Overview
Hannah is Joint Head of the Court of Protection team and has a rapidly developing practice in this area. She has experience of dealing with mental capacity issues in the Court of Protection and in the High Court, where there are capacity issues relating to Personal Injury claims. Hannah has experience representing patients, family members, Local Authorities, Clinical Commissioning Groups and NHS Trusts both in section 21A and section 16 health and welfare applications, and in property and affairs cases. She is experienced in both interim and contested final hearings covering a range of issues including more complex matters such as sexual relations, restraint, social media, covert medication and medical treatment.
Hannah’s personal injury practice is split evenly between acting for Claimants and Defendants and she regularly advises at all stages of proceedings from pre-litigation through to trial. She has considerable interlocutory and trial experience involving both fast- and multi-track claims.
Hannah has a particular interest in clinical negligence and has expertise in a wide range of areas including high value cases involving multiple-disciplinary treatment. She has developed a particular interest in cases involving complex medical issues, and regularly conducts conferences involving experts from multiple disciplines. Hannah is adept at explaining complex issues clearly and sensitively to clients.
Hannah’s inquest practice is wide ranging, although she has particular expertise in relation to deaths where there are concerns about medical treatment, including treatment for mental health conditions in suicide cases. She has conducted many Article 2 and jury inquests, both on behalf of families and the NHS, and deals regularly with allegations of neglect and where Prevention of Future Deaths reports are being considered. This complements her clinical negligence practice and she is very experienced in questioning both medical witnesses, and experts, in a coronial context.
Hannah endeavours to provide an excellent service those who instruct her and is happy to deal matters outside of normal hours to ensure deadlines are met, or in the event that an urgent application needs to be made.
Inquests & Public Inquiries
Hannah’s inquest practice is wide ranging, although she has particular expertise in relation to deaths where there are concerns about medical treatment, including treatment for mental health conditions. She has conducted many Article 2 and jury inquests, both on behalf of families and the NHS, and deals regularly with allegations of neglect and where Prevention of Future Deaths reports are being considered. She is comfortable liaising with Senior Management teams within organisations and advising on changes that can be implemented in order to mitigate the risk of future deaths.
Hannah is adept at explaining complex issues clearly and sensitively to clients, particularly in cases involving children and suicides, or where there are complicated issues relating to causation. This complements her clinical negligence practice and she is very experienced in questioning both medical witnesses, and experts, in a coronial context. Hannah is joint head of the Court of Protection team at 9 St John Street and so has a particular interest in issues arising out of capacity.
She has represented parties in inquests of multiple weeks’ duration, and where there are large numbers of witnesses being called by her clients.
Hannah is frequently instructed to represent parties from the PIHR stage onwards and is happy to provide advice at an early stage regarding appropriate scope, witnesses and other directions. She regularly advises on related medical negligence claims and is willing to consider instructions on a CFA basis in suitable cases.
Court of Protection
Hannah is Joint Head of the Court of Protection team and and has experience of dealing with mental capacity issues in the Court of Protection and in the High Court, where there are capacity issues relating to Personal Injury claims.
Hannah endeavours to provide an excellent service those who instruct her and is happy to deal matters outside of normal hours to ensure deadlines are met, or in the event that an urgent application needs to be made.
In the Court of Protection, Hannah has experience representing patients, family members, Local Authorities, Clinical Commissioning Groups and NHS Trusts both in section 21A and section 16 health and welfare applications, and in property and affairs cases. She is experienced in both interim and contested final hearings covering a range of issues including more complex matters such as sexual relations, restraint, social media, covert medication and medical treatment.
She recently represented CR, a man with learning disabilities, autism and epilepsy, in an application brought by a CCG for a declaration that it was in his best interests to be administered the COVID-19 vaccination against the wishes of his family: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCOP/2021/19.html
Hannah has a particular interest in issues relating to serious medical treatment and has provided training to Respiratory trainees on DNACPR decisions.
She has undergone extensive training including the Law Society Accreditation course and keeps up to date with relevant legal developments.
Clinical Negligence
Hannah has a particular interest in clinical negligence and has expertise in a wide range of areas including high value cases of up to £1,000,000. She has a particular interest in cases involving complex medical issues, and regularly conducts conferences involving experts from multiple disciplines. Hannah is adept at explaining complicated issues clearly and sensitively to clients.
Appointments
Fee Paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health)
Court of Protection Judge (Tier 1)
Associations
Personal Injury Bar Association
Professional Negligence Bar Association
Education
BA (Hons) Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology, Oxford University
