Sophie Walmsley

Sophie has experience in all areas of personal injury law, including road traffic accidents, employer’s liability, occupiers’ liability, highways claims and product liability. She is regularly instructed to represent and advise both claimants and defendants.

Sophie has a busy court practice which encompasses representing parties at trial as well as interlocutory hearings in fast track and multi-track cases. She also regularly deals with cases that have proceeded through the MOJ Protocol(s). Sophie is also experienced in cases that involve allegations of fundamental dishonesty and low-velocity impact.

Sophie has already developed a busy paper-based practice and is frequently instructed to advise on liability, quantum, Part 36 offers and matters of procedure. In addition, Sophie is regularly instructed to draft pleadings on matters of varying value and complexity. 

Sophie continues to develop her clinical negligence practice and has experience in a wide range of clinical disputes, including those of delayed or misdiagnosis, substandard treatment and pressure sores. She has drafted pleadings and provided advice on quantum and liability for both claimants and defendants.

Prior to pupillage, Sophie was seconded to an in-house legal team within an NHS trust where she developed her understanding and insight of clinical disputes and continues to build on this experience in practice.

As a pupil, Sophie was exposed to various matters involving costs, some examples include: CCMCs, summary and detailed assessment, pre-LASPO Conditional Fee Agreements and Damages Based Agreements.

Sophie continues to develop her experience in this area, and regularly advises on issues of costs that arise in the context of personal injury disputes including: the validity and potential impact of Part 36 offers, the applicability of QOCS (particularly in cases involving fundamental dishonesty), the parameters of the fixed costs regime, costs budgeting and the recoverability of costs.

Sophie welcomes instructions on costs matters particularly in the context of personal injury and clinical negligence claims.

Prior to commencing pupillage, Sophie completed an LLM with specialist modules in mental capacity and mental health law. Sophie is keen to build on her interest and experience in Court of Protection health and welfare matters and to further develop her practice in this area.

Sophie also has an interest in coronial law and inquests, which she developed during her time being seconded to an NHS Trust. She is willing to represent parties at inquests under a conditional fee agreement (“CFA”) in appropriate cases.