Medical Negligence Department

Carlos Lopez is a partner and head of the Clinical Negligence Department – a department that undertakes all types of negligence claims against individual medical practitioners and institutions.

Carlos is a specialist senior clinical negligence practitioner, with over 26 years experience in clinical negligence work, who has acted for thousands of clients since qualification in 1995, dealing with a vast array of clinical negligence work, including cases of maximum severity, such as brain injury, spinal injury, oncology misdiagnosis and delayed treatment and birth injury claims.

Carlos is dual qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor and is a member of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel, in recognition of his specialist expertise in this area of law. Additionally, Carlos is one of the few practitioners in the North West to hold dual accreditation, also being a member of the Law Society Personal Injury panel.

Due to his experience in the field of medical negligence, Carlos is also an Assessor for the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel, and is responsible for assessing solicitors who wish to become specialist practitioners.

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Sarah Smith is an Senior Associate Solicitor in our Clinical Negligence Claims Team having joined in November 2021.

Sarah was admitted as a solicitor in 2000 having obtained an LLB in Law and Italian at the University of Cardiff, and attending The College of Law, York.

With more than 21 years’ experience, Sarah takes pride in treating her clients with empathy and compassion at a time of extreme upset and uncertainty. She believes it is essential to build strong working relationships from the outset. She also strives to maximise compensation on behalf of clients and ensures that claims are dealt with efficiently.

Sarah was noted as a recommended lawyer for clinical negligence in the North West in the 2024 Legal 500 rankings.

Away from work, Sarah spends time with her family. She enjoys cooking and keeping fit.

You never know when you start out where a career will take you. This has been the experience of Elaine Meehan, who joins the firm as a Senior Associate in May 2024.

Elaine is an English graduate who intended to be a teacher but decided in training that it was not for her. She completed a shortened course for graduates nursing qualification in 1982 in Sheffield. Thereafter she worked for 18 years as a nurse, predominantly in operating theatres and intensive care. In 1990 Elaine moved to the community as a health visitor working with 0-5 year- olds and their families and encountering challenges in safeguarding and child protection, and the many problems which can arise in fractured family relationships. It was during this stage of her career in the mid-1990’s that she was exposed to the workings of the judicial system, mainly in the family courts and the magistrates’ courts. This kindled an interest in law, and at the age of 40 Elaine went back to college and completed post graduate qualifications in law. She was admitted to the roll of solicitors in August 2003.

Elaine has worked exclusively in the areas of clinical negligence and health regulatory work since qualification. She has had the benefit of seeing both sides of the fence in acting for both claimant and defendant clients, the latter often finding themselves under the scrutiny of The General Medical Council. She prides herself on her ability to take a reasoned, balanced view and is careful to manage her clients’ expectations. Clinical Negligence is a notoriously complex area of the law and many potential claims won’t succeed. However, for those which she can see have real prospects of success Elaine will fight ferociously to secure justice and appropriate compensation for her clients.

Outside of work Elaine loves spending time with her 4- year -old twin grandsons, her retired-surgeon husband and her cockapoo, Ted, who demands cuddles, treats and walks. She loves to travel, with her most recent adventure having taken her to Antarctica, where the scenery is spectacular, and penguins are plentiful. Whilst there, Elaine took the Polar Plunge into the icy waters, and has the badge to prove it!

Daniel Hatton is a Senior Litigation Executive in the Clinical Negligence department, Daniel became a Chartered Legal Executive in 2018 and has been handling clinical negligence cases since 2014.

Daniel deals with a wide variety of cases which range in both complexity and value. Daniel has handled cases which have been valued up to £2 million and has also been involved in cases subject to a Group Litigation Order. Daniel has also been involved in the handling of the largescale vaginal mesh claims following the TVT and TVT-O procedures carried out on women in the UK.

Daniel chose a career in clinical negligence as he believes that people deserve compensation when they are let down by those people trust and hold in such high regard. He understands that the claims process can be difficult and confusing. He will make every effort to simplify the process as he is keen to ensure clients are fully involved in their claim.

Melanie Wingate qualified as a solicitor in 1998. Prior to that, she was a Registered General Nurse, working in several busy teaching hospitals. Since qualifying as a solicitor, Melanie has worked almost exclusively within the field of clinical (medical) negligence. In the years since Melanie began to specialise in clinical negligence claims, she has worked for some of the country’s foremost specialist firms of solicitors, gaining much experience along the way. Melanie has established the clinical negligence department in two of her previous firms and has been regularly involved in the supervision and teaching of junior solicitors.

