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Nicola is a very experienced serious personal injury solicitor who has specialised in severe catastrophic injury claims acting for both children and adults for the last fifteen years and is a Consultant to the Catastrophic Injury Team in the Personal Injury department.

She has a particular interest in acquired brain injury, rehabilitation and "capacity" and is a firm believer that the early introduction of rehabilitation assists all parties to bring claims to a satisfactory resolution. Nicola is completing an M. Sc. in Brain Injury Rehabilitation at Swansea University.

Nicola has a considerable experience in working with the Court of Protection. She also acts in claims involving severe sexual abuse, psychiatric injury and professional negligence arising from claims handling unsuccessfully by other lawyers.

Nicola is a fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers(APIL) and a Member of the Law Society's Personal Injury Panel, and is accredited with Headway and a member of the British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers(BABICM).

Nicola is a member of the ACAL panel(Association of Child Abuse Lawyers) and has been elected as a member of the Medico Legal Society.

Qualifications

Southampton University LL.B

University of Wales, Swansea Diploma in Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors 1985

Interesting Cases

Dorrington v Lawrence(2001) Claim relating to severe brain injuries from a motor bike accident which resulted in epilepsy and was settled at £3.5 million. This case was reported in relation to whether or not there was an obligation to repay the Independent Living Fund. It was held that there was no obligation to repay.

Brain injury claim against the Ministry of Defence, Claimant injured while on active service, damages of £770,000.

Settlement of child aged 4 inured in a road traffic accident, resulted in a settlement of £3.1 million. Innovative therapeutic environment for the Claimant provided by the purchase of a smallholding from an interim award.

Mediation of a severe head injury involving the opening of an earlier settlement together with a professional negligence claim resulting a settlement of £1.5 million.

Serious head injury of a pillion passenger on a motorbike. Awarded damages of £3.4million, at the time the largest award and first structured settlement in Queensland, Australia.