“Stephanie Prior is just excellent. So hardworking and committed for clients whose personal circumstances are often extremely difficult. The claims are large and the legal and factual issues are demanding.”
“Stephanie is a superstar. She gets fantastic results for her clients and she is caring and responsive.”
Stephanie Prior
Stephanie is Head of Medical Negligence at Osbornes, with a particular focus on child and adult brain injury cases, fatal cases, obstetric and gynaecological cases including maternal deaths, cerebral palsy, ophthalmology, surgical claims, complex spinal injury cases and brachial plexus injuries. Stephanie specialises in complicated, high value claims.
Prior to qualifying as a solicitor in 1997, Stephanie was a registered general nurse. Stephanie has a Diploma in Forensic Medical Science and until recently was the Legal Editor of and contributor to the publication ‘Medicine Science and the Law’. She is a member of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences. Stephanie regularly lectured on medical negligence to doctors in clinical practice as well as to postgraduate medical students at Barts Hospital. Stephanie is also the Legal Compliance Lead for HPAC a non-profit community interest company dedicated to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of patients by maintaining a register of pre-hospital urgent and emergency clinical responders in non-statutory grades.
Stephanie is passionate and committed to her clients, she is on the AvMA Clinical Negligence Panel and the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel. She was first appointed panel membership in 2000 when only 3 years qualified as a solicitor and has maintained both her panel memberships since appointed on each panel. Stephanie has a wealth of experience in medical law, and she has a strong success rate in settling her cases. She is experienced in all areas of clinical negligence and has over 20 years’ experience in inquest law.
Stephanie and her team also successfully deal with claims against local authorities for information disclosure. Her clients have included parents seeking to adopt, securing a damages award of over £200,000 due to a data breach during the adoption process.
Stephanie now specialises only in high value complex clinical negligence cases involving children injured at birth with cerebral palsy and other brain injuries, children with Erbs Palsy injuries, adults with brain or spinal injuries and high value fatal claims and inquests . She is head of the clinical negligence department, and she heads up the inquest team.
Stephanie is also a specialist child abuse lawyer, although she no longer practises in this area of law. Stephanie is often interviewed by the BBC and Channel 4 on TV, and she has also been interviewed on the radio for many years discussing issues relating to clinical negligence. She was interviewed live on Sky news at the time of the Gosport Inquiry where at least 450 patients are thought to have died after the administration of inappropriately high doses of opioids between 1988-2000 at Gosport War Memorial Hospital. Stephanie is currently acting on behalf of many children with cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, congenital disabilities, and adults with spinal and brain injuries. She also has cases relating to surgical negligence, fatal cases involving maternal deaths including a post-natal maternal death due to failure to administer blood products to the mother in a timely fashion
Stephanie was a recipient of the Clinical Negligence Lawyer of the Year at the PI awards. Her team were shortlisted for Clinical Negligence Team of the Year at the PI awards in 2024.
In her spare time Stephanie is a trustee for Yellow Door a charity supporting vulnerable children from age 11 -25.
"She has represented victims in a number of high-profile cases."
Stephanie Prior is head of the clinical negligence department at Osbornes Law. She acts on a wide range of issues, including claims for brain injuries sustained at birth and delays in diagnosis. She frequently represents clients in fatal claims involving surgical error.
"She is very inventive in the way she approaches difficult problems."
"She is fantastic - pragmatic and has her clients' backs."
"Stephanie Prior is totally committed to her work and her clients."
"Stephanie Prior is very passionate about her clients."
"Her level of detail in dealing with cases is forensic."
"Stephanie Prior is very empathetic and practical, she gets to the heart of a case quickly."
"Stephanie Prior is highly respected in the marketplace, with a great wealth of experience, superb judgment and medical knowledge that is second to none."
"Stephanie Prior and Jodi Newton are both superb. They always have the client at the centre of everything they do, they’re approachable, down to earth and dedicated."
"Stephanie has always shown great judgment and common sense whilst building valuable relationships with her opponents."
"Stephanie Prior is a standout solicitor."
