Ranked as Tier 1, Leading Junior in The Legal 500 (2024) for Personal Injury.
“Fiona is an excellent advocate with a calm presence and eye for detail.” – The Legal 500 (2024)
“Fiona is a very thorough advocate and a tough cross-examiner. She combines a down-to-earth manner with pragmatic advice.” The Legal 500 (2023)
“She gets to the crux of the issue without drama, and argues her cases in a no-nonsense style.” – The Legal 500 (2022)
“Approachable and thorough, with a great depth of knowledge.” – The Legal 500 (2021)
Fiona has been ranked as a leading junior in The Legal 500 since 2015. She maintains a broad personal injury practice but specialises increasingly in serious life-changing injury claims at home and abroad. Fiona represents seriously injured claimants, insurance companies, health trusts and local authorities. She is instructed in claims arising out of injury or death at work, in public places as well as serious road traffic accidents (including MIB claims). She is also experienced in dealing with cases involving chronic pain conditions, including Chronic Pain Syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Somatoform Pain Disorders.
Fiona is known for her thorough preparation, robust cross examination style and her sensitive and sympathetic approach when communicating the issues to clients.
Fiona also has a wealth of expertise in representing both Claimants and Defendants in claims under the Package Travel Regulations and is increasingly sought-after in high-value, large scale and group claims.
“Approachable and thorough, with a great depth of knowledge.” – The Legal 500 (2020)
“Highly recommended for personal injury matters.” – The Legal 500 (2019)
“Very experienced in personal injury claims.” – The Legal 500 (2017)
“She is personable, approachable and excellent with clients.” – The Legal 500 (2016)
Her forensic attention to detail and unflappable manner mean that she is highly sought after by insurers to act in road traffic claims involving serious allegations of fraud, both in relation to liability and in relation to the injuries suffered. She has successfully represented insurers in committal proceedings relating to fraudulent claims.
She is involved at each stage of the claims process from advisory work, drafting pleadings, schedules of loss and Part 35 questions, attending conferences with clients and experts, through to attending CCMCs, JSMs, trial and approval hearings. Fiona is also regularly instructed to advise on and/or represent parties at contentious and substantive applications.
Fiona is currently a contributor to Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service. She regularly throughout the year provides lectures, and occasionally mock trials, to her instructing solicitors, insurers and others within the industry on case law updates and procedural developments. Alongside a full time practice, she taught for many years (from 2005) on the part time BPTC course at BPP Leeds and is a fully qualified advocacy trainer for the North Eastern Circuit.
Recent examples from the last 12 months:
- Fatal Accidents Act claim on behalf of three children following the death of a Father in a high speed road traffic accident. Fiona settled pleadings and advised throughout, resulting in a substantial settlement and apportionment was approved by the Court.
- Representing the Defendant tour operator in a claim where the Claimant sustained serious bruising and other injuries which became infected when she returned to the UK resulting in very severe necrostings fascititis which caused significant trauma. The Claimant was left with extensive disfigurement to her left leg. Fiona settled pleadings and advised throughout.
- Representing the Defendant insurer in a claim where the Claimant had sustained severe burns to 20-29% of his body surface in an electrical explosion at work. The Claimant has been left with restricted limb use, nerve palsy and post-traumatic stress disorder. Settled at JSM.
- Acting for the insurer defending a severe traumatic right-sided brain injury sustained during a fall at work. Exposed, with the use of detailed surveillance footage, as fraudulent. The claim was valued in excess of £750,000.
Public Access
Fiona may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.
Contact Fiona’s clerks
Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609
