Fieldfisher's Medical Negligence 'best team in the country' Legal 500 ranking
The team at Fieldfisher is led by ‘titan in the clinical negligence field’ Paul McNeil and is recognised for its ability to act on the most complex cases in this area, with a particular focus on those including birth complications; genetic metabolic disorders; delayed diagnoses of cancer; spinal injuries, cerebral palsy and psychiatric injury.
‘This is the best team in the country. An excellent ethos driving case after case to successful conclusion, and doing so with very great care and thoroughness, but also speed. The team is exceptionally well-led. It has wide and deep experience. There is utter commitment. It operates within a city firm, so has the mentality and resources in funding and personnel that few can match, and which it routinely deploys.’
‘Paul McNeil is the leading litigator in this field: highly intelligent, vastly experienced, entirely dedicated to each client, and relentlessly hard-working. He is assisted by a deep bench. Iona Meeres-Young is an absolutely excellent litigator with a calm, highly intelligent and pragmatic approach which shines through. Samantha Critchley is another excellent and vastly experienced litigator – dedication and thoroughness personified. Mark Bowman is an extremely able, intelligent, efficient and effective litigator. Jonathan Zimmern is fully prepared to take on the most ground-breaking cases. Kate Rohde is a hugely experienced lateral thinker. Jane Weakley is a really terrific lawyer, Deborah Nadel is another who has the very highest standards and Arti Shah is one to watch. The team is packed with excellent lawyers.’
‘All the London partners deserve a mention and high praise. Paul McNeil runs a totally outstanding team with Samantha Critchley, Mark Bowman, Iona Meeres-Young, Kate Rohde, Arti Shah, Jane Weakley and Jonathan Zimmern all truly excellent partners as well. They all deserve very high praise for the work they do.’
The team acts on cases of varying financial level, though claims are often for values in the multi-millions; ‘ferociously hard-working’ partner Samantha Critchley is currently acting for a premature baby on a case with an estimated value of £30m. The team is often able to provide its clients with early rehabilitation and has international reach. Kate Rohde's presence continues to inspire praise from the market. Catastrophic injury specialist Jane Weakley is a consistent standout in the team, as is former doctor Iona Meeres-Young.
Legal director Caron Heyes is known for her work with charities including Child Bereavement UK, Inquest and Mencap, while senior associate Suzanne Farg, who joined from Kingsley Napley LLP in April 2021, is also one to watch. Mark Bowman and Jonathan Zimmern complete the roster of recommended practitioners.
Leading individuals
Jane Weakley
Hall of Fame
Samantha Critchley
Paul McNeil
Kate Rohde
Next Generation Partners
Mark Bowman
Iona Meeres-Young
Jonathan Zimmern
Practice head
Paul McNeil
Other key lawyers
Samantha Critchley, Mark Bowman, Jane Weakley, Iona Meeres-Young, Jonathan Zimmern, Kate Rohde, Arti Shah, Caron Heyes, Helen Thompson, Will Jones, Christina Gardiner, Emma Kendall, Sevim Ahmet, Nilam Patel
Testimonials
‘Fieldfisher are truly the best in the business. The whole firm operates seamlessly. Paul McNeil and Nilam Patel worked together on my case, and both were reachable and knowledgeable. It was a seamless experience talking to either of them, they were always up-to-date with everything and are both phenomenal. Their administration team was top-class as well. Why go anywhere else?’
‘Paul McNeil is rightly regarded as a titan in the clinical negligence field. He acted with the utmost skill, care, and integrity to ensure that I can receive the care I need. Nilam Patel is also incredible, a first-class lawyer and no doubt a future big-hitter in the clinical negligence field. She handled my case with great adaptability, overcoming all the challenges we faced.’
‘Attention to detail is superb. The team immerse themselves in your matter and make sure all angles are covered, not just the immediate back and forth but the strategic thinking going forward – often three or four steps ahead. Combined with this, is a human desire to get to know you and the predicament your family is in and genuinely showing care and compassion – it brings an added sense that there is a drive and passion to get the best outcome.’
‘Samantha Critchley is head and shoulders above her peer group. Bright, dynamic, caring and ferociously hard working. You always want Sam in the room or at the table.’
‘Iona Meeres-Young has been a great professional support to us. She explained the process very clearly to us at each stage and would sum up and simplify medical terms and next stages of the case. Iona remained confident that our case was going in the right direction and with all evidence and the professional team of experts she instructed, she reached such a positive outcome for our son that has truly changed his life already. We cannot thank her enough and wouldn’t hesitate in recommending her to other parents in the future.’
Work highlights
Settled a claim for a brother and sister, born in the early 1980s, who decades later were diagnosed with a rare genetic metabolic condition, which, if diagnosed promptly, can be treated with a lifetime of vitamin B12 injections but which, in this case, led to irreversible intellectual disability in the brother and a range of unexplained symptoms in the sister.
Acting on a £30m case on behalf of an extremely premature baby who developed neonatal sepsis at 3 weeks old, which was not treated properly, and whom was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy and autism.
Reached a settlement of £2.5m on behalf of a woman who suffered a severe third-degree vaginal tear during childbirth at Ipswich Hospital.