Matthew Trinder

Matthew advises healthcare providers, insurers, medical practitioners, and medical defence organisations on clinical negligence, fitness to practise investigations, and health tech claims, including group actions and regulatory matters.

• Defended group litigation against a dentist following NHS England’s largest patient recall
• Advised a private hospital group and insurer on group litigation involving mesh in gynaecological prolapse surgery
• Represented BMI Healthcare in group actions by patients treated for prolapse with vaginal mesh
• Represented BMI Healthcare in claims involving Transvaginal Tape (TVT) slings for prolapse or urinary incontinence
• Successfully defended a doctor in a complex assisted reproduction claim concerning scope of duty and apportionment
• Represented a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in a GMC Fitness to Practise investigation on double-plane osteotomy knee surgery
• Represented a sports medicine doctor in GMC proceedings concerning off-label drugs, shoulder injuries, consent, and record-keeping
• Represented a whistleblowing matter in the HPC alleging bullying
• Represented an orthodontist in the GDC regarding post-retirement indemnity, consent issues, and alleged inappropriate treatment

Matthew advises insurers and medical defence organisations on coverage, indemnity, and vicarious liability, including disputes over non-indemnification, ADR for high-severity claims, and cost management in group litigation.

• Advised on coverage issues including doctors and dentists refused indemnity by their MDOs or insurers.
• Advised insurers on the vicarious liability of a private hospital group for self-employed consultants.
• Advised a dental clinic on the non-delegable duty of care to patients for independent contractor dentists.
• Use of all forms of ADR for maximum severity claims including settlement for circa £30m.
• Advised an insurer on costs following the settlement of group litigation involving almost 100 patients.

Matthew is a highly experienced medical malpractice specialist, focusing on private insurance and independent healthcare. He advises on complex clinical negligence, pioneering surgical cases, specialist treatment claims, neurological injuries, and high-severity NHS and private matters.

• Defended a surgeon in a cancer test case regarding Breast Implant-Associated Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-LCL) from Allergan Textured Breast Implants
• Advised on mass litigation concerning the Irish national screening programme for cytology
• Defended a doctor in the MPTS over off-label orthobiologics for shoulder injury
• Acted for an anaesthetist in a neurological injury claim brought by a world-famous singer following spinal treatment
• Advised a gynae specialist regarding the loss of embryos when indemnity was declined
• Meiklejohn v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and Homerton University Hospitals NHS Trust [2014] EWCA Civ 120. High Court and Court of Appeal successes regarding the duties of ‘super- specialists’ in the context of the diagnosis/treatment of Aplastic Anaemia.
• Sullivan v Guy’s & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust [2017] EWCA 602 (QB). High Court trial win about paediatric surgery for a congenital cardiac abnormality performed whilst the patient was intentionally off-bypass and in circulatory arrest. The judgment is often cited in cases involving novel treatment by ‘pioneering’ experts where neither the traditional Bolam test or deference to text books or guidelines is helpful.
• Chapman v Mid Essex NHS Foundation Trust [2022] EWHC 1290 (KB). High Court dismissed claim that a nurse practitioner had falsified records and failed to carry out a neurological examination in the context of a giant thoracic disc prolapse.

Recognised by The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for Clinical Negligence: defendant 2024-2026

Recognised by Best Lawyers (UK) for Clinical Negligence 2025

Represented defendant bodies on the Civil Justice Council core working group on Fixed Costs in Clinical Claims

Member of the High Court User’s Group on Clinical Negligence

Member of the Law Society Focus Groups on Fixed Costs and Rapid Resolution