Clyde & Co‘s vast defendant PI team is the result of its 2022 merger with BLM, when such experienced figures as public sector casualty specialist Jonathan Clay joined the team. Numerous panel appointments – including Arch, Lambeth, Wood, Tesco and Aviva – have followed from the merger, as the firm continues to expand in this area. Specialist subdivisions of the practice include insurance fraud, insurance costs, occupational disease and regulatory compliance. Among the other key names at the firm are transport sector catastrophic industry specialist Ruth Graham; Andrew Kerr, who focuses on large loss claims; spinal injuries and chronic pain expert David Spencer; and skilled mesothelioma claims lawyer David Wynn. Nicola Overmire and Chris Eccles are also highly recommended.
Personal injury: defendant in North West
Clyde & Co
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Clay; Chris Murray; David Wynn; Damian Rourke; Peter Unsworth; Melanie Mooney; Siobhan Mullins; Paul Wainwright; Chris Fletcher; Simon Jones; Luisa Lamb; Stuart Furniss; Mark Hemstead
Other key lawyers:
Nicola Overmire; Chris Eccles; Ruth Graham; Andrew Kerr; David Spencer
Testimonials
‘Following their merger, Clyde & Co benefit from the expertise of the former BLM partners based in Manchester, renowned for their in-depth knowledge of the liability insurance market.’
‘The best Manchester catastrophic injury team. Personable and knowledgeable practitioners. Great relationship with insurers.’
‘Having taken over BLM’s partners, Clyde & Co are now at the forefront of defendant PI litigation. They are fantastically resourced and they have excellent people.’
Key clients
Admiral Insurance
Affinity Water
Ageas
AIG
AIM Mutual
Akzo Nobel Group
Allianz
Arch Insurance
Armour
Aspen
Aviva
AXA Group
AXA XL
Balfour Betty
Barclays Bank
Berkshire Hathaway Group
Bentley
Berkley Homes
Bloor Homes
Boparan
Bouygues
Bradford MBC
British Car Auctions
British Land
Broadspire (Crawfords)
Builders Direct
Capita
Care UK
Carlsberg
Catalina
Center Parcs
Chubb
City of Wolverhampton Council
CNA Hardy
Coca Cola Europacific Partners
Costa
Covea
Cucina
Derby City Council
Direct Line Group
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Ecclesiastical
European Risk Insurance Company hf.
Fairmead Insurance(formerly L&G)
Faraday
First Port
Gallagher Bassett
Generali
Glen Dimplex
Grosvenor Casinos Limited
Hamilton Managing Agency Ltd
Hastings
HCA International
HDI
Herefordshire Council
Hiscox
Holts
Honeywell Group
Ikea
Insurance London Consortium (9 London Boroughs)
InterContinental Hotels Group
Intu
Ironshore
Jet2
Jet2 Holidays
Karro Food Group
Kent County Council
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Lastminute.com
Liberty Mutual Insurance
LV=
MAG
Manchester Underwriting
Marsh
Marshall of Cambridge
Matalan
Mecca Bingo Limited
Metrolink
MIB
Moto
MS Amlin
National Express
National Trust
New India Assurance
New Line
NFU Mutual
North Somerset Council
Northern Rail
Odeon
Olympic Holidays
One Insurance Limited
Peel Ports
Pen Underwriting plc
Persimmon
Plum Underwriting
Pro Global
Protector
QBE
QuestGates
Red Sea Holidays
Redrow
Regis
Ringway Jacobs
Riverstone
Royal Opera House
RSA
Ryder
Sandals
Sedgwick
Shropshire Council
Sompo International
Subway
Telford & Wrekin Council
Tesco
Thames Valley Police
The Arcadia Group
The Davies Group
The Rank Group
TK Maxx
Tokio Marine
Towergate
Transdev
Travelers
Travelodge
Travis Perkins / Wickes
TSB
Vero Insurers
Vista Brokers
Wakefield MBC
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Warburtons
Transdev
Travelers
Travelodge
Travis Perkins / Wickes
TSB
Vero Insurers
Vista Brokers
Wakefield MBC
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Warburtons
Whitbread (Premier Inn, Brewers Fayre, Beefeater)
Wilko
Willis Towers Watson
Woodgate & Clark
XL Catlin Group
Zurich
Forbes Solicitors
Defendant-side personal injury is one of Forbes Solicitors‘ flagship specialisms, and the firm is known for its high-value construction injury claims and personal injury fraud expertise. Chris Booth, head of the insurance department and the firm’s anti-fraud and disease units, has nearly three decades of experience in the field. Further names to note are head of the large loss sub-team Paul Geldard, head of abuse claims Kella Bowers, and head of regulatory Ridwaan Omar. Andrew Ellis and Elizabeth Bower, managing partners of the firm’s Manchester and Blackburn offices, respectively, are also core members of the team.
