Who? Frances Swaine, 48-year-old partner, clinical negligence specialist and head of human rights at Leigh Day & Co in London.

Why is she in the news? Acts for Debbie Chandler, the 25-year-old awarded £4.1 million last year after doctors failed to diagnose a brain haemorrhage for several days. She was discharged with a minor illness twice before the rare condition was identified, resulting in severe memory loss. Though she remembers who her parents and sister are, Ms Chandler gets lost in her own home, cannot remember people she has met only minutes before, and is unable to read a book because she has forgotten the story by the time she reaches the end of the page.


Background: BA in American Studies, graduating in 1978, followed by MA in American History at the London School of Economics. Worked in the Lord Chancellor's Department for four years then completed the CPE and LPC at the College of Law, Chancery Lane. Articles with Kenwright & Cox, qualifying in 1990. Moved to Leigh Day & Co in 1991.


Frances Swaine
Leigh Day & Co

Route to the case: 'A referral from another solicitor who had read about me on our firm's Web site.'

Thoughts on the case: 'This case was very important because it recognised the care needs of someone who does not have a physical injury, but needs to be watched 24 hours-a-day. You can be introduced to her four or five times in a couple of minutes, and she won't remember you, and when she is sitting at the table she needs to be reminded to eat. She needs someone to tell her absolutely everything, but her family have been brilliant and most of the time she is not a distressed person. She is very happy and friendly. This type of injury is very unusual, because most people would not have survived the level of haemorrhage she has. The important thing about this award is that it can't run out - she will have someone to care for her for life.'


Dealing with the media: 'I have been interviewed by national and local papers, but the family have wanted to have quite an input and so I have not been the lead character. The media coverage has been extremely sympathetic. After last week's article in The Guardian, I have had a lot of e-mails from neurologists saying they have special memory aids, which I have passed on to the family.'