James Foster BDS, LLM, MFGDP (UK), FFFLM
Head of Dental Services – Asia & Australasia

After qualifying from Newcastle Dental School in 1990, James spent sixteen years in general practice where he ran two practices in Northumberland. James has held various roles with the Northern Deanery, including VT Adviser (latterly as a GPT Scheme Adviser), Workforce Adviser, Dental Tutor and a PCD Tutor. He has also worked as a Clinical Supervisor in Prosthodontics at Newcastle Dental Hospital.

James obtained a master’s degree in Medical Law in 2005 and holds the MFGDP(UK) and a Certificate in Clinical Education. James is also a trained mentor.

After joining Dental Protection in 2004 as a local adviser, James was appointed associate dentolegal adviser before becoming a full-time dentolegal adviser in March 2008. He handled cases from several jurisdictions and in 2014 was appointed Head of Dental Services for Australia and New Zealand – a role that now also includes Asia.

Jim Lafferty BDS MJDF (RCS Eng)
International Dentolegal Consultant

Jim graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1993 and has worked in general dental practice for the last 27 years, obtaining the MJDF in 2012. Jim has been heavily involved in his Local Dental Committee and the British Dental Association since 1997. He has twice been elected to the General Dental Council (UK) where he sat on disciplinary hearings, the education committee and helped to develop the first framework for compulsory CPD.

Jim initially joined Dental Protection as a local dental advisor, before taking on a part-time role in 2016. He works mainly as a dentolegal consultant in our non-UK dentolegal team, and still practises part-time in Sheffield.

Simrit Ryatt BDS MJDF LLM
International Dentolegal Consultant

Prior to entering general practice, Simrit qualified from the University of Manchester Dental Hospital in 2004, returning as a Clinical Fellows Teaching Assistant to teach fourth and fifth-year students at the same institute. She obtained her LLM Master of Laws with merit in June 2017.

Simrit joined Dental Protection in 2014 where she has assisted our UK members ever since, and our non-UK members since 2018. Simrit regularly writes for our ‘Riskwise’ publication and provides lectures and webinars for our members.

Louise Eggleton BDS
International Dentolegal Consultant

After completing her dental degree at the University of Leeds, Louise worked as a general dental practitioner in both the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and private practice before taking up the role of Senior Dental Officer within the NHS Foundation Trust Community Dental Services.

Louise went on to accept the position of Honorary Clinical Lecturer for the University of Sheffield, providing education and supervision to dental students within the student outreach programme. She is currently completing the LLM Master’s degree in Medical Law and Ethics.

As a dentolegal consultant for Dental Protection, Louise manages cases in the UK, Asia, the Caribbean and Bermuda and South Africa.