Nicola Saunders is a Partner and Principal Lawyer at Thompsons Solicitors, based in the London office, where she leads the Serious Injury team. She is a nationally recognised specialist in catastrophic personal injury and complex clinical negligence litigation, with over two decades of experience acting exclusively for seriously injured clients.
With over two decades of experience in the field, Nicola joined Thompsons in 2013 and was appointed Partner in 2022. She is instructed on some of the firm’s most complex and high‑value claims, frequently involving life‑changing injuries and contested liability, and is trusted to lead cases of the utmost sensitivity, scale and complexity.
Nicola’s practice spans the full spectrum of maximum severity injury, including adult and paediatric brain injury, neurological trauma, spinal cord injury, amputations and other catastrophic orthopaedic injuries. Her clinical negligence work includes cerebral palsy, birth injuries, hypoglycaemia, delayed diagnosis and other cases involving profound and permanent disability.
She is known for combining rigorous litigation strategy with an unwavering focus on her clients’ long‑term needs. Nicola prioritises early access to specialist rehabilitation, robust interim payment strategies and pragmatic, outcome‑driven case management. She works collaboratively with opponents where appropriate, while litigating fearlessly to secure the best possible outcomes for her clients.
Nicola is committed to delivering a clear, compassionate and supportive litigation experience for individuals and families navigating life after catastrophic injury. She leads and supervises a dedicated team, ensuring that clients benefit from continuity, expertise and coordinated support throughout the life of their case.
Her track record includes securing the highest‑ever damages settlement for a member of a trade union, underscoring both the scale of her work and her deep connection to Thompsons’ trade union roots.
Nicola regularly represents clients in multi‑million‑pound claims and currently manages a caseload with a net value expected to exceed £30 million, reflecting her standing as a leading practitioner in high‑value, complex personal injury and clinical negligence litigation.
Independent Recognition
Nicola is consistently recognised by Legal 500 for her expertise in serious injury and clinical negligence.
“Nicola Saunders is a brilliant lawyer who really fights every inch for her clients all the time. She is extremely attentive and responsive and manages a wide variety of clinical negligence claims at a high level.”
Legal 500
“Nicola Saunders is extremely capable and hardworking. Knows exactly how to litigate complex and high value cases to a successful conclusion.”
Legal 500
Recent Case Experience
- Secured an eight-figure settlement in a complex wrongful birth clinical negligence claim
- Secured an eight-figure settlement in a complex clinical negligence claim for a child with a life limiting and avoidable condition caused by negligence.
- Secured damages exceeding £9 million for a client with a spinal cord injury securing a fully funded rehab package throughout and beyond the litigation.
- Secured damages exceeding £3 million for a client who suffered a below‑knee amputation in a road traffic accident, achieving early and extensive rehabilitation and accommodation through interim payments.
- Secured damages exceeding £2 million following a workplace accident resulting in below‑knee amputation, including a comprehensive rehabilitation package and final settlement funding advanced prosthetics, including an Empower prosthesis and BioDapt ankle to support competitive motocross.
- Secured damages exceeding £1 million for a client who sustained a brain injury after being struck by a car as a pedestrian. Liability was robustly denied, but following determined litigation, settlement was achieved on a 100% liability basisshortly before trial.
- Secured damages exceeding £1 million for a client assaulted at work, resulting in serious hand injuries and a complex psychiatric condition. Specialist inpatient psychiatric treatment was funded via interim payments. Liability was denied until close to trial, with damages ultimately recovered in full.
- Secured damages exceeding £1 million for a client who suffered serious leg injuries following an accident at work, securing a fully funded rehab package throughout and beyond the litigation.
Professional membership
Nicola is an Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) member.