Helen
Johnson

Helen acts for claimants and defendants in the County Court, appearing remotely and in person at trials and interim hearings. Alongside her advocacy, she regularly undertakes advisory and drafting work, including advising on prospects and drafting and amending statements of case.

She works with clients from a wide range of backgrounds. Her experience in academic research and teaching, together with her training in psychology and work with neurodivergent clients, informs her approach, particularly when supporting vulnerable clients and those with additional needs.

Helen is also a qualified mediator.

Housing disrepair is a significant focus of Helen's current practice. Her recent housing work has largely involved tenants' claims against local authorities and housing associations. She has also acted for landlords and welcomes instructions from landlords and social housing providers.

Her work ranges from advising on prospects and drafting Particulars of Claim and Replies to Defence, through to small claims and fast track trials and disposal hearings.

She appears at a wide range of interim applications, including specific performance, strike out, extensions of time and enforcement. She also attends approval hearings for settlements involving children and protected parties.

Helen accepts instructions in education and disability discrimination matters, including higher education disputes, appeals and complaints.

Her recent experience includes representing a medical student in a three-day multi-track trial concerning alleged disability discrimination by a university, including issues relating to the provision of reasonable adjustments in clinical examinations.

She also advises on higher education appeals and complaints, including matters involving academic progression and disability-related issues.

Helen welcomes instructions in SEND Tribunal appeals and is continuing to develop this area of her practice. Her background in academic research, university teaching, psychology and working with neurodivergent clients provides valuable insight into the issues faced by students and individuals with additional needs.

Helen is regularly instructed in road traffic claims with and without personal injury, acting for claimants and defendants. She appears at small claims and fast track trials, Stage 3 hearings, assessments of damages, case management hearings, specific performance applications and infant and OIC approval hearings.

She also undertakes drafting work and has experience of related credit hire claims.

Helen accepts instructions in family matters, including private law children cases, financial remedies, TOLATA claims and family injunctions.

She has conducted FHDRAs, First Appointments, directions hearings and appeals, and has experience of children proceedings involving disputed contact arrangements and Cafcass evidence.

Her training in negotiation, coaching and trauma awareness informs her approach to these cases.

Helen has a breadth of professional experience within more than one regulated industry and so has a strong understanding of how regulation impacts organisations and individuals. She is keen to develop her practice in this area and welcomes instructions on:

• Inquests
• Healthcare regulatory matters
• Solicitors regulatory investigations and disciplinary action
• Other regulatory bodies

Helen is an excellent communicator, both in relation to her verbal and written communication skills. She is adept at exercising resilience and responding calmly and flexibly while strongly fighting for her client’s position in hearings.

With a view to identifying, challenging, or defending decisions/acts and omissions of public bodies by way of judicial review, Helen welcomes instructions in the following areas:

• Local Authority Community Care assessments.
• Challenging licencing decisions by Local Authorities, Transport for London, DVLA, etc.
• DWP Welfare Benefit decisions.

Challenging sanctions, contract notices and other unlawful decisions of the Legal Aid Agency against solicitors.

Helen is an experience civil litigator and has experience across a wide range of civil disputes including the following areas:

• Business and commercial law
• Breach of contract
• Bankruptcy and Insolvency
• Road Traffic Accidents
• Quantum disputes
• Personal Injury
• Credit Hire
• Consumer Credit Act claims
• Breach of Contract
• Recovery of debt

Helen can be relied upon to offer pragmatic and realistic advice to her clients in relation to settlement in circumstances where that is a possibility, but always strongly and robustly advocates for her client’s position in contested trials and final hearings. Her interpersonal skills make her easy to work with and her sharp mind means that lay clients and solicitor are in safe hands.

Helen has dealt with all manner of hearings from interim applications, applications for strike out, case management as well as conducting trials. She successfully represented both Claimants and Defendants in county courts across England.

Helen has successfully represented cases in many aspects of commercial law, including:

• Contractual disputes
• Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Liquidation
• Credit Agreements and Credit Hire
• Commercial debt claims

Helen has an understanding of wider commercial concerns and a familiarity with different types of commercial contracts and organisational contexts.

At the level of the consumer, her background in coaching and psychology means that she is able to support consumers through stressful hearings and litigation, helping them to understand the legal issues, while advocating robustly on their behalf.