Hannah Godfrey is a specialist in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquests.

She is recommended as a leading junior in clinical negligence by Chambers & Partners (Band 2) and the Legal 500.

Hannah has an unusual breadth of advocacy and negotiation experience for a specialist junior in her field, drawn from a busy employment and immigration tribunal practice in her early years at the bar.

Hannah is regularly instructed as sole counsel in a wide range of clinical negligence claims by solicitors firms with specialist clinical negligence departments. She is also regularly led in maximum severity cases resulting in multi million pound settlements. Hannah has experience of a wide range of clinical negligence claims, from high value brain injury (cerebral palsy, diabetic coma) and spinal injury cases (two current cases of tetraplegia resulting from failure to diagnose infective discitis, in one of which she is led and one as sole counsel), to negligent management of a private psychiatric patient, negligent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, negligent chiropractic manipulation, fatally negligent ascitic drainage (pierced spleen), negligent appendicectomy (severe diathermic injury to caecum causing fistula), negligent administration of peribulbar anaesthetic during cataract operation, fatally negligent failure to diagnose acute bowel obstruction, negligent management of private breast enlargement, failure to lock an intramedullary humeral nail, use of wrong (inorganic) sponge to support graft in a myringoplasty, pressure ulcer on infant's leg due to poor positioning during surgery, brachial plexus injury due to poor positioning during cardiac surgery.

Her personal injury experience ranges from RTAs, occupier's liability, employer's liability, dangerous animals, defective products, occupational stress, Protection from Harassment Act 1997, industrial disease, construction accidents, tripping and slipping and others.

Hannah has experience of the full range of quantum issues, and is skilled at producing complex and detailed schedules of loss using excel workbooks. She has a particular interest in the claims of injured young people, and the construction of complex future lost earnings claims, in fatal accident claims, and in claims with a human rights element.

Hannah has represented many families at inquests into deaths including deaths in hospital or after hospital treatment. She accepts work on a CFA basis and accepts instructions pro bono in appropriate cases.

Legal 500 2023: “Very thorough and approachable.”

Chambers and Partners 2023: "Hannah is instructed on complex high-value claims because of her excellent analytical skills and attention to detail." "She is highly valued for her clear-sighted and decisive representation." "Hannah strives to achieve the best results for the client."

Chambers & Partners 2022:"An excellent advocate and a thorough, detail-oriented barrister who is excellent with clients." "Has a fantastic technical grasp and her attention to detail is fantastic. She is very approachable."

Chambers & Partners 2021:"She is extremely thorough and has tremendous empathy with her clients." "She provides very clear advice and is very detail-oriented."

Chambers & Partners 2020: "Hannah has an excellent grasp of the issues in each case and provides clear and practical advice. She's very good with clients and is a great negotiator." "She takes an extremely thorough and pragmatic approach to cases."

Legal 500 2020: "She excels in cross-examination and has a strong understanding of medicine."

Chambers & Partners 2018: "Regularly instructed by leading firms to handle maximum severity cases. She has handled a number of matters concerning cerebral palsy, spinal injury and breast enlargement surgery. She devotes her practice to the representation of claimants." “Exceedingly thorough. She never misses a detail and is determined to fight for the clients”.

Chambers & Partners 2017: "Whether in a cross-examination or a negotiation, she'll be someone you know will achieve results."

Appointed Assistant Coroner, South London Coroner Area April 2021

Appointed Assistant Coroner, Southampton, Portsmouth and Hampshire Coroner Area November 2021

Hannah was a pupil supervisor, trained by Lincoln's Inn.

2004- Judicial assistant to Lord Justice Mummery in the Court of Appeal from September - December.

2004 - Joint runner up in the Bar Pro Bono prize (for her work with BID: a charity making bail applications for immigration detainees)

Publications and Trainings

Hannah has lectured widely both from chambers and on tour to solicitor's firms on relevant topics including patient confidentiality, human rights, causation, Part 36, Fatal Accidents claims, procedural points, maximising damages in catastrophic claims.

"Multiple Defendants : Who to sue? Practical and cost considerations" (Personal Injury Law Journal January 2015)

'Human Rights' chapter in '7th Edn Lewis & Buchan: Clinical negligence a practical guide'

Expertly Done - Managing Expert Evidence (PILJ January 2010)

Making the most of Medical Evidence (Parts I and II published in two consecutive issues of Claims Management Autumn 2009)

Future Care awards – Who Pays? (Legalweek December 2008))

Who Pays for a Claimant's Care? (Clinical Risk 2007)

Social Anthropology BA Cantab (First Class)

PG Dip, BVC