Catherine Peck

The claims in which Catherine is instructed generally involve complex medico-legal and or causation issues.  She is regularly instructed in cases which require detailed fact management, forensic analysis and or an ability to quickly pick up on new technical areas and in document heavy claims where multiple fields of expertise are involved.  She is well equipped to deal with claims involving vulnerable claimants (whether acting for a claimant or defendant).

In a claimant capacity, much of Catherine’s work involves catastrophic injury which has had a life-changing impact on her clients  Whether the injuries have resulted in severe disability, pain, mobility restrictions, disfigurement, reduced life expectancy, brain damage, psychological injury or bereavement, Catherine’s approachable nature and excellent care skills mean her clients are able to feel fully engaged. She deals with claims in a practical and productive manner and gains job satisfaction from knowing that she is able to help her clients not only through the litigation process, but also to move on with their lives.

In a defendant capacity, Catherine is regularly instructed by most of the country’s leading defendant solicitors, who value her sound practical and tactical advice as much as her experience of the claimant’s perspective/motivation.  Catherine’s interest in the detail of a claim equips her to anticipate what will be the decisive issues even in the most document heavy of cases.  She is often asked to advise early in a claim for a defendant her clients value her tactical advice to maximise the impact of discrepancies in the presentation of a claim or ability to recognise cases which have the propensity to escalate in value.  Catherine is regularly instructed by insurers in claims where there is evidence of Fundamental Dishonesty.  Aside from having the strong forensic analysis skills required for such claims, she has an established track record of providing effective strategic advice to maximize the tactical value of the available evidence. Whilst Catherine always has an eye on the commerciality of litigation (and finding a financially acceptable resolution if possible) she equally has a skill for spotting the cases on which her clients should stand firm.  As a result of successful outcomes in even the most difficult of claims, Catherine is regularly instructed by most of the country’s leading insurers.

During her time at 12 King’s Bench Walk she has dealt with claims involving most types of injury including (but not limited to):

• Brain injury
• Spinal Injury
• Amputation (upper and lower limb)
• Orthopaedic injury
• Multiple injury
• Pain cases
• Psychiatric injury (and in particular the overlap with brain injury, pain conditions and aggravation of previous conditions)
• Fatal accidents

Catherine is a very experienced at dealing with liability disputes and has a broad range of experience in claims across chambers areas of practice, including road traffic, MIB claims, employers’ liability, public liability, product liability, occupiers’ liability, road traffic accidents and Animals’ Act claims.

Historically Catherine has acted predominately for claimants in the field of clinical negligence in wide range of claims including:

• Birth trauma (both mother and child)
• Brain hypoxia following attempted suicide by hanging
• Inappropriate wound management in diabetic patient leading to limb amputation.
• Delayed diagnosis of cancer resulting in death (with complex causation issues).
• Failed breast reconstruction surgery (resulting in disfigurement, pain and psychiatric injury)
• Delayed diagnosis of cancer, causing reduced life expectancy and additional surgical/therapeutic input (with complex causation issues).
• Misdiagnosis of hydrocephalus.
• Over-prescription of medication with permanent impact on health.
• Negligent post-operative care leading to a fall in geriatric patient.
• Delayed diagnosis of appendicitis.
• Failed IVF (including causation issues)
• Stillbirth (requiring sensitivity of approach given limited value of claim, despite devastating impact on mother).

Catherine’s interest in people is evident in conference when discussing sensitive issues. Her attention to detail and understanding of this area of the law, mean she is well equipped to deal with complex disputes (both on breach and causation)

In a defendant capacity, Catherine also deals with cross-over claims where a Claimant who has sustained personal injury has also received sub-standard clinical treatment.

Catherine is instructed regularly to attend Costs and Case Management Conferences (both for claimants and defendants). She provides talks on costs law.

Catherine is an accredited mediator (both Civil and Commercial, and Workplace disputes).   Her interest in people and detail help her to get to the heart of a dispute.  She has successful experience in mediating disputes in her fields of expertise (including personal injury and costs) but has also successfully conducted several mediations under a pilot scheme at the Royal Courts of Justice in areas of law further afield including commercial and landlord and tenant/property disputes.  Her interest in mediation in workplace claims stems from an awareness of the cost of stress claims (both financial to those involved) and a belief that litigation is not always the best way to resolve such issues.  She is well equipped to enable parties to see beyond their dispute.