Fiona Follis

Fiona is dual qualified as a solicitor in both Scotland, England and Wales and also admitted as a Notary Public. Fiona is a Partner and Head of Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury department. She has specialised in claimant clinical negligence for over 25 years. Fiona seeks at all times to deploy the niche expertise and knowledge gained throughout her career to facilitate access to justice and fairness for all. She strives to demystify the law and litigation process for her clients and their families. She provides practical support and solutions and has expertise in a full range of medical negligence cases including cerebral palsy, birth injury, obstetrics, brain injury, anaesthesia, cardiac and renal cases. Fiona has also developed expertise in failure to diagnose in surgical cases.

Fiona has worked on cases including clinical trials, fertility treatment, organ transplantation and a complex virology case concerning fetal damage as a result of the chickenpox virus.

Fiona is a longstanding member of both the AvMA panel and Law Society Specialist Clinical Negligence Panel and has been acknowledged as a Band 1 leader in the field by both Chambers and Legal 500 directories for many years. She supports a variety of groups and charities including Bliss, the neonatal charity which she has supported as a parent representative. Fiona previously acted as a peer reviewer for the Legal Aid Agency and was secretary of the American Trial Lawyers Association International Section from 2000 to 2004.

Fiona has expertise in a full range of clinical negligence matters and has particular expertise in cerebral palsy and birth injury cases, and is one of the few solicitors in the country who has sufficient experience and ongoing specialism in birth injury cases to act as a franchise supervisor under our current Legal Aid Agency Contract. She has long standing experience in these cases and was a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association Birth Trauma Litigation Group from 1996 to 2004. Fiona also developed special interests in obstetrics, brain injury - both adult and child, anaesthesia, renal cases, complex orthopaedic cases, and has experience of representing families at inquest. Her medical negligence claims have involved a wide variety of issues. Some examples include:
Cerebral palsy
Limb amputation
Failure to diagnose
Negligent surgical treatment including cholecystectomy, nephrectomy, colectomy, failure to diagnose cancer
Substandard ophthalmic treatment
Failure to diagnose or adequately treat a range of life threatening conditions including Varicella syndrome from the chickenpox virus
Cardiac cases including failure to diagnose Long QT syndrome
Substandard management of care by general practitioners
Negligent dental facial maxillary surgery, including negligent jaw realignment
Failure to diagnose and treat stapedectomy and inner ear infections leading to brain abscess and injury
Failure to diagnose and treat subarachnoid haemorrhage leading to permanent brain damage
Fatal accident claims arising out of hospital negligence
Failure to diagnose and treat perforated bowel leading to death
Failure to diagnose and treat gestational diabetes leading to death
Fiona secured the then highest award for fatal damages for the death of a single parent following negligent bilateral sympathetic duct operation
Fiona has been instrumental in change to dental anaesthesia for children following a fatal dental case which involved the General Dental Council
Fiona has successfully pursued many secondary victim claims
Fiona has successfully settled a complex fatal claim involving a negligent kidney transplant
Fiona has also previously undertaken personal injury work spanning all aspects of employer’s’ product and occupiers’ liability claims, including cases involving: Severe burns, spinal injuries, head injuries, multiple orthopaedic injuries, post traumatic stress disorder and other severe psychological disorders.

In 1995 Fiona acted on behalf of a client who suffered from significant harm

As a result of the negligent way she was administered antipsychotic medication whilst a patient in a psychiatric hospital. The failure to rotate the site of injections caused significant damage causing lifelong mobility problems and the case settled following trial for an undisclosed six figure sum.

In 1995 Fiona acted in a stillbirth case in which the client’s pregnancy and labour were handled in a negligent manner

Resulting in the tragic stillbirth of her child. She recovered £20,000 in damages.

In 1996 Fiona acted in a stillbirth case in which the client’s pregnancy and labour were handled in a negligent manner

Resulting in the tragic stillbirth of her child. She recovered £19,000 in damages.

In 1996 Fiona acted in a cerebral palsy claim following the negligent mismanagement of the client’s birth

Securing an undisclosed multi-million pound settlement on her behalf immediately before trial in the High Court.

In 1997 Fiona acted in a case involving a clinical trial and kidney transplantation achieving a settlement of £300,000

Shortly before trial following an inappropriate and fatal kidney transplant which caused post transplant lymphoproliferative cancer.

In 1997 Fiona acted in an ENT claim involving a negligent stapedectomy, recovering a six figure sum

On behalf of a lady who was unable to work at heights following her negligent treatment.

In 1998 Fiona acted on behalf of a child who suffered an extravasation injury

Due to the negligent placement of a cannula in her arm. She recovered significant undisclosed damages following issuing in the High Court.

In 1998 Fiona secured record damages, noted by the court to be the highest awarded at the time

In a case involving a dependency claim in respect of the death of a single parent. This case related to a bilateral sympathetic duct operation which was carried out in a negligent manner leaving a young child without his mother.

In 1999 Fiona acted in a complex maxillofacial jaw misalignment case

Recovering a six figure sum on behalf of her client following life changing injuries suffered by her through negligent jaw realignment surgery.

In 1996 to 2000 Fiona acted in a number of cases involving negligent orthopaedic treatment

Including failure to diagnose fractures and anterior cruciate ligament substandard surgery. She recovered significant damages on behalf of a variety of claimants in relation to failure to diagnose and appropriately treat orthopaedic injuries.

In 2001 Fiona was involved in a complex virology case concerning severe fetal damage

Arising from varicella syndrome caused by the chickenpox virus.

