Claire Stockley

Biography

Claire is a partner in the medical negligence department and she has specialised exclusively in clinical negligence since her qualification in 2008. She is a member of the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Panel and she is named in the Legal 500, both of which are testament to Claire’s expertise in this area of law.

Claire has extensive experience in dealing with a wide range of clinical negligence claims, although her main focus is now on cases involving serious injury, such as birth injury, brain injury, amputation and spinal injury.

Claire has secured over £37 million in compensation for her clients, and is proud to be involved in helping to re-build and improve lives whilst facilitating a return to independent living, following what are often devastating, life changing injuries.

Claire is widely recognised for her extensive experience in clinical negligence and is often recommended by her clients, peers and medical experts. Due to the nature of their injuries, many of Claire’s clients are in need of immediate treatment, equipment or accommodation, and in those cases Claire’s priority is to obtain an early payment of compensation so that her clients can access their needs as the claim progresses.

Claire joined Stephensons in 2009, progressed to associate solicitor in 2012 and was appointed as a Partner in 2016. Claire has taken on an increasing supervisory and managerial role in recent times, although she has continued to handle a caseload of complex and high value cases.

Claire is also an active member of the public advisory group for the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers and has taken the lead in drafting responses to government consultations on the issue of fixed costs in clinical negligence cases.

Areas of specialism

• Birth injury
• Brain injury
• Amputation
• Spinal injury

Notable cases

AB v Liverpool Women’s Hospital (2023)

Claire secured over £7 million (capitalised) for a young boy who suffered a severe neurological injury due to midwifery failings in childbirth and delivery. The case was centred around a failure to identify and act upon decelerations in the fetal heartrate which resulted in a delayed delivery and injury to the Claimant.

AM v Northern Care Alliance (2022)

Claire secured £4.5 million for a patient who suffered a brain injury as a result of the defendant’s failure to stop anti-platelet medication prior to inserting an intracranial pressure monitor. The Claimant suffered a right femoral haemorrhage resulting in a neurological injury. The case was complicated by the fact that she already had an unrelated, underlying neurological condition which required careful consideration with the experts to determine the trajectory of that condition absent negligence.

KM v Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2021)

Claire secured £500,000 for a young lady who suffered severe injuries, including bladder and bowel impairment, as a result of the late diagnosis and treatment of cauda equine syndrome.

AB v Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2018)

Claire recently settled a claim for £8 million after negligently performed cardiac surgery left a young girl with a life changing brain injury. Full time care will be required for the rest of her life, and she will need specially adapted accommodation and specialist equipment to ensure a reasonable quality of life.

PJ v Secretary of State for Health (2017)

Claire secured damages of £7 million for the catastrophic brain injury suffered by her claimant after a delay in diagnosing meningitis. The claimant was completely dependent on others for all aspects of his life, he required specially adapted accommodation and various aids, equipment and therapies.

What others say

Legal 500

Claire was recognised as a key lawyer in the field of clinical negligence by the 2022 edition of The Legal 500.

"The ‘compassionate’ Claire Stockley ‘applies enormous dedication to her clients’ cases coupled with an extremely thorough approach to evidence and preparation. No detail is left unaddressed and she has an instinctive tactical understanding of the case and good judgement’."

"Claire is an ‘extremely thorough and thoughtful lawyer’" 

Client comments

"Thank you so much. I'd like to express my gratitude again, to both you and Callum… you two have been nothing but professional and kind. Your availability and approachability have been really appreciated and you've always taken the time to ensure that I have clarity about what's happening. Your advice has been great and I've always felt supported."

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere heartfelt gratitude for your support, hard work and professionalism in representing my case. Thank you for your dedication and for ensuring the best possible outcome on my behalf."

"Thank you for everything you did for me over the last 7 years you have made a massive difference to me and my family's life."

"Thank you once again for everything you have done, I really appreciate your understanding, patience and guidance throughout, you have been amazing. I'll be the first to recommend you to anyone else who may be facing similar circumstances."

"I just want to say a massive thank you to Claire Stockley for her amazing hard work throughout my five year case. She has supported me, and respected my needs when I needed the understanding the most. Today my case has been won! The whole team have worked incredibly hard to get me to this point today, but Claire has worked to the extreme and I wouldn’t be here without her today getting my life back on track after negligence."

"The process that we have been through has helped us to answer some of the questions that we had about the care that she received and has given us a little comfort in knowing that what happened could not have been predicted. We needed to take the time to go through everything ourselves and with your help this has been possible. The time that you have taken to explain things to us in a way that was helpful to us has been very much appreciated." 

"Claire has gone above and beyond what I would have expected. She left no stone unturned. I would recommend Claire Stockley to anyone that is thinking about seeking legal advice in this sort of case, she will make you feel at ease and talk through every step of the way – brilliant!!”

"Committed, helpful, understanding and there for you every step of the way."