The Reform of Clinical Negligence Litigation

"The text of this lecture is being distributed to all present. Like all papers presented this afternoon it forms part of a Festschrift for Stephen Walker, who is today retiring as Chief Executive of the NHSLA. By coincidence at about the same time Michael Napier is retiring as Senior Partner of Irwin Mitchell. Both Stephen and Michael have been towering figures in the world of clinical negligence for many years, albeit on opposite sides. It is a pleasure to see that the speakers today include a close colleague of Stephen and a close colleague of Michael. I pay tribute to both Stephen and Michael for the great contributions which they have made to this field of the law and also thank both of them for the contributions which they made to the Civil Litigation Costs Review. I wish both Stephen and Michael very long and active retirements."