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George Thomas

CALLED TO THE BAR 1995

Junior Counsel


Clinical Negligence & Healthcare Profile

Background

 

1991 - 1994 Cambridge University, Clare College, BA Hons (Law)
Dissertation: “Biological Explanations for Violent Behaviour”
1994 - 1995 Inns of Court School of Law
1995 – 1996 Pupillage at 3 Serjeants’ Inn

Email: gthomas@3serjeantsinn.com



General Information

 


Directory Comments

 

George is recommended in police law by the Legal 500.

 

"...'very knowledgeable, thorough, robust and effective'..." Legal 500 2010

 

George Thomas 'continues to build on a strong reputation for a range of police work, including civil actions, disciplinary cases, inquests and judicial reviews.' Chambers and Partners 2010

 

'George Thomas is “a details man - he leaves no stone unturned in his preparation and is very methodical in his cross-examination.” 'Chambers & Partners 2009

 

"...George Thomas is seen as ‘hard-working’, ‘patient and thorough’ and ‘a safe pair of hands’." Legal 500 2007



Nature of Practice

 

Clinical Negligence   George regularly undertakes work across the whole spectrum of clinical negligence, including all aspects of advisory work, pleadings and advocacy in the High Court and County Courts. He acts in high value cerebral palsy and other brain injury cases. George’s practice is balanced between work for Claimants and Defendants, including Health Authorities, NHS Trusts, and independent medical practitioners through their defence organisations.

Inquests   George has built up a wide experience of coroners’ inquests. Some of these have been sensitive or high profile inquests such as deaths of children following controversial medical intervention. He has particular experience of cases involving deaths (including suicides) in custody by prisoners and patients detained under the Mental Health Act.

Employment and Discrimination   George acts for both Claimants and Defendants in all aspects of employment and discrimination work, including both Employment Tribunals and the higher courts. He has particular experience in the areas of healthcare (including claims from hospital porters to consultant surgeons), education and police work, where he has co-produced and presented a series of seminars entitled "Sex and Race Discrimination Claims in the Police Service".

Confidentiality / Ethics   George’s experience in this area is principally in the area of disclosure of confidential information. He both advises and represents parties, particularly in cases concerning minors, including the seizure by police of the products of termination against the will of the patient, a 14 year old girl. He advises on applications for disclosure under the Data Protection Act 1998 and Freedom of Information Act 2000.



Specialist Information

 


Reported and other cases of Interest

 
Hilton International Hotels (UK) Ltd v Hotel Services Ltd (2000)   2000 BLR 235

Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited v LSG Lufthansa Service Hong Kong   (Hong Kong HC HCCT 34 of 2002) Arbitration concerning the construction of part of the airport at Chep Lap Kok, Hong Kong.

Hargreaves v Barron Industrial Services Limited   [2003] EWCA Civ 1038 – civil claim for conspiracy and fraud, loss of chance to tender successfully for public civil engineering contracts.

Knight v Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust   Trust [2004] 1 WLR 371, (2003) 74 BMLR 204. Limitation Act 1980 s.10, date from which time starts to run for contribution proceedings.

Austin v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis   Metropolis [2005] EWHC 480 (QB), The Times, 14th April 2005: Test cases arising out of the policing of the 2001 “May Day Protests” in Oxford Circus, currently on appeal to the Court of Appeal.



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Lectures and Seminars

 


Related Professional Activities

 


Other Information