Holly is a leading junior barrister specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence claims. She is ranked in both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.

She has a busy and varied case load, mainly representing claimants with life changing injuries.  She acts exclusively in multi-track claims and most of her cases are issued in the High Court.  She is often instructed as sole counsel but also has an impressive junior practice, working with leading silks on multi-million-pound claims of the utmost complexity.

Holly has significant experience of high value quantum cases across a range of injuries, including catastrophic brain and spinal injuries, lifechanging orthopaedic injuries, birth injuries, pain conditions, loss of sight and hearing, psychiatric injury, bowel and bladder dysfunction, gynaecological issues, and diseases such as cancer.  She is regularly instructed to act in fatal and lost years claims.

Her practice covers the full range of liability issues across personal injury and clinical negligence.  Her PI claims encompass everything from road traffic accidents to accidents at work, public liability, and product liability, as well as claims under the Animals Act.  Her clinical negligence work covers issues from surgical negligence to missed or delayed diagnosis, negligent clinical decision making, inappropriate treatment, and consent issues.

Holly regularly advises on a wide range of procedural and tactical matters.  She is frequently instructed to act on behalf of claimants who lack capacity and has a solid understanding of the procedural complexities involved in these claims.

Client care is at the forefront of Holly’s practice. She is personable and reassuring with clients and aims to provide her advice in timely and straightforward manner.

Holly is a contributing editor to Kemp & Kemp: Quantum of Damages and frequently writes and lectures on a range of topics within her practice.

Holly is ranked as a leading junior for clinical negligence in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

Her practice encompasses the full range of clinical negligence claims including surgical negligence, consenting issues, missed and delayed diagnoses, and unnecessary and inappropriate treatment. She deals with claims involving on complex issues of breach and causation across a range of medical disciplines on a daily basis. She has a thorough grasp of the significant tactical and procedural considerations that apply, particularly in higher value claims. She is adept at drafting and frequently prepares complex clinical negligence pleadings, including £multi-million schedules of loss.

Holly has a special interest in catastrophic injury claims, including birth injuries, severe brain damage and lifechanging spinal injuries. She receives instructions in relation to a wide range of injuries including significant orthopaedic complications, cancer, gastro-intestinal injuries, pain conditions and psychiatric illness. She also has significant experience of claims relating to bariatric surgery. She is regularly instructed to act in fatal and lost years claims.

Notable Clinical Negligence & Healthcare cases

  • A severe brain injury claim arising from delayed diagnosis of a subdural haematoma. The claim is pleaded at over £9.4m. Holly is led by Giles Mooney KC.

  • A liability disputed fatal claim arising out of mismanagement of a femoral artery bleed in a working mother. Settled at JSM for £1/2 million and subsequently approved by the Court. Holly acted as sole counsel.

  • Several £multi-million brain injury at birth claims, including a claim which settled for a capitalised sum of £16.5m. Holly is instructed as junior counsel.

  • A liability disputed cauda equina claim on behalf of a young woman left with permanent lifechanging bladder and bowel dysfunction and significant psychiatric symptoms. Settled for £350,000 after Holly walked away from the Defendant’s offers at JSM.

  • A claim involving delayed diagnosis of a peri-prosthetic fracture with significant complications, resulting in lifelong mobility issues and care and accommodation needs.

  • A historic claim involving loss of vision in a child. Holly was responsible for pleading the schedule of loss at over £5.3m.

  • A wrongful birth claim involving triplets. Holly is led by Stuart McKechnie KC.

  • A claim arising out of mismanagement of a measles infection resulting in a severe brain injury. Holly is led by Giles Mooney KC.

  • A claim on behalf of a young woman with a delayed diagnosis of kidney disease, resulting in a significant loss of life expectancy.

  • A claim on behalf of a young mother with incurable cervical cancer following delayed diagnosis.

