Richard Booth KC

Richard is instructed in cases of the highest value and complexity, his clinical negligence practice is split approximately 50/50 between claimants and defendants. He has a particular expertise in high value clinical negligence claims arising out of a sporting context, involving doctors and physiotherapists.

Richard is recommended in clinical negligence as a leading silk by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Recent editorial includes:

• “Richard is a first class silk. He has an amazing grasp of the most complex medical issues.” Legal 500 2026
• “His expertise, reliability and proactive approach is second to none, and he consistently offers clear and effective support when needed.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “He is clear, concise and very sensible.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “He is fantastic with the witnesses and experts, to draw out the evidence on liability, and advise accordingly. For high-value quantum work, he is technically able, detailed and also pragmatic.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “Richard is very knowledgeable, with a friendly, responsive approach to working with us.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “He is a very safe pair of hands who will defend the most complex and difficult cases robustly but with sensitivity. Richard is also enormously personable and approachable.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “Richard is exceptionally bright. He’s very good with experts, his written work is really high-quality and he is a leader in the field.” Chambers & Partners 2025
• “Richard is friendly, has excellent legal knowledge and is willing to fight.” Chambers & Partners 2025
• “Nothing its ever too much trouble for Richard. He is brilliant with clients and can drill down into the nub of the problem in a way they will understand.” Chambers & Partners 2025
• “Divine to work with, thorough and confident, oozes seniority and expertise and brilliant with clients.” Legal 500 2025

Selected Cases

• PDR v Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2020): £37m settlement for catastrophic brain injury at birth.
• KXM v Welsh Health Board (2020): complex, high value claim arising from catastrophic brain injury at birth.
• Hewes v West Hertfordshire NHS Trust & Another [2020] EWCA Civ 1523: Court of Appeal case concerning alleged negligent delay in diagnosing and treating cauda equina syndrome.
• XAS v Medway NHS Foundation Trust (2020): high value claim for child with severe cerebral palsy following catastrophic brain injury at birth in addition to earlier securing damages for psychiatric injury for the mother.
• Birth Injury Settlement (2019): young boy deprived at oxygen at birth with right-sided physical difficulties and neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive problems.
• YAH v Medway NHS Foundation Trust [2018] EWHC 2964 : damages for psychiatric injury for mother of child with cerebral palsy.
• Birth Injury Settlement (2018): led Suzanne Lambert in £18m compensation in clinical negligence claim.
• Bayley v George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust [2017] EWHC 3398 (QB) : successfully defended against a Montgomery claim.
• W v J [2017]: advised that successful application be made to strike out mismanagement of concussion claim brought by former Premiership rugby union player against Club doctor.
• S v K [2016]: secured substantial settlement for Serbian businessman who had not been given adequate post-operative care following robotically assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy performed privately in Harley Street.
• T v X Rugby Club & Others [2016]: secured substantial settlement for rugby international in whom an arm fracture had been missed and who had played on with the fracture for 15 months.
• Barrett v Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust [2015] EWHC 2627 (QB): successfully defended blindness claim brought by young diabetic male. Montgomery issues.
• Owers v (1) Medway NHS Foundation Trust (2) Secretary Of State For Health [2015] EWHC 2363 (QB): successfully defended stroke claim and secondary victim psychiatric injury claim.
• Meiklejohn v St George's Healthcare NHS Trust [2014] EWCA Civ 120: acted for claimant in hugely complex aplastic anaemia case where true diagnosis came from sample taken for research purposes.

Richard generally defends healthcare and veterinary professionals before disciplinary tribunals, but has also prosecuted in the First-Tier Tribunal in performers list appeals. Additionally experienced in hearings involving Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, General Dental Council, General Chiropractic Council, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and various sporting bodies.

Listen to Richard discuss a successful employment injunction to prevent a gross misconduct disciplinary hearing on episode 39 of Law Pod UK here.

He was nominated for ‘Professional Discipline Silk of the Year’ at the 2018 Chambers Bar Awards and is recommended by both directories. Recent editorial includes:

• “Richard has a serene and reassuring manner with clients. He is an excellent advocate.” Legal 500 2026
• “A measured and mature advocate.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “Richard Booth KC is excellent. He is very user-friendly and has a really good bedside manner, even in challenging cases.” Chambers & Partners 2026
• “Richard has a great grasp of regulatory arguments and tribunals. He has excellent judgement.” Legal 500 2025
• “He is excellent and has a great bedside manner.” Chambers & Partners 2025

Selected Cases

• RCVS v X (2019): successfully defended a veterinary surgeon who was accused of dishonesty and of having been complicit in the taking of new-born French Bulldog puppies by two staff in the practice where he was working.
• GMC v Ryan (2017) MPTS: defended the young doctor who had taken the temperature of Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey at Heathrow after their return from Sierra Leone.
• RCVS v NH (2016) (disciplinary Committee of the RCVS: Defended experienced veterinary surgeon against serious surgical allegations.
• Parchure v General Medical Council [2015] EWHC 2850 (Admin): represented Consultant Cardiologist on appeal after long hearing before MPTS.
• GMC v SD (2012-2013): represented Consultant Breast Surgeon in 13 week GMC hearing, at the end of which no disputed charges were found proved.
• R (Doshi) v Southend-On-Sea Primary Care Trust [2007] EWHC 1361 (Admin): standard of proof to be applied when quasi-criminal allegations before FHSAA (as was). Acted for PCT.

