Terrence Donovan

Terry is the Head of the Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Department. He has a national reputation, and is one of the most respected and senior solicitors in the field.

In his medical negligence work he has always specialised in brain injury cases, particularly children with cerebral palsy as a result of birth injury, but his cases have included many conditions, including meningitis, spinal injury and prostate cancer.

Terry’s Personal Injury work is mostly for clients who have suffered very serious injuries, usually in road traffic or workplace accidents. He also acts for the families of people who have died in fatal accidents.   

He is also very experienced in dealing with inquests, particularly those concerned with suicide, and failings in psychiatric healthcare.

Terry’s cases often result in multi-million pound settlements. Terry is also very experienced in cases involving the Court of Protection, and has in the past acted as a Professional Deputy for many of his clients, dealing with things like the purchase and adaptation of homes, and the setting up of 24 hour care packages. This has given him a very real and practical understanding of the long-term needs of severely injured people.

A number of Terry’s cases have involved foreign accidents. He acted in the inquest for Horatio Chapple, a young man who was killed by a polar bear whilst on an expedition to Svalbard in Norway. He also represented the widow of Sir Ian Brownlie QC in her 2021 Supreme Court victory - Brownlie v FS Cairo (Nile Plaza) LLC. This is now the leading authority on when the English Courts will accept jurisdiction in cases involving personal injury and fatal accidents in other countries. Please click here for further details. 

Terry also specialises in claims concerned with sexual abuse allegations.  He works closely with our Criminal and Employment teams, and is one of the few solicitors within the field who acts for both victims of abuse and those who have been accused of it. This gives him almost unique experience in this very difficult area of the law.

Terry is an AvMA Panel member, and the former Chair of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers Clinical Negligence Special Interest Group. He has lectured widely on Medico-Legal subjects, and is a frequent blogger. Terry is ranked Band 1 in the Chambers and Partners Legal Directory for 2022, and his entry includes the following:-

“Terrence Donovan has seen it all; he is unflappable and I am always really impressed with the level of detail he picks up. He is excellent.”

Terry has been a solicitor for over 30 years, but he never forgets that his clients are usually facing a legal case for the first time, and that it is his responsibility and privilege to represent them.

Outside of work Terry’s favourite activities are spending time with his family, playing tennis, gardening and reading. He is also a member of the Kingsley Napley Choir and a keen guitarist, but unfortunately in both activities he is more enthusiastic than expert!