Clerk: Albie Barton
Clerking Team
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7242 3555
Email: Click here
Dr Louisa Sherlock
Year of call
2018
Instructing Dr Louisa Sherlock
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
Louisa specialises in Clinical Negligence, Inquests and Personal Injury work. She is recognised as a Leading Junior for Clinical Negligence in the Legal 500 2026. Louisa also accepts instructions in Commercial disputes, particularly those involving healthcare professionals, and in healthcare Regulatory matters.
With a clinical career beginning in a hospital setting at the age of twenty, Louisa has an exceptional understanding of medical and dental terminology and the practical realities of clinical practice. She brings to her work over ten years of experience as a dental surgeon in both NHS and private practice, together with her membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and experience of helping to manage a busy dental practice and prepare for CQC inspections. This gives her a distinctive combination of clinical and legal expertise, enabling her to engage closely with complex medical and dental issues and to analyse detailed clinical records and expert evidence with confidence.
Louisa accepts instructions from both claimants and defendants across the full spectrum of healthcare litigation.
Legal Expertise
Clinical Negligence
Clinical Negligence
Louisa specialises in Clinical Negligence and is ranked as a Leading Junior for Clinical Negligence in the Legal 500 2026.
Louisa regularly conducts cases from pre-action through to trial, including drafting letters of claim, pleadings and schedules, advising on liability and quantum, attending conferences with experts and attending interlocutory hearings.
She has a particular interest in cases where causation and quantum are complex, particularly those involving detailed expert evidence or challenging medical issues.
Her experience includes the following:
- failure to diagnose a fracture resulting in amputation;
- failure to diagnose sepsis resulting in death;
- failure to diagnose cancer resulting in premature death;
- failure to properly manage labour resulting in stillbirth;
- negligently performed gastric surgery;
- dental negligence;
- vaginal mesh cases;
- failure to provide anticoagulant medication resulting in pulmonary emboli;
- successful appeal of a decision at first instance.
Louisa’s notable cases include Bailey v Bijlani and MBNA Limited [2025] EWHC 175 (KB) in which she represented MBNA Limited in a five-day hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice. The case concerned s75 Consumer Credit Act 1974 in the context of Clinical Negligence litigation. The Court held that, whilst MBNA Limited was jointly and severally liable to the Claimant under the Act, it was entitled to a full indemnity and/or contribution from the negligent healthcare provider.
Louisa has extensive experience in matters involving expert witnesses, including conferences with experts, and cross-examined expert witnesses as part of their assessment with the Expert Witness Institute. She has successfully argued Daniels v Walker at trial. She regularly provides lectures to expert witnesses and dental surgeons on relevant legal matters as part of their Continuing Professional Development and has drafted precedents for Lexis-Nexis.
Throughout her legal training, Louisa received numerous awards including the Lord Denning scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn. Louisa is also qualified as an international civil-commercial mediator and can conduct mediations, both in person and online, as well as represent clients in mediations.
Having assessed, diagnosed and treated patients herself, Louisa has an exceptional understanding of medical and dental terminology, clinical records and the practical realities of healthcare. This enables her to identify the key issues quickly, analyse complex expert evidence efficiently and communicate effectively with both experts and clients.
Personal Injury
Personal Injury
Louisa acts for claimants and defendants in personal injury claims of medium and high value. Her practice includes fatal accident claims, an example of which is a claim arising from a workplace accident involving a remote-controlled lawn mower.
Louisa also has extensive experience in personal injury litigation involving allegations of fraud and credit hire disputes. In addition to appearing in court, she regularly drafts pleadings, schedules of loss and written advice on liability and quantum.
Having practised as a dental surgeon, Louisa is adept at analysing complex medical evidence and expert opinion. She approaches every case with sensitivity, meticulous preparation and sound clinical insight. A tenacious advocate, she is robust in submissions where appropriate.
Inquests, Public Inquiries & Coronial Law
Inquests, Public Inquiries & Coronial Law
Much of Louisa’s inquest practice concerns deaths arising in a healthcare setting. She is frequently instructed at the inquest stage and subsequently represents families in related clinical negligence claims and fatal accident claims.
Louisa has represented Interested Persons in both single-day and multi-day inquests, with and without a jury.
Recent inquests have concerned the following:
- stillbirth;
- death following undiagnosed sepsis in a child,
- death following gastric surgery;
- death following a medical emergency;
- death following a pulmonary embolism after anticoagulation medication was prescribed but not provided;
- death following the ejection of a blade from a remote-controlled lawn mower.
Louisa combines meticulous attention to detail with a calm and compassionate approach. She recognises that inquests concern the death of a loved one and takes care to guide families sensitively through the process while providing clear and practical advice.
Regulatory (Healthcare)
Regulatory (Healthcare)
Louisa represents the Nursing and Midwifery Council in all manner of regulatory matters.
She also represents Respondents. She recently successfully represented an osteopath in a week-long hearing where it was alleged that he touched a patient’s pubic symphysis without consent and without clinical indication. The allegations included a transgression of professional boundaries and a transgression of sexual boundaries. Having heard the evidence and submissions, the panel concluded that there were no factual findings capable of amounting to unprofessional conduct and the case was formally concluded.
Louisa’s first-hand experience of clinical governance, professional standards, informed consent, record-keeping and patient safety gives her an invaluable insight into the regulatory issues that arise in proceedings involving healthcare professionals.
Commercial
Commercial
Louisa has represented healthcare professionals in contractual disputes including claims for unpaid monies and partnership disputes. She has represented clients throughout the litigation process, including advising in conference and in writing, attending mediations and at trial.
Louisa’s clinical background enables her to bring a practical perspective to contractual disputes involving healthcare professionals and organisations. She is familiar with the operational and regulatory context in which healthcare businesses function, assisting her in understanding disputes concerning contractual obligations, practice ownership, professional relationships and the provision of healthcare services.
Louisa also represents clients in contractual disputes which do not involve healthcare professionals. Her experience includes:
-a contractual dispute involving experts in respect of the fitting of a kitchen work surface;
-a contractual dispute following the purchase of an engine for a car;
-a contractual dispute involving a holiday claim;
-claims involving the Consumer Credit Act 1974;
-interlocutory hearings.
Instructing Dr Louisa Sherlock
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
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Frequently asked questions
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Will my barrister deal with all the correspondence?
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