stoneman, Partner, Foot Anstey LLP

"Superb with clients even in the most hostile of situations, and he really comes into his own at trial."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2015

"Very highly regarded for tackling difficult medical expert reports."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2014

"A sharp mind and tactical nous."

Personal Injury, Legal 500 2012

"A rare talent."

Legal 500 2010

To find out more, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)20 7427 4907 or Chris Rowe on +44 (0)20 7427 4911 for a confidential discussion.

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