Lawyer Spotlight: Leanne Devine

Celebrating 20 Years of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Showing Families There is Hope After a Birth Injury

March 2026 marks two decades of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, an annual campaign which aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of cerebral palsy(CP), whilst celebrating the achievements and stories of the people and families affected by CP.

For Leanne Devine, an Associate Solicitor and Birth Injury Team Leader, these aims rest at the heart of her work. With over 23 years experience in medical negligence, Leanne has specialised in birth injuries since 2013, representing clients in a wide range of birth injury claims, many of which involving brain injuries, nerve injuries, wrongful births, stillbirths and maternal psychiatric injuries.

Leanne has dedicated her career to helping families navigate life after a birth injury and giving them hope for the future. Her unwavering commitment, compassion and empathy are a great source of support for many of her clients:

“Leanne Devine has been a key part of our journey. She and her team have showed the utmost compassion and dedication towards my case. I have felt fully informed every step of the way and Leanne has personally comforted me when we discussed sensitive moments that occurred when the negligence took place. She has always remained patient and communicative, and immensely compassionate.”

Expertise Grounded in Compassion and Care

Sadly, every family that Leanne represents has experienced incredible trauma and loss. “Having a baby should be one of the most exciting and precious times in a family’s life. Nobody goes into that experience expecting something to go wrong, so when it does the impact can be devastating.” Leanne says.

“Unfortunately, the system does not always provide families with the support they need, but as a birth injury solicitor, I am able to support families during one of the most challenging periods of their lives, whilst also helping them to secure justice” Leanne explains. “Being able to fight for children and their families and secure the compensation they deserve is what motivates me every day.”

Birth injury claims of any nature can be notoriously complex, lengthy and emotionally challenging and families often feel that their trust in professionals has been broken.

However, Leanne is committed to ensuring every family knows that “they will be listened to, supported and treated with respect.” She says, “our role is to stand alongside them and do everything we can to achieve justice on their behalf.”

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Cerebral Palsy (CP) Awareness Month was initiated in 2006 by the Cerebral Palsy Advocacy Group, as an awareness campaign to help support individuals living with cerebral palsy.

“Throughout March, our mission is to help more people learn about cerebral palsy about cerebral palsy and how it can affect a person’s everyday life. We also want to take the opportunity to raise awareness of the vital work we do to provide specialist therapy and support to children and families across Wales living with cerebral palsy.” – Cerebral Palsy Advocacy Group

Cerebral palsy is a condition which affects many of Leanne’s clients, who have sustained brain injuries at birth. “I have always been passionate about helping children with cerebral palsy achieve their maximum potential, because every child deserves that opportunity.” Leanne says.

For Leanne, “raising awareness of cerebral palsy is incredibly important and CP Awareness Month encourages greater understanding and support across the UK.” She says “the campaign gives children and families, affected by cerebral palsy, a voice. It allows them to connect them with other families who may be going through similar experiences, helping them realise that they are not alone.”

Support That Goes Beyond Settlement

Leanne is passionate about achieving results for the many families whom she represents, and her unwavering commitment and expertise has seen her secure millions of pounds in compensation for her clients.

However, for Leanne, securing financial compensation is only one part of the work that she does, and the support she provides goes far beyond the final settlement.

“My aim is to make sure children have everything they need to thrive and reach their full potential throughout their lives” Leanne explains. “One of the most common concerns that parents share is, “what will happen to my child when I’m no longer here to care for them?” My job is to help put the right support in place, so that families can feel reassured their child will always be cared for.”

Leanne works closely with medical professionals, rehabilitation experts, case managers and charities to ensure that every client and family has access to this life-long care and support.

One of the charities closest to Leanne’s heart is Rainbow Hub, a charity that provides children and young people with physical disabilities, arising from neurological conditions or brain injuries, with access to vital, life changing rehabilitation services.

Leanne says, “supporting children is at the heart of what both myself and Rainbow Hub aim to do, and that shared focus makes working together incredibly meaningful.”