Practice head(s):
Chris Booth; Paul Geldard; Kella Bowers; Elizabeth Bower; Ridwaan Omar; Andrew Ellis
Other key lawyers:
Nicola Dawn; Lucy Harris
Testimonials
‘Forbes offer us a very personal level of service with one partner overseeing the defence of the vast majority of claims against us.’
‘Andrew Ellis – supportive, knowledgeable and always happy to give advice.’
‘This firm has the knowledge to give the best advice in regards to claims being brought against ourselves. They guide us through the whole process and take our thoughts into account when decisions are being made.’
Key clients
Co-operative Group Ltd
Galliford Try Plc
Rochdale Borough Council
Sportscover Europe
AXA Liabilities Managers (Insurer)
Cunningham Lindsay International t/a Sedgwick
Zurich Insurance
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Lloyds Syndicate 2525
Charles Taylor Adjusters
Morgan Sindall Plc
Salford Council
Gallagher Bassett
Broadspire/Crawford
RSA
Wigan Council
Travelers
Guinness Partnership
Kepak Group
AIG
Calico Homes
Carlisle Council
Conwy Council
Cumbria Council
Cumbria Fire and Rescue
Flintshire Council
Gwynedd Council
Lancaster City Council
Manchester City Council
Preston City Council
Symphony Housing Group
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Warrington Borough Council
Doncaster Council
Highways Wales
LTE Group/Manchester College
Calderdale Council
QBE
Protector
Salix Housing
Work highlights
- Instructed to act for Rotherham MBC with regards to numerous claims arising out of child sexual exploitation.
- Instructed to act on behalf of a local authority with regards to a multimillion pound claim for catastrophic injuries to a child allegedly caused due to defective park design.
- Instructed to act for a large retail group in a multi-claimant motor claim, involving fraud and fundamental dishonesty across the group.
Kennedys
Kennedys‘ personal injury practice directly assists hospitality, transport and top-level sports sector clients, alongside a range of the UK’s largest insurers. James Shrimpton oversees the Manchester practice, though based primarily in Birmingham. Key names in the North West team include employers’ liability specialist Gordon Davidson, leisure and retail sector claims expert Richard McKeown, and the sports industry focussed Christopher Oldfield. Lauren Gosnell is notable for her expertise in catastrophic claims, including those involving tetraplegia, paraplegia and other spinal cord injuries. Legal director Ian Ford is recommended for construction industry claims work. Fraud expert Martin Stockdale is also key.
Practice head(s):
James Shrimpton
Other key lawyers:
Gordon Davidson; Richard McKeown; Christopher Oldfield; Ian Ford; Lauren Gosnell; Martin Stockdale
Testimonials
‘Great for sporting-related personal injury work.’
‘Christopher Oldfield is very experienced.’
‘Kennedys has an established reputation as a leading national defendant/insurance firm and the office in Manchester maintains and enhances that reputation. The firm is extremely well organised with enviable levels of IT/technology support that enables cases to be efficiently and professionally defended.’