"Stephanie Prior is an experienced lawyer with immense knowledge of her specialism, which allows her to run her cases with strategic precision."
"Stephanie knows her way effortlessly around any clinical negligence issue and has a great strategic mind."
"She works tirelessly for her clients and is incredibly focused on their needs. Attention to detail is key and she is meticulous."
"She's a very committed lawyer and always has the best interest of the client at heart."
"Stephanie Prior is excellent to deal with. She keeps everything up to date and works extremely hard for the clients and their families."
Stephanie Prior is very experienced, with an encyclopaedic medical knowledge. Fights tooth and nail for her clients.
Stephanie Prior is a first-rate clinical negligence specialist whose industry, great experience and medical background put her in an exceptional class.
Stephanie Prior is a superb senior practitioner with an accurate eye for the nub of a case and an acute sense of the merit of any claim.
A very experienced team headed up by the wonderful Stephanie Prior, who has a fantastic reputation in the marketplace.
"I know [we have] expressed our appreciation, but I also wanted to thank you for all your hard work, time and patience in pursuing mum’s claim through to a successful outcome - your kind and professional approach was genuinely appreciated."
“May I take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and true compassion in yet another very tough year of representation on the behalf of my wife. I certainly must say you did it all with amazing stamina and positivity which regenerated my self-esteem…. You honestly eased the pain and I can see a healing process ahead.”
Stephanie has developed a particularly strong reputation for her handling of birth injury claims, as well as cases concerning surgical negligence and delays in surgery.
"Stephanie Prior takes on complex cases and gets excellent results. She has a background in medicine which serves her clients well and is a realistic but tough litigator."
"Stephanie Prior is hugely dedicated, adored by her clients, tenacious, efficient and extremely knowledgeable."
"Stephanie Prior is very good with troubled clients and is easily able to make them feel at ease."
"Stephanie shows sensitivity and deals with things in an understanding way."
The lawyers in the team are highly experienced and will drive cases very hard on behalf of their clients.
"Stephanie Prior has a realistic attitude to the complexities of the cases. She wins the trust of her clients and goes the extra mile to ensure they get the best outcomes."
Stephanie’s background in medicine gives her an ability to read between the lines where medical records and expert evidence are concerned and is a great asset.
"Her knowledge base is second to none and her understanding of the litigation process stands out, as does her ability to work collaboratively."
"Stephanie Prior... manages a varied caseload, including obstetric claims, child and adult brain injury cases and fatal and non-fatal spinal cord injury cases."
"Stephanie is experienced, knowledgeable of all aspects of clinical negligence work, and strategic in running cases."
"Key team members include the approachable, compassionate and efficient Stephanie Prior."
Stephanie Prior is always very professional and kind. Highly recommended.
Stephanie Prior is ‘very warm’ and ‘caring’, and an ‘exceptional professional’.
Stephanie Prior continues to receive widespread praise from clients, who state that she explains the legal aspects of the case very clearly, and she is also a caring person who handles cases on a personal level.
Stephanie's 2023 directory testimonials
Stephanie Prior is head of the...
Stephanie Prior is head of the clinical negligence department at Osbornes Law. She acts on a wide range of issues, including claims for brain injuries sustained at birth and delays in diagnosis. She frequently represents clients in fatal claims involving surgical error.
"She is very inventive in the...
"She is very inventive in the way she approaches difficult problems."
"She is fantastic - pragmatic and...
"She is fantastic - pragmatic and has her clients' backs."
"Stephanie Prior is totally committed to...
"Stephanie Prior is totally committed to her work and her clients."
"Stephanie Prior is very passionate about...
"Stephanie Prior is very passionate about her clients."
"Her level of detail in dealing...
"Her level of detail in dealing with cases is forensic."
"Stephanie Prior is very empathetic and...
"Stephanie Prior is very empathetic and practical, she gets to the heart of a case quickly."
"Stephanie Prior is highly respected in...
"Stephanie Prior is highly respected in the marketplace, with a great wealth of experience, superb judgment and medical knowledge that is second to none."
"Stephanie Prior and Jodi Newton are...
