Victoria Hillier

Year of Call:

2005

‘A very good barrister – dedicated, efficient and caring who is always well prepared, respectful and presents her case very well.’

Legal 500, 2020

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Areas of Expertise

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Overview

Victoria specialises in the fields of personal injury, clinical negligence, administrative and public law, housing, regulatory, licensing and inquests. In 2012 she was selected and appointed onto the Approved Counsel on the Attorney General's List of Counsel and Junior Counsel to the Welsh Assembly Government.

“She is an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable.” “Her advocacy is always perfectly measured.” “She will work day and night to ensure she's prepared. She is great at cross-examination and is very persuasive in writing.” “She is very considered, bright, clear thinking, good on her feet and approachable.” Chambers UK Bar Guide 2014, 2015 and 2016 and The Legal 500 2015.

Appointments & Awards

Approved Counsel on the Attorney General's List of Counsel since 2012
Junior counsel to the Welsh Assembly Government since 2012
Membership of the Personal injury Bar Association
Member of Chambers’ management board
Wales and Chester Circuit Award for Outstanding Student of the Year 2005
Temple Chambers Award for Best Performance in Advocacy 2005
Grays Inn Beddingfield Scholarship
University of Bristol Mooting Competition Winner 2002 and 2004

Education

Bassaleg School, Newport
Cardiff University
Bar Vocational Course, Cardiff University (outstanding)

Administrative and Public

Administrative and Public Law

Victoria is ranked as a Leader in the Field and Leading Junior in Administrative and Public Law in Wales in Legal 500 2015 and Chambers and Partners 2015. She is “an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable” and “her advocacy is always perfectly measured.”

As a member of the Attorney General's Panel of Approved Counsel she specialises in defending claims against government departments across England and Wales including those against Her Majesty's Court Service, Probation Service and Crown Prosecution Service. Her particular expertise includes claims involving false imprisonment, trespass and breaches of the Human Rights Act. Since the introduction of the Equality Act 2010, she has advised in an increasing number of claims for alleged breaches of the Act by public bodies.

Chambers UK Bar Guide 2016:
Wales & Chester (Bar), Administrative & Public Law, Band 2
Victoria Hillier of Civitas Law represents local authorities and the police in public law proceedings. She is particularly experienced in issues relating to unlawful imprisonment, housing and licensing.

Strengths: “She is an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable.”

The Legal 500 2015:
Leading Junior, Tier 1, Public Law:
“Her advocacy is always perfectly measured.”

Chambers UK Bar Guide 2015:
Wales & Chester (Bar), Administrative & Public Law, Band 2
Represents local authorities, public bodies and housing associations across Wales in public law cases. Her practice extends to claims against the police and discrimination cases under the Equality Act 2010.

Strengths: “She works hard, prepares thoroughly and is very approachable so witnesses give her more information.”

“She is very considered, bright, clear thinking, good on her feet and approachable.”

Recent work: Defended a claim against the Chief Constable of South Wales Police for harassment, personal injury, defamation and misfeasance.

Chambers UK Bar Guide 2014:
Wales & Chester (Bar), Administrative & Public Law, Band 2
Handles a wide range of administrative and public law proceedings, including those encompassing police law, social housing and local government.

Expertise: “She will work day and night to ensure she's prepared. She is great at cross-examination and is very persuasive in writing.”

Recent work: Victoria acted for Gwent Police in the well-publicised inquest into the death of Lee Donovan, who died in custody with a ligature around his neck. The jury ultimately returned a verdict of death by misadventure, absolving the police of responsibility for his death.

The Legal 500 2014:
Leading Junior in Public Law
Recommended for local government work and social housing cases.

Clinical Negligence

Victoria has a rapidly expanding clinical negligence practice advising in conference and in writing on all aspects of clinical negligence claims. She is adept at handling expert witnesses in conference and at Trial.

She is currently advising in a broad range of specialisations including plastic / cosmetic surgery, Orthopaedic surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, Accident and emergency medicine, General Practice and Dentistry.

