Irwin Mitchell
Lawyers
Irwin Mitchell
Deirdre works in the Serious Injury Team in Manchester. She is known nationally for her work with clients who have sustained life-changing injuries. Deirdre specialises in supporting those individuals and their families who have suffered serious brain or spinal cord injury. Her focus is to secure funding to ensure her clients have access to prompt and appropriate rehabilitation. She has over 25 years' experience in acting for clients and specialises in complex injury cases. She has recovered more than £200 million in damages to provide for her clients’ futures. Deirdre has spoken at many brain injury conferences. She has appeared on radio and television to discuss aspects of cases she has been involved in. She was United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Lawyer of the Year in 2015.
Irwin Mitchell
I am a Senior Associate in the Medical Negligence department in Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office. I specialise in birth injury, brain injury, spinal, cardiac and renal claims. As a former nurse and Sister on an Intensive Care Unit, I am able to use the medical knowledge gained during my years of nursing to the benefit of my clients. Every client has individual needs and their wishes are at the forefront of my mind when progressing their claim. I am committed throughout the life of the claim to achieving the best possible outcome for my clients.
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National head of military claims. Geraldine works on serious personal injury claims, specialising in military work and aviation (military, commercial and general). Key cases: Herald of Free Enterprise ferry disaster (1987); Piper Alpha oil rig disaster (1988); Pan Am bombing Lockerbie (1988); British Midland crash at Kegworth (1989); Chinook Mull of Kintyre crash (1994); Swissair crash off Canada (September 1998); Korean Airlines crash at Stansted (December 1999); inequest into death of Sgt Stephen Roberts in Iraq (first soldier fatality); three military Puma crashes (2007).
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Partner Geraldine joined Irwin Mitchell in January 2006. She was one of the first members of staff in the Manchester office, joining the firm to set up our Asbestos Litigation department in the North West. Geraldine trained as a barrister and was called to the bar in 1995, later qualifying as a solicitor in 1998 with a niche practice. She has 10 years' specialist experience of representing victims of asbestos disease, and acted for a lead claimant in the important mesothelioma test case, Fairchild & others, successful at appeal in the House of Lords.
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Derbyshire born and bred, Lara trained in Manchester but is now based in Sheffield. Lara was promoted to Senior Associate at just 5 years PQE, which is a testament to her technical ability and client care. Lara tackles thorny issues in her cases that have baffled her opponents, many of whom are often Partners, with ease. Lara’s steely determination to achieve the best for her clients leaves them feeling that she is always in their corner. Lara is a specialist in HNW financial matters including cases with offshore assets, complex trust structures and vulnerable clients. She works closely with Ros Bever and Nat Groarke on UHNW cases. Lara has a thriving pre and post-nuptial practice, often being brought in by financial advisors for financial family planning. She is the trusted go-to for many advisors for their clients. In addition, Lara leads our Teams of Excellence for Appeals and Schedule 1 cases, respectively. Lara has considerable experience in Schedule 1 matters, have been part of the team advising a range of clients in relation to Schedule 1 claims, most notably cases involving professional footballers. Lara is at the forefront of appeal cases. She was a fundamental part of the team representing Julia Goddard-Watts, whose case was heard by the Court of Appeal in October 2022. This was a landmark case, in which Mrs Goddward-Watts successfully appealed the final order made following a second rehearing of her claim for financial remedies, the previous order having been set aside due to the husband’s material non-disclosure. Lara was also instrumental in the Sharland and Gohil appeals. Lara’s recent significant cases include: • Advising the former partner of an ex-Premier League footballer in relation to Schedule 1 matters. • Advising clients with significant personal injury damages awards in relation to wealth protection, and the financial consequences of divorce in the context of the source of their assets. Lara’s notable work this year includes a Pre-Nuptial Agreement where the client had assets of £9m to protect, together with representing another seriously injured client in financial remedy proceedings seeking to protect assets of c. £1.5m. • Representing a client with assets of c. £40m in relation to implementation matters following a contested 5 day hearing. • Acting for a former barrister in relation to financial matters arising out of her separation from her husband, a partner at a well-known national/international law firm. At this very early stage, the assets are unclear, but are understand to include a family home and a property abroad worth in excess of £1m, together with other capital assets exceeding £1m and significant pension assets.
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Liz is an Associate focussed on building and growing the Rural Tax, Trusts and Estates Team in Manchester and the wider North West. Many of her clients transferred over to Irwin Mitchell as a result of her move. Liz specialises in advising on tax, trusts and estate matters, with a particular emphasis and expertise in assisting all types of farming and equestrian families, High Net Worth individuals and owner managed businesses.