Holly is recognised as a leading personal injury barrister and is ranked in the Legal 500 for her work on personal injury claims. She acts in cases involving the full range of liability issues, including road traffic accidents, accidents at work, public liability claims, and claims under the Animals Act.

Many of Holly’s cases involve significant and life changing injuries. She is experienced at dealing with severe and subtle brain injuries, serious orthopaedic and spinal injuries, complex internal injuries, long term psychiatric disorders, and pain conditions among others. She regularly acts in fatal accidents and lost years claims. She is confident dealing with expert evidence across a range of disciplines. She is frequently instructed to prepare complex pleadings including high value schedules of loss.

Notable Personal Injury cases

  • A historic brain injury claim on behalf of a teenage boy involving a significant dispute about future capacity. Holly settled the claim for £650,000 at JSM. This was subsequently approved in the High Court.

  • A high-level tetraplegia claim arising out of an accident at work. Holly is led by Ed Bishop KC.

  • A claim on behalf of a young woman with multiple complex internal, orthopaedic, and spinal injuries arising from a road traffic accident. Pleaded at over £850,000.

  • A catastrophic brain injury claim on behalf of a cyclist hit by a tractor. Holly was led by Ed Bishop KC. Settled at JSM for a capitalised sum of £7.6m.

  • A disputed employers’ liability claim on behalf of a claimant who sustained significant psychiatric injuries when assaulted by a service user at work.

Holly is regularly instructed to appear at inquests where a death has resulted from personal injuries or suspected clinical negligence. She has a solid understanding of inquest practice and procedure and a thorough appreciation of the interplay between inquests and civil proceedings.

Notable Inquests cases

  • Appearing on behalf of the family of a farm worker who was crushed in a tipper truck door. The inquest was held before a jury and the claim was subsequently settled.

  • Acting for the family of a teenage boy who died following a failure to diagnose appendicitis.

  • Acting for the family at a jury inquest touching the death of a man killed while inside a machine at a recycling plant.

  • Representing the parents of a baby at an inquest touching his death arising from brain injuries sustained at birth.

  • Acting for the parents of a teenage girl who died due to consequences of an eating disorder.

  • Appearing on behalf of the parents of a young boy who died as a result of complications of routine surgery.

Endorsements

“Holly has an excellent eye for detail and for providing careful information to allow clients to make informed decisions. Her advocacy and drafting skills are highly sophisticated.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Holly provides good, practical advice and good drafting. She is very impressive.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Holly Tibbitts is excellent - she provides first-class advice and fights hard for her clients.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Holly is extremely well prepared and approachable. A great junior.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Holly is my go-to counsel for cases at all levels. She has a rare gift of having a keen analytical mind yet a very practical and commercial approach to cases.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Holly Tibbitts is a very good junior. She is great technically and has excellent attention to detail.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Holly is a great barrister to work with. She has a great level of client care, a fantastic eye for detail and a pragmatic approach to cases.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Holly is a measured and detail orientated barrister. She is thorough and quickly gets to grips with the documentation and issues at hand. ”

Legal 500 2025

“Holly is calm and reassuring in conference. She has an excellent eye for detail and not only identifies the issues but finds solutions. Holly never loses sight of the human element of a claim. ”

Legal 500 2025

“Holly is a sympathetic and helpful counsel with an excellent way with clients.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“Holly is able to set clients at ease with her straightforward advice. She is an accomplished advocate who will always fight her clients' corner.”

Legal 500 2024

“Excellent analytical skills - a very good advocate who makes her points succinctly and with real clarity and force.”

Legal 500 2024

“Very sympathetic with clients and will fight for their interests.”

Legal 500 2023

“She is very intelligent and cuts to the chase quickly and accurately.”

Legal 500, 2022

“A pragmatic tactician who understands the commercial aspects of litigation.”

Legal 500 2021

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate.


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Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate.


View my privacy policy.

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Deka Chambers: 5 Norwich Street, London EC4A 1DR

© Deka Chambers 2024

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