Nicola Evans

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT NICOLA EVANS

I am an experienced Solicitor-Advocate with more than 25 years PQE, specialising in health law. I am a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer for inquests and health advisory law. I completed my training contract and several years PQE at Browne Jacobson defending claims and advising NHS Resolution and NHS Trusts on all aspects of health law. Subsequently I spent two years working at Freeth Cartwright LLP as a Claimant solicitor, specialising in clinical negligence claims and representing families at inquests. I then spent a year at Weightmans solicitors acting for the police force. In 2008 I became Head of Legal Services at the large acute hospital Trust in Derby. In July 2018 the Trust merged with Burton and I became Associate Director of Legal Services for the new organisation, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS FT (UHDB). As the most senior lawyer at UHDB I provided legal and strategic direction to the Board on highly complex, confidential and sensitive legal and strategic matters.In that role, I led a team of 9 lawyers and support staff to deliver the full range of legal services to the Trust Board, clinicians and managers across clinical divisions and corporate services over 5 sites. I was accountable for service delivery and the recruitment, performance and development of the legal team. I led the effective conduct of a caseload of inquests and legal claims against UHDB and monitored and maintained compliance with applicable KPIs.After more than 11 years working at senior level within the NHS, in late 2019 I returned to private practice initially as an employed Consultant in the Health and Advisory team at Browne Jacobson. I became a partner in the team in May 2022. In that role I provide specialist legal advice to a range of health sector clients and also represent NHS Trusts in complex Coroner’s inquests.I am an experienced advocate, having conducted the advocacy at hundreds of inquests representing families and NHS Trusts. I also have extensive experience lecturing medical students and clinical staff and am a key speaker on the Mock Inquest training course.Finally, I have also completed a Post Graduate Diploma (Masters level) in Leadership in Health and Social Care at Birmingham University (Distinction).