Everyday is a Life Changing Day: Rainbow Hub

Based in Mawdesley, Lancashire, Rainbow Hub offers holistic care and support, through their unique family first approach. A philosophy shared by Fletchers Solicitors own client first approach.

Their diverse range of child brain injury services includes conductive education, mobility, movement and sensory therapies, as well as the ‘Rainbow Hub Nursery’, an early childhood special education service for children aged between 2 and 5 years.

All of Rainbow Hub’s services are aimed at improving the physical, social and emotional well-being of children with complex needs, whilst also reducing the stress and isolation in their families and giving their parents the vital support they deserve.

A Welcome Escape with Life Changing Services

Situated in the picturesque countryside, Rainbow Hub’s purpose-built site gives families a welcome escape, from the challenges of daily life.

Leanne says “Rainbow Hub is a truly inspiring charity. The staff are incredibly passionate about creating a safe and supportive environment where children can thrive and reach their full potential. Every time I visit, the children are so happy and engaged. It is clear how much the support means to families, many of whom travel long distances to access the Conductive Education Centre. “

At Fletchers Solicitors, we are incredibly proud to support charities like Rainbow Hub, who share the same values and goals as us. Leanne has seen first hand the difference that Rainbow Hub’s services can make to lives of the clients and families who she supports.

“I have had clients attend Rainbow Hub for conductive education and the dedication of the staff is remarkable. The therapies and support they provide can make a real difference to children’s development and confidence” Leanne explains. “For some children who had previously struggled with mobility, the support and therapy at Rainbow Hub helped them achieve milestones such as learning to walk. Seeing that growth in confidence and independence is incredibly powerful for both the child and their family.”

Working In Partnership to Make a Difference

Leanne advocates for training and awareness around the importance of rehabilitation following a brain injury. She recently delivered legal training to the staff at Rainbow Hub, helping them understand the types of cases we deal with here at Fletchers.

Leanne regularly attends various charity and fundraising events hosted by Rainbow Hub, including the Rainbow Hub Annual Ball, which raised a staggering £76,000 for the charity. Whilst also taking part in a number of sporting challenges such as the Rainbow Hub ‘3-Hour Workoutathon’.

As a proud partner of Rainbow Hub, many of these events are sponsored by Fletchers Solicitors, however, our support is more than just financial. We are regularly on hand to provide additional guidance and legal clinics for families attending these events.

Every Child with Cerebral Palsy Deserves the Opportunity to Achieve Incredible Things

Rainbow Hub also regularly hosts annual events and award shows, ensuring that the hard work and achievements of every child and young person are recognised and celebrated; a goal which is shared by the CP Awareness Month campaign.

One example is Rainbow Hub’s annual ‘Sports Week’ which took place in July 2025. The event which was sponsored by Fletchers Solicitors, gave all of the children and young people accessing Rainbow Hub’s conductive education and early childhood special education services, the opportunity to take part in some exciting activities whilst demonstrating and celebrating some of the skills they had learnt over the past year.

Seeing her clients with cerebral palsy go on to achieve amazing things, is a key driver behind the work that she does. Leanne says, “I have always been passionate about helping children with cerebral palsy achieve their maximum potential. I see first-hand the difference the right therapies, accommodation, and care package can make to a child’s life. With the right support in place, children with cerebral palsy can achieve incredible things, and every child deserves that opportunity.”

For Every Birth. For Every Baby. For Every Family.

In 2025, we launched our campaign, “For Every Birth. For Every Baby. For Every Family.” A powerful reminder that every family’s case is more than just a legal claim.

Leanne says, “At Fletchers, we are passionate about giving children and their families a voice, letting them know they are supported and that somebody is fighting in their corner. This campaign is about making sure every voice is heard. It focuses on seeking justice for every negligent birth, for every baby who has been affected, and for every family whose lives have been changed as a result.”

However, the campaign also recognises the importance of tackling the root of the issue, by raising awareness of birth injuries and aiming to improve the safety of maternity services across the UK.