In this edition of Meet the Lawyer, we hear from Laura Sylvester, Partner in the Medical Negligence Department at Taylor Rose.
Laura has specialised in medical negligence law since qualification in 2009.
What makes brain and spinal cord injury claims different to general personal injury claims?
These are complex cases, both medically and legally.
Claimants have inevitably endured highly traumatic events before they arrive at our door and most have significant injuries that they and their loved ones are having to cope with.
Our job is to understand the physical and psychological strain they are under and to treat them with sensitivity and kindness, whilst making sure they understand the complexities in the claim and what is involved.
The cases often require a raft of expert witnesses, across many disciplines and it is our job to marshall that evidence and to pull the various strands together, to form the case for the Claimant.
How important is it to appoint a lawyer with specialism in brain and spinal injury claims?
I would say this is vital to the claim.
A specialist lawyer will be able to build an experienced team of experts around the Claimant, to ensure they can take the strain of the litigation away from them, so that they can focus on their recovery.
I am lucky to benefit from a whole range of experienced and skilled experts and Counsel at my disposal, which I think comes from having specialised in this area for nearly 20 years.
Can you share an example of a particularly challenging case you have worked on, and how you overcame these challenges, to secure a positive outcome for the client?
If I had to choose one, it would be an extremely complex catastrophic birth injury claim, where the baby developed cerebral palsy as a result of hypoxic ischemic brain damage caused during birth.
Liability was contested for approximately five years, which we then won, after a magnanimous fight by the Defendant Trusts, who themselves had eminent experts supporting their defence.
Our approach was a methodical one, leaving no stone unturned and this paid off in the end.
Quantum then took a further 4/5 years to resolve so in total, I spent 10 years of my life with this case.
It felt like I grew up acting on this case, developing life long relationships with the client and his parents, the experts and Barristers involved and I learnt a huge amount along the way, both legally and personally.
The claim settled in excess of £23 million and the Claimant’s family were delighted with the outcome, which meant everything.
Can and should a client change their lawyer if they are not happy with how the case is progressing?
Absolutely.
Relations can break down between a client and their lawyer, and it is important that the client prioritises their wellbeing and seeks alternative representation if they feel that their litigation needs are not being met.
Litigation is a complicated and stressful journey for anyone and it is personal to each case. These cases can last for several years and at the centre of it, lies the client, who should be integral to everything.
How vital a role can the right MDT play in a client’s outcome?
The right MDT can be pivotal, not just in terms of rehabilitation but also in shaping a client’s quality of life, independence, and long-term prospects.
In clinical negligence cases, we often see how early, well-coordinated intervention from an effective MDT can make a profound difference.
Can you share a couple of your personal career highlights?
Ask any lawyer and we usually all remember the day we qualified as being rather special! It takes years of hard work to get there, and the sense of personal achievement is incredible.
More recently, moving to Taylor Rose has been an incredible highlight for my career and for me, personally. I feel like I have found “my people”.
The whole firm has an incredible vision and although we are large in size, it feels amazingly close knit.
There is always someone to call, with any imaginable legal question you might have. Someone, somewhere has just the answer you need…
What do you like to do outside of work?
I live in the beautiful Pewsey Vale, in the heart of Wiltshire, so I can usually be found outside, somewhere up a hill.
Whether that’s on a long dog walk, gardening with friends or galloping across the hills upon a trusty steed. Very lucky me.
