Regarded as ‘one of the big hitters for catastrophic personal injury’, the London-based personal injury practice at Clyde & Co advises major insurance companies and corporate workplaces in complex fatal, cognitive, psychiatric, spinal cord, and polytraumatic injuries, in both UK and international jurisdictions. Practice co-chair Tony Cawley chiefly handles employer and public sector liability litigation, and is highlighted for his ‘strong and robust approach to claims’. Fellow co-chair Matthew Ford regularly litigates in large loss cases, which includes cognitive, spinal, chronic pain and fatal injury claims on behalf of insurers, brokers and corporate clients, areas that Claire Collins is also experienced in. Paula Jefferson  specialises in sexual abuse and harassment cases, acting for educational organisations, health services, non-governmental organisations, faith organisations, and insurers, while Sharon Moohan's additional areas of expertise include child sexual abuse claims in educational and faith organisations. Nigel Lock advises on long-term and sensory deprivation injuries litigation, while Sharon MacArthur-Powell  specialises in chronic pain and complex medical causation claims, especially among employers and public entities. Michelle Penn has left the firm.

A key port of call for defendant representation in group claims, traffic and workplace accidents, public sector liability and defective products, DWF's personal injury department is noted as ‘a first-rate team capable of handling cases of the highest value and complexity’. The team oversees a wide range of personal injury litigation, including severe cognitive, spinal and polytraumatic injuries, along with workplace injuries and multijurisdictional claims. Steven King co-heads the department with Mark Whittaker, both regarded as ports of call for public liability injuries, along with professional negligence. Claire Bowler regularly advises major private insurers in high-value traffic collision claims, typically involving large groups. Graham Dickinson frequently handles amputation, cognitive and spinal injury claims. Regarded as 'excellent on all fronts', Seema Bains holds over 20 years of experience in employer and public liability claims involving orthopaedic, brain and amputation injuries. Sara-Jane Eaton  is recommended for international claims, especially for injuries incurred while travelling abroad. Dan Mitchell typically operates in cases pertaining to injuries within the logistics and passenger transport sector, while John Lezemore  leads the department’s chronic pain claims team.

A ‘longstanding favourite of insurers’, the UK liability defence department at Kennedys is praised for its ‘incisive and robust advice.’ The team predominately acts for defendants in sophisticated, high-value disputes, working with local authorities, health services, public entities, and private and voluntary sector groups. Practice head Mark Burton is highlighted for his ‘tough but realistic approach to litigation’, which he brings to bear in claims concerning serious traffic collisions, sports injuries, amputations, and fatalities. Joe McManus handles multijurisdictional and higher circuit litigation. Antony French oversees maximum severity cognitive, spinal, polytrauma and chronic pain cases, while Charles Martin handles cognitive injury cases with an additional psychiatric injury component. Andrew Sheppard regularly represents public entities and local authorities, along with educational establishments such as schools and universities. Mark Dyson is highlighted for his ‘practical and exceptionally commercial’ advice, typically litigating on behalf of insurers and corporate risk groups in workplace violence, defective equipment and traffic collision litigation. Tom Walshaw handles public sector, abuse and complex liability claims, including bullying and harassment, public accidents, and cross-jurisdictional claims.

The personal injury practice at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP pursues highly valuable and sophisticated catastrophic injury and fatality litigation valued at £1m at minimum, representing public entities, multinational corporations, and research institutions in novel personal injury claims resulting in polytraumatic and psychiatric, including workplace abuse and stress. Often advising on both domestic and multijurisdictional cases, David Bennett litigates in fatal accident claims, along with major psychiatric injuries stemming from workplaces.

