United Kingdom: Professional Negligence

The High Court has ruled that a company in liquidation must pay 85% of its former auditor's costs despite winning a professional negligence claim, after recovering only 1.6% of the damages sought. The decision examines when a claimant can be considered the 'successful party' for costs purposes and reinforces the high threshold for avoiding standard Part 36 offer consequences.

The UK Jurisdiction Taskforce has released a comprehensive legal statement examining how English common law addresses liability for harm caused by artificial intelligence systems. Can existing negligence principles, contractual frameworks, and tort doctrines adequately handle the unique challenges posed by autonomous AI, from unpredictable outputs to complex supply chains? The analysis explores duties of care across the AI ecosystem, from foundation model developers to professional users, revealing surprisi

Investigations into NHS paediatric audiology services have revealed systemic failures affecting hundreds of children, including delayed assessments and missed hearing loss diagnoses that may have impacted speech, language and educational development. Families affected by these failures in care may have legal options to pursue compensation where delays caused avoidable harm and lost opportunities for early intervention. Understanding the scope of these failures and the potential consequences for children's d

Donna Ockenden's final report into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust examines over 2,500 cases from 2012 to 2025, representing the largest single review of its kind in NHS history. The report identifies recurring failures in listening to women, clinical escalation, staffing, training and governance, while making 18 Immediate and Essential Actions for implementation across England's maternity services.

The Ockenden Review has uncovered serious and repeated concerns in maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals, spanning thousands of cases from 2012 to 2025. With findings identifying systemic failures in patient safety, clinical practice, and organisational culture, the review raises critical questions about whether improved care could have prevented devastating outcomes for affected families.

Recent investigations reveal the systemic pressures facing UK maternity care, raising critical questions about safety standards, accountability and the legal framework supporting families when care falls short. What does the evidence tell us about the current state of maternity services, and how can legal processes drive meaningful improvement?

When can a UK parent company be held liable for the actions of its subsidiaries? This analysis explores the evolving legal landscape of parent company liability, from negligence claims arising from international operations to alternative routes through economic torts and director duties.

Howard Colman was instructed by a substantial commercial property client to pursue a claim for damages for professional negligence against its former solicitors.

Emma Woods provides a clinical negligence update in this webinar. The following cases are covered...