About Claudia Hillemand
Claudia is a Partner in the Child Brain Injury team of Bolt Burdon Kemp.
Claudia acts exclusively for children who have sustained a brain injury as a result of medical errors or accidents.
She has experience of severe and complex claims involving children with cerebral palsy who have sustained brain injuries at birth, as well as children who have suffered from conditions including stroke, meningitis, encephalitis and cerebral abscesses.
Claudia is passionate about securing compensation for children who have suffered injury as a result of negligence. She has a particular interest in cases relating to birth injury. Recently Claudia successfully settled a claim for a child who suffered a catastrophic brain injury as a result of a hospital’s failure to treat maternal GBS infection (settlement figure: £8 million).
In addition to her expertise in cases involving negligence, Claudia is an IPSEA-qualified special educational needs advisor and represents children and young people with Special Educational Needs arising from or connected to brain injuries.
Claudia has successfully challenged local authorities in the First Tier Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal in relation to the contents of Education and Health Care Plans and school placements. In several cases she has fought against the Local Authority’s proposed placement and ultimately secured a placement in the specialist setting required to meet the child or young persons’ special education needs and ensure they have the necessary support to access education and reach their potential. This plays an essential role in ensuring the child/young person is placed in a setting equipped with the resources and expertise they need to access education, meet their educational objectives and maximise their potential. Claudia delivers Special Educational Needs training to case managers, solicitors and Court of Protection deputies.
Claudia is actively involved in fundraising for a number of Bolt Burdon Kemp’s associated child brain injury charities including CBIT, the Encephalitis Society and Contact.
Claudia is of dual nationality (Irish-French) and speaks fluent French. Claudia trained as a barrister and cross-qualified as a solicitor. She holds a Masters degree in International Human Rights Law from at the University of Nottingham.