Expertise

Amy advises on a diverse range of clinical negligence cases that have left her clients suffering from life-altering injuries. Although not limited to these, she predominately deals with spinal, brain and birth injury claims resulting from varying acts or omissions from negligence in a variety of health care settings in particular multi-party private treatment claims. Heading up our Inquests and Fatal Accident claims she has recently completed the Coronial Law Lecture Series 2022 at the University of Bolton.

Recognition

Having moved from the London office to Leeds in 2019, Amy was short-listed as a ‘Rising Star’ of the insurance industry in 2022 at the founding Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse awards.

She is also ranked as a Star Associate for Yorkshire in Chambers 2023 and as a Rising Star in Legal 500 2023. She has also successfully acted in a multi-defendant claim in a 10-day trial at the High Court in which the claimant received private and NHS treatment from seven different parties. In 2023, she concluded a similar liability claim with four different private parties.

Experience

Amy represented a family in a high-value fatal accident claim for a company director, obtaining £1.46m for his estate largely for future dependency claims for his wife and children. In a recent incomplete paraplegic claim, Amy obtained a £3.3m settlement for a client with an impaired life expectancy that included a £130,000 annual payment to cover ongoing future 24-hour care. Amy also recovered £3.2m for an 80-year-old client who suffered complete paraplegia due to negligent anaesthesia. Amy recently concluded a minor acquired brain injury claim for a young person securing a £1m settlement prior to proceedings being served.

Career

Following her initial degree in nursing (including becoming a Specialist Practitioner in District Nursing at the University of Manchester), Amy converted to a law degree and completed her Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School. She then worked for Charles Russell on the vCJD Trust and Clinical Negligence team. She completed her training contract at a regional North West firm in July 2007 before joining Stewarts in August 2010. She was promoted to associate then senior associate and to partner in 2023.

Accreditations and Memberships

Amy is a member of APIL (the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) and regularly involved with Action against Medical Accidents. Amy is also a member of Women In Law London (WILL).

Publications

Amy has had multiple cases covered in national and regional press, including representing a family at an inquest where a mother had died of negligent surgical error leading to multiple organ failure; and acting where the family lost their father due to negligent chiropractic treatment. In a case reported widely throughout legal press, Amy represented a young mother and set a legal precedent for the inclusion of a deceased father’s details on a newborn’s birth certificate where the father died before the birth could have been registered, which other firms have widely referred to.

Amy regularly presents to the legal and medical industries at national conferences and webinars on topics such as mental incapacity and consent, how to avoid litigation and advising experts on expert evidence through to joint expert meetings.

Personal

Amy makes the most of her spare time enjoying the countryside around Leeds with her Irish doodle, Peanut. She is an art and cinema buff but can usually be found exploring new places around the north with her close family and friends. After completing the Great South and North Runs she hung up her running shoes but now regularly completes a variety of other sports challenges, usually fundraising for charities relating to her work.