Biography
I am a senior associate solicitor within the market-leading medical negligence team at Irwin Mitchell’s London office. I specialise in a wide range of medical negligence claims and I have worked in the medical negligence department since 2008. After 11 years working at the Birmingham office, I transferred to our London office in January 2020.
I qualified as a solicitor in 2011, and have gained a wide range of experience assisting clients who have suffered life-changing injuries. I have also helped those who have lost loved ones due to medical negligence received from the NHS or privately. I have particular expertise in dealing with fatal claims and have assisted several families with the Inquest process. I am currently responsible for a varied caseload of complex clinical negligence claims. I have a wealth of experience dealing with:
- Spinal and brain injury claims
- Orthopaedic claims
- Paediatric claims
- Psychiatric and mental health claims
- Amputation claims
- Birth injury claims
- Professional/non-professional sports injury claims
- General surgery claims including: Bile duct injuries following gallbladder surgery, delay in diagnosis of appendicitis leading to rupture and bowel damage caused during surgery.
I have specialist experience in representing professional athletes, having acted for two professional boxers who suffered significant brain injury following misreported British Boxing Board of Control annual re-licensing boxing fitness MRI scans. I have also represented an ex-professional rugby player, who had a mismanaged on-pitch heart attack, whilst playing semi-professional rugby.
Medical negligence claims are often high profile and clients often wish to share their stories with the press to raise awareness. In assisting families with this process, I have provided legal comment to the BBC, ITV, Sky TV and Channel 5 news teams. I have also provided comment to local and national newspapers, such as the Guardian, Telegraph and The Times. It is important to me that clients feel their stories are heard to make sure errors in medical care are not repeated.
What do you like about working at Irwin Mitchell?
I have been lucky enough to have worked the entirety of my formal legal career at Irwin Mitchell, from being a legal assistant to becoming a qualified solicitor. I feel that the firm represents all of the core values that are important to me. The level of knowledge and expertise we offer makes me feel secure that our clients are receiving the very best legal advice and overall service.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
I find great satisfaction in helping clients who have suffered injuries or have lost a loved one make sense of what is often a very complex and traumatic experience. I am passionate about helping clients move forward with their lives as best possible and ensuring they obtain the rehabilitation and support they require.
I find it very rewarding when clients are satisfied that they have completed the legal process and are able to move forward knowing they have obtained justice.
What inspired you to get into law?
I have always been fascinated by the way in which the law underpins everything we do and is designed to protect our rights. Following my pre and post-graduate studies, I wanted to work within medical law to ensure clients, who have often suffered life changing injuries, get the justice they deserve.
What do you do away from the office?
I am a devoted dog-father to my black Labrador, Otto! I am also a keen road cyclist and can be found most weekends out on a long ride, weather permitting! I enjoy spending time with family and cooking is also a great passion of mine. I also enjoy entering charity challenge events and charity work generally.
Client Testimonials
"Irwin Mitchell - Simply the best!
I started my journey with Irwin Mitchell on behalf of my son back in the beginning of 2014. It’s been a very complex case & we have encountered many a set backs along the way but Irwin Mitchell’s team have never given up on us & continued to fight for my son.
Over the years we have had many solicitors (due to the length of time of the case) & every solicitor has been brilliant. However, since Thomas Riis-Bristow took over our case roughly 2-3 years ago he has really progressed the case & we have finally just agreed a settlement. Something I never thought was possible, something I never allowed myself to dream possible.
Thomas’s hard work, dedication & support has been amazing & I am truly grateful to him for moving this case forward the way he has.
During my years with Irwin Mitchell, I have also had many Paralegal’s helping along the way, but a special mention & special thanks goes to Larissa Harpley who, also over the last 2-3 years has been played an integral role. She is always extremely helpful & very organised. She sends me constant reminders of appointments to relieve any pressure off of me & also sends me schedules of upcoming appointments.
Robert Glancy QC - my Counsel, who was appointed by Irwin Michell is incredible. His attention to detail & understanding has been paramount.
Between us all, we’ve had to have some very difficult conversations about what happened to my son at his birth & what the future holds for him & they have all been extremely compassionate & empathetic which I am so appreciative of.
I still have a little way to go before my sons settlement is finalised but I know with Thomas Riis-Bristow, Larissa Harpley & Robert Glancy QC in my corner, everything will work out for the best!
