The Lioness Lawyer, Helen Clifford, is a multi-award-winning solicitor specialising in Personal Injury and Medical Negligence claims. She has a reputation for securing exceptional results for those who have been injured or treated unfairly, particularly in the workplace.
Helen is renowned for acting against high level organisations and has won cases against, for example the Ministry of Defence, Crossrail, law firms, major construction companies and insurers. She frequently represents high-profile clients - most recently securing a successful settlement for Nick Sturdee in his claim against the BBC.
Helen is considered to be a formidable opponent, having extensive expertise in dealing with complex, contested or high value claims involving a range of injuries including brain injury, spinal cord injury, fatal accidents, amputation and orthopaedic injuries.
Helen has a particular interest in acting for clients who have suffered a spinal cord injury and helping them rebuild and enjoy fulfilling lives. She is delighted to support the remarkable work of The Back Up Trust and has proudly served on their legal panel since 2020. Helen is thrilled to sponsor tetraplegic Karter and Back Up Trust employee, Chris Yeates, as he takes on the challenge of Championship Adaptive Karting. You can read more about Chris’s story on our Sponsorships and Partnerships page.
With specialist expertise in dealing with claims arising from accidents in the construction industry, Helen is regarded as an expert in the field and is frequently invited to speak on the subject. She is the “go to” solicitor for accidents on large transport infrastructure projects and acted for the parents of the only person who was fatally injured during the construction of Crossrail, Rene Tkacik.
Helen is a litigator who acts for a diverse range of clients including individuals, charities, and campaign groups. She was Surrey Law Society’s Lawyer of the Year 2023, is an APIL accredited Senior Litigator, is top ranked in Chambers & Partners 2025 and Helen Clifford Law is an APIL Accredited Practice and ranked by Legal 500. During her career Helen has been consulted in relation to a whole range of matters and was also an adviser to the Rt. Hon. Sir Desmond de Silva Q.C.
Clients’ feedback includes, “she is the best of the best” and “she is simply one of the kindest, most caring and intelligent people I have ever dealt with.”
In addition to her fee earning work, Helen campaigns for improved health and safety in the workplace. She is a director of the London Hazards Centre and legal adviser to the Construction Safety Campaign and Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK).
Honoured to be a guest speaker at the Hazards Conference 2017 and 2022 and at International Workers’ Memorial Day in London in 2018. I have also spoken at numerous other events about my work.
Other lawyer monthly awards:
- UK Personal Injury Lawyer of the year 2022 (Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards)
- UK Personal Injury Lawyer of the year 2021 (Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards)
- UK Personal Injury Lawyer of the year 2021 (Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards)
- UK Personal Injury Lawyer of the year 2020 (Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2020)
- UK Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year (Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2020)
- AI 2018 Global Excellence Awards- Most influential woman in Personal Injury Law 2018-UK
- UK Personal Injury Lawyer of the year 2018 (Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2018)
- Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Law firm of the year (Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2017)
- UK Personal Injury Lawyer of the year 2016 (Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2016)
Helen’s work is regularly in the news including:
Whistleblowing Case (Dr Stephen Frost)
- Daily Mail article – 03 Nov 2017
- The Guardian article – 20 Jan 2017
- Daily Mail article – 28 Oct 2016
- The Guardian article – 05 Oct 2016
- Daily Mail article – 04 Oct 2016
Karanbir Cheema
Hunt led by Princess Diana’s sister sued after one of its staff assaulted a legal observer
Rene Tkacik, Successful conviction of Joint Venture Firms BFK by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
- Interviewed by the BBC London
- Firms fined £1m for safety breaches – BBC News – 28 July 2017
- Contractors fined £1 million over worker’s death – ITV News – 28 July 2017
- Firm fined £1m over worker’s death and other safety breaches – Guardian – 28 July 2017
- Firms fined over £1m after worker was crushed by concrete – Evening Standard – 28 July 2017
- Contractors fined over death of worker – Sky News – 28 July 2017
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Excellence
Award winning legal expertise.
Decency
Standing up for what is right.
Kindness
Treating everyone with consideration and compassion.
Fearlessness
Fighting the toughest opponents for you.