Mary Hough - Partner
Mary is a partner and Head of the Healthcare team at Hayes solicitors. She specialises in professional indemnity defence litigation and in particular dealing with high value clinical negligence claims. Mary has extensive experience in civil litigation, acting for insurance companies, indemnifiers and plaintiffs.
For many years, Mary has advised public and private hospitals, medical professionals and their indemnifiers in a wide range of contentious and non-contentious medico-legal matters. These include issues relating to consent, policies, guidelines and protocols, patient complaints, Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation, retention of records and claims management.
Expertise
Mary is a partner and Head of the Healthcare team at Hayes solicitors. She specialises in professional indemnity defence litigation and in particular dealing with high value clinical negligence claims. Mary has extensive experience in civil litigation, acting for insurance companies, indemnifiers and plaintiffs.
For many years, Mary has advised public and private hospitals, medical professionals and their indemnifiers in a wide range of contentious and non-contentious medico-legal matters. These include issues relating to consent, policies, guidelines and protocols, patient complaints, Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation, retention of records and claims management.
Experience
- With over 16 years’ experience in private practice and having worked for 6 years managing clinical negligence claims in the State Claims Agency (Clinical Indemnity Scheme), Mary has unique insight into all aspects of medical negligence litigation and an in-depth understanding of clients’ needs
- Advocacy Experience - In addition to her extensive litigation experience, Mary also has considerable advocacy experience, having been the sole advocate for a leading children’s hospital in a Tribunal of Inquiry
- Coroner's Inquests - Mary also represents clients at coroner’s inquests and has served on a hospital ethics committee
- Her litigation experience also includes making applications to the High Court for orders relating to the urgent medical treatment of children
- Mediation - Mary has a keen interest in alternative dispute resolution. She is a CEDR accredited mediator and has participated in the mediation of disputes related to healthcare and non-healthcare issues.
Qualifications/Education
- Accredited mediator, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)
- Professional qualification as a solicitor, Law Society of Ireland, 1996
- BA (Hons) in European Studies (Law and German), University of Limerick.
Memberships
- Law Society of Ireland
- Dublin Solicitors Bar Association
- Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)
- Irish Commercial Mediators Association (ICMA).
Other
- Mary has lectured to clinicians and medical students in public and voluntary hospitals on issues such as informed consent, mediation and claims management
- Mary has lectured to solicitors in the Law Society and has spoken at seminars on topics pertinent to clinical negligence claims
- Mary has been published in the Law Society’s Gazette on medical negligence issues
- Mary gives healthcare related advice to charities and has advised Hospital Boards in relation to medico-legal issues.
Testimonials
Mary Hough has "immense experience".
"Her attention to detail is unparalleled"
"She is a calm presence in litigation, which is very reassuring to the people around her. We always feel she is absolutely in control of what is happening."
Ranked as a "Leading Individual" for Healthcare Law and is also recognised for her expertise in Dispute Resolution, Insurance and Public Sector work.
Mary Hough is described by clients as 'really wonderful' and a 'standout practitioner'.
"She is experienced, calm in a crisis and good with clients."
"Always responsive, approachable and very helpful"