Nicola is a Consultant in the Nursing Care Department and is an experienced specialist in health care work, particularly current and retrospective challenges to decisions to refuse NHS funded continuing healthcare to long-term nursing home residents. Nicola was instrumental in developing the Nursing Care Department and now enjoys a managerial role within this team.

She has acted for hundreds of clients in England and Wales in challenging current and retrospective decisions to refuse NHS funded continuing healthcare to long-term nursing home residents. The Nursing Care Department has successfully recovered over £100 million in wrongly paid nursing fees, as well as savings for the future.

Nicola joined Hugh James in September 2001 as a trainee solicitor. She qualified in September 2003 before advancing through associate (2007), senior associate (2009) and partner (2017).

In September 2007, Nicola became actively involved with the Cardiff University Law School’s pro bono team. As one of supervising solicitors for the pro bono team at the University, Nicola provided students with training and support on continuing health care law, practice and procedure, as well supervising the work undertaken by the students. As the Nursing Care department has developed, this role has been taken over by some of the senior paralegals in Nicola’s team.

Nicola also provides regular lectures to the carers’ groups at South Wales’ branches of the Alzheimer’s Society and Age Concern on the issue of continuing health care.