Rachel is extremely good with clients and her advocacy is excellent. She is also incredibly strong on anything related to relief from sanctions.’

The Legal 500 2024, Clinical Negligence

Rachel is ranked as a leading junior (Tier 2) for clinical negligence in Legal 500 2023. She has a thriving practice and has developed a particular focus on delayed diagnosis and treatment of cancers (primary and metastatic disease), colorectal and gastrointestinal surgery, obstetrics/gynaecology and ophthalmology. She also has a special interest in breast cancer cases.

Recent instructions include cases (for claimants and defendants) in the fields of:

Oncology:

  • Mistaken diagnosis of breast cancer leading to unnecessary surgery and lymph node excision.
  • Delayed diagnosis and negligent treatment of HER-2 positive breast cancer.
  • Delayed diagnosis and negligent post-surgical adjuvant treatment of oestrogen-positive,HER-2 negative breast cancer.
  • Alleged delayed diagnosis of osteosarcoma resulting in limb amputation.
  • Negligent radiological analysis and reporting of bone cancers and metastatic disease.
  • Delayed diagnosis and negligent treatment of HER-2 positive breast cancer.
  • Delayed diagnosis and negligent post-surgical adjuvant treatment of oestrogen-positive, HER-2 negative breast cancer.

Ophthalmology:

  • Negligent management of keratoconus in a young woman with permanent damage to vision and otherwise avoidable transplant surgery.
  • A consent dispute involving poor corneal transplant outcomes in a patient with Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy.

General/GI surgery

  • Duodenal injury in the context of open cholecystectomy.
  • Negligent bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  • Avoidable multiple organ failure in negligent hemicolectomy.
  • Unnecessary rectopexy for chronic anismus.

General Practice:

  • Alleged delayed diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus leading to glaucoma, to acute peripheral neuropathy, and to limb amputation.
  • GPs’ failure to follow up on abnormal imaging leading to delayed diagnosis of metastatic breast and skin cancer in the lungs.
  • Alleged failures to diagnose atrial fibrillation/refer to cardiology.

Geriatrics:

  • Negligent care of elderly high-falls-risk patients and of patients with vascular dementia.

Cosmetic Procedures:

  • Allegations of negligent cosmetic procedures involving high-intensity lasers, including laser hair removal and skin treatments.

Dentistry:

  • Claims involving negligent root canal therapy and unnecessary extractions.
  • Settlement for a child who sustained permanent facial scarring as a result of infection arising from negligent dental treatment.

Obstetrics/midwifery:

  • Avoidable stillbirth of a first child, causing physical and significant psychiatric injury to the mother (and affecting future pregnancies).
  • Neonatal deaths
  • Birth injury cases
  • Settlement for a child claimant sustaining injury and permanent scarring due to negligent amniohook usage.

Resources

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Directory Quotes

Rachel has an unrivalled attention to detail, excellent response times, and is a thoughtful and concise advocate.’

The Legal 500 2024, Personal Injury

Rachel is an approachable barrister who provides reasoned and concise advice.”

The Legal 500 2023, Clinical Negligence

Seminars & Events

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  • Qualifications & awards:

    • BPTC (Nottingham Law School) – very competent (top in year in commercial litigation and employment litigation)
    • Grad LLB (Nottingham Law School) – first class
    • GDL (University of Plymouth) – distinction
    • PhD (Newcastle University)
    • PGCertHE (Open University)
    • MA by research (University of Leeds)
    • BA (Hons) in Music with English Literature (University of Leeds)

  • Professional memberships:

    • Personal Injury Bar Association
    • Employment Law Bar Association
    • Women Lawyers’ Division
    • Member of the Western Circuit
    • Member of the Western Circuit’s Women’s Forum

  • Additional information:

    Before training for the Bar, Rachel was a full-time academic for many years, lecturing in musicology and specialising in Golden Era Hollywood film scoring and latterly working in Higher Education Policy Research. She is a recognised expert on the composer Franz Waxman (a particular focus of her PhD) on whom she has contributed a range of publications, including a Composer of the Week series for BBC Radio 3. She was until recently a professional classical cellist and singer.

  • Rachel Segal is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please read here.