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Phoebe Osborne

Phoebe is a Legal Director within Hugh James specialist Asbestos team and is based in Cambridge, covering the East of England. Over the last 10 years since qualifying as a Solicitor, she has solely acted for Claimants and has achieved notable success in securing millions of pounds of compensation for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural thickening, and lung cancer. Phoebe is also instructed posthumously, managing to secure justice often with limited information, testament to her thorough investigative capabilities.

As an accredited APIL asbestos and occupational disease specialist and Senior Litigator, Phoebe approaches her work with meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive research. Phoebe’s local knowledge and dedication to pursuing claims against former employers for historical asbestos exposure in workplaces is proven with consistent positive client feedback.

Phoebe is capable in resolving complex Public Liability and Employer’s Liability claims involving institutions such as schools and hospitals. Fuelled by her genuine passion for her clients in this field, Phoebe is an active advocate for securing justice and is patient focused in her holistic approach. She extends her impact through her active engagement on social media, and her insights have secured her interviews with BBC Radio Norfolk and ITV, where she highlights the risks of asbestos in public buildings, particularly through the National asbestos in schools campaign. Phoebe regularly provides health care education talks and recovers several thousands of pounds hospice fees annually for the benefit of local hospices who have provided care to her clients.

Phoebe routinely secures compensation for private medical treatment costs in mesothelioma claims where immunotherapy is not necessarily always available within the NHS. Additionally, she excels in securing enhanced compensation for complex care requirements involving dependent family members.

What Phoebe finds most rewarding in her work are the investigative challenges, the meaningful connections formed with clients and their families during difficult times, and the ultimate sense of resolution and relief she provides upon achieving settlement for her clients and their families.

Beyond her legal role, Phoebe has assumed leadership positions within two asbestos disease patient support groups: AADSG (2016–2021) and the East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group (EEA PSG), CIO since March 2021. These groups, founded by Mesothelioma UK Ambassador Brian Wallis, hold regular meetings across Norfolk and Suffolk. Collaboratively, Phoebe and the team of volunteers have made significant progress providing support to victims and families and she has been instrumental in helping to raise over £20,000 for Mesothelioma UK. Most recently donations from EEA PSG have been distributed within the NHS for provision of equipment, including chemotherapy chairs for patients living in the East of England region.

Experience

  • Settlement of a mesothelioma claim for a retired Cambridge bank manager involving low dose exposure in a bank and office building refurbishment during the 1970s.
  • Achieving settlement and a future medical treatment order for a Leicestershire upholsterer diagnosed with mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos dust when cutting asbestos for a bar fitting firm during the mid-1960s which was heavily contested.
  • Settlement of a deceased mesothelioma claim for £235,000 gross where witnesses were located via a witness appeal and electoral roll searches for a former tool-maker against a dissolved company.
  • Settlement of a claim against Ford Motor following exposure on the production line at Dagenham during the 1970s.
  • Recovery of damages for a GPO Telephonist diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma following exposure in the early 1970s where liability was denied, settling the claim 5 days before a 3-day trial at the Royal Courts of Justice.
  • Achieving a six-figure settlement and a future medical treatment order for a former carpenter diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma following negligent exposure to asbestos dust when cutting asbestolux for a Cambridge carpentry firm during the 1970s. Read more here.
  • Settling a secondary mesothelioma claim together with a future medical treatment Order for non-NHS private medical treatment, after investigating how my client was negligently exposed to asbestos from washing her marine engineer husband’s asbestos laden dusty overalls in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Career History

  • Legal Director at Hugh James: 2024
  • Senior Associate at Hugh James: 2021
  • Associate Solicitor at Ashtons Legal: 2016
  • Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell: 2013
  • Trained and qualified at Thomas Eggar (now part of Irwin Mitchell) 2009- 2013

Education

  • Nottingham Trent University, LLB Law, including one year work placement Eversheds (Industrial Disease)

Memberships

  • APIL accredited asbestos and occupational disease specialist since 2020
  • APIL Senior Litigator since 2016

My solicitor Phoebe Osborne, has made a huge impression on me. She has shown great empathy in dealing with delicate matters. But has always been patient and trustworthy, and during all this lockdown, she has phoned me up and helped me with my case and has helped us reach a good outcome. I would definitely recommend her.

Mrs Erika Willis - mesothelioma claim plus private treatment indemnity order, April 2021

Always at the end of a call, highly recommended, full of knowledge, professional, very friendly. Everything done for us was carried out with compassion. Phoebe has done an amazing job, thank you Phoebe and Hugh James.

Mr David Squires - mesothelioma claim plus private treatment indemnity order, May 2021

From the first time I was put into contact with Phoebe Osborne Senior Associate for Hugh James, we were amazed at the way she handled my claim, she is so dedicated to her work, nothing is too much trouble, everything was so efficient, yet friendly. I would recommend Hugh James and Phoebe if you needed any expert advice.

Mrs S - secondary mesothelioma claim (washing overalls) plus private treatment indemnity order, August 2021

What can I say! The overall experience, the way things were handled, the way Phoebe communicated and kept me informed of everything, the most helpful caring person to know, I can’t thank her enough. I would recommend Hugh James services 100%, many thanks again.

Mr David Tinkler - mesothelioma claim plus private treatment indemnity order, April 2022

My overall experience in dealing with my claim has been positive all the way through. The service was exceptional and communication was always good. I would like to thank Phoebe for being absolutely great! I would recommend Hugh James team to anyone having to go down the legal road.

Geoffrey - diffuse pleural thickening claim settled on a provisional damages basis, June 2022

My experience with Phoebe, a very understanding service, very satisfactory. Kept in the know all the time, I would recommend your services.

Mr T - diffuse pleural thickening claim settled on a provisional damages basis, March 2023

Very impressed with the service provided to us, and the outcome. Phoebe was always able to help us when help was needed, very reliable. I would recommend Hugh James, I had no problems at all with them, whilst they dealt with and concluded our case. Thank you

 

Mr B - diffuse pleural thickening claim settled on a provisional damages basis, June 2023

A delightful young lady, brilliant at explaining details to me in huge amounts of patience and knowledge, thank you Phoebe.

Mr L- mesothelioma claim plus private treatment indemnity order, August 2023

Phoebe is very professional and efficient. Cannot fault the service at all. Kind, friendly, supportive and compassionate person full of empathy and enthusiastic. Phoebe is a very uplifting personality and has been an absolute pleasure to have met her. We are grateful for her help and support and hope to keep in touch.

Alan mesothelioma claim plus private treatment indemnity order July 2023

What can I say! The overall experience, the way things were handled, the way Phoebe communicated and kept me in formed of everything, the most helpful and caring person to know, can’t thank her enough. I would recommend Hugh James services 100%. Many thanks again.

David Tinkler

From the first time I was put into contact with Phoebe Osborne, Senior Associate for Hugh James, we were amazed at the way she handled my claim. She is so dedicated to her work, nothing is too much trouble. Everything was so efficient, yet friendly. I would recommend Hugh James and Phoebe if you need any expert advice.

Irene Spence

Always at the end of a call, highly recommended, full of knowledge, professional and very friendly. Everything done for us was carried out with compassion. Phoebe has done an amazing job. Thank you Phoebe and Hugh James.

David Squires

Very experienced in asbestos claims – very conscientious – will go the extra mile.

The Legal 500

She is extremely thorough and fights her client’s corner very hard.

The Legal 500