Cases

Acting for the Claimant in a claim for failure to diagnose retained products of conception leading to long term suffering and complications.
Acting for the Claimant in a failure to diagnose a scaphoid fracture resulting in the necessity for additional surgery with poorer outcome.
Acting for the Claimant in negligent knee reconstruction necessitating a number of unnecessary operations resulting in permanent restriction of function.

Housing

“Victoria represents local authorities and the police in public law proceedings. She is particularly experienced in issues relating to unlawful imprisonment, housing and licensing.” She is regularly instructed to advise and represent local authorities and housing associations on a wide spectrum of housing claims involving possession, anti social behaviour injunctions, disrepair claims and the homelessness provisions. She specialises in claims raising issues under the Equality Act 2010 and is currently defending a number of claims for discrimination, victimisation and harassment against housing authorities. She represents local authorities at judicial review hearings on a range of housing matters. In light of this experience, Victoria was invited to provide an ‘Update on the Equality Act 2010’ at the Wales Local Authority Training Consortium 2015.

She was recently involved in obtaining the first closure order for a local authority in Wales under the new Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. She has assisted in drafting a number of key policy documents in respect of homelessness and succession for local authorities. She is repeatedly recommended as a Leading Junior in this area:

Strengths: “She is an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable.”

The Legal 500 2015:
Leading Junior, Tier 1, Public Law
“Her advocacy is always perfectly measured.”

Chambers UK Bar Guide 2015:
Wales & Chester (Bar), Administrative & Public Law, Band 2
Victoria Hillier of Civitas Law represents local authorities and the police in public law proceedings. She is particularly experienced in issues relating to unlawful imprisonment, housing and licensing.

Strengths: “She is an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable.”

Chambers UK Bar Guide 2014:
Wales & Chester (Bar), Administrative & Public Law, Band 2

Handles a wide range of administrative and public law proceedings, including those encompassing police law, social housing and local government.

Expertise: “She will work day and night to ensure she's prepared. She is great at cross-examination and is very persuasive in writing.”

The Legal 500 2014:
Leading Junior in Public Law:
Recommended for local government work and social housing cases.

The Legal 500 2013:
“Victoria is building a very sound practice in housing and regulatory law.”

Cases

Welsh Minsters v Persons Unknown [2015] Application for possession order in respect of Welsh Government property upon which illegal encampments had arisen causing nuisance to local businesses;
Hafod Housing v Nicholas [2015] Successful appeal against District Judge's refusal to grant a without notice injunction under the new Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Newport City Homes v O [2013] Committal for breach of anti social behaviour injunction resulting in activation of a four week suspended sentence together with a further six weeks imprisonment for further breaches.
Linc Cymru Housing Association v B [2013] Immediate possession order granted where the tenants’ children had engaged in anti social behaviour over a number of years escalating into recent criminal behaviour.
Pembrokeshire Housing Association v X [2012] Immediate possession order granted where the tenant had held parties, played loud music and damaged personal possessions. Recent behaviour included attempts to intimidate the vulnerable neighbour in the flat below by deliberately stamping on the floorboards & shouting her name during the night.
Caerphilly County Borough Council v X & Y [2014] Anti social behaviour injunctions obtained against two tenants who had been both abusive and threatening towards council employees.
Vale of Glamorgan x A [2013]: Judicial Review on the immediate eviction from a hostel provided under the homelessness provisions where drugs were found.

Inquests and Inquiries

Victoria has considerable experience in inquests including Article 2 and jury inquests. She specialises in representing public bodies and police forces in cases in which systemic failures are considered. This year she has undertaken four inquests for the same prison service and advised on the remedial action needed to prevent future deaths.

She represented Gwent Police in the highly publicised death in custody of Lee Donovan. The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure, absolving the police of responsibility for his death. This case is cited as part of her recommendation in the Chambers UK Bar Guide 2014.

She subsequently represented Gwent Police in the nationally reported double inquest in which the deceased shot his wife and their son subsequently committed suicide 6 weeks later.

Strengths: “She works hard, prepares thoroughly and is very approachable so witnesses give her more information.” “She is very considered, bright, clear thinking, good on her feet and approachable.”

Recent work: Defended a claim against the Chief Constable of South Wales Police for harassment, personal injury, defamation and misfeasance.

