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 matters.
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 is astute and conscientious, with a keen eye for detail.
She regularly speaks at seminars and contributes to legal journals.
Patricia is qualified to accept instructions directly from clients and is registered under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme, meaning that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come direct to her. In addition, she welcomes instructions from solicitors, in-house law departments, qualified foreign lawyers, and clients licensed by the Bar Council to give instructions direct to barristers under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme. For more information please visit our Direct Access page here.
Legal Expertise
Clinical Negligence
Clinical Negligence
Patricia is a specialist clinical negligence barrister. Her 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 (including liver biopsies, breast augmentation and laparotomies) and failure to competently diagnose and manage cancer treatment.
She has appeared at numerous inquests, 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
M v TMG
Advising in a sensitive case involving a cosmetic abdominoplasty and liposuction where the client had significant psychiatric issues.
T v NHS Trust
Instructed in a FAA case involving a laparotomy which had difficult causation issues.
K v NHS Trust
Instructed in a complex laparoscopy case where the client's expert changed his view after service of the POC (having endorsed the POC).
Inquests & Inquiries
Inquests & Inquiries
Patricia regularly appears at inquests (including Article 2). She has represented families at inquests involving failure to diagnose, failure to intubate, negligent surgery, psychiatric detention and deaths in care homes.
Civil Fraud
Civil Fraud
Patricia has a diverse and complex practice in commercial work with a particular focus on professional negligence, construction, consumer credit and contractual claims. She has considerable experience of bankruptcy and insolvency matters.
Patricia spent nine months acting as a consultant barrister with a leading firm of Guernsey Advocates, where she undertook dispute resolution/commercial litigation work.
Notable Civil Fraud cases
K v JF, M & P
Instructed in a multi defendant building dispute valued at over £1 million. This case involved difficulties in attributing the defective work and establishing causation, requiring diverse expert evidence. Resulted in a successful mediation.
Trust Case
High value case involving allegations of a forged signature and allegations of mishandling trust property.
Employment
Employment
Patricia practices in all areas of employment law and has acted for both employers and employees in issues ranging from unfair & wrongful dismissal, whistleblowing, redundancy, discrimination, harassment, victimisation, TUPE and redundancy claims. She has represented 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 undertakes advisory work and has particular experience of advising on restrictive convenants, the status of employees, jurisdictional issues, appealing to the EAT, disciplinary matters and employment contracts.
Notable Employment cases
A v B & C (2012)
Successfully acted for a Respondent in a three week sexual harassment and discrimination case. The Tribunal dismissed the Claimant’s very serious allegations (including a sexual assault by her manager) and made a costs order against her.
Successfully applied under Article 8 of the ECHR for a Reporting Restriction Order and a permanent Anonymity Order in a race discrimination case to which Rule 49 nor Rule 50 applied. It is believed this is the first Reporting Restriction Order and a permanent Anonymity Order made in a case of this type.
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 is currently on the panel of selected barristers to represent one of the UK’s largest retail organisations.
Patricia is a specialist in claims involving physical and sexual abuse of vulnerable individuals. She has acted in two of the biggest group actions in the UK involving historic abuse.
Patricia also acts in CICA claims.
Notable Personal Injury cases
Harris, Lewis, MacDonald, Osborne v Newport City Council (2011)
Successfully represented four Claimants in a seven day complex multi-track trial.
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.
Abuse (Claimant)
Abuse (Claimant)
Patricia has been instructed in an extensive number of claims involving physical and/or sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults, against both the individual alleged abuser and religious organisations, local authorities, charities, voluntary groups and educational organisations.
She acts in failure to remove claims and is currently involved in a novel claim against the Local Authority for abuse perpetrated by foster carers (relying on Woodlands).
She regularly gives seminars and talks (including the 2012 ACAL/APIL Child Abuse Conference). She has acted in two of the biggest group actions in the UK; the Manchester Children’s Homes (No.2) and the St Williams Group Litigation. She successfully represented 174 Claimants in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court (as junior counsel) in the St Williams Litigation.
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.
Fraudulent Claims
Fraudulent Claims
Patricia has extensive experience of claims involving allegations of fraud. She has represented and advised numerous clients on all aspects of these claims, including robustly drafting and responding to Part 18 questions, tactics and evidence.
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.
