Expertise

Anita acts exclusively for claimants who have sustained life-changing injuries because of medical negligence.

She has notable expertise in representing children who have sustained a brain injury because of failings in their care around the time of their birth, including obstetric, midwifery and neonatal claims. This has been the mainstay of Anita’s work for several years, and she is recognised as being a leading individual in this area.

Anita also has significant experience acting for adults and children who have sustained other life-changing injuries, including spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and amputations. Additionally, her practice includes paediatric brain injury claims arising from conditions such as meningitis, sepsis, encephalitis, neonatal hypoglycaemia and exposure to sodium valproate (Epilim).

Anita regularly advises on cross-jurisdictional issues, representing clients whose care, accommodation and equipment needs have been assessed in North America, Australasia and Europe.

She believes the best outcomes are achieved by assembling the right team around each client from the outset, enabling key issues to be identified quickly and the funds needed for rehabilitation, long-term support and greater independence to be secured as early as possible.

Experience

Anita has recovered more than £200 million in compensation for her clients since 2018. Her experience spans a wide range of complex, high-value medical negligence claims, including birth injury, catastrophic injury, amputation, mental health and delayed diagnosis cases.

Recent cases include:

• £39.3 million for an adult who sustained a brain injury and spinal cord injury secondary to meningitis
• £31 million and £19 million respectively for children who sustained brain injuries at birth
• £8.5 million for a child with quadriplegic cerebral palsy following a delay in expediting delivery
• £7.4 million for a child who sustained bilateral upper and lower limb amputations following the delayed diagnosis of meningococcal septicaemia
• Recovered professional deputyship costs for an underlying non-negligently caused injury, on the basis that but for the compensation payment (arising out of the negligence to the child), professional management of a large sum of money would not have been required
• £6 million for a child who developed cerebral palsy because of the failure to carry out an earlier caesarean section
• £6.6 million for a child who suffered almost total visual loss and learning difficulties as a result of the delayed diagnosis of neonatal hypoglycaemia
• Secured an admission of liability and an undisclosed settlement sum for a family whose baby died because of the hospital’s failure to expedite his delivery
• Recovered an undisclosed sum in compensation for a client who was left in a persistent vegetative state after attempting suicide while under the care of a mental health unit, when he should have been under constant observation.

Anita has extensive experience acting for children whose families have subsequently relocated to New Zealand, Australia, America and the Middle East. These claims require detailed consideration of settlement structures, local taxation and the provision of care, accommodation and equipment in the relevant jurisdiction. She guides families through the process of obtaining and presenting the complex evidence required to secure appropriate compensation.

Her trial experience includes a successful claim against multiple defendants arising from a delay in diagnosing and treating a spinal infection that resulted in spinal cord injury, as well as a successful claim on behalf of a child with Fetal Valproate Syndrome caused by sodium valproate prescribed during pregnancy. The latter involved complex issues of informed consent and factual evidence, relying on the principles established in Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015].

Earlier in her career, Anita attended a hearing before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in a complex and novel case involving the withdrawal of consent for the use and storage of frozen embryos.

Career

Prior to joining Stewarts to lead the Medical Negligence team in 2024, Anita spent 18 years at Irwin Mitchell, having been promoted to partner seven years after qualifying and later taking on a senior leadership role within the department.

Anita began her career at Stewarts while at university, working in the Medical Negligence and Personal Injury departments, before leaving to start her training contract. She has also worked for specialist medical negligence firm Alexander Harris and has specialised in complex, high-value medical negligence claims for almost the entirety of her career.

Recognition

Anita is recognised as a leading medical negligence lawyer by both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.

Anita is a “fabulous” lawyer. Peers speak of her as a “very impressive individual” who is “extremely dedicated” and “would go to the ends of the earth to get the case right.” Chambers and Partners

“Anita is very experienced, a really safe pair of hands. She is fantastic with clients, really enjoyable to work with and does a lot of work on claims of the highest value.” Chambers and Partners

“She’s very impressive in managing cases and understanding the issues.” Chambers and Partners

“Anita is professional and dedicated – she showed unwavering commitment to me throughout the case and was transparent and honest.”
“Anita really is an exemplary lawyer.” Chambers and Partners

“Anita is so geared and sympathetic to the predicament that her clients are in. She is phenomenal in that hand-holding process.” Chambers and Partners
“Calming, reassuring manner which helps clients who are often stressed by the litigation process. She has excellent judgment and gives clear advice. She fights her clients’ corner.” Legal 500

Anita’s clients have praised her “attention to detail… letting us know what is expected months ahead” and commented that “strategies are crystal clear”. Legal 500

“They are client driven and have a focus[ed] attitude on what is [in] your best long-term interests.” Legal 500

“We wanted to thank you for all the support you have offered throughout the duration of Lucy’s case. We had no experience of how the legal system works and it was a very daunting prospect as well as an emotional rollercoaster, but you have been a constant source of strength and we’re very grateful for the guidance and empathy you have shown to us along with your very sharp professional skills.” Client testimonial

Anita is a past winner of the Inspirational Women in Law award (Next 100 Years project) for her submission on how women can help to shape the future of the legal industry.

She was also named in the Women Who Will report, which champions the talent of 30 female leaders in law each year.

Accreditations and Memberships

• AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) Specialist Clinical Negligence Panel

   

• The Law Society Specialist Clinical Negligence Accreditation Panel

These accreditations are recognised quality marks awarded to lawyers with significant expertise and experience in clinical negligence law.

Anita also serves as a trustee of Twins Trust charity, a charity dedicated to supporting twins, triplets and their families.

Publications and Media

Anita is often invited to speak to media outlets on patient safety issues, including providing expert comment to The Independent on the Sussex maternity failings, with her insights syndicated across a number of other local publications.

She also featured in an episode of the AlteaTalks podcast series, where she discussed the concerns of claimants prior to pursuing a medical negligence claim and emphasised the significance of sincere apologies from medical professionals following serious errors.

Personal

Anita has three young boys, including non-identical twins, so life outside of work is busy. In her spare time, she enjoys socialising with friends and family over good food and wine, gardening, planning her next holiday (usually somewhere warm), and trying to fit in some exercise along the way.

Anita spent many years of her childhood in Perth, Western Australia. She is proud of her Irish roots, having been born in Dublin, and has a large Irish family.