Melanie’s specialist experience includes birth injuries, brain damage, spinal and catastrophic high value serious injury cases, fatal accident claims with multiple de- pendants, oncology, gynaecology and GP negligence cases. She has brought claims against a variety of care providers, including dentists, GP’s, Consultant surgeons, physicians, nurses and midwives, therapists, and the Ministry of Defence (including claims against army medics and prison doctors).
Melanie has secured millions of pounds in damages for clients, but has also been instrumental in ensuring that other, non-pecuniary remedies are achieved for her clients such as obtaining an apology and/or an explanation from the treating clinician, securing a change of policy in the treating hospital/clinic and arranging for treatment packages and rehabilitation to be put into place where needed. Melanie has also been able to work with families to persuade local authorities to prepare Statements of Education where necessary, and to provide the child with either mainstream or special needs education and care as deemed appropriate.

Melanie attained her RGN (Hons) from Rotherham School of Nursing and went on to gain post qualification experience at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, and St James University Teaching Hospital, Leeds.
She then attained an honours degree in Law at Leeds Metropolitan University, going on to complete the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Trent University.

Melanie’s hobbies include an obsession with her dog, and a love of painting (either furniture, walls or fine art!). Melanie has previously exhibited some of her work under her mentor Terence Bennet.
“Clinical Negligence is an area of law that I find to be extremely interesting and rewarding. I still have a passion for ensuring that my clients obtain a result that they want; be that obtaining financial compensation, answers to their questions, an apology, a change in policy or all the above. I still have faith in the medical treatment that is provided to thousands of people in this country on a daily basis, however at the same time, I believe that it is imperative that where mistakes are made, and a patient (or their family) suffers as a result, it is important to ensure that lessons are learned from that mistake, and that adequate monetary compensation is obtained to ensure that the patient is fully compensated for their in- juries and that they will be able to access any remedial or rehabilitative treatment that they will need to be able to maintain the best quality of life.”

Gareth Walkner is a Clinical Negligence Solicitor here at Express Solicitors. He joined the team in February 2023 after working within the clinical negligence legal industry in the North East, Yorkshire and North West for around 8 years.

Gareth initially studied Law at Nottingham Trent University and then went on to study his LPC at Leeds BPP Law School.

Gareth has always sought to be a Solicitor after studying law for one of his A Levels in his home town. He states the complexity and challenge in law has always fascinated him, and during his Training Contract he felt clinical negligence would be a suitable specialism to take.

Gareth has a mixture of both general clinical negligence experience alongside a specialism in cosmetic surgery negligence.

Gareth notes his goal is to make sure every client feels they are able to speak to him comfortably about their experiences so they feel they are supported every step of the way throughout their case. He notes that investigation and litigation can be very daunting so making sure he is approachable and understanding is a key part of his role.

Gareth now wishes to build his experience with more complex clinical negligence matters here at Express.

James is a Solicitor in the Clinical Negligence Department having joined in November 2023. He has worked in the legal industry dealing exclusively with Clinical Negligence cases and multi-track Personal Injury work for some years now and has moved to Express Solicitors to further his career and gain further experience in high value and more complex cases.

James has extensive history dealing with challenging and difficult cases. He has history in dealing with cases relating to relating to delayed diagnosis of cancer, spinal injuries and has experience in working with birth injury cases. He has handled a wide variety of cases with some being valued up to £2.5 million.

James chose a career in clinical negligence as he wanted to work in an area of law that can assist others when they are let down by those that they trusted to help them when they needed it.

Outside of work, James enjoys rock climbing, bike riding and keeping up with current events.

Nadia Valentine is a Trainee Solicitor within the Clinical Negligence Department. She graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2021 with a 1st class degree in Law. She remained at Manchester Metropolitan University and completed the Legal Practice Course, graduating again in 2022 with a Distinction. Nadia joined Express Solicitors in November 2021 as a Litigation Assistant. She was promoted to Trainee Solicitor in September 2022.

Nadia is responsible for assisting solicitors within the clinical negligence department on many different cases, most of them high profile. What she loves best about working at Express Solicitors is the many clients she looks after. Nadia’s aim is to help progress each and every file she works on, taking into account each individual client’s circumstances. Nadia loves to talk to her clients and really get to know them. No two days are the same for her which makes the job for Nadia very interesting and engaging. Nadia is part of a fantastic and knowledgeable team who also care equally for their clients.

