About Frances Pierce
Frances Pierce is a solicitor and Head of Department in Dean Wilson LLP Solicitors Personal & Medical Injury Team. She is known for her sympathetic and ethical approach and leaves no stone unturned to achieve maximum damages for her clients. Her work involves fatal accidents, severe brain and spinal injury, amputees and multiple injuries as well as severe post traumatic stress disorder.
Frances has extensive experience of obtaining large awards for compensation through negotiation, court or mediation. She handles multi-million pound cases and thorough preparation and fair but uncompromising presentation of cases, makes her a formidable advocate for her clients. She manages and secures settlements in multi-million pound cases. Frances has specialised in serious personal injury work for over 25 years. Frances’ commitment to her clients and their families extends beyond the immediate business of their cases – she really cares and ensures a handpicked expert team is behind every one of her cases. Her passion to make a difference to the lives of her clients and their families is inspirational. Frances was born in Canterbury and was a nanny before she qualified as a solicitor.
Rankings: - Frances is ranked in Tier 1 for Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant (Brighton and surrounds) and Tier 2 in Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant (Brighton and surrounds) in Chambers UK 2017.
Quotes in Chambers & Partners about Frances: 'Frances Pierce specialises in brain injury and PTSD. "She's just awesome, and a force to be reckoned with" said one source.' 'According to her peers, Frances Pierce possesses "vast amounts of experience" in cases relating to catastrophic injuries suffered by children.' 'Sources also commend her approach to the client's family'. 'Sources describe her as "incredibly compassionate, but she maintains her professionalism very well,"' and '"clearly the person that drives the team."' '"Outstanding" head of department Frances Pierce has particular expertise in serious spinal and brain injury cases, and acts as a Court of Protection deputy. She is noted for being "extremely thorough and leaving no stone unturned."'
Quotes in Chambers about Frances' Personal & Medical Injury Team: they "seem to take the scariness out of it for clients and make it as easy as they possibly can" and are known for 'a bespoke service providing strategic advice on brain injury and missed diagnosis cases. Also known for its high level of responsiveness.'
In the Legal 500 UK Frances was ranked as a Leading Individual: "Astute and empathetic."
Areas of Expertise - Serious personal injury (including, brain injury, fatal accidents (including inquests), amputees, spinal injuries, public liability, employers liability, road traffic accidents, industrial disease / toxic torts and sports law). Medical Injury (including brain injury, cerebral palsy, brain and spinal injuries, fatal injuries (including inquests), cancer misdiagnosis, children, obstetrics, gynaecology, court of protection / deputyship.
Recent transactions include: -
• Vigorously pursuing a multi-million pound settlement for a client who sustained severe brain injuries and vestibular (balance) problems in a case involving contributory negligence challenges as a result of the client not wearing a cycle helmet.
• Obtaining a large interim payment (>£1million) from the defendant insurers in a personal injury case in order to purchase and adapt a home for a brain injured client who lacked capacity to handle their financial affairs.
• Winning a personal injury case for a severely injured client. As a consequence of her brain injury she had reduced awareness of the extent of both her brain and physical injuries. It was important to gather independent evidence to show the extent of the damage caused by the accident but the client was reluctant to accept medical treatment or assistance. The rehabilitation therefore focused on making her more aware of the problems so she could accept treatment and make the best recovery possible.
• Securing funding so that a client could begin rehabilitation as early as possible after receiving a head injury (timely treatment is important to maximise long-term recovery), resolving a tricky situation where two local authorities were wrangling over which Primary Care Trust should fund treatment
• Achieving a multi-million pound settlement to fund a rehabilitation package involving 19 treating professionals and carers for a client who suffered catastrophic brain damage in a road traffic accident.
• Supporting a young brain injured client to achieve independent living after they sustained a brain injury and spinal injury following a cycling accident. A multi-million settlement was achieved in this case, despite liability being strenuously argued by the defendants.
• Representing a client at an inquest following an accident that the client had no memory of because of the severity of their injuries. Continuing to pursue a personal injury claim for this client who had vestibular (balance) problems and required long-term psychology treatment, achieving a settlement in excess of £1million.
• Acting for a family involved in two separate road traffic accidents – one parent died, the other parent suffered serious orthopaedic injuries and the son sustained a severe brain injury. This case in particular required compassion and sensitivity.
Memberships: -
Fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers,
Solicitors Regulation Authority accredited Personal Injury Panel member,
Headway – The Brain Injury Association,
Founding Member of Kent Acquired Brain Injury Focus (KABIF),
Member of The Forum of Complex Injury Lawyers (FOCIS),
Kent Law Society (President 2011-2012),
Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & District Law Society (President 2010-2011).