Colum Smith
Litigation Partner

Qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and a Senior Partner of the firm. Colum Smith is head of the Litigation department at McMillan Williams. He specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury work.  He is a member of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel, the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel, AVMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) Solicitors Panel and the firm is a member of the Headway Panel (specialist in brain injury cases), he also sits as one of the Chairman of the Clinical Negligence Appeals Committee at the Legal Services Commission.

Colum Smith regularly lectures to the NHS in relation to clinical negligence and related subjects, with a particular emphasis on record keeping and how to deal with the day to day practicalities of litigation in the NHS and private medical practice.  He was also instrumental in setting up the pilot scheme with the NHS Modernisation Agency in ensuring that newer members to the medical profession understood the legal implications of their first forays into clinical responsibility at a senior level.

Colum spends the majority of his time in litigation against the National Health Service, representing clients all over the country.  He recovers damages at all levels and he particularly specialises in large value multi-million pound legal actions, he also specialises in personal injury cases where clients have suffered severe injuries, including brain damage.  He acts regularly on behalf of young children and babies.

He is well known for taking a straightforward, pragmatic approach to litigation, which is very much results based.

He is dedicated and known for achieving excellent results for his clients and for succeeding in unusual cases. Important cases handled include Greenfield –v- (1) Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust (2) Dr Arto Day (2002), Kevin Finnis (By his wife and litigation friend Lisa Finnis) – v- James Caulfield (2002), Warrilow –v- Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals NHS Trust (2006), Alan Dudley & Others -v- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (2006), Rayner –v- Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust (2007), Wild –v- Stagg (2006)

Colum heads a team of clinical negligence lawyers in his seven branch firm.  The majority of his clients are personally referred to him by previous clients and/or medical practitioners.