Sahida Patel

I’m a Partner and Head of the Birth Injury Team in Leeds, with 28 years’ experience representing clients in complex and high-value medical negligence claims. I specialise in birth injury cases, including cerebral palsy and other serious brain injuries.

I regularly act for families in cases involving children affected by events around birth, including recently cases of kernicterus linked to undiagnosed neonatal jaundice, brain injuries caused by untreated hypoglycaemia, and infections such as Group B Streptococcus resulting from substandard care. I have extensive experience supporting families through these deeply challenging situations and securing multi-million-pound settlements to provide long-term care and support.

I’m proud to have been consistently ranked as a leading individual in The Legal 500 and recognised as a Leading Practitioner by Chambers and Partners. I was also nominated for Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse “Lawyer of the Year” in 2023 and 2024, and shortlisted for “Partner of the Year” at the 2024 Yorkshire Lawyer Awards.

It’s always deeply upsetting when a baby is injured at or around the time of their birth. What I find most rewarding is being able to help those children and their families access the support they need – whether that’s answers, an apology, or practical help such as specialist equipment, care, therapies, or suitable accommodation. Knowing that my work can make a positive difference to their future is incredibly important to me.

My clients are at the heart of everything I do, and I always adapt my approach to suit their needs. I regularly meet clients at home and arrange appointments at times that work best for them, including outside typical office hours. We have small caseloads which means I’m able to offer a truly personal service and take pride in making each client feel like my sole focus.

Given the nature of my work, relationships with clients often develop over many years. Even after their case has concluded, many families stay in touch and share updates. It’s a privilege to be trusted in such an important part of their lives and to build relationships that last well beyond the claim.

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We secured a settlement of over £25 million for a child who suffered a brain injury after hospital staff failed to recognise signs of distress during labour and act promptly to deliver the baby.

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We secured a £17 million settlement for a child who sustained serious burns at birth due to delays in labour and delivery.

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£15 million pounds secured for a client who suffered an irreversible brain injury after their breathing tube became dislodged during a hospital transfer.

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£14 million pounds secured for a client who was born not breathing for the first 9 minutes after birth due to a delay in delivery and who was diagnosed with four limb cerebral palsy.

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Over £17 million pounds for a client where the hospital failed to recognise and act upon issues following birth such as poor feeding and respiratory distress syndrome, Group B Streptococcus Meningitis (GBS) developed causing an irreversible brain injury.

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£14 million settlement for a child who suffered a brain injury after complications during birth were not properly managed. Despite known risks, the pregnancy was not adequately monitored, and delays during delivery led to a lack of oxygen, resulting in a permanent injury.

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Over £10 million for a client who pursued a claim for damages arising from a negligently delayed labour and delivery. He sustained a brain injury causing dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

Handling multi-million-pound claims is always a team effort. While I lead on strategy and oversee the most complex aspects of the case, I work closely with a dedicated team who help build the strongest possible claim for each client.

I genuinely love the work I do and the clients I support. Fletchers gives me the opportunity to lead my team in delivering the best possible outcomes for those who trust us with their cases.

The culture here is friendly and supportive – we work hard, but there’s a real sense of togetherness, and we enjoy spending time with one another as a team. We’re like one big family!

Outside of work, I enjoy travelling to faraway places with my family and making the most of time together. I play netball socially, enjoy long walks, and like to keep active. I also take great pleasure in spending time in my garden.