Dr Priestley has extensive experience in brain injury rehabilitation and medico-legal practice. As a Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist in the NHS he established rehabilitation services for brain injury in both community-based and residential settings. He has held the post of Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist at The Walton Centre for Neurology & Neurosurgery and has also been the clinical lead and Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist in brain injury rehabilitation units both in the NHS and in the private sector.
Dr Priestley is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and has full membership of the BPS Division of Neuropsychology. For five years he was a member of the Investigatory Committee of the BPS. He has sat on the University of Liverpool selection panel for Clinical Psychology training.
Dr Priestley has a particular interest in the behavioural problems of people post brain injury. In his medico-legal practice, he specialises in the neuropsychological assessment of acquired brain injury and the design and implementation of rehabilitation programmes for brain injured patients. Dr Priestley is also a Clinical Psychologist registered with and approved by the Ministère de la Santé de la Famille et des Personnees Handicapées in France.
He is an experienced cognitive behavioural therapist and in addition to his practice in Manchester, Dr Priestley is in clinical practice in Paris. Because of his unique background in the performing Arts, he has an interest in helping artists with performance anxieties maximise their potential on the concert platform or stage. He also treats both post head injury problems and emotional disorders. Dr Priestley has made contributions to the French press on psychological matters.
Dr Priestley has published research papers in the field of memory impairments and brain injury rehabilitation and is a guest speaker at national and international conferences. He is instructed by solicitors in both Civil and Criminal cases and has acted for both Claimants and Defendants. He is also instructed as a Single Joint Expert. Dr Priestley has attended medico-legal training events organised both by The Academy of Experts and also by Bond Solon.
‘Dr Priestley is a pleasure to work with not least because he understands the reality of living with a brain injury. He has a rare combination of a sharp academic and clinical mind, excellent preparation skills and a compelling and empathetic manner with his clients’.
Jackie Parker, Brain Injury Case Manager and Director of J S Parker Ltd.
“Dr. Priestley’s reports are clear, concise and authoritative. He is a commanding presence in Court: able to explain and defend his position persuasively. An expert of choice.”
Adam Weitzman, Barrister
‘Dr Nicolas Priestley has been my professional colleague for over 20 years. We share an interest in those who have suffered traumatic brain injury. As a neuropsychologist, Dr Priestley has accumulated a wealth of understanding and experience of the long-term effects of head injury, encompassing the entire spectrum from the subtle to the most severe. He has a fine ability for interpreting cognitive test results in terms of their impact on the day-to-day life of the patient. I have always had confidence in his judgemental skills and opinions and I frequently recommend him to instructing solicitors especially for the more complex or challenging cases.’
Mr David J Price, Consultant Neurosurgeon
‘Dr Priestley is a pleasure to work with not least because he understands the reality of living with a brain injury. He has a rare combination of a sharp academic and clinical mind, excellent preparation skills and a compelling and empathetic manner with his clients’.
Jackie Parker, Brain Injury Case Manager and Director of J S Parker Ltd.
‘His opinions have invariably been arrived at after meticulous consideration of all the available evidence and a thorough and fair assessment of the individual Claimant. Without trespassing into other areas of expertise, he provides a helpful and practical approach when discussing matters with experts from other disciplines when considering the day-to-day consequences of injury on a particular Claimant. I always feel confident that Dr Priestley will be able to explain his opinions cogently, clearly and persuasively, even under the most challenging questioning in Court.’
Jane McNeill QC.
‘Dr Priestley is one of the leading neuropsychologists practicing in the medico legal area in the UK today. His approaches to evidence gathering, reasoning and decision making exemplify good practice in this often complex arena. His work has helped to set the barr over many years for neuropsychologists wishing to help inform the Court on neuropsychological matters. His professionalism means that he is a highly sought after expert, clinician and professional mentor. Only a select group of other practitioners could claim similar experience and expertise. His reports are of the highest standard, robustly supported by rigorous evidence collection and sound reasoning.’
Dr David Manchester, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist
‘I consider Dr Priestley to be an extremely able and knowledgeable Neuropsychologist. His reports are meticulously prepared. He is always clear in terms of his recommendations and the reasons for these, always giving consideration to the appropriate legal principles involved. Dr Priestley maintains very good relationships with those instructing him and the other relevant experts both within his field and other specialisms associated with brain injury. He is always focused on the relevant issues, and produces his reports within the appropriate timescale.
Rachael Aram, Personal Injury Lawyer.
Rachael Aram
