Judith Thomas-Whittingham

Biography

Judith was appointed as a partner in 2009 and Head of clinical negligence in 2012. In 2023, Judith was appointed as a director of Stephensons Trust Corporation, and she acts as a professional deputy on behalf of vulnerable clients. She also heads up the Wills and probate department. Judith is recognised as a leading partner by Legal 500.

Judith joined Stephensons as a graduate paralegal upon completion of the Legal Practice Course in June 1998. The following year, she secured a training contract and qualified as a solicitor in September 2001. 

Clinical negligence

Although Judith started her career dealing with high value personal injury cases, she transferred her litigation skills to our specialist clinical negligence department in 2004 and has dealt exclusively with clinical negligence cases since that time.

She primarily acts on behalf of children who have suffered brain injuries as a result of problems arising out of their birth. It is a privilege for Judith to assist and support the children and their families. She is fortunate enough to be welcomed into their lives and made a part of their family. It is extremely rewarding to be there every step of the way, sharing in their good times and supporting them in the dark times. She is compassionate, approachable and straight talking and ensures that, even with these most complex of medical cases, her clients understand the reasoning behind their neurological injury.

Judith's clients have already been let down by a professional and it is her role, first and foremost, to gain their trust and reassure them that they have the confidence to rely on her. She will seek answers to the issues that are important to them and investigate all areas to assess whether there has been any wrongdoing. In the event that there has been evidence of negligence, Judith will obtain compensation that will assist the child and the family for their future. Although compensation can not undo the injury that has been caused by the negligence, it helps families to contemplate a far happier and secure future with the knowledge that they have the necessary funds to arrange for suitable accommodation, 24-hour care needs and other support that would not be readily available otherwise. 

Judith was recognised as a leading individual in the field of clinical negligence in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions of The Legal 500.

Areas of specialism

• Birth injury claims
• Brain injury claims
• Wrongful birth claims
• Meningococcal septicaemia claims

Judith regularly comments in the media on topical clinical negligence issues. She has appeared in This is Money, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, The Sun and on BBC Radio Manchester.

Judith leads the 24 strong specialist department and was instrumental in them being appointed Clinical Negligence Firm of the Year by the Manchester Law Society panel of judges recently.

Cases of interest

Judith has recovered millions of pounds of compensation for her clients.

She concluded the settlement of a case in the sum of £3.75 million relating to a wrongful birth claim.

She assisted a family in recovering £3.54 million in relation to a claim where the child suffered cerebral palsy due to intrauterine hyperstimulation of his mother’s uterus during labour.

She achieved settlement of £225,000 relating to a claim brought on behalf of a child who had lost her mother when she was just four years old due to a failure to diagnose and treat an anastomatic leak following surgery.

She assisted a family to recover £1 million in compensation in relation to a wrongful birth claim.

Judith recovered £5.6 million for a child who suffered cerebral palsy due to the refusal to allow the mother to undergo a caesarean section.

She recovered £3.5 million for a young adult who suffered cerebral palsy due to the delayed management of his mother’s labour.

Professional deputy - Court of Protection

Judith’s extensive experience in representing clients and their families in clinical negligence cases involving catastrophic and life changing injuries, led to her to be appointed a director of Stephensons Trust Corporation in 2023 and managing the Wills, probate and trust department. 

Judith acts as professional deputy on behalf of vulnerable clients and manages their financial and property affairs. As part of her role as professional deputy, Judith manages the day to day needs of her clients, sets budgets and liaises with independent financial advisors and other professionals to ensure that her clients’ assets are protected and managed in accordance with the Office of Public Guardian’s Deputy Standards. Judith is a member of the Professional Deputy Forum.

What others say

"I am writing to you to say I am a client of Judith Thomas Whittingham on behalf of my daughter.

I felt it necessary to seek legal assistance for clinical negligence some years ago after my daughter was born, in the hope to give her the best future possible after her traumatic birth, which could have been avoided.

Judith was eager and willing to take on our case even when it appeared an extremely difficult one, as it soon became apparent all my hospital notes had been lost.

Judith worked so hard over the years to collate all the proof to show the difficulties our daughter experienced at birth could have been avoided, she also, throughout the process kept us up to date with the progress by letter, telephone and several meetings. 

The service provided by Judith was beyond all expectations, and we as a family greatly appreciate all the hard work and commitment that was given to our case. Our future looks brighter knowing our daughter will be cared for in the years to come. Thank you." - View from a satisfied client

"Very good client care and people skills." - Legal 500, 2021

"They have a personal touch, which a lot of large firms lack." - Legal 500, 2021

"Judith Thomas-Whittingham is an excellent leader." - Legal 500, 2021

"At Stephensons Solicitors LLP  the ‘whole team is excellent and all the lawyers there are uniformly professional’. Head of the ‘first-class department’ is the ‘dynamic’ Judith Thomas-Whittingham who is praised for her ‘drive, commitment and refreshingly down to earth approach’." - Legal 500 2018

"The ‘excellent and well-managed department’ is led by the ‘highly respectable’ Judith Thomas-Whittingham, who is a ‘very bright and able lawyer and remains very down to earth’." - UK Legal 500, 2017

"We just wanted to show our appreciation again to your team. It has been such an amazing few months and still feels so strange at how our lives have changed and it’s all thanks to you. We really couldn’t be more grateful to Stephensons for changing our lives." - View from a satisfied client

"I have been treated with the utmost efficiency, courtesy and kindness from start to finish of my case." - View from a satisfied client

“Everyone I was in contact with was professional and extremely kind in dealing with my case, there was always someone at the end of the phone if I needed to ask about any points regarding my case. Anytime my confidence slipped, Judith helped by clarifying details so I understood clearly what was happening.” - View from a satisfied client

“You are very professional, understanding, make time to listen and very friendly and you know what you’re talking about.” - View from a satisfied client