Richard is instructed predominantly on behalf of claimants in this field, but has also had a niche practice defending a well-known chain of fitness clubs. He is particularly expert in claims involving brain injury, from the maximally damaged to the subtle presentations.

In the sporting context, Richard has been involved in many serious injury claims over the years involving incidents on the field of play, where the defendants have been both opponents and referees.

Richard is recommended as a leading silk by the Legal 500 with recent editorial noting “Richard is very calm and extremely familiar with all aspects of sports and personal injury law.”

Selected Cases

• F v B (ongoing): acting for claimant who lost his spleen following a late challenge in a rugby match.
• Walford v London General Transport Service Ltd & Another [2013] EWHC 1367 (QB): acted for brain injured claimant who was hit by a bus outside Liverpool Street station.

Richard is instructed in complex costs issues, generally arising out of clinical negligence and personal injury claims.

Selected Cases

• Malone v Birmingham (2016): appeal to CA from Cardiff County Court pending on impact of CFA naming wrong defendant.
• Alan Phillips Associates Ltd v Terence Edward Dowling (T/A The Joseph Dowling Partnership) & Ors [2007] EWCA Civ 64: Third Party Costs Order against Company Director following architects' negligence claim.

Richard is instructed in a range of complex Inquests, often involving extensive medical expert evidence. He is equally instructed by families and healthcare providers.

Selected Cases

• Re Sir Paul Jenkins QC (Hon) Deceased (2018): Represented surgeon following tragic death of eminent barrister during surgery.
• Re: JC Deceased (2017): death from pulmonary embolism following knee replacement surgery in private hospital (Westminster Coroner's Court).
• Re: Sylvan Money Deceased (2006): acted for family in 3 week Inquest in Powys Coroner's Court following voluntary patient suicide in Bronllys Hospital, Talgarth.
• Re: Elmas Ozmicco Deceased (2005): acted for Public Health England in 3 week Inquest in Kent Coroner's Court following death of Kurdish migrant from necrotising fasciitis after she had travelled across Europe in the back of a lorry.

Richard is instructed in a wide variety of sports injury claims, including those of maximum severity, as well as in disciplinary and regulatory proceedings (including on behalf of the RFU). He has particular recent experience of claims relating to concussions and brain injury.

He has spoken at numerous conferences in relation to head injury claims in sport.

Richard has a particular expertise in athlete welfare, especially at the interface between sport and medicine.

In addition, he has experience of selection disputes (including for a Paralympic squad).

Richard is recommended as a leading silk for Personal Injury by the Legal 500 with recent editorial noting “Richard is very calm and extremely familiar with all aspects of sports and personal injury law.”

Selected Cases

Sports Injury Claims

• Q v Z [ongoing]: Richard represents a Premier League football club and its player in respect of a claim for damages brought by an opposing player following an allegedly negligent tackle on the field of play.
• G v N [ongoing]: Richard represents a Super League Rugby League club in respect of a substantial claim for damages brought by one of its former players, alleging negligent mismanagement of concussion injury.
• SH v X NHS Trust & Y RFC [2021-23]: represented NHS Trust in respect of claim relating to alleged negligent mismanagement in A&E of concussion injury suffered by young amateur rugby union player who went on to collapse on the pitch in a match, suffering very severe brain injury. Claim resolved following ADR.
• H v B & Others [2020-21]: represented Premiership rugby union Club doctor in respect of substantial claim for damages brought by Matt Hankin, former Premiership rugby union player, alleging negligent mismanagement of concussion injury sustained on pre-season “teambuilding” tour. Claim resolved at confidential mediation. (Reported on issues of costs only, in which proceedings Richard had no involvement – Hankin v Barrington & Others [2021] EWHC B1 (Costs)).
• W v J & Others [2017]: advised that successful application be made to strike out mismanagement of concussion claim brought by Cillian Willis, former Premiership rugby union player against Club doctor.
• T v X Rugby Club & Others [2016]: secured substantial settlement for rugby international in whom an arm fracture had been missed and who had played on with the fracture for 15 months.

Disciplinary / Regulatory Cases

• Six Nations Rugby Ltd v Dr Rayner [2022]: instructed by Angus Hetherington, Legal Counsel in Discipline at the Rugby Football Union, Richard represented Dr Nigel Rayner, England U20 Team Doctor, before the Six Nations Disciplinary Committee on 21st April 2022.
• RFU v James Taylor [2022]:  Richard was instructed by Angus Hetherington and David Barnes of the Rugby Football Union to present the case against James Taylor at a hearing on 30^th November before an RFU Disciplinary Panel. The case arose out of alleged verbal and physical abuse of a match referee aged under 16, raising safeguarding concerns. James Taylor was suspended from attending any rugby match in any capacity for 30 weeks
• RFU v Joe Marler [2022]: Richard was instructed by Angus Hetherington and David Barnes of the Rugby Football Union to present the case against Joe Marler of Harlequins and England at a hearing on 30^thDecember before an RFU Disciplinary Panel. The case arose out of comments made by Joe Marler to Jake Heenan of Bristol Bears during a Gallagher Premiership rugby union match on Tuesday 27^th Joe Marler was charged with conduct prejudicial to the interest of the Union and the Game.

Selected Cases

• UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry (2023-): Instructed to lead team of counsel on behalf of Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.