Demi is a Trainee Solicitor specialising in high-value and complex disputes. In previous employment, she assisted lead Partners in securing damages awards totaling £240 million with an average settlement amount of £1 million+. Having represented clients with injuries of the upmost severity, she understands it is essential that interim payments are secured, and rehabilitation is initiated at the very beginning of a client’s case to ensure the best chances of recovery.

Demi is dedicated to ensuring that her clients receive the best available advice, support, and guidance from the very outset of their claims. She derives satisfaction from securing the funds her clients need to ensure that they have the best possible quality of life following injury.

She is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) Future Leaders Team and a Neurodiversity in Law Champion, committed to leading the movement toward a more inclusive and diverse legal profession.

“Demi Newlove is incredibly helpful and efficient, not just with me but with the clients too. She has a good understanding of the client’s needs and adjusts her approach to suit their needs.” Chambers Insight Report 2022

Max has worked in the legal industry for almost a decade and has a background in both fast track and multi-track personal injury; including employers liability, public liability and clinical negligence.

Most recently Max was a manager at a small-medium sized law firm in Liverpool specialising in civil litigation; including private nuisance, commercial litigation, housing conditions claims, personal injury and clinical negligence.

Max moved to Express Solicitors to specialise in clinical negligence and gain experience in some higher value and more complex matters from the greatly experienced team here. Max believes his varied background and extensive litigation experience will make him an asset to the team here at Express.

Max graduated from the University of Liverpool with a degree in criminology and sociology in 2011 and is currently studying for the Solicitors. Qualification Exam, hoping to qualify in 2024.

Outside of work Max enjoys fitness, including Muay Thai boxing, strength training and running. Max is a trustee of a Muay Thai boxing gym on the Wirral, which is a registered charity, dedicated to promoting community participation in healthy recreation

Lauren Taylor is a Litigation Executive in the Clinical Negligence Department at Express Solicitors, who joined in May 2021.

Lauren first became interested in law when she was studying at college. After obtaining a bachelors honours degree in Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation at the University of Central Lancashire, she decided to pursue a career in law.

Lauren’s experience for the past 5 years has been solely in clinical negligence on behalf of claimants. In 2018, Lauren decided to gain professional qualifications alongside working and began studying to become a CILEX Fellow.

Lauren has worked on low value, high value and complex cases including birth, orthopaedic, amputation, GPs, and gynaecology to name a few. However, Lauren have a lot of experience dealing with cases relating to insertion of mesh which has recently been in the media. She is experienced in dealing with both single defendants and multiple defendants and acting on behalf of deceased’s families.

Lauren prides herself on providing good customer care to her clients. She believes it is very important to build a rapport with a client from the outset. Lauren also prides herself on being able to emphasise with clients, understanding it can be a very worrying time and aims to put their mind at rest as much as possible.

Lauren really enjoy working in clinical negligence and could not imagine doing anything else. She loves working hard to get an outcome for a client that they deserve after being through such a difficult time.

A lot of Lauren’s spare time is taken up with studying for her professional qualifications, however when she does get time to herself, she likes going for walks along the canal or in the park with her dog. Lauren enjoys spending time with her friends and family; including watching live music, going out for meals, having a spa day and going on holidays. Lauren also like learning new skills; having previously completed a photography course in her spare time to enhance her skills.

Rimsha Iftikhar is a Litigation Executive in the Clinical Negligence department bringing over 5 years of clinical negligence experience.

She has graduated with a BSc Psychology combined with Neuroscience degree which piqued her interest into the neurobiological consequences of traumatic brain injuries. Rimsha is currently completing her Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of Law with plans to qualify as a Solicitor in the near future. She is also a member of the Merseyside Junior Lawyers Division.

Additionally, she has independently managed a wide variation of cases including cases involving orthopaedic injuries, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis of cancer, and surgical errors.

Rimsha prides herself on maintaining a close working relationship with each client and ensuring that cases are dealt with efficiently and smoothly. Rimsha has a keen eye for detail and is keen to have each matter settled as promptly and fairly as possible.

In her spare time Rimsha is a huge advocate for accessible education for all and works closely with local SEN groups to help members with reading and writing.