Isabel McArdle and Gareth Rhys successful in the Supreme Court - Dec 2025
Clinical Negligence
Isabel’s experience is wide ranging and includes birth injuries, wrongful birth, surgical complications, and orthopaedic injuries. She has particular experience in human rights claims arising in the healthcare setting.
Her inquest experience includes surgical problems and general practice diagnosis and referral.
Isabel is recognised as a ‘Leading Junior’ by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. Recent editorial includes:
- “She is a senior junior who handles really complex cases, and she is great with clients and experts.” Chambers & Partners 2026
- “Isabel is an excellent clinical negligence barrister. She is personable whilst able to tackle the most complex of matters with ease. She is definitely someone you want in your corner.” Chambers & Partners 2026
- “Isabel is really reliable and responsive, which is a real gift in a barrister. She stands out for her reliability and responsiveness. She offers very sensible answers.” Legal 500 2026
- “Isabel is great with clients and puts them at ease. She is very impressive in breaking down complicated medical expert evidence and questioning experts.” Chambers & Partners 2025
- “Isabel has very strong advocacy at trial.” Chambers & Partners 2025
- “She is a brilliant communicator, very forensic with the experts.” Legal 500 2025
Selected Cases
- Ian Paterson litigation: part of a team of 1COR barristers led by Lizanne Gumbel QC, for various Claimants against a Consultant Breast Surgeon facing allegations including performing an unauthorised mastectomy technique and unnecessary surgical procedures.
- Inquest into the Death of John Moore-Robinson: acted for the family of the Deceased, whose internal bleeding was not diagnosed at A&E, resulting in his death shortly after. This was a second inquest, involving care provided by the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
‘The Inquest Book’ second edition out today - Jul 2025
We are pleased to announce that the 'The Inquest Book' second edition is out today! The 2nd edition of this essential handbook on coronial law incorporates the significant changes in legislation...
Isabel McArdle and Gareth Rhys appear in the Supreme Court in Hotel La Tour Ltd v HMRC - Jun 2025
On 4 and 5 June 2025, Isabel McArdle and Gareth Rhys will appear before the Supreme Court, representing the Respondents in Hotel La Tour Ltd v HMRC. The appeal concerns whether use of services in an...
Law Pod UK Ep.216 International Women’s Day series part 3: community and belonging at the Bar - Mar 2025
Law Pod UK is marking International Women’s Day by bringing you the final episode of its three-part series exploring gender at the Bar. In this episode, Lucy McCann and Rajkiran Arhestey speak to...
Law Pod UK Ep.208: Vicarious Liability: Where Are We Now? - Dec 2024
In Episode 208, Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Isabel McArdle about developments in this area of law since her previous episode with Rob Kellar KC in 2020 and in particular since the Supreme Court...
Congratulations to our seven members appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel - Sep 2024
Congratulations to Isabel McArdle, Alasdair Henderson, Edward Waldegrave and Dominic Ruck Keene on their promotions to the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel, effective from 1st September. We are...
Isabel McArdle acts for the successful Defendant in a recent High Court clinical negligence breach trial - Aug 2024
Isabel acted for the successful Defendant in a recent High Court clinical negligence breach trial, heard by HHJ Harrison at the Cardiff District Registry, Holley v Cardiff and Vale University Health...
Isabel McArdle succeeds in Court of Appeal case concerning Input Tax - Jun 2024
Isabel McArdle recently appeared for the successful Appellants in HMRC v Hotel La Tour Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 564, an appeal concerning whether use of services such as market research, buyer...
Law Pod UK Ep. 194: International Women’s Day series part 1: what’s the problem? - Mar 2024
LawPod UK is marking International Women’s Day with a three-part series exploring gender at the Bar. In this series, Lucy McCann and Rajkiran Barhey speak to Lady Justice Whipple, Sally Smith...
No legitimate expectation found in judicial review - Jul 2023
Mr Justice Lavender has dismissed a claim for judicial review by a taxpayer in The King (On the Application of Realreed Ltd) v HMRC. It was argued that the taxpayer had a legitimate expectation...
1COR give an update on VAT at latest Legal Training Consultancy Tax Conference - Apr 2022
On 5th April 2022 Owain Thomas QC, Sarabjit Singh QC and Isabel McArdle are providing updates on the latest changes to VAT at Legal Training Consultancy Tax Conference. They join other expert speakers...
1COR Quarterly Medical Law Review – Summer/Autumn 2021 – Issue 10 - Jan 2022
Welcome to the tenth issue of the QMLR, brought to you by the barristers at 1 Crown Office Row to update you on developments in Summer and Autumn 2021. Download the Summer/Autumn 2021 newsletter...
Law Pod UK Ep. 143: Henry VIII Powers undermining parliamentary supremacy - May 2021
In this episode, Rosalind English discusses with Isabel McArdle and Sarabjit Singh QC a number of laws containing Henry VIII powers, including the Childcare Act 2016, Section 8 of the European Union...
