Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Personal injury: defendant

Horwich Farrelly acts for insurers across a wide range of industries, with knowledge of the construction, heavy engineering, and manufacturing spaces. The team is led by Richard Salvini, previously of legacy firm Plexus Legal.

Personal injury: defendant in Yorkshire And The Humber

CMS

CMS handles a wide range of personal injury matters, with a strong focus on industrial disease claims and matters related to the oil and gas industry, straddling the public and private sectors. The group leverages the firm's international reach to assists with cross-border mandates. Gregor Woods leads the team, and has extensive experience in litigation regarding a wide range of matters, including those arising from the Human Rights Act 1998. Tim Riordan is noted for his work on claims arising from data breaches, while Emily Woodhead is noted for her work in employer and public liability claims, with an interest in liability disputes, complex injury claims and multi-party litigation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gregor Woods; Tim Riordan


Autres avocats clés:

Emily Woodhead


Les références

‘Very longstanding experience of heavy litigation (especially group litigation) that few city firms can rival.’

‘The CMS team are efficient and accessible, providing excellent litigation support and being readily available to deal with issues or queries, no matter how small.’

‘Gregor Woods is always available and highly efficient and hands on when dealing with cases, no matter what the value or profile of the proceedings.’

Principaux clients

AIG


Atos


Canopius


Capita


Coal Products Limited


Electric Insurance


European Bank for Reconstruction and Development


GE Aviation


GE Oil & Gas Pressure Control Ltd


GE TIP


Imperial Chemicals Industries Ltd


Qatar Airways


Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero


SGN


SSE


Tarmac Trading Limited


USAA


Yoplait


Principaux dossiers


  • Defending the government in the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation.
  • Acting for the government in defence of asbestos-related disease claims from the nationalised mining industry, including claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer and pleural thickening.
  • Advising and providing strategic advice to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on all aspects of the Coal Industry Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme.

DWF

DWF stands out for its comprehensive expertise in handling claims for all major insurers, bolstered by its broad national and international reach. The Leeds team is led by Richard Parker, who is an expert in occupational injury and disease litigation with a focus on the manufacturing and construction sectors. David Rogers is experienced in claims in the motor, employers and public liability arenas, often involving brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and poly trauma. Owen Rees is widely known for his work in casualty and catastrophic injuries, and Lisa Collins is noted for her handling high-value claims, while Paul Holmes has developed the firm's offering in regard to fraudulent claims, and Paul Whitfield is skilled in cases relating to traumatic brain injuries.

Responsables de la pratique:

David Rogers; Richard Parker; Paul Holmes


Autres avocats clés:

Lisa Collins; Owen Rees; Paul Whitfield


Les références

‘DWF in this region possess two lawyers of enormous experience in Lisa Collins and Owen Rees. They manage their teams in a way that maximises that experience.’

‘David Rogers is a traditional litigator but one who has mastered the modern arts of early pathfinder meetings and collaboration with his opponent. His judgment is good and based on careful hard work and long experience.’

‘The team are excellent. Their knowledge and determination is unparalleled. However, they are also commercially realistic, which is particularly important for defendant lawyers.’

Principaux clients

Allianz


Aviva


QBE


Ageas


Tesco


LV


Liberty


NFU Mutual


HDI


Gallagher Bassett


DLG


Department of Transport


British Telecommunications Plc


LVFS


Markerstudy


RSA


Covea


Acromas


Enterprise Rent a Car


Canopius


Sedgwick


Hastings


First Central


Sabre


Admiral


Inspire Claims


Axis


Acacium


Medical Protection Society


Insure the Box


Aspen Insurance


Kennedys

Kennedys serves insurers and direct clients across a variety of sectors, including local authorities and clients in the construction, retail, sports, agriculture, and entertainment sectors. Helen Snowball, who is based in Sheffield, leads the firm’s local authority and abuse practice, working alongside Niall Edwards, who oversees motor-related claims. David Thompson heads up the Leeds office, focusing on catastrophic injury cases involving serious brain injuries and spinal injuries. Laura Thompson heads up the firm’s claims handling team in Leeds with expertise in complex liability disputes, and Tom Holbrook manages a team that works closely with corporates on safeguarding issues. Carol Dalton handles high-value claims against social services entities, while Cameron Clark specialises in industrial disease litigation. Others of note are Gary Brankin for asbestos claims; Heidi Swales for employers and public liability claims; and Darren Goldthorpe, who handles a wide range of disease claims.

Responsables de la pratique:

Helen Snowball; David Thompson


Autres avocats clés:

Niall Edwards; Laura Thompson; Tom Holbrook; Carol Dalton; Cameron Clark; Gary Brankin; Heidi Swales; Darren Goldthorpe


Les références

‘The Leeds office has a superb team with decades of experience defending complex and catastrophic PI.’

