Francesca O'Neill

The Dekagram: 22nd April 2025

We hope our readers enjoyed the long Easter weekend and grasped the opportunity, as we did, to spend a restful few days away from the coalface. We kept one eye on the courts though, and it’s just as well we did, because last week brought…

The High Court handed down its judgment in Butler v Ward [2025] EWHC 877 (KB) yesterday, striking out £2.5million of the Claimant’s Schedule of Loss. Francesca O’Neill represented the Defendant surgeon (instructed by DWF LLP).  The Judgment also raises interesting questions about when summary judgment applications…

Pro Bono Recognition List 2025

We are delighted for 6 of our members to be included within the Recognition List 2025, for undertaking 25 hours or more pro bono work over the last year.

Francesca O’Neill successfully strikes out Part 8 detailed assessment proceedings in the Senior Courts Costs Office

Francesca O’Neill successfully strikes out Part 8 detailed assessment proceedings in the Senior Courts Costs Office Read the full Judgment here

Dekinar: AI and Professional Negligence

In this webinar, Conor Kennedy and Francesca O’Neill talk about the duties of professionals in the context of the use of AI technology. They discuss the present state of the law, the impact of guidance and regulation from professional bodies, and the significance of the…

Members of Deka Chambers recognised in inaugural Pro Bono Recognition List

We are extremely proud to have five of our members – Giles Mooney KC, Edward Lamb KC, Simon Butler, Francesca O’Neill and Anirudh Mandagere – included in the inaugural Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales. The list recognises barristers and solicitors who have…

Lawyer-Client Relationship: Scope of Duty

In this practice note for Practical Law, Francesca O’Neill outlines the law relating to the scope of duty that a lawyer or solicitor practising in England and Wales owes to their client and when they may owe a duty to a third party. The note…

Failure to Remove: Where are we now?

Join us on Thursday, 9th May when leading practitioners from Deka Chambers’ Civil and Family teams will come together to provide a unique analysis of issues arising in claims against local authorities relating to the removal of children into care. The conference will be followed…

Dekinar: Maternity and Birth Injury Claims: Legal Update

With the announcement of the Spring Budget in March 2024 the Government has pledged to invest £35 million to boost maternity safety and improve maternity services across England, and a further £9 million to prevent avoidable brain injuries in childbirth. NHS Resolution reports that maternity-related…

Francesca O’Neill successful in Chehaib v Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and others [2024]

Francesca O’Neill successful in Chehaib v Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and others [2024] EWHC 2 (KB) where important guidance was given as to the methods by which an incorrectly served Claim Form can be retrospectively validated.  You can find the judgment here.

Francesca O’Neill on the consequences of failing to serve a claim form properly

Claimants are waiting to serve claim forms until the last minute – and then making mistakes that are difficult to rectify and can lead to disaster. Meanwhile defendants are growing more savvy: they will challenge the court’s jurisdiction to hear the claim if the claim…

Francesca O’Neill appointed as Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal

We are pleased to announce that Francesca O’Neill has been appointed as a Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal. Francesca is assigned to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber.