Victoria’s busy personal injury practice comprises drafting, advisory and advocacy for claimants and defendants in fast and multi-track trials and other hearings. She has solid experience in employer’s liability, public liability, defective premises and RTA matters, and cases raising issues of exaggeration or fundamental dishonesty. She has growing expertise in higher value multi-track claims, including those involving chronic pain and fatal accidents, and has experience of claims arising out of service in the armed forces, in prison settings and care settings.
She is experienced in relation to claims concerning non-recent sexual grooming and abuse of minors in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s by employees or volunteers in school and club settings (acting for both Claimants and Defendants). She was junior counsel for the Claimant, led by Mary O’Rourke QC, in a nine-day High Court trial of historical sexual abuse claims in a Catholic seminary school in the 1970s; and has represented Defendant organisations in high value matters.
Victoria’s practice had a focus on employment law for several years, which experience complements her personal injury practice.
Recent and notable cases include:
- Murray v Devenish [2018] EWHC 1895 QB: nine-day High Court trial of sexual abuse allegations from the 1970s (led by Mary O’Rourke QC). Murray v Devenish [2017] EWCA Civ 1016: appeal against case management decision to refuse substitution of medical expert.
- Stoute v LTA [2015] 1 WLR 79: Victoria successfully represented the Claimant at the Court of Appeal, unled, in his appeal concerning service of a claim form.
- [bullet point] Representing injured construction worker Claimant in multi-track trial where Defendant “reserved the right” to make a submission of fundamental dishonesty in relation to loss of earnings and care claims (no such finding was made)
- Representing at trial a support worker who had been injured by a service user at a day centre, where liability in dispute. The case raised issues of safe systems of work, risk assessments, and causation.
Victoria has frequently appeared at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal tribunal, on both eligibility and quantum appeals. She also has solid inquest experience (including jury inquests and Article 2 inquests). .
Victoria accepts instructions on a conditional fee basis.
She is a member of the Personal Injuries Bar Association.