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Partner Lucy acts as a professional deputy for clients who have received multimillion pound damages as a result of clinical negligence or serious injury and who have lost their capacity to manage their financial affairs. Lucy’s clients include those who have suffered serious head injuries and birth injuries, those with learning difficulties and those with age related conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Lucy’s expertise extends to both property and affairs and welfare matters and she has a special interest in legal issues surrounding mental capacity and decision making in connection with financial decision making.
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With over 15 years of experience in the legal field, Mathieu Culverhouse is a seasoned professional specializing in community care, healthcare, and mental capacity law. As a Partner at Irwin Mitchell, Mathieu's expertise lies in advocating for clients who face ongoing challenges with social services, the NHS, and other public bodies. Throughout his career, Mathieu has been at the forefront of numerous landmark cases, including the cases of Cheshire West, Briggs v Briggs and Tafida Raqeeb, where he successfully represented clients seeking appropriate provision from local authority social services and the NHS. Additionally, he has been instrumental in defending the rights of clients opposing the closure of care homes, day centres, and NHS services, as well as challenging government funding cuts in health and social care using judicial review and human rights law. Mathieu's commitment to his clients extends to vulnerable populations, such as disabled refugees, for whom he secured accommodation from local authorities under their community care duties. He is also sought after for his expertise in advising clients on healthcare rights, medical treatment, and clinical disputes, which often involve complex medical ethics and legal arguments relating to dignity, the right to life, or the right to healthcare. Mathieu also takes on cases representing the Official Solicitor, Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs), and the families of vulnerable adults in the Court of Protection under the Mental Capacity Act. These cases involve matters concerning mental capacity, deprivation of liberty, health, and welfare. Mathieu is a founding member and national committee member of the Court of Protection Practitioners Association (CoPPA). Within the firm, he jointly leads the Public Law & Human Rights department's Court of Protection special interest group. With a track record of success and a reputation for delivering results, Mathieu Culverhouse is a prominent figure in the field of health and social care law, making him an invaluable asset to clients seeking expert counsel and representation in community care, healthcare, and mental capacity matters.
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Matthew is a Partner and has acted for clients in the field of serious injury for over 20 years. Matthew handles a wide range of serious injury cases which include brain and spinal injuries, amputation and fatal accident claims. He also acts for clients who have suffered complex orthopaedic injuries, including children and the elderly. Matthew is based in the Liverpool office whilst also maintaining a role in the serious injury team in Manchester. Matthew is a Senior Litigator with APIL and has APIL accreditations for specialism in both Brain Injury and in Fatal Accidents. He is listed in the Headway Directory for Liverpool. Matthew was shortlisted for PI Solicitor of the Year at the PI Awards in 2022.
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Nathaniel is a partner specialising in all areas of private family law work. He is based in the Manchester Irwin Mitchell office but has clients across the UK, most notably in London. Nathaniel has broad experience of financial matters, ranging from high-net-worth cases, to those cases where the assets are more modest but the issues no less complex or important. Nathaniel has particular expertise in cases where there are complicated matters, such as those involving international issues, business assets and trusts. He also specialises in cases where there are suspected hidden assets or non-disclosure. He is regularly instructed on pre- and post-nuptial agreements, to protect family or future wealth. Nathaniel is a Resolution accredited specialist in Complex Financial and Property Matters (High Income Households and Substantial Assets) and one of the only specialists in the North West in European and International Law. Nathaniel also deals with private children matters.
Irwin Mitchell
Partner practising exclusively in Family Law with a particular emphasis on complex financial cases, often with multi-jurisdictional elements and those involving business interests, trusts and pensions. Extensive experience in cases involving intractable children disputes.Advises unmarried couples in relation to cohabitation issues and prenuptial agreements.Resolution-accredited lawyer-mediator practising all issues mediation.Clients include celebrated and high profile individuals and professionals on a local, national and international stage. Phillip also comments on family law issues in both national and local media. Committee member of Resolution, whose 6,500 members comprise family lawyers and other professionals committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. Sits as Treasurer to the Manchester Committee.Comments on family law issues in both local and national media. Writes for legal and non-legal publications on family law issues.Reported cases: Topping v Topping [2008] EWCA Civ 1142
Irwin Mitchell
Senior associateExpertise in: Brain Injury Spinal and complex orthopaedic injuries Spinal Injury Spinal Injuries Enquiries CICA Claims (Criminal Injuries) Road traffic accidents MIB and CICA claims Employer liability claims
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Partner and head of costs team. The Irwin Mitchell costs team is recognised as the largest in-house team in the country, with 90 personnel. All areas of costs work are undertaken, although Steven specialises in recovering costs in high-value personal injury cases. He is a regular advocate in courts at detailed assessment hearings and at costs and case management hearings. He is a regular speaker at conferences on the issues of costs and funding of civil litigation.