Expertise

Clare specialises in catastrophic personal injury claims for claimants involving injuries to the brain, spinal cord and brachial plexus, as well as dealing with fatal accident claims. These injuries have often arisen from road traffic collisions, accidents at work or in public spaces.

Recognition

Clare is regularly recommended by Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.  In recent editions she has been described as “very committed to her cases, hard-working and very competent.” and “gets the best results possible.”  She is recommended “for her tenacious approach and provision of ‘grounded, realistic advice”.

Experience

Clare was involved in previously settling what was believed to be the highest personal injury settlement at that time for young Chrissie Johnson, who suffered a serious brain injury in a road traffic collision at the age of 16. The award was likely to be worth more than £17.5 million over the young girl’s lifetime with her receiving part lump sum and annual payments. The case received nationwide press coverage.

She was also involved in the following court decisions; Gleeson v Court [2008] RTR 10 (contributory negligence for passenger travelling in boot of car driven by drunken driver held to 30% suffering severe bilateral brachial plexus injuries), Smith v LC Window Fashions Ltd [2009] EWHC 1532 (brain injury assessment of damages) and a contested interim payment application for the above mentioned case, Chrissie Johnson v Compton-Cooke [2009] EWHC 2582 (QB) (when an interim payment of £1.5m was secured).

Career

Clare trained at Thrings in Swindon qualifying in 2002 before continuing her injury claims work at Boyes Turner in Reading from 2003 until 2005. Clare joined Stewarts in 2005 before being made Partner in 2010, supervising a team of lawyers in the department.

Accreditations and Memberships

• Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) – accredited Fellow and Brain Injury Specialist
• APIL Special Interest Groups – Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury

Publications

Clare has provided radio and television interviews locally and nationally in relation to some of her work as well as being a regular speaker at industry and in house conferences, including hosting our Inhouse annual Case Managers Training Seminar.

Personal

In her spare time Clare enjoys spending time with her young family, music and trying out new cookery dishes. She especially loves to explore new cuisines and restaurants during holidays abroad.