Shoosmiths LLP

Medical Negligence

Denise Stephens is a partner working in the Medical Negligence Department.

Denise is one of the country's leading medical negligence specialist solicitors. She heads a team in Reading and, although based in Reading, she travels extensively throughout England and Wales representing her catastrophically injured clients.

Denise has 22 years of expertise in handling numerous claims for patients across a wide medical spectrum.

Denise is passionate about fighting for the rights of injured patients, she is focused, approachable and sympathetic. Denise gets to the centre of an issue quickly and with expertise.

The Legal 500 describe her as:

'First rate ... handles extremely heavy cases with a certainty of touch and capability.'

Chambers describes her as:

'Charismatic and forceful with a wealth of experience in the field.'  Sources admire her 'client centred approach' and describe her as 'top-notch'.

Denise is renowned for her work involving babies injured at birth but also has vast experience across a wide and diverse range of medical cases.

Work highlights

Denise has dealt with many highly complex cases involving multi-million pound claims in the High Court.

Highest ever court award for medical negligence

Denise achieved the highest ever court award for medical negligence. She secured the sum of £14.6 million in an 11 day trial in the case of Robshaw v United Lincolnshire Hospitals [2015] EWHC 923 (QB); MED LR 339, James Robshaw had suffered cerebral palsy at birth.

This case is a landmark judgment in quantum.

Cerebral Palsy testimonial

Milly Evans acquired a brain injury at birth resulting in cerebral palsy and Denise recovered £10.8 million by way of damages.

Andy Evans said:

'You need to have a legal team who are caring, who you absolutely trust and who will tell you the truth.  Certainly from our point of view Denise Stephens from Access Legal has been absolutely amazing.'

Deputy by the Court of Protection

In addition to her litigation work Denise is also appointed as a Deputy by the Court of Protection to look after the financial interests of protected parties.

Law Society accreditation and member of their specialist panel

Denise is accredited by the Law Society as a specialist in Medical Negligence and has been on their specialist panel for many years.

APIL Senior Litigator

Denise has also obtained Senior Litigation status with Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).