Personal injury: defendant
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Weightmans LLP
Elaine joined Weightmans in 1989, qualified in 1994, and was made a partner in 2001. She specialises in large loss and technical claims. She has been involved in severe brain injury cases, paraplegia and tetraplegia cases, amputations and other severe limb injury cases. Elaine has vast experience of dealing with all the issues that may arise in these cases, including care, statutory funding, rehabilitation and accommodation. She is Weightmans' nominated rehabilitation champion.
She has spoken at a number of conferences on the subject of rehabilitation and had several articles published. She has vast experience of dealing with both the medical and vocational aspects of rehabilitation.
Elaine has also been recognised for her contribution to the law after judges at the Law Society 'Highly Commended' her efforts in the AWS Legal Business Woman of the Year category. She has previously been crowned Best Woman Solicitor Managing a Medium-Sized Practice by the Association of Women Solicitors.
Clyde & Co
I am a Partner at BLM based in the London catastrophic injury team. I joined BLM in March 2016. I deal with a wide range of catastrophic/ large loss defendant personal injury claims. I have over 20 years’ experience dealing with large and complex claims arising out of road traffic accidents in the UK and abroad. I have a strong technical background with many years’ experience dealing with high value, high profile personal injury claims for many leading insurers. I am regularly instructed to act on spinal cord, brain injury, amputation and other complex claims. I have a specific interest in brain injury claims and am a member of BLM's brain injury subject matter group. I acted on behalf of the defendant in the reported case of MacDonald V Burton 2019. I am an active member of FOIL and have spoken at a seminar to members on the recording of medical examinations. I have also mentored individual claims controllers at various insurers in their personal, technical and professional development.
Clyde & Co
Paula has extensive experience in advising on all issues resulting from non-recent sexual abuse allegations. Her advice extends to representation in the IICSA, establishment of voluntary compensation schemes (including on behalf of the BBC in connection with Jimmy Savile) and responding to civil claims, including with a cross-jurisdictional element. She represents many organisations including in the faith, youth, charity, education and healthcare sectors as well as insurers. Paula is head of the London office of BLM and is a member of the firm's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion steering committeeShe has been shortlisted for the Insurance Lawyer Award at the 2019 Women in Insurance Awards where she is described by the Judges as having "Great expertise and focused on supporting colleagues - must be one of the leading lawyers in her field."
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Keoghs LLP
Phillip is ranked as a "Rising Star", "Key Lawyer" and "Recommended" in The Legal 500 2020. Phillip is an associate solicitor who specialises in catastrophic personal injury claims with a value in excess of £250,000 for defendant insurers, usually involving high profile multi-national commercial clients. The highest value case that Phillip has been involved in was pleaded at £32 million. Phillip has advised on reserves in excess of £150 million. Phillip works with large composite insures as well as niche and London Market insurers. Phillip has a particular interest in cases involving complex liability and indemnity issues. He is a specialist in cases with maximum severity brain damage, tetraplegia and amputation injuries. Phillip is experienced in identifying and managing a range of liability and quantum experts throughout the course of multi-year litigation. Phillip runs cases up to £1 million and is the lead assistant with day to day conduct of his partners’ cases over this value with no upper limit. Phillip is always looking to expand his knowledge and find methods in which he can solve problems in novel ways. Phillip has delivered training on Fintech and InsurTech with the intention of raising awareness and how these technologies will change how legal and insurance industries do business. Phillip has also delivered training to the London Market Association.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
