Stephanie Prior > Osbornes > London, England > Lawyer Profile

The team at Osbornes is co-chaired by personal injury department head Stuart Kightley; head of child abuse and clinical negligence Stephanie Prior, who has acted on such high profile claims as those made by the abuse victims of Jimmy Saville; and head of catastrophic injury Ben Posford, who is described as being ‘one of the leading catastrophic injury lawyers in the country’. The team deals with multi-million pound, often multifaceted claims, involving such factors as severe brain, psychiatric, gynaecological and spinal injury, major trauma, amputation and fatality. Sophie Davies specialises in brain injury and lower limb amputation cases. The team is the official legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign, and Andrew Middlehurst has a growing specialism in cycling claims and in the laws around e-scooters. Notably, multiple members of the team are fluent in various eastern European languages. Recently appointed partner Sam Collard is one to watch. ‘Brilliant negotiator‘ Robert Aylott is another key team member.

Stephanie Prior, leading spokesperson on the high profile maternity scandal cases involving many NHS Trusts and head of the clinical negligence offering at Osbornes, is described as having ‘superb judgement and a medical knowledge that is second to none’. The team’s workload has particular emphasis on fatal claims; misdiagnoses and failure to diagnose; birth injuries; child and adult obstetric injuries; and ophthalmic claims. In addition, the team has a specialism in spinal injury work, with Ben Posford being described as the ‘undisputed powerhouse’ of cauda equina cases. The team also has a clear focus on diversity and inclusion, with fifty percent of its partners being female. It is also standout for its proportion of bilingual fee-earners and its resultant ability to comfortably assist clients for whom English is not their first language. Jodi Newton, described as a ‘true specialist’ and ‘star in the making’, is developing a reputation for her expertise in cases involving both cerebral palsy and childbirth issues.