1980 - 1983 St. Peters College, Oxford (Exhibitioner 1980-1983)
B.A. (Hons) in Jurisprudence.
1991 Pupilmaster
1995 Appointed to the Supplementary Panel of Counsel to the Treasury (Common Law)
1999 Appointed to the Attorney General’s London B panel for The Crown’s Civil Litigation.
2003 Appointed Queen`s Counsel

Email: ahopkins@3serjeantsinn.com

Adrian Hopkins is recommended in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 for clinical negligence and professional discipline.

Adrian Hopkins QC also comes highly recommended by sources, who explain that “he has an amazing ability to make the most document-heavy and complex case seem straightforward and simple.” Chambers and Partners 2010

Adrian Hopkins QC is "a lawyer with a real winning way with tribunals." Solicitors admire "the very measured way in which he gets people on his side."  Chambers and Partners 2010

Adrian Hopkins "is a stellar talent - on his feet there is no-one better." Legal 500 2009

"...'incisive and knowledgeable, with an amazing grasp of detail'..." Legal 500 2008

'The “flawless” Adrian Hopkins QC offers “great attention to detail, combined with the ability to step back and look at the broader issues of a case.” His “low-key, quietly courteous and moderate approach” stands him in good stead with disciplinary tribunals.' Chambers & Partners 2009

"Hopkins is very diligent and measured. He is excellent in complicated, high-value cases where he has delivered some impressive results. He really knows how to make the most complex case appear straightforward while showing such good attention to detail."  Legal Week article, 8 December 2005

Clinical Negligence Adrian Hopkins specialises almost exclusively in medical law.  He has extensive experience of medical, dental and other associated professional negligence actions.  He is regularly instructed by leading clinical negligence firms on behalf of claimants (with public funding, CFAs or privately) and on behalf defendants such as NHS Trusts, and doctors belonging to the medical defence organisations (including the MPS, MDU and MDDUS) and other private healthcare insurers.  He has a reputation for his approachable manner, and his client handling skills in cases of sensitivity. Adrian is often instructed in high value claims, and cases of unusual medical and legal complexity.  He was instructed recently on behalf of the Ministry of Defence in A (a child) v MOD, a case determining the MOD’s liability for medical care contracted out to German hospitals.  Adrian is head of 3 Serjeants’ Inn Medical Team.

Professional Conduct work  Adrian Hopkins has over 20 years experience of representing doctors, dentists, nurses and other professionals before various disciplinary and administrative tribunals, including the General Medical Council, the General Dental Council and other healthcare tribunals.  In particular he has regularly appeared before the Professional Conduct Committee, Fitness to Practice Panel and Interim Orders Panel of the GMC.  In 2004-5 he defended several GPs in a GMC Inquiry into the signing of cremation certificates for Dr Harold Shipman.

Medical Ethics  Involved in a number of cases involving treatment decisions and declarations. These include PVS cases, sterilisation cases, withdrawal of resuscitative treatment, Jehovah’s Witness cases and child patients, force feeding of mental patients, and declarations as to the best interests of incompetent patients.
Inquiries  Advising on inquiry into child abuse within the NHS. HC(90)9 and other inquiries into competence of consultants.
Coroners` Inquests  Representing doctors, other healthcare professionals, Trusts, and families. Instructed onbehalf of the Home Office in respect of deaths in prisons, and on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

GMC v Murch & ors [2007-9] (conduct case concerning MMR and autism)

A -v- MOD  (CoA) [2005] QB 183; [2003] Lloyds LR Med, 339; (whether MOD liable for clinical negligence in German hospital)

Brown -v- Lewisham & North Southwark H.A., and another   (clinical negligence) [1998] Lloyd’s Rep. Med. 265, (CA) [1999] Lloyd’s Rep. Med. 110 (post-operative DVT, PE and rare adverse reaction to Heparin, resulting in leg amputation)

Ratcliffe -v- Plymouth & Torbay H.A., and another   (application of res ipsa loquitur to medical negligence cases) [1998] Lloyd’s Rep. Med. 162 (unexplained neurological deficit following general anaesthetic and spinal anaesthetic, application of res ipsa principles)

Re W   (Adult PVS Patient) unrep 8/7/96 Sir Stephen Brown P. (withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from a patient in PVS)

Re G   (Adult PVS Patient: publicity) [1995] 2 FLR 528 (this case determined the circumstances in which patients, the treating doctors and hospitals may be anonymised in treatment decision cases to preserve patient confidentiality)

Re C   (adult refusal of treatment) [1994] 1 FLR 31 (this case sets out the test to determine a patient’s competence to refuse treatment)

Re S   (Adult PVS Patient): unrep 1/12/94 Ward J. (withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from a patient in PVS)

In re F   (sterilisation) [1990] 2 AC 1 (HL) (this is the leading case on treatment decisions for incompetent adult patients)

Notable Inquests  

Robbie Powell deceased  2004 (death of child from undiagnosed Addison`s Disease. Instructed on behalf of 4 GPs)

Mr B. Woolhead dec’d   1997/8 (rapid detoxification of drug addict. Instructed on behalf of Consultant Anaesthetist providing detoxification treatment)

Capt. Kelly dec`d   1995 (live fire accident and medical treatment. Instructed on behalf of the MOD)

R -v- H.M. Coroner for Greater London, ex p. Diesa Koto   (1993) 157 J.P.R. 857 (Judicial review of inquest. Instructed on behalf of Coroner.)

Miss E. Ford dec`d , and Mr K. Kirkman dec`d   1991 Birmingham (Kirkman, a mental patient, was conditionally discharged into the community. He killed Miss Ford and subsequently committed suicide. Instructed on behalf of Kirkman`s Consultant Psychiatrist.)

Mr O. Blackwood dec`d   1991 (mental patient, death in Broadmoor after IM injection. Instructed on behalf of doctor.)

Professional Memberships:

Western Circuit

Professional Negligence Bar Association

London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association

Bar Disciplinary work: