Switalskis Solicitors

Switalskis provides expert legal advice and representation to individuals and businesses across the Yorkshire region and beyond. Our lawyers offer a comprehensive, highly personal service to clients both locally and nationally.

The firm:

The firm was established by Stephen Switalski in 1993, initially with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield. Since then, we have expanded to 11 locations, employing more than 390 staff in offices across Yorkshire and London who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.  We strive to ensure positive outcomes for every client.

The firm offers a wide range of specialist legal services and first-class client care to individuals and businesses in a number of areas of the law. These include abuse claims, brain and spinal injury, child care, clinical negligence, commercial and dispute resolution, commercial property, Court of Protection, crime, family, newbuild conveyancing, personal injury, property development, residential conveyancing and wills and probate.

Many of Switalskis directors and solicitors are nationally recognised experts within their field, leading growing teams of highly capable and ambitious lawyers. Organic and acquisitive growth has been fundamental to the current and ongoing commercial success of the firm.

Switalskis strives to be a great place to work and was included in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.

Types of work undertaken:

Switalskis clinical negligence team has vast experience and expertise in the area of complex birth injury claims, including cerebral palsy claims. The notably large team also deals with a wide range of claims relating to injuries suffered as a result of medical negligence, including complex neurological claims, orthopaedic claims, oncology claims, psychiatric claims and fatal claims, as well as providing expert representation at inquests.

The Personal Injury team help clients to claim for injuries including those suffered at work, on the road, in public places and on holiday in the UK and abroad.  Our specialist solicitors work on industrial disease cases, fatal accidents aviation accidents and farm worker accidents.  They deal with unusual cases including cow attacks and poisoning.

The firm’s brain and spinal injury team specialises in complex brain injury claims, including acting on behalf of clients who are in a minimally conscious state (MCS). The team works closely with clients, their families and those involved in their care with the aim of providing the maximum rehabilitation and support.

As a testament to the important and far-reaching nature of the work of Switalskis abuse claims department, the team is regularly instructed to act on behalf of survivors in high-profile cases, including representing victims of the widely reported Rotherham CSE scandal. The team deals with compensation claims relating to child sexual exploitation and abuse against a wide range of organisations and individuals, including local authorities, private care homes and the church.

Switalskis’ Court of Protection team is renowned for dealing with complex mental capacity and welfare cases and deprivation of liberty challenges in the Court of Protection, alongside community care challenges. The department has particular expertise in assisting people who are affected by learning disabilities, autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia, mental health issues, acquired brain injuries, behavioural needs and communication difficulties.

The firm’s network of respected family law solicitors provide support to clients facing divorce, child custody, adoption and guardianship issues.  Members of the team are trained collaborative lawyers who help clients to have an amicable divorce.  The team also assists clients who have issues arising from forced marriage.

Switalskis commercial property team provides a range of specialist support.  From securing business premises to dealing with site issues and negotiating terms, the team works with some of the biggest names on the high street.

Other offices:  Barnsely, Bradford,  Doncaster, Huddersfield, Knaresborough, London, Pontefract, Sheffield, Wakefield and York.