Danielle is a Director and Solicitor in our Abuse team. She has 17 years experience in personal injury and specialises in complex sexual abuse and harassment litigation claims.
Switalskis Solicitors Ltd
77 Coleman Street
City of London
EC2R 5BJ
Danielle is a specialist solicitor with more than 17 years' experience representing survivors of sexual abuse, harassment and institutional abuse. She has particular expertise in complex civil claims involving vicarious liability, historic abuse, abuse by people in positions of trust and claims against organisations that have failed to protect those in their care.
She represents clients across England and Wales, including London and the South East, acting against local authorities, schools, healthcare providers, religious organisations, sports clubs, charities and other institutions. Danielle regularly advises clients whose abuse took place many years ago and has extensive experience pursuing claims where organisations initially deny responsibility or where there has been no criminal conviction.
Throughout her career, Danielle has secured numerous six-figure settlements for survivors, helping clients obtain financial compensation, acknowledgement and a sense of justice while supporting them through every stage of the civil claims process.
Danielle has extensive experience representing survivors in claims involving:
Danielle also has significant experience advising survivors through major redress schemes, including the Harrods Redress Scheme, Lambeth Redress Scheme, Scottish Redress Scheme, Northern Ireland Redress Scheme and the Jesus Army Redress Scheme.
She previously served as a Trustee of Gloucestershire Rape Crisis for four years, reflecting her long-standing commitment to supporting survivors beyond her legal practice.
Danielle understands that every survivor's experience is different. She takes a personalised approach, tailoring her advice and support to each client's individual circumstances and ensuring they feel listened to throughout the legal process.
She recognises that pursuing a civil claim can feel overwhelming, particularly where clients have experienced trauma or have previously felt let down by authorities. Danielle works proactively to build trust, explain each stage of the process clearly and seek timely resolutions wherever possible, helping clients move forward with confidence.
Danielle has developed a strong reputation for successfully handling complex abuse claims involving disputed liability, historic abuse and institutions that have failed in their safeguarding responsibilities.
She regularly represents survivors where legal arguments focus on whether an organisation should be held responsible for abuse committed by employees, volunteers, foster carers, teachers, clergy, healthcare professionals and others working in positions of trust. Her expertise includes establishing vicarious liability and challenging organisations that seek to deny responsibility for abuse.
Danielle successfully represented a survivor who was groomed and sexually abused by a Scout leader after the perpetrator exploited the client's difficult home circumstances. Although the claim was brought outside the usual limitation period and the perpetrator died before criminal proceedings concluded, Danielle negotiated a substantial settlement directly with the Scouts organisation without the need for court proceedings.
Danielle has extensive experience bringing claims against medical professionals, GP practices and NHS organisations involving unnecessary intimate examinations, failures to obtain informed consent and sexual abuse committed under the guise of medical treatment.
She recently secured compensation for a client who had been sexually assaulted by her family GP over more than a decade, despite the absence of a criminal conviction after the perpetrator died during criminal proceedings.
Danielle successfully represented a vulnerable client who was sexually exploited by her therapist while receiving inpatient treatment at a rehabilitation centre. The therapist abused his position of trust by manipulating the client's treatment and accommodation to facilitate ongoing abuse. The organisation settled the claim without court proceedings.
Danielle has extensive experience bringing claims against local authorities involving foster care and residential children's homes.
She recently secured a six-figure settlement for a survivor abused by her foster father while in the care of a Welsh local authority. Despite the authority arguing it was not legally responsible, Danielle successfully challenged its position and negotiated settlement without the client having to attend court.
She has also represented survivors abused within children's homes, including cases involving abuse across multiple placements. Many of these claims were brought decades after the abuse occurred, requiring successful arguments to overcome limitation issues before settlement was achieved.
Danielle has represented survivors abused within religious organisations, including claims against the Church of England involving abuse by clergy who exploited positions of trust during periods of grief and vulnerability.
She also has significant experience advising survivors through religious redress schemes, including the Jesus Army Redress Scheme.
Danielle has successfully represented survivors abused by teachers in both state and independent schools. Her cases include grooming, boundary violations and sexual abuse by trusted members of staff, with successful outcomes achieved through negotiated settlements.
Danielle has extensive experience representing survivors through institutional redress schemes. She has successfully secured settlements for applicants to the Harrods Redress Scheme and has advised clients through the Lambeth, Scottish, Northern Ireland and Jesus Army Redress Schemes.
Danielle has particular expertise in cases involving abuse by people in positions of trust, historic abuse claims brought outside the usual limitation period and claims where survivors have previously been disbelieved or where criminal proceedings have not resulted in a conviction.
"Danielle was committed to ensure I got justice when many others wouldn’t consider my claim. She was empathetic and fought hard when the claim was denied. Danielles determination with my case helped me close chapters in my life that were still actively running at the time, without such I would still be stuck in that trap, blaming myself for the abuse I suffered as a child. I will be forever grateful for the support I received."
Abuse claims client
Sexual abuse in schools and boarding schools can have devastating and long-lasting consequences. Survivors may face significant barriers to speaking out, while the impact of abuse can continue into education, employment, relationships and everyday life.
Recent teacher convictions highlight the ongoing issue of sexual abuse in education settings, the abuse of positions of trust and authority, and the barriers that can prevent survivors from coming forward.
Switalskis’ are appealing for witnesses in regard to Alan Johnson who was a teacher/house master at Knossington Grange School, in Oakham, Leicestershire, in the 1970s -1980’s.
The specialist abuse team at Switalskis are appealing for witnesses following the recent conviction of Paul Dowbekin who was a teacher at All Hallows School, Shepton Mallet.