Contentious Healthcare

William Fry’s Contentious Healthcare Department offers its healthcare clients unique and tailored expertise and insightful advice.  We advise healthcare professionals, institutions and indemnifiers on all aspects of their work in the public and private sectors.  Our dedicated team of lawyers has vast experience in defending clinical negligence claims.

We specialise in advising healthcare clients, including representing doctors in respect of complaints to the Medical Council Fitness to Practice Inquiries.  We represent healthcare professionals at Coroner’s Inquests. 

We are experienced in effectively availing of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation and strive to ensure all dispute resolution issues for healthcare clients are dealt with professionally, promptly and confidentially.  Reputation management is a key part of our expertise.  Our lawyers bring years of media law experience to the healthcare sector, proactively dealing with reputational issues and engaging with the media on behalf of our clients when necessary. 

We understand the needs and requirements of healthcare professionals and institutions and the regulatory framework in which they operate.  Our broad client base includes world leaders in indemnifying medical, dental and veterinary claims.  We advise doctors, dentists, hospitals, nurses, veterinarians, pharmacies and government agencies. 

Our areas of expertise include:

  • Defending negligence claims against doctors, hospitals, dentists and veterinarians
  • Coroner’s Inquests
  • Medical and Dental Council complaints
  • Fitness to Practice Inquiries
  • Reputation Management
  • Privacy and Confidentiality
  • Clinical Risk Management
  • Freedom of Information and Data Protection
  • Product Liability claims within the healthcare sector
  • Mental health, Capacity and Wardship
  • Asbestos Claims
  • HSE Inquiries
  • Regulatory Issues
  • Clinical Trials

Our unique and dedicated experience in this sector promotes innovative solutions in a cost effective and client focussed manner.  In advising our clients, we aim in our dedicated approach to ensure effective resolution.

 

Our experience includes advising:

  • The Medical Protection Society on negligence claims, clinical risk management, regulatory and medical ethics issues, attendances at Coroner’s Inquests and Medical Council Inquiries
  • The State Claims Agency in defending a cohort of clinical negligence claims in the Circuit and High Court jurisdictions
  • The Dental Protection Society in respect of dental negligence claims in the civil Courts
  • The Veterinary Defence Society Limited in respect of veterinary negligence claims
  • Companies in the private healthcare sector, on regulatory issues, clinical risk management and medical ethics issues.

 

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Department

"The team understands the process and issues, and can simplify any complexities. The lawyers are extremely responsive and go above and beyond what is expected of them." "This firm offers individuals with expertise and determination, who are easy to work with."
Chambers Europe, 2015 - Dispute Resolution

"Elite dispute resolution firm."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2015 - Dispute Resolution

Impressive client list and broad expertise including banking and financial services, IP and regulatory matters. Active in the field of professional discipline, covering a broad range of sectors including financial services and medical defence. "The lawyers can pull in all the firm's resources, and are commercially minded and responsive."
Chambers Europe, 2014 - Dispute Resolution

William Fry remains a popular choice with clients; ‘the strength of the team is of the highest order’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2014 - Dispute Resolution

Sources say: “One hell of a practice. It got to grips with the practicalities and was a great sounding board for bouncing ideas off.” “I always feel as if I am the centre of attention and that I am a valued client.” 
Chambers Europe, 2013 - Dispute Resolution

William Fry is ‘top class’. 
Legal 500 EMEA, 2013 - Dispute Resolution

Sources say: 'William Fry always delivers, and will always exceed our expectations.'
Chambers Europe, 2012 - Dispute Resolution

William Fry provides "a practical yet innovative approach".
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012 - Dispute Resolution

Team

Owen O'Sullivan
Owen O'Sullivan is "a superb lawyer - he's patient, doesn't lose his cool or display any signs of stress, and always seems to have our interests at the fore." His recent workload has included several cases involving the financial services sector, such as acting for domestic stockbroking firm Davy on numerous cases against credit unions and individual investors.
Chambers Europe, 2015 - Dispute Resolution 
 
Owen O’Sullivan provides ‘direct and definitive advice’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2015 - Dispute Resolution
 

Department head Owen O'Sullivan is "very pragmatic and has a value-for-money approach," according to one client. He is currently advising AA on its Madoff-related litigation against HSBC.
Chambers Europe, 2014 - Dispute Resolution

 

'Very bright’ practice head Owen O’Sullivan is ‘an insightful strategic thinker’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2013 - Dispute Resolution

 

Owen O'Sullivan "really knows his stuff, is always well briefed, and is efficient and easy to deal with.” 
Chambers Global 2013 - Dispute Resolution

 

Owen O’Sullivan is "understated, calm and a good strategic thinker".
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012 - Dispute Resolution

 

Department head Owen O'Sullivan is acknowledged as an “exceptionally good litigator, and hugely commercial.”
Chambers Global, 2012 - Dispute Resolution

  

Fiona Barry
Fiona Barry is 'excellent’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2015

 

Clients value Fiona's input, praising her as being “receptive to our needs. She supports and assists our clients.”
Chambers Europe, 2013 - Dispute Resolution

  

Margaret Muldowney
Margaret Muldowney is well liked by her clients, who comment: “We are incredibly impressed with her. She is bright, switched-on and receptive.” 
Chambers Europe, 2013 - Dispute Resolution

 

Key Contacts

Fiona Barry Partner

Margaret Muldowney Consultant

Sinead Keavey Partner