Nicola Davies (judge)

On 22 January 2010, Nicola Davies QC DBE was appointed as a High Court judge in the Queen's Bench Division. She had a high profile medical law practice. She was born in Llanelli, Wales, and grew up in Bridgend, where she attended Bridgend Girls' Grammar School. In 1971 she studied law at Birmingham University.

After graduating, and following a stint at a small solicitor's firm, she became an investment analyst in the City.

She then decided to become a barrister. She did her second six month pupillage at Carpmael Buildings, which later became 3 Serjeant's Inn. A turning point came in the young barrister's career when acting as a junior counsel to the two doctors involved in the Cleveland Child Abuse cases, she became recognised as a medical specialist. She also became a member of the Treasury Panels.

In 1992, and aged 39, she became a QC. Three years later, she became an Assistant Recorder. Meanwhile, her medical practice was flourishing and she chaired two Inquiries. 1998 was a busy year, with six months spent on the Bristol heart surgeon's case, followed by instruction to defend Harold Shipman and also acting for the Department of Health in the BSE inquiry. In 2003, the judge was made a Deputy High Court judge.

Notable decisions include an application for judicial review where she quashed a decision to close certain NHS paediatric surgery units.^[1]

References

External links

• The Hon. Mrs Justice Nicola Davies DBE, Judicial Appointments Commission