Patricia Leonard
Year of call
2007
Instructing Patricia Leonard
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
Patricia Leonard demonstrates experience beyond her year of call; she regularly advises on complex and high value claims. She has acted in two of the largest group actions in the UK and has appeared in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Patricia regularly speaks at seminars and contributes to legal journals.
She was appointed to sit on the Lambeth Redress Scheme Appeal Panel chaired by Sir John Goldring in 2018.
Legal Expertise
Clinical Negligence
Clinical Negligence
Patricia’s clinical negligence practice covers all aspects of clinical negligence, predominantly for claimants. In particular, she has acted in cases concerning birth injuries, brain injuries, failure to perform competent surgical procedures and failure to competently diagnose and manage cancer treatment. She has acted in several high profile and high value claims. She has also successfully acted in several applications for genetic testing in high value brain injury claims.
She has appeared at numerous inquests and trials, where she has frequently cross-examined a wide variety of medical experts. She has been involved in claims against GPs, hospitals and care homes.
Notable Clinical Negligence cases
WNA v NDP [2023] EWCH 2970 (KB)
Junior Counsel in case dealing with the issue of double recovery in high value personal injury claims (claim settled for a lump sum of £6.25m and PPOs of £325,000).
Judgment >IM v University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust [2023]
Junior Counsel in acquired brain injury claim which settled for a lump sum of £11m and PPOs of up to £396k.
Personal Injury
Personal Injury
Patricia has an extensive personal injury practice. She is instructed in public liability claims, employer’s liability cases (including disease), fatal accidents, highways act, occupier’s liability and road traffic accident claims. She acts for both claimants and defendants in high value claims.
Patricia has acted in hundreds of claims involving physical and sexual abuse of vulnerable individuals since 2008. She has acted in two of the biggest group actions in the UK involving historic abuse.
She was appointed to sit on the Lambeth Redress Scheme Appeal Panel chaired by Sir John Goldring in 2018.
Patricia also represents Claimants in cases involving professional abuse, including claims relating to inappropriate sexual behaviour and abuse by psychiatrists, therapists, counsellors and social workers etc towards their clients/patients.
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/patricia-leonard
Notable Personal Injury cases
WNA v NDP [2023] EWCH 2970 (KB)
Junior Counsel in case dealing with the issue of double recovery in high value personal injury claims (claim settled for a lump sum of £6.25m and PPOs of £325,000).
Judgment >Catholic Child Welfare Society & ORS v Institute of The Brothers of The Christian Schools & Ors [2010] EWCA Civ 1106, [2012] UKSC 56
Preliminary issue in one of the UK’s biggest group actions (the St William’s litigation) by former pupils who resided at St William’s, a boy’s school, in relation to physical and sexual abuse which took place at the school between 1960 and 1992.
Employment, Disciplinary and Reviews
LocalGov >
Employment, Disciplinary and Reviews
Patricia practices in all areas of employment law and has acted for both employers and employees in issues ranging from discrimination, unfair & wrongful dismissal, whistleblowing, redundancy, discrimination, harassment, victimisation, TUPE and redundancy claims. She has represented local authorities, local authorities, large retail organisations, NHS trusts, one of the largest security firms in the UK and educational bodies and has acted in many cases involving multi Respondents.
Patricia also advises on all aspects of disciplinary matters, including acting as investigating and/or disciplinary officer.
Notable Employment, Disciplinary and Reviews cases
Represented the CEO and Croydon LBC in several claims brought by one of the most senior employees at Croydon LBC against the background of widespread and high profile corporate failure. Ms Simmonds claimed compensation of over £1.1m as well as reduced pension losses for her first and third claims. All her claims, including unfair dismissal, discrimination and harassment, were dismissed after a three week trial. This was a high profile claim, much ventilated in the media, and involved wide ranging and very serious allegations over a number of years.
Judgment >LocalGov >
Ms M v P Ltd [2021]
High profile claim involving allegations of serious sexual assault by a CEO.
Judgment >
Inquests & Inquiries
Inquests & Inquiries
Patricia regularly appears at inquests (including Article 2). She has represented families at a wide range of inquests involving failure to diagnose, failure to intubate, negligent surgery, psychiatric detention and deaths in care homes.
Notable Inquests & Inquiries cases
Court of Protection
Court of Protection
Patricia is regularly involved in claims involving capacity and has represented claimants who lack capacity or require a hearing involving an assessment of capacity. She has provided advice on recovering Court of Protection fees.
Instructing Patricia Leonard
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
For help or advice please call +44 (0)20 7242 3555 or complete the form below
A member of the Clerking team will help you resolve your request.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an out of hours number?
Yes, please call Chambers mainline number +44 (0)20 7242 3555 and you will be directed to the out of hours phone lines.
How can I find out whether 7BR can take my case?
As a direct access client, please visit our direct access page and complete the initial form, a member of the clerking team will then be in touch to discuss the next steps.
Will my barrister deal with all the correspondence?
Some barristers have the ability to “conduct litigation” for direct access clients. Our clerks will be able to assist you as to which of our members are trained and accredited to do so.
How do I instruct a barrister?
Please visit our direct access page for the initial steps on instructing a barrister, or contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
