Adrian Desmond
Partner

Empathetic and sensible...thorough, first-rate specialist who is extremely active in the field

In brief

Head of the clinical negligence group, I have a long established reputation acting for claimants in all types of medical negligence and personal injury cases.

In public

I have acted in many high-profile, high value and reported cases, and am a regular media contributor and lecturer.

"Known for his trust work with claimants and their families, as well as acting in complex cases, head of department Adrian Desmond is described as a "thorough, first-rate specialist who is extremely active in the field."" (Chambers)

"Widely rated for his 'care in looking after clients'." (Chambers)

"Adrian Desmond excels at negotiating the intricacies of complex personal injury matters." (Chambers)

"One of the leading lights in the country. An extremely talented practitioner." (Chambers)

"'Takes an empathetic and sensible approach' towards claims according to clients. Held in high regard for his 'helpful and productive style'." (Chambers) 

"Thank you for everything you've done in getting our case to the point where we got a brilliant settlement. It means a lot. We can finally move house. K would say thanks if he could otherwise he just blows kisses. Thanks again." (Client quote)

In work

Having handled multiple cases in all of the medical and personal injury specialities, I specialise in complex cases and those involving profound injury including brain, spinal and catastrophic injury. I am well known for birth related injury work.

Industry associations

As well as being an author of medical and legal articles on issues related to clinical negligence and personal injury, I have also been closely involved in many of the specialist law panels and injury groups. I am assessor to and member of the Law Society Specialist Clinical Negligence Panel, have been and remain an AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) referral solicitor since 1984, was secretary then co-ordinator of the clinical negligence special interest group of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) 1994-98, and am currently Chair of the Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors incorporating The Richard Grand Society - a group whose members include many of the most senior and respected personal injury lawyers in the Country.

I am also a member of the Royal Society of Medicine as well as a member of the Spinal Injuries Association (specialist panel member), Headway (life and specialist panel member), The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) and the European Brain Injury Society. I was a Deputy Master of the Supreme Court Costs Office of the High Court from 1994-98.

I am also a Fellow of the College of Personal Injury Law, a member of the Law Society's specialist personal injury panel and a member of the Law Society’s Negligence Panel Scheme taking referrals from the Legal Complaints Service concerning complaints made against regulated lawyers in the UK mainly in respect of claims negligently handled by other solicitors.

In the past

I graduated from Bristol University and qualified as a solicitor in 1980. I became a partner at Boyes Turner in 1986 and have spent all of my professional career in accident work since that time.

In my spare time

I am married with three grown up children. When not at work you will find me walking with our Jack Russell in the Chilterns or in Somerset, sailing, listening to music, reading and, on Sundays, cooking.

Favourite things

• Film: Would have to be Cinema Paradiso or Il Postino. Or Babette’s Feast.
• Music: Anything by Joni Mitchell or Tim or Geoff Buckley (or Wagner or Verdi in the opera stakes). Jazz lots of it but modern please!
• Saying: 'It is better to act with intelligence than with memory' and 'Don't turn a guess into a yes' 
• Place: The Quantocks - a hidden gem of England.
  

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