Regulatory risk
Supreme Court clarifies the law on secondary victims in a healthcare setting, UK-wide
11 January 2024
Sheryl joined the healthcare team as a Legal Director in 2022 bringing extensive experience from her 23 years with another leading panel firm. She manages a large caseload of maximum severity cases for NHS Resolution, NHS Trusts, GPs, dentists and private surgeons as well as supervising other members of the healthcare team.
Direct Lines
+44 20 7876 6815 Sheryl.Gearing@clydeco.comMain Office
London, The St Botolph Building
+44 (0) 20 7876 5000 +44 (0) 20 7876 5111Regional experience
Full Profile
Sheryl specialises in complex and high value claims with a particular interest in neurosurgery, skull base and neurooncology. As well as adult-acquired brain injury, she has a high number of birth injury and trauma cases. Her particular strengths lie in supporting clinicians during the litigation process in cases where there is an ongoing therapeutic relationship with the Claimant and her level of support has been described as second to none.
Sheryl has been recognised as a key name in Legal 500 for her work in birth and brain injury, complex trauma and disease as well as her management of a team specialising in pre-action investigations. She has extensive trial and ADR experience.
Sheryl presents seminars and training regularly as well as writing articles.
Experience
- Successfully defended at trial a case where it was alleged the aorta was torn during a chest drain insertion
- Obtained a summary judgment for a GP following an application made after factual evidence heard at trial
- Obtained a strike out on day 1 in a trial where a Claimant alleged that the Defendant GP's delay in referral caused his wife’s death from AML 2 days after the consultation
- Successfully defended a bariatric team against a claim that anti-reflux surgery (GORD) was performed negligently leading to an inability to swallow
- Successfully defended a neurosurgical team where it was alleged that post-operative observations failed to identify deteriorating neurology leading to paraplegia
- Successfully defended a claim where it was alleged squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue was missed by an oral maxillofacial surgeon
- Secured discontinuances in multi-million pound claims involving cases of stroke and brain damage from hypoglycaemia caused by severe anorexia
- Secured a discontinuance in a claim where it was alleged that bacteria was introduced during open heart surgery leading to wound breakdown and destruction of the sternum
- Has negotiated favourable settlements in several cases in mediation both with and without counsel