Holly Tibbitts

Call: 2010

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

Legal 500 2024

Holly Tibbitts is a highly respected 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 lifechanging spinal and orthopaedic injuries, significant and subtle brain injury, 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 and has a thorough understanding of these issues.

She is expert in dealing with complex liability issues, both in the PI and clinical negligence context.  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 the full range of claims, from surgical negligence to missed or delayed diagnosis, negligent clinical decision making, inappropriate treatment, and consent issues.

Holly has an excellent grasp of civil procedure and regularly advises on a wide range of procedural issues.  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.

Outside of work Holly can be found running around after her two young children or curling up with a good book in a rare quiet moment.


Expertise

Holly has been ranked as a leading junior for clinical negligence in 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 is familiar with the intricacies of breach of duty and causation in these cases and lectures to solicitors on these issues. She receives frequent instructions in fatal and lost years claims. Many of her cases are issued in the High Court and has been instructed to act as a junior in numerous high value and complex claims.

Holly is regularly instructed in claims involving birth injuries to mother and baby and has experience of secondary victim claims in this context. She has a special interest in brain injury claims, including catastrophic injuries, having gained invaluable experience working alongside the adult brain injury team at a leading firm of solicitors. She is confident dealing with claims involving serious orthopaedic and nerve injuries, including spinal injuries, and is currently instructed in several claims arising out of delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome. She receives regular instructions in cases involving delayed diagnosis of cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Her case load also includes nursing negligence, such as falls and serious pressure damage claims.

Notable Clinical Negligence & Healthcare cases


Acting as junior counsel led by Giles Mooney KC in a brain injury at birth claim pleaded at over £21 million

Acting as sole counsel in a liability disputed fatal accident claim arising out of mismanagement of a femoral artery bleed in a working mother, involving significant claims for dependency. Settled for at JSM for £½ million.

Representing a young woman in a claim arising out of a delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome, resulting in permanent bowel and bladder dysfunction.

Instructed as junior counsel led by Giles Mooney KC in a clinical negligence claim resulting in a life changing loss of vision in a child.

Instructed as junior counsel led by Stuart McKechnie KC in a brain injury at birth claim.

Instructed as junior counsel in a multi-million-pound claim arising from delayed diagnosis and treatment of a subdural haematoma resulting in severe brain injury.

Representing a claimant in a claim against multiple GPs arising out of a failure to refer for specialist advice, resulting in development of a significant brain injury requiring major surgery and consequential psychological symptoms.

Acting as sole counsel in a number of claims arising from bariatric surgery, including consent issues and surgical negligence with lifelong consequences.

Acting as sole counsel in a High Court claim arising from a failure to offer conservative treatment as an alternative to significant spinal surgery and a delay in identifying and treating a nerve injury sustained during the surgery, resulting in chronic pain, foot drop, and early retirement.

Representing a couple in a claim arising out of a stillbirth, including a secondary victim claim on behalf of the father.

Instructed on a claim involving negligent psychiatric treatment resulting in suicide.

Holly has a successful personal injury practice with a loyal following of solicitors from leading firms.

Many of Holly’s cases involve significant and life changing injuries.  She is experienced at dealing with brain injuries, serious orthopaedic and spinal injuries, internal injuries, long term psychiatric disorders and pain conditions among others.  She receives instructions in fatal accidents and lost years claims.  She is confident dealing with expert evidence across a range of disciplines.

Holly acts in cases involving the full range of liability issues including road traffic accident, employers’ liability and public liability claims as well as in cases involving industrial disease, historic abuse, holiday claims, accidents at sea, professional negligence (including negligent cosmetic treatments) and CICA claims.  She is well versed in the liability and evidential issues that arise in these cases. She is also becoming known for her expertise in Animals Act claims, and frequently deals with complex liability issues in this context.

Notable Personal Injury cases


Acting in a liability disputed Animals Act claim in which the Claimant sustained serious internal and orthopaedic injuries when she was attacked by a stallion.

Acting in a fatal accident claim arising out of a road traffic accident where the deceased left three young dependent children. The case was unusual as the children’s primary carer is not a dependent, making apportionment and investment complex.

Acting in a fatal accident claim arising out of a road traffic accident where the deceased left three young dependent children.  The case is unusual as the children’s primary carer is not a dependent, making apportionment and investment complex

Instructed in a liability disputed lower limb amputation claim arising out of a construction site accident.

Acting for a woman with serious spinal and psychiatric injuries following an RTA, alongside Giles Mooney KC who represented her husband.

Sole counsel on a long-running subtle brain injury claim involving a minor, with significant disputes about capacity and future prognosis.

Fatal RTA claim where the deceased was a working woman with a large family and a substantial services claim.

Instructed on behalf of a motorcyclist who sustained multiple serious orthopaedic injuries, a head injury and significant psychiatric injury as a result of an RTA.

Acting on behalf of a young woman who suffered poly-trauma in an RTA and has been left with lifelong disabling digestive issues.

Representing a woman in a liability disputed claim about an assault at work in a children’s home resulting in significant psychiatric injuries.

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.

Recent News


Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. To see my privacy notice click here.

  • MA (Cantab) Archaeology & Anthropology, St John’s College Cambridge (1st class)
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, City University (Distinction)
  • Bar Vocational Course, BPP (Outstanding)

  • Personal Injuries Bar Association
  • Middle Temple

1

"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

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

Chambers & Partners 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

Portfolio Builder

Select the practice areas that you would like to download or add to the portfolio

Download    Add to portfolio   
Portfolio
Title Type CV Email

Remove All

Download


Click here to share this shortlist.
(It will expire after 30 days.)