I honestly couldn’t recommend Irwin Mitchell more highly. They have been outstanding & I will be forever grateful to them." - 5* Trustpilot review
I would definitely recommend Irwin Mitchell as probably the best Medical Negligence firm in the UK on a no win no fee basis. Thomas Riis-Bristow, my solicitor, was professional, efficient & effective - an expert in this field. Communication was excellent with clear, timely explanations that guided me through this four & a half year long, painful process; discussing my concerns in a very detailed way. He & his team were compassionate & caring; seeming to empathise with the trauma being experienced. With their help & support I finally made it to the last hurdle & achieved a fair outcome for Ralph. A huge thank you. - 5* Trustpilot review
"Within minutes Tom took my fears and anxieties away. He acted with compassion, professional integrity and honesty from the very start. From here on, Tom became a trusted ally through a tough case. He returned calls and emails in a timely way and treated me with total respect even when discussing some confidential and sensitive medical records which could be very distressing. Tom walked the entire journey with me and I cannot thank him enough for his kindness, compassion, professionalism, and sheer skill! He really is an efficient and skilful practitioner and I feel very privileged to have Tom assigned to my case." - 5* Trustpilot review
"After 8 years of working with Irwin Mitchell and its outstanding team, my personal solicitor Thomas Riis-Bristow our relationship as also become a friendship. This company took on my case knowing it was a individual, complex case. Yet they never stopped working to get the result they believed i deserved, from start to end the communication from Tom was exceptional, i was always kept up to date and asked my opinion. I have always felt that Tom had mine, my wife and sons best interests at heart. I truly believe we would not of got the result we had if I had not had Irwin Mitchell by my side." - 5* Trustpilot review
"I have absolutely no reservation in recommending Irwin Mitchell and in particular Thomas Riis-Bristow. Thomas has always been friendly and professional, which has instilled confidence and understanding on my part at time when my family and I have needed guidance and help. Thomas has always kept us up to speed with my case, and has always been quick to put my mind at ease or answer any questions no matter how strange. Thank you Tom!" -5* Trustpilot review
"Tom Riis-Bristow who listened to what I had to say, took my concerns and told me he would fully intestate my worries. Mr Riis-Bristow kept me fully informed at every stage of my case. He always made sure I fully understood the legal process and I can't thank him enough for his help. We have just closed the case and got the best result I could have wished for." -5* Trustpilot review
"Irwin Mitchell have been dealing with my case for a number of years. During that time we have been kept fully up to date on all aspects of the case. It has not been the easiest case for them I’m sure but they managed to keep pushing forward to get us a really good end result. Leena Savjani and Georgie Cushing have been instrumental in the case reaching conclusion with additional support from Thomas Riis-Bristow and Beth Whittaker working closely with them on the case. We have got to know the solicitors really well and even under the circumstances involved, they were professional whilst also caring regarding the situation." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Shortly after appointing Irwin Mitchell to help with my wife’s claim for " Clinical Negligence", we realised we had made a first class choice. They were thoroughly professional and sensitive to my wife’s situation throughout.
In particular we would like to say big thank you to our case solicitor, Thomas Riis-Bristow, who has been excellent. Always available for a friendly chat about progress, provided us with regular updates, gave us valued advice and guided us gently through the complexities of the legal process. We are very pleased with the outcome, and would highly recommend Irwin Mitchell." - 5* Trustpilot review
'Thank you so much for all your help with this claim. Words cannot really say how extremely grateful and thankful I am for all the work that you have done on our behalf. I know that my mum is overwhelmed with the support you have given her and I will say on her behalf, thank you for being our champion.' – Client SW
‘Thomas has proved to be the ideal solicitor to have on your side. His calm, professional and extremely knowledgeable attitude has allowed me to feel informed and to make decisions that have often felt overwhelming. I now have a settlement and can move forward – I know I could not have done this without Irwin Mitchell and Thomas Riis-Bristow in particular.' – Mary P
'Thomas Riis-Bristow has been fantastic throughout my case. I have been a client of Tom’s for several years and I can truly say he is professional, knowledgeable and extremely friendly. He has taken his time to explain each and every step, sometimes several times, showing patience and empathy throughout. Tom is a top solicitor and a top guy!' – Esther W
'After eight years of working with Irwin Mitchell and my personal solicitor, Thomas Riis-Bristow, our relationship has become a friendship. I have always felt that Tom had mine, my wife and my son’s best interests at heart. I truly believe we would not have got the result we did if I had not had Irwin Mitchell by my side.' – Darren M
Publications
Concerns over alleged medical negligence at University Hospitals Sussex continue as it's revealed surgeon used penknife on a patient during operation