In 2002 Fiona contributed to a change of the law relating to the administration of dental anaesthetics to children in dental practices by general dental practitioners alone.

This case tragically involved the death of a child following the administration of dental anaesthesia. Following issue in the High Court the case settled and undisclosed damages were recovered.

In 2006 Fiona recovered an undisclosed six figure sum for a teacher

Who lost her leg below the knee following negligent orthopaedic treatment for an ankle fracture.

In 2008 Fiona recovered the equivalent of £4.1million

By way of both lump sum and periodical payments for life in a case involving brain damage following cardiac arrest caused by negligent failure to diagnose Long QT Syndrome, leaving a young mother unable to care for herself or her young children.

In 2008 Fiona undertook a number of secondary victim PTSD claims recovering significant damages.

She acted on behalf of the parents of a baby who witnessed her traumatic birth and suffered damages as a result. Fiona also acted for the partner of the claimant in the Long QT Syndrome case above, who collapsed in front of him as a result of the negligent failure to diagnose a cardiac Long QT Syndrome and suffered brain damage, causing him significant psychological injury as a secondary victim.

In 2009 Fiona recovered damages equivalent to a £6.3million lump sum on behalf of a client

Who sustained significant brain damage cerebral palsy as a result of the mismanagement of her birth.

In 2009 Fiona acted on behalf of a lady who suffered a bile duct injury during gallbladder surgery

And suffered lifelong pain and mobility problems as a result. She recovered an undisclosed six figure sum of damages in her behalf.

In 2010 Fiona recovered an undisclosed six figure sum in a case concerning the fatal failure to diagnose diabetes in pregnancy

In a case concerning the fatal failure to diagnose diabetes in pregnancy leaving a new born baby without her mother as a result of an entirely avoidable death.

In 2010 Fiona acted in a fatal case where a father and his young children lost their mother

As a result of a negligent failure to diagnose a strangulated bowel. She recovered an undisclosed six figure sum in this case.

In 2011 Fiona acted on behalf of a lady who suffered a bile duct injury during gallbladder surgery

And suffered lifelong pain and mobility problems as a result. She recovered an undisclosed six figure sum of damages in her behalf.

In 2013 Fiona recovered in excess of £2miilion

On behalf of a lady who lost her leg following negligent knee replacement surgery.

In 2015 Fiona acted on behalf of a lady who suffered a fourth degree tear during the birth of her first child.

There was a failure to diagnose that tear, leading ultimately to significant harm including the need for a colostomy and PTSD. Fiona recovered an undisclosed six figure sum in this matter.

In 2016 Fiona acted on behalf of a man who suffered a fracture of the tibia during the course of his employment.

When he was taken to hospital he suffered from clinical negligence as a result of the failure to diagnose the fracture, causing significant lifelong mobility problems and she recovered significant damages on his behalf.

In 2017 Fiona acted on behalf of a child where cystic fibrosis was undiagnosed

Leading to lifelong difficulties including psychological trauma. She recovered an undisclosed six figure sum on her behalf.

In 2018 Fiona acted on behalf of a lady who suffered from an undiagnosed 4th degree tear

Following the birth of her child and also suffered from a retained product causing significant PTSD. She recovered an undisclosed six figure sum on her behalf.

In 2019 Fiona acted on behalf of an individual for failure to diagnose kidney failure

Tragically compromising a previously transplanted organ and she recovered a significant six figure sum on his behalf.

In 2020 Fiona acted on behalf of the representatives of the deceased

in a case involving a failure to diagnose cancer, recovering significant undisclosed damages.

In 2021 Fiona acted on behalf of an elderly gentleman who had a fall and was then admitted to hospital where, as a result of negligent care, he suffered a further fall, fracturing his hip.

Ultimately this was life changing as it meant that he was no longer able to mobilise or enjoy the same level of independence that he had previously. She recovered undisclosed damages on his behalf .

Fiona is currently acting in a number of catastrophic child brain injury cerebral palsy cases

In which she has secured judgment and significant interim payments on behalf of those claimants and their families.

Fiona is currently acting in a case involving a bile duct injury following routine surgery which was carried out in a negligent manner.

Fiona has secured judgment on behalf of her client and the case is ongoing issued in the High Court.

Achievements & other appointments

Fiona was secretary of the International Relations Committee of the American Trial Lawyers Association from January 2000 to January 2004
Chair of the Management Committee of Bedford Citizens Advice Bureau 1999 to 2001
Fiona is a member of the Medical Legal Society
Was a duty solicitor representing families at inquest pro bono for the Road Victims Trust from January 2005 to 2008
Has been recognised as a leader in the field of claimant clinical negligence litigation by Chambers and Partners Guide to the Legal Profession and by Legal 500 for 17 years
Member of the specialist AvMA panel since 1999
Member of the Law Society- Specialist Clinical Negligence Panel since 1997
Accredited member of the APIL Clinical Negligence Panel.

Education

Fiona attended the University of Dundee achieving a law degree with honours. She also attended the University of Glasgow achieving a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Post Graduate Certificate in Employment Law. Fiona attended the University of Law, Bloomsbury, London, undertaking the studies (Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test) necessary to achieve dual qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales. Fiona is dual qualified as a solicitor in both Scotland, England and Wales and admitted as a Notary Public.

Fiona joined Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP in 2008 as a partner having previously been a partner and head of department in both a London firm and subsequently a regional firm. She is head of the firm’s Clinical Negligence and Personal injury Department. Fiona is also married with two grown up children currently both at university. When not working she enjoys walking the family terriers, admiring their loyal and tenacious spirits.

Head of Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence & Personal injury

Specialisms & expertise

Examples of work