The Legal 500 2015:
Leading Junior, Tier 1, Public Law

“Her advocacy is always perfectly measured.”

Chambers UK Bar Guide 2014:
Wales & Chester (Bar), Administrative & Public Law, Band 2
Handles a wide range of administrative and public law proceedings, including those encompassing police law, social housing and local government.'

Expertise: “She will work day and night to ensure she's prepared. She is great at cross-examination and is very persuasive in writing.”

Cases

[2015]: Represented the Prison Service in four inquests considering whether there was adequate provision of healthcare within the prison service.
[2014]: Represented Gwent Police in a double inquest into the shooting of a victim of domestic violence by her ex partner who subsequently shot himself. Tragically her 16 year old son hung himself two days later. Close scrutiny of Police involvement with the family. Verdicts of suicide with no criticism of the actions of the police.
[2014]: Represented two paramedics following the death of a 30-year old lady as a result of an addisonian crisis. 5-day inquest considering the actions of the paramedics and GP.
[2014]: Represented Gwent Police in highly publicised jury inquest into death of Mr Donovan whilst in custody with a ligature. Significant issues as to the procedures followed and adopted.

Personal Injury

Victoria has a substantial personal injury practice involving occupiers’ liability, defective premises, highway tripping, employers liability and road traffic accidents acting for both Claimants and Defendants. Referees state: “She works hard, prepares thoroughly and is very approachable so witnesses give her more information" and "She is an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable.”

Victoria has expertise in defending claims against Welsh Local Authorities involving highways, schools and occupiers of public land. As a member of the Approved Attorney General she regularly advises the Government Legal Department on a range of personal injury claims including those against the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Justice.

Victoria acts for a substantial number of Claimants in a range of personal injury cases. She is currently advising in five ongoing multi track claims whereby the Claimants have suffered complex fractures causing a permanent disability with complex causation and quantum issues. Victoria is adept at handling witnesses and experts both in conference and at Trial.

Cases

Representing the Claimant in a substantial settlement of an employers liability claim involving lisfranc fracture causing loss of earning for life and included a claim for provisional damages.
A substantial CICA award for a Claimant who suffered significant psychological injuries and was been unable to obtain employment following being burnt as a 14 year old child.
Representing Welsh Water in 3 day multi track claim in which Claimant had collided with fire hydrant. Disputed expert evidence on causation.
Representing two young dependants following the tragic death of their mother in a road traffic accident.
Settlement of an employers liability claim in which the Claimant sustained a trimalleolar fracture preventing his return to work as a HGV driver.
Defending a local authority school where a young gymnast sustained multiple leg fractures during a training session.
Successful defence of claims against the local authority heard by the designated Civil Judge in respect of the maintenance of water stop taps and a historical stone drainage system.
Representing the Ministry of Justice in claim by a prison officer for a permanent wrist injury and chronic regional pain syndrome preventing a return to work.
Defending claim for mesothelioma.

Police law

Police Law

Victoria has a longstanding practice in representing and advising Police Forces on civil claims against them on a variety of issues including trespass, conversion, misfeasance in public office, unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and breach of the Human Rights Act 1998. Victoria has had a succession of claims successfully struck out, particularly claims alleging negligence. Her work includes drafting of defences, strike out / summary judgment applications and representation at Trial, including jury trials. Her work in this area has led to her repeated recommendation in the leading guides:

Strengths: “She is an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable.”

Recent work: Acted for the Chief Constable of Gwent Police in an inquest into the death of a man arrested for domestic violence who went on to murder his wife and two of her colleagues. The inquest also looked into the death of his son, who had committed suicide after the event.

The Legal 500 2015:
Leading Junior, Tier 1, Public Law:
“Her advocacy is always perfectly measured.”

Leading Junior, Tier1, Regulatory, Health and Safety, and Licensing:
"Very bright and persuasive on her feet."

Strengths: “She works hard, prepares thoroughly and is very approachable so witnesses give her more information.”

“She is very considered, bright, clear thinking, good on her feet and approachable.”

Recent work: Defended a claim against the Chief Constable of South Wales Police for harassment, personal injury, defamation and misfeasance.

