Emmalene Bushnell
Partner
Emmalene is a partner and experienced clinical negligence lawyer with over 15 years' experience.
Emmalene has a special interest in obstetric and gynaecology cases and acts for both mother and baby in respect of cerebral palsy cases and women who have suffered third and fourth degree tears, and prolapse as a result of childbirth.
Emmalene has experience of the devastating effect that birth injuries can have on women and children injured at birth, in particular on their family and social relationships. She is very approachable and sensitively deals with her clients.
She also has an interest in infectious disease claims arising out of the failure to diagnose and treat tuberculosis, meningitis, Group B Streptococcus (in new-borns) and leishmaniasis (a disease spread by the bite of a sand fly).
What people say
"From the very first phone call I felt respected and understood, Emmalene has been the greatest support throughout this journey." - Catherine via Trustpilot
"Emmalene Bushnell is super bright and always gets the best out of her experts." - Legal 500 2024
“Leigh Day have proven to us that they are not just a law firm, they are a law firm that cares about making a difference. They support us, and other parents like us, in gaining answers and justice.” - client of Emmalene.
What our clients say
We never thought when we first made contact with Leigh Day that it would be just over 5 years later when we settled our claim. It has been a long road to get to this point but Emmalene and her team have shown us nothing but compassion, commitment and kindness throughout. We cannot thank Emmalene enough. Thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.
Verity Bradley-Barker
Legal expertise
Emmalene’s recent settlements/admissions include:
Settlement for a woman who suffered injury during prolapse mesh repair surgery, without having properly consented to the procedure
Settlement of a claim for a mother following anal sphincter during the delivery of her second child in April 2002. The woman’s complaints of increased urgency were dismissed by her GP and other medical professionals. In 2009, the woman gave birth to her third child. Following childbirth, she experienced increased symptoms of urgency and faecal incontinence. Investigations by colorectal surgeons in 2012-2014 revealed that the claimant had suffered significant damage to her anal sphincter muscles. As a result, the woman, now 37 years of age has a permanent colostomy to manage her faecal incontinence.
Admission of liability, apology and settlement for a mother who suffered a fourth-degree tear (in which her internal and external anal sphincters were damaged) during the delivery of her first child at Croydon University Hospital, formerly known as the Mayday Hospital
Admission of liability, apology and compensation for a 39 year old women who suffered a ruptured uterus, postpartum haemorrhage and damage to her bladder after the birth of her second child. Unfortunately, due to the nature of her injuries she had to undergo a hysterectomy and could therefore not have any further children.
Memberships
Emmalene is a member of Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) and Association of Personal Injury Solicitors (APIL). She is accredited as a Senior Litigator of APIL and holds the Law Society clinical negligence specialist lawyer accreditation. She is also Secretary of the APIL Clinical Negligence Special Interest Group.
Emmalene Bushnell in the news
- Rising number of foreign objects found in patients after surgery in England Guardian 4.1.23
- Record number of ‘foreign objects’ being left inside patients Independent 4.1.22
- Record number of 'foreign objects' left inside patients after surgical blunders Sky News 4.1.23
What our clients say
Leigh Day have proven to us that they are not just a law firm, they are a law firm that cares about making a difference. They support us, and other parents like us, in gaining answers and justice.
Client of Emmalene
What our clients say
Everything was so professional and the people both helpful and informative at all stages. Gave a feeling of being in the right hands. Felt all the time that you were safe and being looked after and that your case was important.
P Ratcliffe, via Trustpilot
What the directories say
Emmalene Bushnell and Maria Panteli are key members of the team in maternal matters, with Panteli’s activity in breast cancer litigation coinciding with Bushnell’s experience in birth injuries resulting in gynecological injuries.
Legal 500 2025
Emmalene's accreditations
Related news
The importance of documenting Group B Streptococcus in a pregnant woman’s medical notes
Leigh Day lawyers Emmalene Bushnell and Kriya Hurley, who act for mothers in claims arising out of Group B Streptococcus affecting both mothers and babies, explain the importance of making a clear note of the presence of Group B Streptococcus in pregnant women
Man suffered brain injury in fall at Accident and Emergency Department
A man who suffered a traumatic brain injury following a fall in the Emergency Department has secured a six-figure sum in a clinical negligence legal claim.
Woman who underwent alleged unsuitable TVT surgery settles negligence claim
A woman who experienced physical and psychiatric injuries following allegedly negligent tension free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery has been awarded a six-figure settlement.