Fielding ‘strength in depth across all areas’, the personal injury section of Weightmans LLP is adept in a diverse spectrum of catastrophic injury cases, spanning polytraumatic and psychiatric injuries incurred in sports businesses, workplaces, public entities, and, in particular, road collisions. The team fields both domestic and multijurisdictional experts, such as Simon Ball, who is notably experienced in French accident law. Catherine Kearney represents defendants in catastrophic brain, spine and amputation injuries, while Shaun Lavery is a port of call for tetraplegia, paraplegia and fatal injury claims. Steve Phillips holds over 30 years’ experience in occupational diseases and mesothelioma litigation, while Philip Tracey oversees product liability injuries and catastrophic harm incurred in the sports industry. Seva Singh advises defendants on maximum severity amputation, brain and spinal cord injury litigation.

Browne Jacobson LLP‘s insurance and public risk team is recommended for its ‘exceptional client focus’, advising brokers, commercial insurers, public entities and policyholders on a range of high-severity injury disputes, including cognitive, spinal cord, industrial disease and fatal injury claims. The ‘tactically astute’ Kevin Lawson routinely advises insurers in sports, traffic accident and workplace injury claims. Other key figures include the head of the technical claims team James Fawcett, who handles high-value litigation on behalf of commercial and public sector actors.

Keoghs LLP‘s complex injury team fields ‘unrivalled experience across the full range value of claims’, handling mandates which require expertise in cognitive, spinal and amputation injury claims, injuries resulting in fatalities, and complex medical causation disputes. ‘Experienced, tough and dedicated’,  Catherine Kober heads the London-based department, working with all manner of public and private sector defendants on liability and quantum disputes involving cognitive, spinal, amputation and fatal claims. Practice co-chair Phillip Bratt advises defendant insurers in maximum severity injury litigation, including brain, spinal and amputation injuries for adults and pediatrics.

Regarded by one client as an 'amazing firm of lawyers with depth across the board', Harrison Clark Rickerbys is well versed in a range of matters, including terror attacks, workplace injuries, and other civil claims. Practice co-chair Jonathan Edwards - 'hugely experienced and unflappable in high pressure situations' - is noted for the breadth of his capabilities, which encompass claims arising from employers', management, motor, cyber, and property liability policies. 'An excellent strategic thinker with great judgment and intuition', fellow co-chair Leanne Conisbee focuses on employer's liability and public liability incidents concerning serious injury and fatalities.

Recommended for its ‘excellent market knowledge’, Hill Dickinson LLP chiefly advises defendants in marine sector related litigation, handling multijurisdictional claims arising in maritime and port settings. The team's workload regularly involves catastrophic injuries, sexual abuse, industrial disease, psychiatric injuries and fatal claims among crews, passengers and port employees. Noted for his expertise in marine, ports, offshore and maritime leisure travel and holiday disputes, practice head John Caddies has considerable experience in fatal and catastrophic injury claims, as well as industrial maritime diseases. Janet McWhinney primarily acts for NHS Resolution and Medical Protection for claims involving severe brain and spinal injuries. Javed Ali is a frequent litigator for claims pertaining to passenger rights and cruise line injuries. Praised for her ‘unparalleled professionalism’, Sarah Barnes has over 10 years of experience advising major port operators, shipping companies, tour and cruise lines, and other maritime businesses.

Representing a diverse array of defendants, Keystone Law works with a number of local authorities and public entities - including employers and insurers - in both traumatic and catastrophic physical injuries and psychiatric claims. Cordelia Rushby acts for defendants in cases where liability is in dispute, representing manufacturers and local authorities in employer and transport injury disputes, while Steven Conway is a port of call for cases involving public infrastructure, highways and other circumstances where local authorities are involved in injury litigation.

The general liability department at RPC fields ‘true industry experts’, with a particular focus on workplace injuries occurring in the media, leisure and construction industries. Department head Gavin Reese, commended for his ‘excellent negotiation skills’, has more than 30 years of experience representing insurance companies and corporate clients in fatal and catastrophic injury disputes. Fiona Hahlo operates in both psychiatric and physical injury claims, including cognitive injuries, while Thom Lumley specialises in amputation cases. Mamata Dutta is a port of call for psychiatric injuries, inquests, and complex  polytrauma cases.