Key clients
Hilton Hotels
JD Wetherspoon Plc
Chubb
Abellio Transport Holdings Limited
MJ Gleeson
Marston’s Plc
The Innovation Group
UK Athletics
Atalian Servest Limited
The Go Ahead Group
Atalian Servest Ltd
Revolution Bars Group Plc
British Cycling
Wilko
Lanes for Drains PLC
Keoghs LLP
Keoghs LLP has a large subdivided team, overseen by technical and strategy directors Gary Fitzpatrick and Don Clarke. They are supported by head of counter fraud strategy Damian Ward, head of disease Peter Kenworthy, head of catastrophic loss Ken Young, head of abuse Ian Carroll, and head of corporate risk Andrew Evans. Key among the litigators are chronic pain and amputations expert Mark Whalley, motor and sports injuries specialist Mike Pope, and Emma Spencer, who focuses on severe brain injuries. The team is particularly notable for its experience in historic abuse claims.
Practice head(s):
Gary Fitzpatrick; Don Clarke; Damian Ward; Peter Kenworthy; Ken Young; Ian Carroll; Andrew Evans
Other key lawyers:
Mark Whalley; Mike Pope; Libby Ferrie; Emma Spencer; Gary Petterson
Testimonials
‘Keoghs remains one of the leading firms for insurance personal injury work in the country. They have well-structured teams with good quality people handling the biggest cases.’
‘Libby Ferrie is an excellent, knowledgeable and approachable practitioner.’
‘The Keoghs team is incredibly meticulous and comprehensive. Upon instruction they are happy to exhaust all options and provide careful and considerate advice. I would describe the team as highly intelligent and reliable. They are all approachable and are focused on delivering fair and swift conclusions.’
Key clients
esure
LV=
Allianz
Zurich
Motor Insurers’ Bureau
Mulsanne
First Central
AXA Insurance
Work highlights
- Acted on behalf of Hastings Direct/Advantage Insurance in a case dealing with contributory negligence associated with passengers accepting lifts from intoxicated drivers.
- Acting on behalf of Manchester City Football Club via the Football League and its insurers in relation to the successful defence of eight civil claims arising from sexual abuse committed by former coach and local football scout, Barry Bennell.
Weightmans LLP
The ‘technically gifted‘ team at Weightmans LLP, notable for its longstanding working relationship with the MIB, has broad experience across a range of catastrophic injury work. Claims director Rob Williams leads the team. David Holt specialises in non-indemnity insurance work and catastrophic injury claims, while Will Quinn covers the liability insurers’ wing of the practice, with clients including Zurich and AIG. Also key are brain and spinal injury expert Emerson Wallwork, and Louise Mutch, who focuses on large loss and technical claims.
Practice head(s):
Rob Williams
Other key lawyers:
Emerson Wallwork; Will Quinn; David Holt; Louise Mutch; Andrew Steel
Testimonials
‘One of the go-to northern insurance giants.’
‘Will Quinn – experienced, knowledgeable, tactically astute insurance lawyer.’
‘They have excelled throughout and provided me with exemplary support in high-profile litigation in the Court of Appeal and in the settlement of numerous difficult disputes.’
‘David Holt has stand out experience, knowing the world of RTAs and wider personal injury inside out.’
‘The Weightmans team in Manchester is very strong and well regarded. They always strike me as a very modern team – always ahead of the big developments in our sector, involved in the highest profile cases and comfortable with the use of technology to improve their offering.’
‘Emerson Wallwork is an outstanding solicitor – more knowledgeable and tactically sensible than most.’
‘An excellent, technically gifted catastrophic injury team.’
