‘Senses & Sensibility’: clinical negligence injuries impacting the senses and mind (series)

William Audland KC

William is ranked as a leading silk in the major directories in all his principal areas of practice - international and travel, personal injury, clinical negligence and sports law - and specialises in cross-border claims which combine these areas of expertise. He represents both claimants and defendants, and has a growing practice as a mediator.

Andrew Roy KC

Andrew specialises in complex, sensitive and high value cases involving personal injury (especially catastrophic claims), costs, clinical negligence, industrial disease, professional negligence, limitation and related areas.

Andrew has a significant appellate practice.  He is head of the 12 KBW Costs Team.  He sits as a Deputy Costs Judge of the Senior Courts.

Andrew is ranked as a in both Personal Injury and Costs by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.  They note that he has “A razor-sharp intellect coupled with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the case law, who is able to combine both into dazzling and fearless advocacy” and is "a great choice of counsel when you know you have a fight on your hands”.

The directories further describe Andrew as “a great strategist with an eye for the big picture at all times”, “absolutely first class”, “a ferocious advocate”, “Exceptional” with a “phenomenal grasp of the law” and “an incredibly detailed knowledge of each area in which he specialises”.

As one of only a handful of barristers ranked by the directories in both personal injury and in costs, Andrew brings in-depth crossover expertise to both his personal injury cases and his costs work.  The directories note that in respect to personal injury he is “a strong negotiator and has the added value of real costs expertise”. They likewise note that in respect of costs he “draws strength to his practice through his personal injury expertise.”

Andrew is Head of Pupillage at 12KBW.

Vanessa Cashman

Vanessa specialises in clinical negligence. She acts predominantly for claimants and her practice encompasses a huge range of medical specialties. She has particular expertise in birth and obstetric injuries, spinal injury and brain injury.

Vanessa is ranked for clinical negligence in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. She is known for her warmth and sensitivity and her extensive medical knowledge.

She also has considerable experience in personal injury, inquests and costs.

Charley Turton

Charley specialises in clinical negligence, abuse, and injury claims with an international element.

Her broader personal injury practice encompasses interests in sports law, motor insurance and military claims.

Charley has been led by William Audland KC, Harry Steinberg KC, Patrick Vincent KC and Andrew Roy KC of 12KBW and regularly does work for other members of chambers in high value cases.

In addition to frequent paperwork cases, Charley is regularly in court for trials, PTRs, CCMCs, interim applications and approval hearings.

As a member of Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit), Charley is willing to act in a pro bono capacity, where appropriate.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Charley studied English Literature at Merton College, Oxford, and was awarded a Blue for football.

When she is not in chambers Charley plays for Camden Town Football Club and is a loyal participant in the annual Blenheim Palace Triathlon.

Thea Wilson

Thea specialises in Clinical Negligence, complex Personal Injury claims, and Inquests.

Thea has a wealth of experience in handling cases involving delayed diagnosis, birth and pregnancy-related injuries, spinal injuries, brain damage, psychiatric injury, chronic pain and fatal accidents. Thea is particularly adept at handling complex quantum calculations.

Thea’s role as Assistant Coroner for Essex gives her insight and expertise in the inquest process. She regularly acts for interested parties at inquests, in particular in claims involving clinical negligence, road traffic accidents, and deaths in custody and is happy to advise on all aspects of the coronial process.

Thea’s expert knowledge of the CPR stands her in good stead in acting for and advising solicitors on procedural matters in relation to applications and appeals, and in respect of costs. She is sought after in cases with a potential fraud element and has a wide range of experience dealing with insurance coverage issues.

Thea is regularly instructed by trade union organisations, local authorities, insurers, the NHS, and the MIB.

With an eye for detail and a sympathetic manner, Thea is experienced in dealing with vulnerable claimants. Thea has represented victims of sexual and physical abuse both in civil claims and before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tribunal.

Thea is happy to accept cases on a CFA basis and is willing to consider Pro Bono instruction where appropriate.

Isaac Hogarth

Isaac has a specialist clinical negligence, personal injury and insurance practice. Isaac is generally instructed in cases involving life-changing spinal and brain injuries, chronic pain, amputations and fatalities. He is ranked as a leading junior in personal injury and clinical negligence in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners 2025.

In addition to his injury practice, Isaac has an established reputation as an insurance specialist and is often instructed to advise insurers and the MIB on technical coverage and indemnity issues.

Isaac is an experienced advocate with an excellent track record at trials, joint settlement meetings and mediations. He is often instructed as a junior in high value claims, and also has extensive experience as sole counsel.

In addition to his civil practice, Isaac is often instructed to provide representation at inquests, particularly those arising from deaths in hospitals and road traffic accidents.

John Elston, Consultant Ophthalmologist

Dr Mynors-Wallis, Consultant Psychiatrist

Laurence became a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1989, obtaining the Laughlin Prize for the best examination results in that year.  He obtained a Wellcome Trust Training Fellowship to study the treatment of depressive disorders in primary care, obtaining a Doctorate in Medicine from Oxford University in 1994.  He has scientific publications in the field of depressive and emotional disorders and in leadership and management.

Laurence has been a consultant psychiatrist in adult psychiatry for nearly 30 years. He was Medical Director of Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust for 15 years until 2016. He was a Foundation Council member of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management and sat on the Advisory Board for five years until 2016.  From 2010-2015 he was the Registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatrists with lead responsibility for psychiatric standards, public information, policy and the revalidation of consultant psychiatrists.  In 2017 he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists for his “outstanding contribution to psychiatry”.

He is the author of the chapter on Psychiatry in Clinical Negligence (Powers and Barton) 5^th Edition, 2015, 6^th Edition, 2023.  He is a co-editor of Expert Psychiatric Evidence, 2nd Edition (Cambridge University Press 2020) and was the lead author of the chapters on Personal Injury and Reports for the Coroner’s Courts.  He has a significant medico-legal practice in the areas of clinical negligence, personal injury and capacity.

Adel Helmy, Consultant Neurosurgeon