Christine is a Legal Executive in the Insurance Litigation Team.  She is experienced in handling all types of defendant work, involving personal injury, including employer and public liability cases.

Her experience extends from small claims (valued up to £5,000), fast track valued claims (valued up to £25,000) and multi track valued claims (valued in excess of £25,000). She has experience with the small claims court, county court, high court and the court of appeal.

Christine's work centres around assisting clients who are faced with personal injury claims being made against them. She works mainly for major UK motor insurers and their policyholders, but also accepts instructions from other businesses who are being faced with personal injury claims arising out of accidents at work, or on their premises, as well as individuals who are faced with personal injury claims, perhaps arising out of accidents on their property. Christine also advises clients who are without insurance cover to assist with their claims.

Christine often enters into negotiations to avoid claims being issued through the courts, with a view to keeping legal costs to a minimum. She is also able to draw on her experience to assess claims and realistically advise clients on the chances of defending claims, as well as the likely value of them, and costs involved in continuing to resist settlement of them. This means that clients have a good idea, up front, of the issues they are faced with, and the expenses likely to be incurred as the claim proceeds.

Christine has been a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives for 17 years and has been with Trethowans for 12 years - previously working for a Local Authority for 15 years and another firm of solicitors for 6 years.

Christine has a thorough knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules but can often act as an informal arbitrator to resolve issues with insurers and other individuals as needed. Christine maintains a good relationship with many experts and agents who provide valuable assistance at reasonable cost, which assists with the defence to a claim.

Christine prides herself on being able to act on instructions promptly and efficiently and in creating a good working relationship with clients.

Examples of how Christine helped clients include:

Over the years she has received many and varied instructions including:

• A client facing a claim that his dog had bitten a removal man - which indeed it had. Unbeknown to my client, court proceedings had been issued against him, and a Hearing was imminent. Even though the incident occurred a few years ago, Christine was able to discover that her client had insurance cover, and persuade the insurers to accept and deal with the claim. Her client therefore avoided having to pay damages. In an e-mail to Christine he said:
  "...I wish to thank you and your staff for all your help, not only for dealing with the practical matters but also for bringing a sense of calm and balance to the situation. It has been much appreciated and we would like to state that we would certainly call on your services again if the need arises..."
• Christine has been asked to assist a policyholder, who is a young student, defend a claim for damages arising out of a road traffic accident. His mother was distressed at the lack of understanding of what had happened and her son's position. Christine is still helping them with the claim, but in a recent e-mail, she received this comment:
  "Thank you ,I am really glad you have been appointed to deal with this. I can stop worrying."
• Christine has been asked to assist a client defend a claim arising out of a road traffic accident and pursue her own counter-claim. There is much to do but, in a recent e-mail, she read these words:
  'Thank you for keeping me informed as you have done throughout the time you have been working on this case for me, it is appreciated."

Away from the office...

Away from the office Christine has a love for sport.  She often frequents the Rose Bowl (Hampshire Cricket Club) and Fratton Park (Portsmouth Football Club) and (sadly) spends many hours watching Sky Sports Channel.

She also has a keen interest in travel, in the UK and abroad - so when not working, or watching sport, you normally find that she is away somewhere, be it walking, relaxing or discovering other parts of the world.

Christine enjoys music of all varieties and reading - time permitting.

Specialist areas

• All Aspects of Defendant Work
• Road Traffic Accidents
• Public Liability
• Occupiers Liability
• Employers Liability