Key clients
Zurich
Motor Insurers Bureau
AIG Europe
AXAXL Insurance
PwC (Chester Street Holdings)
Municipal Mutual Insurance
Ageas Insurance
Tesco Underwriting
First Central Insurance
InterEurope AG Insurance
Covea Insurance
Octagon Insurance
Travellers Insurance Co
HDI Global
Hiscox Insurance
Esure Insurance
Prometheus Insurance
Hastings Direct
Markerstudy Insurance
Berkshire Hathaway Speciality Insurance
Liberty Mutual
Markel Insurance
DCL Insurance
Broadspire/Crawfords
Protector Insurance
Vinci
Rolls Royce
Jaguar Land Rover
Lidl Stores
Nestle
BP
DHL Logistics
Severn Trent
Gallagher Bassett
Hundreds of Local Authorities and Police Authorities
Work highlights
- Instructed by Markel to act on behalf of an insured care home.
- Acting in a contributory negligence claim against a 13-year-old child in a road traffic case on behalf of the MIB.
- Obtained a settlement on behalf of Markerstudy in the case of Stammers v Dyson.
DWF
DWF has a comprehensive personal injury practice, recommended for ‘depth of skill and expertise‘, under the leadership of global head of major injury Ian Slater. The firm has particular strength in handling personal injury fraud, with experienced fraud specialist Stuart Poole and claims farming expert Jewels Chamberlain dealing with this aspect of the practice. Tom Higson leads on catastrophic injury work and has particular experience in claims involving amputations, spinal injuries and chronic pain. ‘Extremely efficient and able‘ legal director Hannah Fitzgerald is also key, as is 'standout' Sarah Mir. Colin Bushell departed for an in-house position at Action 365.
Practice head(s):
Ian Slater; Rob McKee; Tom Higson; Jewels Chamberlain; Stuart Poole
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Mir; Hannah Fitzgerald
Testimonials
‘Lots of good defendant lawyers in this team.’
‘Hannah Fitzgerald – very good at client relationships and spent some time on secondment with one of the insurers cementing her relationship with them. Commercially aware and very alive to the risks of litigation.’
‘Real depth of skill and expertise across all years of practice. The team make excellent use of technology to share material and really ensure collaborative working is as straightforward as possible. Highly responsive and always extremely personable. The team are wonderful to work with and for.’
Key clients
RSA
NFU Mutual
Direct Line Group
Allianz/LV
Hastings
First Central
Sabre
Admiral
Aviva
QBE
Markerstudy
Insure the Box
Covea
Ageas
LV=
Garwyn
KGM Underwriting
Esure
Amlin No
Action 365 No
RSA Ireland
Work highlights
- Instructed by RSA Insurance to defend a personal injury claim brought by a claimant seeking damages for injuries comprising a traumatic brain injury with associated balance and fatigue problems, vertigo, severe migraines and PTSD.
- Acting for Markerstudy to defend claims made by two claimants who were found to be fundamentally dishonest.
- Settled a through knee amputation claim on behalf of RSA.
Horwich Cohen Coghlan Solicitors
Horwich Cohen Coghlan Solicitors handles an impressive array of claims, ranging from motor accidents to cases of modern slavery. The team is led by Mark Woodall, who has a strong record in representing insurers, self-insured defendants and UK claims handlers for foreign insurers, and is recommended for his ‘tactical nous and extremely detailed knowledge’. He is supported by Leanne Thomson, who was promoted to partner in 2022.
Practice head(s):
Mark Woodall
Other key lawyers:
Leanne Thomson
Testimonials
‘The attention to detail paid by the team is outstanding. Every claim is thoroughly prepared with a fine tooth comb. However, this approach does not lead to nitpicking over inconsequential points, but allows the team to identify the best points and provide their clients with clear and realistic advice.’
‘Mark Woodall is particularly impressive. He is proactive and has a detailed knowledge of all his cases. He has an approachable manner which belies his tactical nous and extremely detailed knowledge.’
‘Mark Woodall has always made us feel like we are being treated as his only clients, whereas we are now only a small unit. We have never had any cause for complaint, whether it be timely reports, advice and going that extra mile to ensure we are happy and understand his thought process throughout.’