Jane Matthews

Solicitor - Head of Abuse

SRA ID: 347384

Jane is a Solicitor and head of the Abuse Compensation Claims Department. She joined Jordans Solicitors in March 2016 after spending over 20 years’ representing clients in a wide range of Personal Injury Cases. Jane was appointed head of the department in July 2021. Jane is a panel member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers. She represents adult and child survivors of abuse, who have suffered abuse in various settings. Jane acts in cases against local authorities, children’s homes, schools, charities, youth organisations, detention centres, football clubs and religious organisations. She also represents clients in respect of Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and child sexual exploitation claims. Jordans Solicitors has been instrumental in changing the law relating to child abuse claims (A v Hoare and others [2008] UKHL 6 and Various Claimants v Catholic Child Welfare Society and others [2012] UKSC 56) Currently, Jane is representing a client in a claim which will shortly be heard in the Court Appeal. This claim involves the significant issue of whether a local authority can be held to be vicariously liable for the actions of a foster parent who is a family member. Jane represented Jordans Solicitors on the Steering Group of Solicitors which was instrumental in securing compensation for former detainees of the Medomsley Detention Centre and has worked closely with the Ministry of Justice in the development of the Physical Abuse Compensation Scheme for former detainees of Medomsley. Jane was also part of the group of Solicitors who made representations to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (ICSA) that Medomsley Detention Centre should be investigated as part of their inquiry and has continued to support this group of survivors by pushing for an independent inquiry of Medomsley. She is also in consultation with the Prisons and Probation Ombudsmen’s’ current special investigation into abuse that was suffered at Medomsley. In the summer of 2022, Jane was proud that Jordans became a corporate partner with the National Association of People abused in Childhood (NAPAC)and Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS). Jane has received trauma-informed training and regularly delivers training to charities who support survivors of abuse. Jane works hard to achieve the best outcome for her clients and supports her clients through the legal process. She prides herself on being approachable and able to build a relationship of trust with her clients. Outside of work Jane enjoys socialising with family and friends, reading, going for walks, gardening and travelling.