Personal Injury and Child Abuse Compensation Law

Emma has a busy practice in personal injury, and particular expertise in child abuse claims on behalf of claimants against local authorities, schools and individuals. She has experience before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals panel.

Emma was instructed by Slater & Gordon as Junior Counsel acting for the main group of Core Participants in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse concerning abuse in residential schools. She also has experience on the modules examining historic child abuse in the Roman Catholic Church (Ampleforth, Downside and Ealing Abbeys), and the Anglican Church.

Emma was seconded to the abuse department of Bolt Burdon Kemp Solicitors for three months in 2018, where she worked primarily on claims relating to the Lambeth Children’s Homes Redress Scheme and has advised a number of individuals concerning their Individual Redress Payments arising from that scheme.

Selected Cases

  • Represented several victims of the Beirut Port Explosion, securing a judgment awarding them £850,000 in damages, led by Neil Hart KC. See here for further details.
  • Successfully resisted an application to set aside a judgment for damages, acting on behalf of a survivor of child sex abuse. Click here for further details.
  • Recently succeeded in damages claim for a survivor of child abuse. Click here for further details.
  • For further information on Emma’s involvement in IICSA click here and here.
  • Previously instructed by HMRC on an ongoing-basis to advise on personal injury claims arising out of accidents involving employees across the Government Estate.
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“Emma is a brilliant advocate and is excellent with family members. She gives good commercial advice and is adept at managing expectations.”

Chambers & Partners 2026

“Emma-Louise is exceptionally skilled. She is a fearless advocate who demonstrates incredible strength in court, and has the ability to assimilate information quickly and use it to powerful effect.’”

Legal 500 2024

“She has a great deal of experience in inquests and other inquiries. She was very knowledgeable in terms of coronial law. Her client care skills were very, very empathetic.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“She is always on top of the material, and commands the respect of the coroner. She is also able to handle tricky situations and clients with ease.”

Legal 500 2023

Appointments

  • Attorney General’s B Panel of Civil Counsel (2023 – present)
  • Bar Standards Board Independent Decision Making Body (2021 – 2024)
  • Attorney General’s C Panel of Civil Counsel (2020 – 2023)
  • Vice-Chair Human Rights Lawyers Association (2017 – 2020)

Awards

  • Barrister of the Year – Inspirational Women in Law Awards 2024
  • South Eastern Circuit Advanced Trial Advocacy Scholarship, Florida
  • Lady Templeman Award, Middle Temple
  • Jules Thorn Scholarship & Blackstone Exhibition Award, Middle Temple
  • Satter Human Rights Fellowship, Harvard Law School
  • JFK Award for post-graduate study, National University of Ireland
  • Julian Prize for 2nd place overall in degree results, Trinity College Dublin
  • Scholar, Trinity College Dublin
  • Entrance Exhibition Award, Trinity College Dublin

Education

  • BPTC, BPP London
  • LLM, Harvard Law School
  • LLB, Trinity College Dublin

Memberships

  • HRLA
  • PNBA
  • ALBA
  • BHRC
  • PIBA

Publications

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