Aidan O'Brien

Aidan is an absolute dream to work with - he's hardworking, he goes the extra mile and is charming and persuasive with clients, witnesses and experts

Legal 500 2023

Aidan O’Brien

  • Called in 2011

Clinical Negligence

Aidan enjoys an extensive medical practice, ranging from complex clinical negligence claims, regulatory discipline and medical product liability. He has a Master’s degree in Healthcare Law & Ethics and has been published in the British Medical Journal.

Aidan represents both claimants and defendants (NHS Resolution, medical defence organisations, private hospitals and independent clinicians) in the full panoply of negligence claims.

Aidan has particular expertise in claims arising from:

  • Missed cancer diagnoses.
  • Cauda equina syndrome.
  • Lack of informed consent.
  • Obstetric injuries, including shoulder dystocia.
  • Compartment syndrome.
  • DVT and pulmonary embolism.
  • Spinal injuries.
  • Hypoxic brain injuries.

Recent instructions include as sole counsel:

  • Cauda equina syndrome claim, valued at >£2.5 million.
  • Defending a claim alleging that the improper use of a vaccine led to chronic fatigue syndrome, pleaded at >£7 million.
  • Claims arising from allegations of negligent delivery due to excessive traction, causing Erb’s palsy and life-long disabilities, pleaded at >£3.7 million.
  • Claim arising from the development of chronic kidney disease following the improper use of medication, pleaded at > £5 million.
  • Various high-profile claims arising from inappropriate surgery and lack of informed consent, arising from an Orthopaedic Surgeon in private practice.
  • Claim arising from a ‘never event’ involving the removal of the wrong bone during surgery.

Aidan is also trained as a Nursing & Midwifery Council Case Presenter and has experience in a wide range of medical regulatory hearings.

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Notable Cases

Jarman v Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
Aidan successfully defended a £2.4 million Cauda Equina Syndrome (‘CES’) claim, in circumstances where the Claimant was permitted to rely upon her own experts, as well as a suite of experts instructed by a second defendant in separate, but related, proceedings, who discontinued prior to trial.

X v Y NHS Trust
Aidan obtained a >£600,000 settlement on behalf of a family after the suicide of the husband/father. The deceased’s death would have been prevented if the defendant trust’s mental health team had appropriately assessed him in the days prior to his death.

KS v BH Healthcare
Aidan secured a £90,000 settlement on behalf of an elderly patient who suffered pressure sores as a consequence of the defendant’s negligence.

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Putta v Royal Sun Alliance
Aidan successfully resisted an appeal against HHJ Venn’s finding that a Claimant was sufficiently pecunious to self-fund vehicle repairs and an alternative vehicle, pending those repairs, in circumstances where the Claimant would be required to use his credit cards and overdraft.

Kadir v Thompson
Aidan successfully defended a credit hire claim on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentation at first instance and on appeal.

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If you would like to instruct Aidan O’Brien or would like help or advice in doing so, please call and talk to our excellent clerking team, led by Chief Executive/Director of Clerking, Paul Cray. Our phone number is +44 (0)20 7583 9241. Alternatively, please email us at chambers@farrarsbuilding.co.uk

For more information about our clerking team, please click here for the clerks page.

Appointments & Memberships

    • Football Association, Judicial Panel Member
    • World Rugby, Judicial Officer
    • European Professional Cup Rugby (‘ECPR’), Judicial Officer
    • Rugby Football Union Judicial Panel
    • British Association for Sport & Law
    • Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Service
    • Personal Injuries Bar Association
    • London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association
    • Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers
    • Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists ‘ACTAPS’

Education & Qualifications

  • BPTC, City Law School, London.
  • MA Healthcare Law & Ethics, University of Manchester.
  • BA Law & Politics, University of Manchester.
  • St Colman’s College Grammar School, Newry, Northern Ireland.

Testimonials

I have had the pleasure of working with Aidan for the last four/five years. Aidan is an excellent barrister and in my view, stands out from other barristers because of his attention to detail and his quick thinking when faced with a difficult situation. Aidan also goes the extra mile with the witnesses, to make them feel at ease and keeping me happy at the same time.

Recently, we attended a Trial together. I normally pride myself in my attention to detail but Aidan spotted something that I had not and, as a result, got us out of what could have been a very sticky situation. Following the Trial, although we settled, the witness told me how impressed he was with Aidan; in particular the calm manner in which he dealt with the situation and the way Aidan made him feel at ease.

Aidan is also very helpful when it comes to “non fee” work and has carried out a number of seminars for my firm and is always happy to help. Recently I managed to persuade him to undertake the Three Peaks Challenge with me! I am not sure Aidan has forgiven me for that yet! I look forward to working with Aidan in the future.

Narrinder Taggar

Partner

Shakespeare Martineau

 

At DWF, my causation team and I have worked with Aidan over the past few years  and he has provided exceptional success with his advocacy. We believe that he is thorough, evidences strong technical ability, is enthusiastic and is well liked by our clients.

Jewels Chamberlain

Director, Fraud & Insurance Team

DWF

 

Thorough, knowledgeable, very responsive and personable…

Avinder Sidhu

Senior Associate, Clinical Negligence Department

Kennedys

 

Approachable and very client friendly. Knowledgeable in the area of contentious probate in which I would not hesitate to instruct Aidan again.

Tracey Leathley

Specialist Probate Solicitor

Lyons Davidson

 

 

Directory Quotes

Aidan is ranked as a ‘Leading Junior’ in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK. Testimonials include:

“Aidan is a master of his profession.” “He is great with witnesses, thorough and detailed in his written advice and superb on his feet.” “He won’t waste time but he will go straight to the heart of the matter.” “Aidan is always pleasant to be against because he has a charming personality and is very sensible in regard to a case.” Chambers UK 2025

‘Aidan is very personable and likeable. Strong attention to detail and dives into the depths of a case. Persuasive advocate.’

Legal 500 2025 – Ranked Leading Junior in Clinical Negligence – Tier 3

‘Aidan is a brilliant barrister. He is very good on his feet at court and in ADR.’

Legal 500 2024 – Ranked Leading Junior in Clinical Negligence – Tier 3

‘Aidan is an absolute dream to work with – he’s hardworking, he goes the extra mile and is charming and persuasive with clients, witnesses and experts’

Legal 500 2023 – Ranked Leading Junior in Clinical Negligence – Tier 3

‘Aidan always provides very sensible advice. An excellent barrister who understands the client’s needs.’ 

Legal 500 2022 – Ranked Leading Junior in Clinical Negligence – Tier 4

 

Publications

  • The British Medical Journal: ‘Lessons from the Ashya King case’.
  • The Guardian: ‘Nothing but the Truth’.
  • Farrar’s Building Website: ‘Consent to Medical Treatment – Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board’
  • Farrar’s Building PI Update: ‘Accidents Abroad: Jurisdiction, Liability and Damages’
  • Employment Law Update 2014: ‘Third Party Harassment after the Repeal of S.40 EqA’.
  • Farrar’s Building EL Seminar ‘S. 69 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013’