Melanie is an experienced employment practitioner who represents a mix of Claimants and Respondents in all aspects of employment law. She has a particular interest in employment cases involving the health and social care sector and has acted for employers in claims involving the full range of employment issues in NHS Trusts, GP practices and care homes. She is regularly instructed in a wider range of sectors, including large multi-national organisations, banking, retail, education, transport logistics, local government and non-healthcare public sector organisations. Melanie has experience in claims covering discrimination, unfair dismissal, TUPE issues, whistleblowing, group litigation trade union claims, worker status and various forms of wage issues.

Melanie has advised on a number of cases in the jurisdiction of the Isle of Man.

Melanie acts exclusively for Claimants and undertakes all aspects of clinical negligence and personal injury work. Her medical background makes her comfortable acting as sole counsel in cases involving complex medical issues in all aspects of clinical negligence and in high value cases. Her background also provides her with a natural combination of empathy, compassion and pragmatism. She is well practiced in advising vulnerable clients and those with additional needs and works in a highly collaborative manner with all solicitors and clients.

Melanie represents clients in the County Court and High Court, including regular appearances in procedural matters such as CCMCs, infant approval hearings and application hearings. Written work such as advising, drafting and completing Schedules of Loss also forms a significant component of Melanie’s work.

Recent instructions as sole counsel include cases involving negligence in neurosurgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiology, breast surgery and dentistry.

Recent led work has included acting for the Claimant in a High Court trial for a case of severe cerebral palsy involving complex liability issues (led by Susan Rodway KC), a case of severe cerebral palsy settled for an eight-figure sum, following a joint settlement meeting (Joel Donovan KC) and a case of paraplegia following delayed surgery for thoracic cord compression (Anna Beale KC).

Melanie’s personal injury work has involved litigation centred on employer’s liability, occupier’s liability, road traffic accidents and fatal accidents. She regularly advises Claimant clients on issues of liability and quantum and drafts Schedules of Loss for all types of cases, including high value catastrophic injury cases.

BPTC, BPP University

GDL, BPP University

Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (Surgical Neurology)

MBChB (with Honours), University of Aberdeen

Sir Louis Gluckstein Advocacy Prize, Lincoln's Inn

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (England)

Personal Injury Bar Association

Employment Lawyers Association

Industrial Law Society

Lincoln’s Inn member