‘David Thompson is a vastly experienced, tough litigator who can see around every corner. Gives robust but pragmatic advice to deliver results for his loyal insurer clients year after year.’

‘Laura Thompson is very efficient and always works to an effective long-term strategy.’

Principaux clients

Costco


Endsleigh Insurance Services


Mitie Group Plc


Veolia Environmental Services Ltd


Cleveland Potash Limited


Gallagher Bassett


ERS


Beko PLC


Government Legal Department


Virador


Gefion


Probitas 1492


Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council


Brit Global Specialty


Tokio Marine HCC


RiverStone Insurance (UK) Limited


DTW1991 Underwriting Limited


Accelerant Insurance


Markerstudy Insurance Services


North Yorkshire County Council


Syndicate 2525


Everest Insurance


Pen Underwriting


Tokio Marine Kiln


Aspen


Municipal Mutual


Enstar Group


Ascot Group


Vodafone Group Plc


Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services UK Limited


Liberty Mutual


McCain Foods


Pro Global


Forbes Solicitors

Forbes Solicitors represents a significant number of local authorities and insurers, and focuses on complex construction injury claims, including hearing loss, electrocution, and burn matters, as well as contracting and subcontracting issues. The team is also skilled in managing social care abuse claims, fraud-related matters, fast-track casualty cases, and disease claims. Chris Booth heads up the insurance team and leads the firm’s anti-fraud and disease efforts. Kella Bowers oversees inquests, social services, and abuse claims, while Paul Geldard directs the complex injury division. Annette Siallagan specialises in claims arising from the construction industry and has a wealth of experience in disease claims.

Responsables de la pratique:

Chris Booth; Paul Geldard; Kella Bowers;


Autres avocats clés:

Annette Siallagan


Les références

‘I find that all employees that we deal with have a consistent work ethic. This helps when new people are assigned to our cases; we can rest assured that there will be a consistent approach and the same attention to detail.’

‘The team pride themselves on understanding the values of their clients and tailoring their approach to support those values. The team are very approachable, very knowledgeable and always think innovatively to provide solutions for clients.’

‘The individuals all uphold the integrity of the business, and the level of expertise is aligned with the client’s needs.’

Principaux clients

Calderdale MBC


Leeds City Council


Thirteen Housing Group Ltd


Hull City Council


East Riding of Yorkshire Council


Durham County Council


Zurich Insurance


Scarborough Council


Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council


Lloyds Syndicate 2525


Oldham MBC


South Kesteven Council


North Lincolnshire Council


North East Lincolnshire Council


Livin Housing Ltd


Gallagher Bassett


Broadspire/Crawfords


Maven Insurance


RSA


Yorkshire Housing


Travelers


Sitex Orbis


AIG


Protector Insurance


Sunderland Council


Sheffield City Council


Together Housing


EMH


Newcastle City Council


Principaux dossiers


  • Obtained a finding of fundamental dishonesty against a claimant claiming laceration injury during the course of his employment.
  • Instructed with regards to a catastrophic multi-million-pound life-changing injury claim following the claimant being crushed by a vehicle.

Weightmans

Weightmans LLP leverages its national practice to deliver comprehensive support to clients across numerous sectors. Charles Heppenstall, the regional head for Leeds, specialises in serious injury cases and has expertise in counter fraud work, while Helen Brown, the firm's national head for local authorities, is an expert in the full spectrum of workplace and public liability claims. Lindsay Staddon is the technical lead for large losses and handles a broad range of claims, and Blaise Smith is noted for his work on catastrophic injury claims and fatal accident mandates.

Responsables de la pratique:

Charles Heppenstall


Autres avocats clés:

Blaise Smith; Helen Brown; Lindsay Staddon


Les références

‘Weightmans LLP provides a bespoke and personal service to defendant insurers in severe personal injury cases. It is obvious that the team are extremely able to deal with maximum severity cases and provide realistic and timely advice to their insurer clients.’

‘Charles Heppenstall is a stand-out individual. Now managing the Leeds office he is a superbly prepared practitioner, always on the ball and enjoys brilliantly relaxed relationships with the insurer. He commands respect and provides timely, accurate, and realistic advice on maximum severity claims. He has a deep knowledge of brain injury claims.’

‘The team are very flexible and free thinking in their approach. There is a vast level of experience amongst the team, and they are very commercially minded, and understanding of a client’s needs to settle claims as quickly and as economically as possible.’

Principaux clients

Zurich


Motor Insurers Bureau


AIG Europe


AXAXL Insurance


PwC (Chester Street Holdings)


Municipal Mutual Insurance


Tesco Underwriting


HDI Global


Gallagher Bassett


Hundreds of Local Authorities and Police Authorities


Hiscox Insurance


Esure Insurance


Prometheus Insurance


Hastings Direct


Markel Insurance


DCL Insurance


Tradex