Nicola Saunders

Nicola is a Partner and Principal Lawyer at Thompsons' London office., leading the serious injury team. Specialising in complex catastrophic injury claims from personal injury accidents and medical negligence since 2001, she joined Thompsons in 2013, becoming a partner in 2022.

Her expertise encompasses maximum severity cases like adult and child brain injury, neurological trauma, spinal cord injury, amputations, and other severe injuries. In clinical negligence, she handles cases of cerebral palsy, birth injuries, hypoglycaemia, and undiagnosed severe conditions. She also supervises team members.

Driven by client-centric principles, Nicola ensures early access to rehabilitation, interim payments, and pragmatic case resolution. Working collaboratively with opponents, she secures optimal client outcomes.

She strives for stress-free litigation experiences after life-altering injuries, with support from a dedicated team. Nicola's record includes the highest-ever damage settlement for a member of one trade union.

Representing clients in multi-million-pound cases, Nicola has a caseload representing a net value expected to exceed £30m, attesting to her prowess in litigating high-value, challenging personal injury cases.

Nicola's case experience

• Nicola secured damages in excess of £3m for a client who suffered a below-knee amputation in a road traffic accident, securing extensive rehabilitation and accommodation by way of interim payments along the way.

• Nicola secured damages in excess of £2m for a client who suffered a below-knee amputation in a workplace accident. Compensation included a comprehensive package of specialist rehabilitation funded by interim payments, and a final settlement including advanced prosthetics (Empower prosthesis and BioDapt ankle for motocross).

• Nicola secured damages in excess of £1m for a client who was involved in a road traffic accident and was struck by a car whilst crossing the road, suffering a brain injury. Liability was denied, and the claimant tenaciously fought until close to the trial, with settlement being achieved on a 100% basis.

• Nicola secured damages in excess of £1m following a workplace incident in which her client was assaulted. He suffered serious hand injuries and developed a complex psychiatric condition, treatment for which was funded by way of interim payments to secure specialist in-patient treatment. Liability was denied until close to trial, but damages were recovered on a 100% basis.

• Nicola secured a liability compromise in a complex wrongful birth case (clinical negligence).

Professional membership

Nicola is an Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) member.

Testimonials

Nicola Saunders is very strong technically, particularly on liability denied claims where a fight is needed. 

Legal 500 2026

Nicola Saunders is extremely capable and hardworking. Knows exactly how to litigate complex and high value cases to a successful conclusion.

Legal 500 2025

Nicola Saunders is hugely experienced in really difficult brain injury and amputation claims. She marries a light touch with a deep expertise.

Legal 500 2025

Thank you for all your hard work, ingenuity and perseverance with my case. I can still hardly believe the outcome and I won't ever forget what you've achieved for me. Thanks for always taking the time to explain things and for all the reassurance, it really helped at times when I was feeling low. I hope I can now walk away from that awful year and look ahead.

Nicola's former client

A massive thank you from all of us for your help and support over the last few years. You�ve been absolutely brilliant, and we couldn�t have got through it without your support and guidance.

Nicola's former client

Thank you for showing compassion, empathy and always making sure my needs were met. You gave the best advice and took time to explain everything, reassuring me at all times. I do not know how I would have stayed so strong and positive without you. I will never forget what you have done for me.

Nicola's former client

Thank you for all your hard work, ingenuity and perseverance with my case. I can still hardly believe the outcome and I won't ever forget what you've achieved for me. Thanks for always taking the time to explain things and for all the reassurance, it really helped at times when I was feeling low. I hope I can now walk away from that awful year and look ahead.

Nicola's former client

A massive thank you from all of us for your help and support over the last few years. You�ve been absolutely brilliant, and we couldn�t have got through it without your support and guidance.

Nicola's former client

I was very grateful to you for all your help and support with my claim. You always explained everything to me clearly, putting it before me in a way I could understand. And you have always shown consideration and understanding for the impact of my injuries on me, even when I was terribly slow in replying at times! Please thank Nick Hillier for me as well. His mastery of the figures was immensely reassuring. I always felt I was in excellent and sympathetic hands. Thank you so much." I sent this to Nicola Saunders who was always calm, reassuring and efficient throughout this whole experience. She also struck me as empathetic as well as very experienced. I couldn't have asked for more.

Nicola's former client

I was pleased to see that my wife was given moral support as she had suffered through seeing the injuries I sustained and their effects on me. I was also supported through and advised during my appearance as a witness in a subsequent prosecution relating to my accident. While the defence did not acquit themselves with honour, I have only praise for those acting on my behalf and in the efforts they made to ensure my wellbeing. I would recommend Thompsons without hesitation, while hoping that no one ever has to use their exemplary services. Nicola and her colleagues have my undying gratitude.

Nicola's former client

Thank you so very much for your help, support and guidance, not only yesterday, but throughout this process. Your patience, kindness and understanding has been very much appreciated.

Nicola's former client

Nicola was great; I wouldn�t be where I am without her and the team at PACE. I feel so incredibly grateful to have had such amazing support around me. I was over the moon to receive enough money for five prosthetics (legs). I was told by my legal team that even three is a big success, and so I didn�t expect that I�d ever be able to pick up all the sports that I loved doing again. But they pushed me to go for it and gave me the confidence to see my claim through to the end. I have a lot of travel plans in the pipeline, none of which would have been possible without the support I have received and the use of my prosthetics.

Nicola's former client

?

?