Jennifer Preston

Jennifer is an Associate in our Health and care team and is based in our Newcastle office. Jennifer has more than a decade of experience in dealing with complex clinical negligence and has been a Solicitor for over six years. Throughout her career, she has worked almost exclusively in the healthcare sector. Prior to joining Weightmans, Jennifer built her career working at three other leading law firms — DAC Beachcroft, Irwin Mitchell and Ward Hadaway.

Jennifer's breadth and depth of experience is drawn from acting for both professional and lay clients. She has worked on behalf of the NHS, private healthcare providers, Medical Defence Organisations and insurers as well as individual claimants. She also considers herself fortunate enough to have worked as secondee Trust Solicitor in a large mental health trust, where she managed and investigated clinical negligence, employers' liability, public liability and data breach claims. In addition, she advised on risk management and GDPR issues and dealt with court orders and court of protection matters. Jennifer supported staff members in providing reports and statements, attended meetings, provided risk management data and information and provided legal advice and support on a wide range of healthcare issues. Her first-hand experience of working in-house means Jennifer is particularly aware of the pressures facing the clients she now represents in private practice.

Jennifer has a wide, varied experience dealing with a range of cases including fatal accidents, general surgery, oncology, orthopaedics and obstetrics. Her knowledge and experience now extends into claims of significant value, including spinal and brain injury claims valued in excess of one million pounds and a cerebral palsy claim reserved at thirteen million pounds.

Jennifer's skills include detailed, forensic analysis of liability and quantum issues, quantum research, drafting of key procedural documents including complex defences and advising and negotiating timely, pragmatic settlements. She has significant experience working with third parties, including counsel and medical experts, and guiding and providing supervision and training to others.

Clients value Jennifer's clear, timely and commercially sensible advice. She prides herself on being approachable and responding to queries as promptly as possible.