Slee Blackwell > Barnstaple, England > Firm Profile

Slee Blackwell
10 CROSS STREET
BARNSTAPLE
North Devon
EX31 1BA
England

Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant Tier 3

Led by ‘shrewd tactician’ Oliver Thorne, Slee Blackwell has a clinical negligence practice that is active in a variety of cases with niche expertise in dental negligence and cosmetic surgery claims. Caroline Webber Brown is noted for her experience in matters pertaining to laporascopic ventral mesh rectopexy and birth injuries.

Practice head(s):

Oliver Thorne

Other key lawyers:

Caroline Webber-Brown

Testimonials

‘This is a strong team with some excellent work.’

‘Caroline Webber-Brown is excellent at client management in sensitive cases.’

‘Passionate about the work they do. Proactive and great to work with.’

‘This is a team which sets a very high bar for client care. They achieve this via clear-eyed empathy, an excellent grasp of the facts and the law in each case, and a truly fearless approach with opponents.’

‘Oliver Thorne is a very shrewd tactician and operator on a commercial level. But this is more than matched by his client-care skills and his ability to see through to the essentials in each case.’

‘Having worked with Caroline Webber-Brown for years, I cannot think of a lawyer who better combines client care with utter devotion to their cause and to the fight on their behalves.’

‘Slee Blackwell have built a team with knowledge of both the geographic area and area of legal practice.’

‘Oliver Thorne and Caroline Webber-Brown both work incredibly hard and produce results. They are organised and very effective.’

Work highlights

  • Represented a client in an inquest and subsequent Human Rights Act claim.
  • Acted in a claim under the Fatal Accidents Act.

Insurance > Personal injury: claimant Tier 3

Slee Blackwell is sought out for claims relating to fatal accidents, injuries caused by animals, abuse, and matters arising out of stress at work. Practice head James McNally has built a niche specialism representing claimants in incidents arising out of dog bites; this is also a particular area of expertise for Jasmine Moxey-Butler alongside representing children in personal injury cases. Claims pertaining to stress at work as well as historic abuse are focus areas for the ‘knowledgeable, efficient and professional’ Elizabeth Duncan.

Practice head(s):

James McNally

Testimonials

‘Slee Blackwell have vast experience of complex claims arising out of sexual abuse. They are the clear market leaders in the West Country.’

‘James McNally, Elizabeth Duncan, and Jasmine Moxley-Butler are three senior and stand out individuals. Their priority is consistently the client’s well-being and satisfaction, and they always go the extra mile.’

‘I am very satisfied with my experience with Jasmine Moxey-Butler. I appreciate her professionalism and her ability to work under unique conditions.’

‘Excellent advice from the start and gave me confidence to continue with the action for compensation. I couldn’t have asked for better service.’

‘Jasmine Moxey-Butler was professional yet reassuring throughout the process. She was incredibly efficient and kept me updated every step of the way.’

‘They genuinely care about their client.’

‘Elizabeth Duncan goes above and beyond to provides an exceptional service and genuine concern for her client. She is knowledgeable, efficient and professional whilst making the client feel valued and understood.’

Work highlights

  • Representing a claimant who suffered severe dog bites and psychological injury when he was attacked by the defendant’s dog.
  • Acted for a client in an abuse claim against Devon County Council and his former primary school headmistress.
  • Acting for a 35-year-old Barnstaple man who lost all eight fingers in an accident at work.

Private client > Contentious trusts and probate Tier 3

The 'thoroughly knowledgeable' team at Slee Blackwell is well placed to advise clients on a range of disputes, including a number of Court of Protection cases. Practice co-chair Naomi Ireson is noted for her extensive experience handling TOLATA cases. Other key figures include the 'excellent' Hayley Bundley, a prolific adviser on contentious probate work.  

Practice head(s):

Naomi Ireson; Lee Dawkins

Other key lawyers:

Hayley Bundey

Testimonials

‘My experience of the firm as a whole was very positive. Hayley Bundey particularly stood out.’

‘Hayley Bundey has been excellent in all my dealings with her.’

‘The strengths of the team is their ability to be thoroughly knowledgeable, stand for no nonsense, and do their absolute best for a client.’

‘Hayley is, simply, an undoubted professional, showing compassion during what is a very upsetting time.’

‘Naomi Ireson stood out as efficient and helpful.’

‘Naomi Ireson was quite simply perfect!’

Work highlights

  • Acted for claimant in trust dispute and equitable accounting claim. Determined at trial and won – Central London County Court.
  • Acted for claimant in estoppel claim. Determined at trial and won.
  • Acted for claimant in trust disputes. Determined at trial and won.

Slee Blackwell Solicitors LLP has 5 offices, 19 partners and is Lexcel accredited.

In addition to providing a range of traditional legal services regionally (such as property, family law, private client and commercial law) the firm also offers a number of niche practice areas, serving clients nationwide. These include:

Contentious Trusts and Probate: https://www.inheritancedisputes.co.uk/

Clinical Negligence: https://www.medicalaccidentlawyers.co.uk/

Personal Injury Law: https://sbclaims.co.uk/

Professional Negligence: https://www.proneg.co.uk/

The contentious probate team deals with a range of cases, including invalidity challenges, Inheritance Act claims, executor disputes and equitable interest claims. Various funding options are available, including No Win – No Fee.

The firm’s clinical negligence department offers services to claimants on a No Win, No Fee basis, fully supported by legal expenses insurance to ensure that clients are not exposed to costs risks. The team is currently pursuing claims in the French courts for British victims of the PIP breast implant scandal.

Personal injury law has long been a core element of the firm’s practice. The emphasis is on high value and complex cases. The firm is a leader in the field of animal law, with department head James McNally being dubbed by the British media as The Dog Bite Solicitor. The department also includes a team of lawyers specialising in abuse law who have won a number of awards for their pioneering work in this area.

Professional negligence law has been another specialism of the firm for many years. Acting exclusively for claimants, the team deals with claims against surveyors, accountants, solicitors and other professionals.

2020 was the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Slee Blackwell Solicitors. You can find a short potted history of the firm’s last one hundred years here.

 

Department Name Email Telephone
Litigation Lee Dawkins lee.dawkins@sleeblackwell.co.uk 0808 139 1606
Contentious probate Naomi Ireson naomi.ireson@sleeblackwell.co.uk 01823 354545
Personal injury James McNally james.mcnally@sleeblackwell.co.uk 0808 139 1599
Clinical negligence Oliver Thorne oliver.thorne@sleeblackwell.co.uk 01271 372128
Professional negligence Emma Slade emma.slade@sleeblackwell.co.uk 01271 372128
Family law Jen Law jen.law@sleeblackwell.co.uk 01272 372128
Photo Name Position Profile
Oliver Thorne photo Mr Oliver Thorne Heading up our specialist medical negligence team, Oliver is a highly experienced…
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England & Wales Law Society