Ms Nicola Richardson > Ward Hadaway LLP > Newcastle upon Tyne, England > Lawyer Profile
Ward Hadaway LLP Offices
SANDGATE HOUSE
102 QUAYSIDE
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE1 3DX
England
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Ms Nicola Richardson
Work Department
Healthcare
Position
Partner
Career
Nicola is a partner in the Healthcare Unit and has acted for NHS Resolution (formerly the National Health Service Litigation Authority), Medical Defence Organisations and NHS Trusts for over 15 years. She is also Ward Hadaway’s Training Principal with responsibilities for the recruitment and training of trainee solicitors in the firm.
She previously qualified as a biomedical scientist specialising in haematology before transferring to law.
Nicola is a Nominated Partner approved by NHS Resolution (formerly the NHSLA) for the clinical negligence panel.
She has a wide, varied experience of all types of clinical negligence claims but with particular and specialist knowledge of high value birth injury and brain damage claims.
Nicola is also Client Liaison Partner for two of Ward Hadaway’s acute Trust clients and for one Ambulance Trust client.
Nicola has a great deal of successful trial experience including the successful defence of a birth injury claim. She has also been involved in cases that have been pursued to the Court of Appeal.
Nicola has conducted a large number of very high value obstetric cases to a conclusion and has significant experience of ADR in this setting and of periodical payment orders. Of her last three birth injuries claims, one discontinued and one settled for £500,000 (against a reserve of £4.5 million).
She has significant experience of representing clients’ interests at complicated high profile Inquests (including Article 2 and jury Inquests) where she usually undertakes her own advocacy.
Lawyer Rankings
North > Public sector > Health
Nicola Richardson, who heads the health and regulatory department at Ward Hadaway LLP, regularly acts for NHS trusts involved in potential corporate manslaughter claims, including those which have progressed to inquests and clinical negligence claims. Melanie Pears leads the public sector team, where she frequently advises NHS foundation trusts on the procurement and contracting of facility developments and redevelopments, as well as assisting with contract variations to PFI project agreements. Regulation specialist Rachel Birks is a go-to advisor for both claimants and defendants in professional discipline cases, while associate Victoria Parker advises healthcare providers on disputes concerning mental health act-related issues. Georgina Rowley is a key contact for matters concerning applications to the court of protection. Saji Bratch is a name to note for public sector property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and management of sites as well as development work. The employment healthcare team is co-led by Caroline Shafar and Stuart Craig, who represent clients in employee tribunal claims and company re-organisations. Lisa Evans – praised for her ‘excellent instincts in the healthcare sector’ – is also noted.
London > Private client > Court of protection
Under the leadership of Lisa Evans, Nicola Richardson and Georgina Rowley, the team at Ward Hadaway LLP, frequently advises on a wide array of matters such as section 21A challenges to deprivations of liberty, and applications to limit or withdraw treatment. It has specialist expertise in all aspects of the Mental Capacity Act, and on its interface with the Mental Health Act.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Finance > Banking and finance
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Newcastle
- Real estate > Commercial property: Newcastle
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Newcastle
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Employment > Employment
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Energy
- Public sector > Health
- Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Licensing
- Real estate > Planning and environment
- Real estate > Property litigation
Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Construction
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Public sector > Education
- Insurance > Personal injury and clinical negligence: defendant
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate > Social housing
- Private client > Agriculture and estates
- Private client > Family