Helen Childs
Partner

Praised for her 'excellent client care skills'

In brief

I specialise in industrial disease cases and have represented Claimants with industrial diseases from a diverse range of industries as well as family members exposed to asbestos dust being brought home on the overalls of workers.

In public

I have am a regular speaker at seminars, public meetings and charity fund raisers. As well as being a trustee for the Duchess of Kent House Trust (a local hospice) and on the management committee of Headway Thames valley, the local branch of Headway UK (the charity which assists survivors of brain injury and their families), I am currently setting up various support groups for those suffering from asbestos related illnesses and their families. 

Industry associations

Memberships include APIL and CPIL (at Fellow Level), as well as being a panel member on the Law Society's Personal Injury Panel.

In work

My most recent reported case (P V Portline [2008] QBD) pushed back the date of knowledge to 1955 of the dangers of asbestos for a “Blue Water” shipping company.

I have also recently concluded a claim for the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos dust as a 7 year old child. The dust came from a huge fire at an MOD Ordnance Depot. This was a very high profile case which generated much public interest and publicity.

Over the past five years I have recovered more than £8m for injured claimants.

In the past

I studied Law at Birmingham and completed my articles with Howies Percival in Northampton. I worked as a defendant lawyer for a couple of years at Morgan Cole in Reading before moving to Shoosmiths where I was a team leader in the Serious Injury Unit for 7 years. I joined Boyes Turner in 2002, promoted to Associate in 2005 and became a Partner in April 2009. 

In my spare time

I am the Mum of two children Joe - born 1999 and Lucy - born 2001. They manage to take up most of my spare time! However when they allow me I love gardening, swimming, cycling, camping, long walks and pub lunches! 

Favourite things

• Food: Anything picked and eaten fresh from my garden.
• Item of clothing: Wellies or walking boots

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