Healthcare Unit

Dr Pamela Abernethy heads the Simpson & Marwick Healthcare Unit.   Pamela is a graduate of medicine and practised as a doctor for 12 years, both in a hospital and in general practice, before commencing her legal career.  Pamela continues to maintain her registration with the General Medical Council and is a member of the Medical Protection Society. 

Our Healthcare Unit works closely with our Advocacy Unit headed by Michael Jones QC who joined the firm as Senior Partner last year from the Bar.    He along with Peter Anderson and Graeme Watson are solicitor advocates and undertake advocacy within the Court of Session, providing expertise and saving on costs for clients.   Graeme Watson trained with Dr Abernethy and has considerable experience in medical negligence work.   Duncan Batchelor has experience in medical negligence and indeed has assisted with a number of clinical negligence and commercial actions raised against doctors and dentists.

Simpson & Marwick have a strong Healthcare Unit with a wide range of abilities and experience, skilled in providing the special and specialist response on the practical, detailed and personal issues that medical professionals in trouble do require.

Partners:

Peter Anderson: Peter's in-depth experience of working with the professions has been gained over 30 years and ranges from defending professionals in actions of negligence raised against them to being involved at a disciplinary level initially as a prosecutor and currently as a Chairman. Peter has significant advocacy experience in this field and in relation to the conduct of Fatal Accident Inquiries. His lengthy trial experience includes conducting the Advocacy for the Pan American World Airways Inc and the insurers in the Fatal Accident Inquiry following the bombing of flight 103 at Lockerbie.

Michael Jones, QC: Michael has a legal career which has spanned more than 30 years practising at the Scottish Bar and at the Bar of England and Wales. He is widely regarded as the leading advocate of his generation. Michael heads up the dispute resolution department and is committed to the efficient, effective and early resolution of disputes by negotiation and mediation wherever possible. Michael has extensive experience as a Queens Counsel, undertaking a significant number of high profile cases in a variety of fields, including science and medicine.

Graeme Watson: Graeme has degrees in both Scots and English law. He has considerable experience of professional indemnity litigation, including medical negligence. He is instructed on behalf of dentists, optometrists and chiropractors as well as doctors and nurses. He is instructed for medical professionals in fatal accident inquiries and is experienced in disciplinary proceedings.

Associates:

Duncan Batchelor: Working as an Assistant to Dr Abernethy since 2004 Duncan has assisted in a number of clinical negligence and commercial actions raised against doctors and dentists. Duncan has also had involvement in relation to Hearings before the GMC and GDC. Duncan has significant experience in handling a high value caseload of personal injury and professional negligence actions in the Court of Session and Sheriff Court. Duncan undertakes his own advocacy in the Sheriff Court and has appeared at Proofs, Fatal Accident Inquiries, Appeals and Debates.

Consultants:

Dr Pamela Abernethy: Pamela has acted extensively during her career on the instructions of the Medical Defence Organisations to represent their members in a wide range of proceedings including damages for clinical negligence, Disciplinary Hearings locally and at the GMC and GDC. Pamela has extensive advocacy experience representing medical profressionals in full Judicial Inquiries into deaths following medical accidents (Fatal Accident Inquiries. These Inquiries often last many weeks and involve complex issues of medicine, fact and law. Pamela undertakes her own advocacy before the GMC and GDC. She also has experience in Appeals before the Privy Council following decisions from these Tribunals. Pamela has lectured regularly to the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and by invitation to other Royal Colleges. She is the legal adviser for SIGN Guidelines in Scotland and has a particular interest, understanding and knowledge of evidence based guidelines and the need for a national plan.