We have adopted a specialist team approach to our practices for many years. We feel that this is the way our clients want us to work, and that specialisation leads to the provision of a better service.
“Clear and eloquent in both her submissions and cross-examination.”
Caroline Evans
Senior Practice Manager - Civil
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
Olive Kavanagh
Practice Manager - Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Court of Protection (Health & Welfare)
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
‘Back to the drawing board for patient autonomy? Informed consent following McCulloch’
‘Dying, Disability, and Dangerous Decision-making: Protecting Patient Safety in Assisted Dying in England and Wales’, Bristol Law Review (7th edn, 2022)
Louise is a barrister in the Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Court of Protection teams. She successfully completed her specialist pupillage in September 2023, under the supervision of Oliver Moore.
Louise has a busy Court practice. She regularly appears on behalf of Claimants and Defendants, particularly in fast-track trials, small claims, interlocutory applications, stage three hearings, credit hire matters and infant settlement approvals.
Louise is also developing a growing paperwork practice. She is regularly instructed to draft pleadings and advice in a broad range of cases.
Developing from her Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence practice, Louise welcomes instructions in matters in the Court of Protection, coroners’ Court and in regulatory proceedings.
Louise was exposed to high-value claims with complex medical evidence throughout pupillage. She assisted with claims arising out of road traffic accidents, employer’s liability, occupiers’ liability, product liability, and Highways Act 1980 cases. She is particularly familiar with the medical literature and expert opinions on traumatic brain injuries
To-date, her experience includes:
In clinical negligence, Louise has experience in an array of disputes across the full clinical spectrum, including general practice, emergency medicine, and general surgery. Her recent work includes:
Prior to pupillage, Louise volunteered at the University of Bristol Law Clinic for four years. She she provided pro bono representation in a case arising from delayed diagnosis of breast cancer, advising on complex causation and managing negotiations with surgeons with both robustness and sensitivity.
Louise has a particular interest in cases with consent issues. Her LLB thesis (supervised by Dr Oliver Quick) considered the impact of Montgomery on preventable patient harm. In her LLM dissertation, Louise considered life ending treatment from a patient safety lens. Her work was commended for “carving out an interesting and surprisingly neglected area” in academic literature and described as “comprehensively researched, unusually detailed, compellingly argued and clearly written…mightily impressive.”
During pupillage, Louise provided training on clinical negligence litigation to local solicitors. She is more than happy to provide further training upon request.
Outside Chambers, Louise sits on the NHS Research Ethics Committee for Central Bristol.
Louise is developing her Court of Protection practice. She accepts instructions relating to children and adults, health and welfare, the deprivation of liberty safeguards and serious medical treatment. She is available for urgent out-of-hours work.
Her recent work includes:
Louise explored her interest in mental health and mental capacity law during her LLM. She considered practical challenges to conducting capacity assessments and best interest decisions, particularly in medical treatment cases.
Before pupillage, Louise successfully represented an elderly P living with advanced dementia. During round table meetings with the Local Authority, Louise negotiated a suitable care and residency plan and minimised entrenched tensions between social workers and P’s family.
Louise observed a number of GMC and NMC proceedings during pupillage. She assisted with cases arising from fraudulent entry onto the register, allegations of dishonesty, and failure to notify regulators of previous convictions. She accepts instructions in all disciplinary matters and is keen to develop her practice in this area.
Louise is eager to develop her experience in relation to inquiries and inquests to complement her civil practice. She is willing to represent parties at inquests under a conditional fee agreement (“CFA”) and open to accepting pro bono instructions to represent families in appropriate cases.
Caroline Evans
Senior Practice Manager - Civil
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
Olive Kavanagh
Practice Manager - Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Court of Protection (Health & Welfare)
0117 930 9000
Click here to email
‘Back to the drawing board for patient autonomy? Informed consent following McCulloch’
‘Dying, Disability, and Dangerous Decision-making: Protecting Patient Safety in Assisted Dying in England and Wales’, Bristol Law Review (7th edn, 2022)
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