Christopher Briggs has practised in the healthcare sector since qualification in 1987. Following completion of his articles in Oxford he joined Hempsons and spent 15 years (eight as partner) advising medical practitioners and NHS Trusts.

He specialised in high value clinical negligence claims, the duties and obligations of trusts in respect of patient confidentiality, and representation of doctors and dentists in disciplinary proceedings before the General Medical Council, the General Dental Council and also before the criminal courts.

He was involved in the first instance cases of Bolitho -v- City and Hackney HA, and Salih -v- Enfield HA and advised several North West Trusts in the putative recombinant factor 8 litigation. He was also involved in defending several general practitioners in the benzodiazepine litigation.

Following a period with former Hempsons partner Michael Ryan, where Christopher continued to represent medical practitioners in a wide variety of cases (Hall v Egdell, Wardlaw v Farrar (CA)), Christopher and his team joined the Healthcare team at DLA Piper in 2006 and continued to represent medical practitioners primarily on behalf of the Medical Defence Union.  Christopher represented the defendant in Holt v Edge (CA) and also the first medical practitioner successfully to apply for restoration to the medical register following the introduction of the 5 year erasure rule.

The DLA team moved to Halliwells in 2008 where Christopher led a 4 solicitor team specialising in both clinical negligence and disciplinary cases.

Since moving to DACBeachcroft in 2010 Christopher has continued to represent medical practitioners in both civil and regulatory matters.  Recently he successfully represented the defendant surgeon in Laughton v Shalaby (CA).  

Endorsements

"He is superb - an expert in disciplinary and clinical negligence cases." Chambers and Partners UK 2014 Edition, Professional Discipline, UK Wide

"DAC Beachcroft LLP’s healthcare team is jointly led by ‘outstanding lawyer’ Christopher Briggs" Legal 500 UK Edition 2012, Health Manchester