Expertise

Anita has extensive experience representing clients who have sustained life changing injuries as a consequence of clinical negligence. As Head of the Clinical Negligence department, Anita has responsibility for ensuring the department provides outstanding levels of service and expertise to our clients.

Anita has notable experience in representing children who have sustained a brain injury as a result of failings in their care.  Anita also has significant experience in representing adults who have sustained a spinal cord injury, brain injury or other serious injuries, such as an amputation.

Anita has experience in cross jurisdictional issues, and has represented clients where local care, accommodation and equipment was costed in North America, Australasia and Europe.

Anita feels strongly that the best team needs to be put around the client in order to help unlock the key issues in a case as quickly as possible, in order to secure funds so clients can implement a rehabilitation package to help improve long term outcomes and promote independence.

Experience

Anita acts solely for claimants who have sustained a catastrophic injury as a result of medical negligence.

Anita has notable experience in representing children who have sustained a brain injury following failures around the time of their birth (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 practice area.

Anita also has significant experience in:

• Spinal cord injury claims
• Amputation cases
• Adult brain injury cases
• Paediatric brain injury cases (birth injury claims, but also neurological injury cases secondary to meningitis/sepsis/encephalitis/neonatal hypoglycaemia and sodium valproate/epilim cases)

Career

Prior to joining Stewarts to lead the Clinical Negligence team in 2024, Anita spent 18 years at Irwin Mitchell, having been promoted to partner at seven years qualified, and then adopting a senior role in the department.

Anita started her career at Stewarts whilst at university, working in their Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury departments, before leaving to start her training contract. She has previously worked for niche clinical negligence practice Alexander Harris and has specialised in complex, high value clinical negligence claims for almost the entirety of her career.

Recognition

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

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

“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 client’s corner.” (The Legal 500)

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 share the future of the legal industry. Anita was also named in the “Women Who Will” report, which champions the talent of 30 female leaders in law each year.

Accreditations and Memberships

Anita is an accredited member of the AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) specialist Clinical Negligence panel. Anita is also a specialist clinical negligence panel member of APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers). These accreditations are recognised quality marks for lawyers who have significant experience in this field. Anita is also a member of the charity Twins Trust.

Publications and Media

Anita is often invited to speak to media outlets on patient safety issues. Anita feels strongly that lessons ought to be learnt following failures in care in order to avoid a family going through a similar experience in the future.

Personal

Anita has three young boys, including non-identical twins, so life outside of work is busy!  In her spare time, Anita 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 throughout her childhood in Perth, Western Australia. Anita is proud of her Irish roots, having been born in Dublin, and has a large Irish family.