
Abigail has a busy clinical negligence practice. She has experience drafting pleadings, attending costs and case management hearings and drafting schedules of loss. Abigail is comfortable advising on liability, causation and quantum and negotiating at joint settlement meetings in all matters arising out of clinical negligence. She accepts instructions for accidents arising out of both public and private healthcare.
Abigail has experience in dealing with matters relating to costs and regularly attends costs management hearings and application hearings concerning costs issues that arise during the course of litigation. Abigail regularly advises clients regarding costs issues that arise during proceedings.
Abigail has a busy personal injury practice and is regularly instructed in a wide range of claims including road traffic accidents, employer’s liability claims and public liability claims.
Appearing in court regularly, Abigail attends hearings at all stages of litigation, including pre-action applications, allocation hearings, costs and case management hearings, application hearings, pre-trial reviews, trials and costs hearings.
Abigail is comfortable with the costs arguments that arise in personal injury cases and has experience dealing with costs both within and outside portal regimes.
Understanding the importance of client care and the need to communicate clearly, Abigail regularly has conferences with both lay and expert witnesses involved in a variety of personal injury cases.
In 2016, Abigail appeared as junior to Howard Elgot in a personal injury claim involving brain injury as a result of a road traffic accident.
Abigail was also seconded to the personal injury team at Stewart’s Law for 2 months in 2016. She was primarily involved with catastrophic injury cases involving brain injuries and spinal injuries. This gave Abigail valuable insight into the work that such cases require and enabled her to develop all aspects of her practice, including drafting and client care.
Road Traffic Accidents
Abigail is instructed at all stages of litigation involving road traffic accidents, including cases involving fraud and low velocity impact.
Since completing pupillage, Abigail has been regularly instructed in cases involving credit hire and diminution in value and is familiar with the issues that commonly arise in such cases.
Abigail is experienced in providing advice on both liability and quantum, and also regularly appears in all stages of proceedings including allocation hearings, costs and case management hearings, application hearings and trials.
With experience at all stages of litigation, Abigail is familiar and confident with cases that fall both within and outside of the Pre-action Protocol for Personal Injuries arising from Road Traffic Accidents.
Employer’s Liability/Public Liability
Abigail has a busy practice and is experienced in advising on all aspects of cases involving employer’s liability and/or public liability issues.
Client care is of key importance to Abigail, who is confident and comfortable dealing with both clients and experts in conference.
Abigail regularly attends hearings in relation to such matters, including allocation hearings, costs and case management hearings, application hearings and trials.
More recently, Abigail has been involved with cases involving accidents on the highways, and on public and private premises.
Fatal Accidents
Abigail is regularly instructed to advise in cases relating to fatal accidents.
Abigail recognises the importance of client care and clear advice in such cases, and is comfortable advising in writing or conferences depending upon the needs of the client.
Abigail regularly provides advice and representation regarding inquests, inquiries and pre-inquest reviews. Abigail has attended inquests involving deaths arising from a broad range of circumstances, including treatment in care homes, road traffic accidents, clinical treatment and prison related deaths.
Abigail has represented families and individuals at a number of inquests involving dangerous driving, failures in medical care, and prison and probation-related deaths.
Abigail regularly provides representation at inquests and pre-inquest reviews and has attended inquests involving deaths arising from a broad range of circumstances, including treatment in care homes, road traffic accidents and clinical treatment.
Abigail has represented families and individuals at a number of inquests involving dangerous driving and failures in medical care.
Chambers & Partners (2021) Personal Injury - Up and Coming
"A rising star at the set. She's able to analyse complex issues and quickly cut through to the heart of the matter."
Legal 500 (2021) Personal Injury - Band 3
‘Abigail is a very good barrister. She is very good in conferences with a client. She is very good with her written advices. She is very approachable easy to understand. She is always available if you need to discuss a case.’
Edwards (on behalf of the estate of the late Arthur Watkins) v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 132
Barton v Wright Hassall [2018] UKSC 12
Bar Professional Training Course, Very Competent, Manchester Metropolitan University (2011); Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln's Inn (2010); LLM, Leiden University (2009); LLB (Hons), University of Sheffield (2008)
Personal Injuries Bar Association; Association for Victims of Medical Accidents (AVMA); Leeds Medico-Legal Society (committee member); Lord Denning Society (Lincoln's Inn)
09—04—2020
06—12—2018