Jane Tracy Forster

Jane Tracy Forster

Jane specialises in medical law including clinical negligence claims and applications in the Court of Protection relating to the medical care of patients lacking capacity. She is also instructed in claims against solicitors of professional negligence and in diverse employment and disciplinary disputes, usually for the employers. She is also instructed in catastrophic personal injury claims. In the clinical negligence field, her instructions emanate from claimant firms, panel firms of the NHSLA and medical defence societies and insurers of private hospitals. Her employment practice in recent years has developed in relation to the education sector and she has represented many colleges and universities in tribunal, High Court and internal disciplinary proceedings. She is particularly interested in the interface between the areas of her practice in disciplinary processes relating to the employment of the medical and allied professions. She is a trained mediator, and is experienced in the use of mediation in all her fields of interest. Jane has also been instructed in several inquests involving deaths in hospital. Jane is ranked as a leading junior in the field of Clinical Negligence in both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

Email: jane.tracyforster@hailshamchambers.com
Phone: 020 7643 5000

Full CV

Further info 

  

Recent cases 

  

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Year of call: 1975, Inner Temple.

Specialist areas: Medical law; employment law; personal injury; professional negligence

Education: Liverpool University, LL.B. (Hons)

ADR: qualified mediator

 

  
  • Pye v Queen Mary University of London [EAT, 23 February 2012, unrep] - circumstances in which a tribunal should grant adjournment of a hearing on the grounds of a party's alleged ill-health.
  • DH NHS Foundation Trust v PS (by her litigation friend, The Official Solicitor) [2010] EWCH 1217 (Fam)
  • Ryan St George v The Home Office (2007/CA 2010/QB) - negligent failure of care leading to prisoner developing severe brain damage. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Home Office's appeal and allowed the cross-appeal against the finding of 15% contributory negligence. The case on quantum was settled with a novel use of periodical payments orders to cover the costs of accommodation in rented apartments for the duration of the Claimant's life.

Publications and lectures

Jane is frequently asked to lecture to both legal and medical audiences. In 2008, and again in October 2010, she was the sole invited legal speaker at the day conference for clinicians and midwives on ‘Pelvic floor trauma in childbirth' organised jointly by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Society of Uro-Gynaecologists.

In 2011, she was a speaker at a day seminar organised by an NHS Foundation Trust for clinicians at its own and neighbouring Trusts on the best interests jurisdiction of the Court of Protection and she has accepted an invitation to repeat the seminar later in 2012.

Jane regularly takes part in lecturing and training sessions for client firms.

 

 

  

"...'leaves no stone unturned' and is 'experienced, sensible and fearless.' Furthermore she will 'always go the extra mile and do her best for the client'." Chambers UK 2012

"Jane Tracy Forster is ‘fiercely committed to clients', ‘excellent with experts' and ‘highly experienced'." Chambers UK 2011

"'A sensitive, committed and client-friendly barrister who gives the claimant confidence'." Chambers UK 2011

"Jane Tracy Forster has one of the most formidable reputations amongst her peers at the Bar. Also incredibly popular with instructing solicitors, 'she has a human touch and clients absolutely love her'." Chambers UK 2010

"The 'tough and extremely experienced' Jane Tracy Forster leads the way. She has acted for claimants in a range of high-value, complex cases and is a solicitors' favourite as she is 'meticulous and analytical, has incredible recall of details and gives sound, practical advice'." Chambers UK 2009

She was nominated by The Lawyer as one of its "top five juniors in clinical negligence". She is also recognised by Legal 500 2008 as one of the top five juniors in the country.