Claire Leonard
Call 2009 (Inner Temple)
Qualifications BA Hons (Cantab) Philosophy; CPE, UWE (Distinction); LLM in Commercial Law, Bristol (Distinction); BVC, UWE (Outstanding).
Professional Memberships Bar Pro Bono Unit; FRU (Western Circuit)
Awards Major Scholarship (Inner Temple); Winner of the Herbert Smith Mooting Competition (Bristol University); Prize for Civil Litigation (UWE); Runner-up in the Law Reform Essay Competition (Bar Council).
Mediation ADRg Accredited Mediator
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Background
Claire joined the Personal Injury Practice Group in October 2010 following the successful completion of a specialist PI pupillage with St John’s Chambers.
Areas of Practice
Personal Injury
Claire acts for claimants and defendants in all areas of personal injury law. She has particular experience of road traffic, credit hire and highways claims, as well as employers’ and occupiers’ liability cases.
Claire is regularly instructed in hearings on the small claims and fast track, including case management conferences, application hearings and costs hearings. She also advises on liability and quantum and undertakes drafting work.
Claire has won appeals against the decisions of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and has experience of attending inquests.
CFA instructions and tight deadlines are accepted where possible.
Clinical Negligence
Claire has an interest in Clinical Negligence and is keen to develop her practice in this area. She took the Clinical Negligence option on the BVC and has assisted in a number of clinical and dental negligence cases during her pupillage.
Civil Fraud
Claire is developing an expanding practice in this area and is happy to undertake work in relation to suspicious or fraudulent insurance claims including: cases involving staged accidents; low velocity impact; bogus passengers; and exaggerated personal injury claims.
Employment
Claire is also a member of the Employment Practice Group.
Interests
Claire enjoys playing most sports, particularly netball. She was awarded a double blue whilst at Cambridge University and continues to play for Crossbow Netball Club in the Southwest Regional League.
