Matthew Barnes

Matthew Barnes has a civil and public law practice focused on all aspects of medical law, including clinical negligence, inquests, regulatory, and public law. He is a highly recommended junior by both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

In clinical negligence, his practice includes work for both claimants and defendants, covering a range from low value claims up to the highest value catastrophic brain injuries.

In inquests, he acts for both families and medical staff, and has experience of difficult and high profile cases.  By way of example, in the last year, he has been instructed in approximately 15 inquests including acting for the family in a recent inquest into the death of Mr Andrew Pimlott, who died in circumstances where a police officer fired a taser at him whilst he was covered in petrol.

He is regularly instructed to act for Defendants in regulatory proceedings, including the GDC, the GMC, the NMC, the British Acupuncture Council, internal NHS Trust disciplinary hearings, and the Performers Lists for GPs and dentists.  Generally, he acts for defendants, although he has prosecuted in cases involving removal from the Performers List.  He has experience of cases involving criminal charges, and has been instructed to defend doctors in the magistrates’ court and crown court.

He has extensive experience of public law, as is demonstrated by the reported cases set out below, and in particular has been involved in challenges to treatment decisions and appeals from the GDC and GMC.