Clinical Negligence

"Exceptional balance of quality with highly analytical barristers who act on behalf of both claimants and defendants."; "The clerks are brilliant; they are friendly, really approachable and efficient; thorough; charming and reliable."

Chambers & Partners 2026

"OTC has 'a very strong clinical negligence offering' with 'high quality counsel'. The team routinely handles a broad range of matters, including surgical errors and severe brain and spinal cord injuries."; "A key player in the clinical negligence sphere."; "Very experienced clinical negligence set."

Legal 500 2026

"They offer a very strong clerking team with a can-do attitude. The clerks are clearly experienced and aware of each barrister's strengths and their recommendations and advice can be relied upon."; "It is a responsive and helpful clerking team."; "The clerks are really good."; "The clerks are excellent and respond to emails almost immediately every time."

Chambers & Partners 2025

'A good range of talent and experience.'; 'Great breadth and strength in medical negligence cases.'; 'Very professional set and competent in their area of work, with good availability of barristers.'; 'Very good strength in depth at both silk and junior level in the clinical negligence space. One of the heavyweights in the industry.'; 'The chambers have a broad range of skills and depth to call upon whenever needed.'

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2025

"Outer Temple has a very responsive clerking team who go out of their way to help their clients."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2024

"The clerks at Outer Temple Chambers are very responsive and accommodating. Chris Rowe is particularly helpful."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2024

"The service from the clerks is first class. They'll do everything in their power to accommodate you and your clients."

Clinical Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2024

"Outer Temple is an established, top-ranking chambers. It has both track record and a modern commercial approach. There are many strong choices of counsel. It is a most impressive set."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2023

"Strong set with regard to personal injury and clinical negligence practitioners."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2023

"A very personable set and lovely to work with. We have always been able to access appropriate counsel easily."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2023

"There is excellent strength-in-depth across Outer Temple Chambers as a whole and we have been impressed with the quality of the advice given across the board from junior junior barristers up to KC level."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2023

"Leading set of chambers recognised for their expertise in personal injury and clinical negligence."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2023

"Fast becoming a junior of choice on some very significant instructions."

Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2022

A 'first choice' for high-value catastrophic injury clinical negligence cases, the set fields a strong team.

Legal 500 2020

Our Clinical Negligence Barristers

The Clinical Negligence Team at Outer Temple Chambers has a long-standing reputation for excellence in advising in clinical negligence claims on behalf of Claimants and Defendants. Members receive instructions from leading firms of solicitors across the UK, representing patients and their families, as well as NHS Resolution, private medical professionals and medical defence organisations.

We have significant strength in depth, with members across all levels of seniority. We are frequently instructed in the most demanding and high value cases, including birth injury and other serious neurological injuries. Our members are valued for combining excellent technical knowledge with pragmatic and sensitive advice to ensure optimal outcomes for our clients. We are known for our depth of experience in handling complex and larger claims, knowing what expert evidence to obtain and how to deploy it to achieve the best outcome for our client.

Chambers’ reputation in the field is reflected by the fact that no fewer than 19 members of the team are ranked in the Legal 500 (2026) and 15 in Chambers and Partners (2026) in clinical negligence. Nathan Tavares KC was shortlisted for Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year by Chambers & Partners at the Chambers Bar Awards 2025, with Eliot Woolf KC having been nominated for the same award in 2023.

In the wider healthcare field, we represent families, professionals and other interested persons at Coroner’s inquests and in inquiries. We also act in disciplinary and criminal proceedings involving doctors and other healthcare professionals, as well as dealing with any associated contractual and employment disputes (see our section on Disciplinary & Regulatory work for further details). We also have significant experience in acting in health-related group litigation, including the Papworth Hospital Litigation, DePuy, the Contaminated Blood Products group litigation, and group actions arising from the use of medicines (Lariam/Thalidomide/Seroxat) and vaccines (Astra Zeneca).

Why choose us

Find out more about our specialist areas of expertise in the field of clinical negligence and see some examples of our non-confidential recent cases below.

Our clinical negligence barristers are supported by a highly experienced clerking team, headed up by Paul Barton.