Ranked as a leading silk for clinical negligence by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, Hugh is regularly instructed on behalf of Claimants in highly complex and very high value birth injury claims.
He has numerous very high value birth injury claims ongoing, ranging in value from around £2m to £15m+. He also has wide experience of the full range of clinical negligence claims including abdominal surgery, cauda equina syndrome cases, cancer cases, consent issues, general orthopaedic surgery etc. He has a reputation for taking on difficult cases.
He is heavily involved presently in negligent consent claims arising from the use of vaginal mesh products for treatment of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, instructed on behalf of a large number of women in the Sling the Mesh campaign group.
In conjunction with his product liability practice Hugh has particular expertise in clinical negligence claims involving medical devices generally, and is well placed to advise as to the overlap between this and potential product liability claims.
He also has an international reputation, advising in overseas common law jurisdictions on clinical negligence cases proceeding abroad.
My work
Hugh is qualified to accept instructions direct from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme, and he also has the “Right to Conduct Litigation”. This means that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come direct to him in respect of all issues arising in any civil dispute. In addition, he 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.
About me
Hugh Preston KC is ranked as a leading silk by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, in the fields of clinical negligence and product liability (in which he is currently ranked as one of the top three Claimant silks). He was awarded the title “Barrister of the Year” at the PI Awards 2013 and was shortlisted for Barrister of the Year at The Lawyer awards in 2017.
What my clients say
Since taking silk in 2012 at 18 years’ call, the directories have referred to him as follows: “Very talented … leading claimant barrister” “Very dynamic and a great advocate, he has a real flair for putting complex arguments across and is a really easy person to work with” “He is quite innovative but not frightened to take on novel points”. “He has the ear of the court and is intellectually very able” (C&P 2017) “He is absolutely fantastic. He has the ability to get the ear of the court; judges always listen to him. It’s very impressive… He is innovative in the approach he takes to cases. He is an excellent advocate with a sharp eye for bad points. A lateral thinker.” (C&P 2016), as “He is frighteningly intelligent and able to dig into anything complicated with ease” (Legal 500 2015), “insightful, adventurous and daring” (Legal 500 2013), “an outstanding advocate” (Legal 500 2012), “a massive presence in the product liability field” (C&P 2013), “an excellent, absolutely outstanding silk” (C&P 2014), “one of the best claimant barristers for product liability issues currently practising… a smooth, understated performer” (C&P 2015), “a fantastic advocate with great attention to detail … approachable, kind and genuinely concerned about his clients’ predicament” (C&P 2015).
- All Locations
- Bristol
- London