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Terrence Donovan
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
Terry is the Head of the Clinical 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 acts exclusively for Claimants. 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.
He is also very experienced in dealing with medical inquests, particularly those concerned with suicide, and failings in psychiatric healthcare.
Terry’s Personal Injury work is mostly for clients who have very serious injuries, or for the families of people who have died in accidents (Fatal Accident claims). Most of his cases arise from road traffic accidents, or injuries in the work place.
He has considerable experience in financial dependency claims where a fatal accident or serious injury has meant that the owner of a business can no longer work, and it becomes necessary to value the business, and the income that it would have provided in the future.
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 represents the widow of Sir Ian Brownlie QC whose case Brownlie v Four Seasons Holdings Inc went to the Supreme Court in 2017. The case continues, and is concerned with whether the English Courts have jurisdiction to rule on fatal accidents that occur in other countries.
Terry also has significant experience in dealing with sexual abuse compensation claims. He works closely with our Criminal Law Department, and is one of the few solicitors in 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 ethically challenging area of the law. Terry prides himself on the high professional standards and integrity that he brings to the work.
Terry has huge experience in dealing with catastrophic brain injury cases, and before we set up our Specialist Court of Protection Team, he acted as a Professional Deputy for many of our clients, dealing with things like the purchase and adaptation of homes. This has given him a very real and practical understanding of the long-term needs of severely injured people.
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 always recognised as a leader in the field in the legal directories.
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 his enthusiasm is more notable than his talent!
"highly experienced litigator'"
Legal 500 2019
"experienced practitioner who impresses market sources with his work on brain damage, cerebral palsy and fatal injury claims" -
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2019
"Terry Donovan is very experienced; he's been in the market for a very long time and knows as much as anyone"
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2019
"Terry Donovan is very experienced; he's been in the market for a very long time and knows as much as anyone."
"the full package; he has in depth knowledge of the field and can make it easy for others to understand"
Chambers UK
"great at keeping the client on board - a really reassuring lawyer"
Chambers UK
"incredibly good with clients"
Legal 500
"personable and utterly professional"
Legal 500
Client feedback:
From the moment I first met with Terry I was impressed at how knowledgeable and understanding he was, and felt he wanted to help our family and cared about us as people and not just a paperwork claim. This is the reason I decided to move our case to Kingsley Napley, and it was the best decision I made.”
Client feedback:
The service we received from Kirsty and Terry was very efficient, reliable and trustworthy, and they were always willing to help. We are very happy with the outcome.”
Client feedback:
From the very beginning our expectations were carefully managed… and this was hugely helpful to us as we had obviously never had to go through something like this before. At all times it was professional but caring… I could not have hoped for a better team to help me at a terrible time in our lives.”
Client feedback to the legal team:
From the moment we met you at the hospital, I believed you and your team were the people to help us navigate this beyond difficult situation we found ourselves in …”
It is such a huge relief knowing that he will now receive the care and support he deserves and this is entirely down to your efforts, commitment, patience and professionalism”.
Terry is also regularly invited to speak at industry events, and has lectured on Inquests and the Human Rights Act, the role of the professional deputy, and the future of clinical negligence practice, and many different aspects of clinical negligence law.
He is the APIL clinical negligence media spokesman, and regularly provides commentary and support for APIL campaigns, most recently, in relation to the Medical Innovation Bill, and the proposed introduction of fixed costs in clinical negligence claims.
"He seems to be incredibly experienced and unflappable. Clients trust him completely and he is a solid lawyer."
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2021
"He is very personable and good with clients."
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2021
"very personable, insightful and experienced."
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2020
"experienced practitioner who impresses market sources with his work on brain damage, cerebral palsy and fatal injury claims."
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2019
"Terry Donovan is very experienced; he's been in the market for a very long time and knows as much as anyone"
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2019
"exceptionally good with clients."
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2018
the ‘excellent’ Terrence Donovan, who heads the practice and is a ‘leading’ specialist in maximum severity cases,
Legal 500 2017
“ very professional and easy to deal with”
A client, 2017
"He is acknowledged by sources as a "superb"lawyer who "not only has enormous experience and is able to think outside of the box, but is also absolutely brilliant with clients.""
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2017
"Terrence Donovan litigates clinical negligence claims of the utmost severity, involving such matters as cerebral palsy and fatal accidents. He is known for having “enormous experience” and described as “meticulous, imaginative and intelligent.”"
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"The one I'd go to for a personal service"
Chambers UK, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession
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