Chris is a Chartered Legal Executive, TEP and a Partner in the Court of Protection team at Hugh James specialising in Property and Affairs Deputyships, the creation and management of Personal Injury Trusts and providing expert witness services to litigation lawyers. Chris was admitted as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in 1985 and has more than 30 years experience of working in private practice. She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, The Professional Deputies Forum, and the London Court of Protection Users Group, having been invited to join at its inception.
Over the last 20 plus years Chris has developed and managed teams which deal exclusively with mental capacity issues and is regularly appointed to act as a Professional Deputy by the Court of Protection on behalf of clients who are considered to lack the necessary mental capacity to manage some or all aspects of their property and affairs. These clients usually lack mental capacity due to a catastrophic brain injury or severe mental health difficulties. Chris’ clients have usually received, or go on to receive, substantial compensation awards as a result of severe and complex injuries.
Chris also acts as a Professional Trustee of Personal Injury Trusts.
The majority of these Deputyships and Trusteeships involve complex financial and personal arrangements and Chris’ clients currently range in age from 5 to 70.
Chris often begins her role as Deputy or Trustee whilst litigation for damages is in progress, in order to ensure that interim payments can be administered effectively. This allows a smooth transition into Deputyship after the litigation is completed. Chris enjoys building strong relationships with professionals, clients, families, and their wider support network and has a particular interest in Deputyships for children.
Chris frequently works alongside litigation teams in other law firms offering independent Deputyship and Personal Injury Trust services. Chris also provides support to lay Deputies and Trustees.
As an expert, Chris has been instructed on more than 200 occasions to provide evidence to the High Court and has done so both in writing and orally, including the landmark cases of James Robshaw – v – United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust [2015] EWHC 923 (QB) and JR v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, [2017] EWHC 1245 (QB).
Chris also writes articles for the legal and disability press and is an invited contributor to Facts & Figures: Tables for the Calculation of Damages, producing the chapter on Court of Protection since 2017.
In 2017 Chris was recognised by Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Law Society as Lawyer of the Year and was runner up for the Presidents Outstanding Achievement Award. In 2018 she was the recipient of the CILEX national award for Advancing the Legal Profession.
Chris’ commitment to making a difference extends beyond her professional life. Christine is a passionate supporter of Cerebra, a national charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with brain-related conditions. Her fundraising efforts for Cerebra, which have included skydiving and wing walking, have earned her the prestigious Prime Ministers Points of Light award.
Education
- University of the West of England – CILEX
Career history
- Veale Benson Bristol – trainee Legal Executive
- DAS Legal expenses Insurance – claims department – Legal Executive
- Watson Cox and Counsell Solicitors (Watson Sinnott)
- TLT Solicitors (17 years) Legal Executive and then Associate
- Burroughs Day Solicitors – Senior Associate and Head of department
- Hyphen Law (Ex Thrings LLP) – Director
- Partner at Hugh James
Memberships
- CILEX
- STEP
- SFE