Congratulations on our Six Members appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel - Aug 2020
We are delighted to announce that Isabel McArdle and Matthew Hill have been appointed to the B Panel of Counsel, with Jessica Elliott, Gideon Barth, Emma-Louise Fenelon and Jonathan Metzer appointed...
Impact of Covid-19 on Healthcare Webinar - May 2020
In the first remote event of 2020, three teams looked at the impact of COVID-19. Lizanne Gumbel QC chaired the Claimant team comprised of Isabel McArdle and Matthew Flinn. John Whitting QC...
LawPod UK Ep. 106: Vicarious Liability with Robert Kellar QC & Isabel McArdle - Apr 2020
The Supreme Court has recently handed down two judgments rejecting vicarious liability of employers for the wrong doing of of an employee on the one hand, and an independent contractor on the other....
Law Pod UK Ep. 93: Taxation and Human Rights - Sep 2019
In Episode 93, Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Isabel McArdle about the ways in which taxation and human rights overlap, with a particular focus on how this has arisen domestically in relation to the...
Scope of Duty and Causation: Chester v Afshar Revisited - Jun 2019
Join us for an evening looking at scope of duty and causation in medical claims based on Chester v Afshar [2005] 1 AC 134, which have come to the fore in recent cases such as Pomphrey v Secretary of...
Owain Thomas QC and Isabel McArdle successful in Abuse of Law Appeal - Apr 2018
HMRC v Newey T/A Ocean Finance was heard by the Court of Appeal in January 2018. Owain Thomas QC and Isabel McArdle acted for the Commissioners in this case concerning questions of who the true...
Law Pod UK Ep. 23: Lawsuits against the police for arrest operations - Feb 2018
The Supreme Court’s ruling on police tactics in Robinson v West Yorkshire Police may have implications for other emergency services, as Isabel McArdle explains to Rosalind English. Listen to this...
Owain Thomas QC and Isabel McArdle appear in Court of Appeal in Abuse Case and Tax Avoidance - Feb 2018
Owain Thomas QC and Isabel McArdle have appeared for HMRC in its appeal in the case of Paul Newey T/A Ocean Finance. The appeal concerns questions of what abuse of rights means in the context of a...
Owain Thomas QC and Isabel McArdle successful in resisting permission in tax judicial review - Feb 2018
Owain Thomas QC and Isabel McArdle acted for HMRC in its successful resistance to an application for permission to bring judicial review on several Grounds before Sir Ross Cranston, on 24 January...
Philip Havers QC and Isabel Mcardle represent APIL in a judicial review brought by the Association of British Insurers - Jan 2017
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) is acting as an Interested Party in a judicial review brought by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), who are seeking to challenge the decision...
Profits from the sale of the Inquest Book given to the Bar Pro Bono Unit - Nov 2016
The Inquest Book: The Law on Coroners and Inquests edited by Caroline Cross was published earlier this year. This week, profits raised of £954.41 have been donated to the Bar Pro Bono Unit by the...
Is Crowdfunding the New Way of Financing Judicial Reviews? - Nov 2016
Following radical cuts to legal aid, Isabel McArdle and Michael Deacon consider how solicitors can assist clients hoping to raise the funds necessary for a judicial review claim.
Clodagh Bradley and Isabel McArdle appear in inquest into the death of a cyclist with undiagnosed ruptured spleen - Sep 2014
Isabel McArdle is representing the family of the deceased, John Moore Robinson, and Clodagh Bradley is acting on behalf of the junior doctor at Stafford Hospital who examined the 20-year following a...
Owain Thomas wins for HMRC in Court of Appeal VAT dispute with Sub-One represented by Philippa Whipple QC and Isabel McArdle - Jun 2014
The Court of Appeal has delivered judgment in Sub One, the case about VAT on hot takeaway food. HMRC, represented by Owain Thomas, persuaded the Court of Appeal to uphold the judgment of the Upper...
New appointments to the Attorney General’s A and C Panels - Feb 2014
We are delighted to announce the following new appointments to the Attorney General's Panels - Peter Skelton, Robert Kellar and Sarabjit Singh to the A Panel and Isabel McArdle and Alasdair Henderson...
Pupillage Inside Out: new guide to pupillage by Isabel McArdle and former 1COR pupil Daniel Sokol is published - Jun 2013
We are pleased to announce the launch of "Pupillage Inside Out," a new book written by Isabel McArdle and former 1COR pupil, Daniel Sokol. "Pupillage Inside Out" - comprehensively covering...
Nine members of 1COR involved in Al-Sweady Public Inquiry - Mar 2013
After more than three years of preliminary investigations, Monday, 4 March marked the commencement of oral hearings in the Al-Sweady Public Inquiry. The Inquiry was announced by the Secretary of State...
Owain Thomas wins for HMRC in VAT dispute with Sub-One represented by Philippa Whipple QC and Isabel McArdle - Oct 2012
Owain Thomas, acting for HMRC, has won a case in the Upper Tribunal brought by Sub-One Limited, a member of the Subway franchise chain. Sub-One was represented by Philippa Whipple QC and Isabel...
Team of four from 1COR in Supreme Court win in nuclear testing limitation case - Mar 2012