"Stephanie Prior and Jodi Newton are both superb. They always have the client at the centre of everything they do, they’re approachable, down to earth and dedicated."
"Stephanie has always shown great judgment...
"Stephanie has always shown great judgment and common sense whilst building valuable relationships with her opponents."
"Stephanie Prior is a standout solicitor."
"Stephanie Prior is a standout solicitor."
"Stephanie Prior is an experienced lawyer...
"Stephanie Prior is an experienced lawyer with immense knowledge of her specialism, which allows her to run her cases with strategic precision."
"Stephanie knows her way effortlessly around...
"Stephanie knows her way effortlessly around any clinical negligence issue and has a great strategic mind."
Accreditations
Stephanie is a ranked lawyer in Chambers UK Guide
"She has represented victims in a...
"She has represented victims in a number of high-profile cases."
"She works tirelessly for her clients...
"She works tirelessly for her clients and is incredibly focused on their needs. Attention to detail is key and she is meticulous."
"She's a very committed lawyer and...
"She's a very committed lawyer and always has the best interest of the client at heart."
"Stephanie Prior is excellent to deal...
"Stephanie Prior is excellent to deal with. She keeps everything up to date and works extremely hard for the clients and their families."
"Stephanie shows sensitivity and deals with...
"Stephanie shows sensitivity and deals with things in an understanding way."
"Her knowledge base is second to...
"Her knowledge base is second to none and her understanding of the litigation process stands out, as does her ability to work collaboratively."
"Stephanie Prior... manages a varied caseload,...
"Stephanie Prior... manages a varied caseload, including obstetric claims, child and adult brain injury cases and fatal and non-fatal spinal cord injury cases."
"Stephanie is experienced, knowledgeable of all...
"Stephanie is experienced, knowledgeable of all aspects of clinical negligence work, and strategic in running cases."
Stephanie’s Notable Cases
Stephanie Prior has recently settled clinical negligence claims relating to;
- a failure to operate on a bleed in the brain in a timely fashion on a woman in her 70’s and the client received a seven figure damages award;
- a claim relating to the death of a 42 year old man following the failure of A & E to diagnose his myocardial infarction and admit him to hospital which led to his death several hours later. The case settled for a six figure sum;
- a claim relating to the death of a 29 year old woman due to an ambulance not being dispatched to her home which led to her death. Her partner and daughter received a six figure damages settlement;
- a claim relating to the failure to diagnose and treat a fracture hip in a woman in her 60’s for seven weeks which led to a five figure damages settlement;
- a claim relating to a failure of carers to attend to a man in his 60’s which led to him not taking his medication and him suffering a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and left him with debilitating injuries. The case settled for £900,000;
- a claim relating to failure to provide mental health treatment in a timely fashion which led to the suicide of a man in his late 50’s. The partner and child of the deceased were awarded a six figure settlement sum
Stephanie is currently investigating many fatal cases; brain injury cases, cardiac and ophthalmology cases as well as other cases against GPs, private doctors and the NHS, involving adults and children.
Steph's Legal 500 testimonials
Stephanie Prior is very experienced, with...
Stephanie Prior is very experienced, with an encyclopaedic medical knowledge. Fights tooth and nail for her clients.
Stephanie Prior is a first-rate clinical...
Stephanie Prior is a first-rate clinical negligence specialist whose industry, great experience and medical background put her in an exceptional class.
Stephanie Prior is a superb senior...
Stephanie Prior is a superb senior practitioner with an accurate eye for the nub of a case and an acute sense of the merit of any claim.
A very experienced team headed up...
A very experienced team headed up by the wonderful Stephanie Prior, who has a fantastic reputation in the marketplace.
"Stephanie Prior takes on complex cases...
"Stephanie Prior takes on complex cases and gets excellent results. She has a background in medicine which serves her clients well and is a realistic but tough litigator."
"Stephanie Prior is hugely dedicated, adored...
"Stephanie Prior is hugely dedicated, adored by her clients, tenacious, efficient and extremely knowledgeable."
"Stephanie Prior is very good with...
"Stephanie Prior is very good with troubled clients and is easily able to make them feel at ease."