The Legal 500 2014:
Leading Junior in Public Law

The Legal 500 2011:

“South Wales Police regularly instruct Victoria Hillier on a range of civil applications.”

Cases

Robinson v Chief Constable of Gwent Police [2014] Claim for false imprisonment and unlawful detention following the arrest of a female for assaulting her partner during a domestic incident. Three day jury trial considering grounds for arrest, necessity of arrest and justification of the detention.
W v Chief Constable of South Wales Police [2014] Claim for false imprisonment, assault and malicious prosecution. Police suspected the vehicle contained drugs and searched the Claimant’s vehicle. The Claimant reacted leading to his arrest for obstructing an Officer in the execution of his duty which led to the Prosecution of the Claimant. Civil claim ongoing.
South Wales Police v M [2013] Successful strike out of a claim for negligence, harassment and breach of the Human Rights Act 1998 arising from police involvement over a number of years in an ongoing family proceedings dispute. In giving Judgment the Judge thanked Counsel for her assistance and her “undoubted expertise” in these matters.
South Wales Police v D [2013] Claim for damages for psychological injury & consequential losses to a mother and her 10-year-old child following the execution of a search warrant.
Gwent Police v X, Y & Z [2014] Claim for unlawful arrest, false imprisonment & unlawful search of premises and persons pursuant to a drugs warrant.
Gwent Police v E [2013] Claim in the High Court for damages for false imprisonment as a result of actions taken by the police pursuant to the Mental Health Act 1983.

Regulatory, Health and Safety and Licensing

Victoria is ranked as a Leading Junior in Legal 500 2015 for Regulatory, Health and Safety and Licensing work and is ‘very bright and persuasive on her feet.’ and “She is an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable.”

She undertakes cases involving all matters arising from the operation of the Licensing Act 2003 specialising in reviews and revocations of premises licenses and taxi licences. Cases include the successive revocation of four premises licenses for one local authority. Most recently, Victoria advised and represented a local authority in a successful application for the closure of a premises following the continued illegal sale of alcohol. She also acts for Local Authorities in taxi licensing appeals.

Victoria undertakes regulatory prosecutions for Trading Standards, the Environment Agency and Local Authorities. Cases include the sale of dangerous vehicles by garages to private individuals under the GPSR 2005, breach of licence conditions, underage sales of alcohol and failure to comply with enforcement notices.

She has considerable experience in undertaking civil applications in the Magistrates Court and Crown Court for the Police including cash seizure under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, football banning orders and revocation of firearms licence appeals. A recent cash seizure was made for £120,000.

The Legal 500 2015:
Leading Junior, Tier1, Regulatory, Health and Safety, and Licensing:

"Very bright and persuasive on her feet."

Strengths: "She is an excellent advocate – very bright, very thorough and approachable."

The Legal 500 2014:
Leading Junior Tier 1, Regulatory, Health and Safety, and Licensing
Specialises in representing local authorities in licensing matters, and police constables in inquests.

Cases

RCT v Singh [2015] Successfully defeated an appeal against refusal to grant private hire license where caution for one offence only.
RCT v Bourne [2015] Successfully defended an appeal against the revocation of a private hire vehicles license and operators license.
RCT v Morgan Tavern [2014] Representing the Local Authority in a 4 day appeal against the revocation of the premises licence. The premises had a prolonged history of crime and disorder and there was no confidence in the management. Appeal dismissed with immediate closure of the premises and costs.
RCT v The Commercial Hotel [2013] Proceedings for a closure order following continued trading by the premises after the revocation of the licence. Prosecutions pending for unlicensed trading.
RCT v Raffles [2012] Representing the Local Authority in an Appeal against the revocation of the premises licence. Premises had a prolonged history of breaches of the licence. Appeal successfully defeated with costs.

Contact

For further information please contact our clerks, who will be able to help you with any questions.

+44 (0)2920 375020

clerks@civitaslaw.com

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Overview

Appointments & Awards

Education

Administrative and Public Law

Clinical Negligence

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Housing

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Inquests and Inquiries

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Personal Injury

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Police Law

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Regulatory, Health and Safety and Licensing

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