Irwin Mitchell

Irwin Mitchell

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Alida Coates

Alida Coates

Irwin Mitchell

Alida is the partner who heads up the Midlands and South West Workplace Illness teams, which are two of the largest and most experienced specialist teams in the area. Qualifying in 1996, Alida has only ever worked for injured claimants and has over 18 years’ experience recovering compensation in the asbestos disease arena, having worked as part of the team which won the first environmental asbestos exposure case (Hancock) in 1995. Since that time, Alida and her team have worked tirelessly to obtain justice for victims exposed to asbestos who have developed asbestos illnesses (Mesothelioma, lung cancer, pleural thickening and asbestosis) both through their employment and through environmental exposure. Alida has obtained one of the highest awards during lifetime for a Mesothelioma sufferer (£1.5m) and regularly engages the services of experts to assist families to engage carers to assist with practical care needs caused by these illnesses. The emphasis of the team is to make a difference to the quality of life of their clients, as quickly as possible, not merely to measure success in terms of damages recovered. Alida has a unique insight into the difficulties suffered by the victims of asbestos exposure, she is respected both for her knowledge and understanding of the issues facing her clients. Alida is recognised by many health and other professionals as a leading lawyer in this field. She lectures regularly and is a Trustee of Mesothelioma UK. The team has also recovered compensation for those affected by other workplace illnesses over the last 12 months, including (but not limited to) asthma, vibration white finger, carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury.

Clare Wiseman

Clare Wiseman

Irwin Mitchell

I am a Family Law partner with over 30 years’ experience, having recently relocated from the Midlands to the South Coast of England. I deal with all aspects of family law - both domestic and international - including financial matters, cases involving children and cross-border disputes. I regularly act for high profile public and private sector individuals, entrepreneurs, and sports personalities. I am, a member of the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers - being one of only a few English Fellows based outside of London. I am also a member of ‘Reunite’ ( the leading UK charity specialising in child abduction).  I regularly attend domestic and international conferences and am head of International Family Law at Irwin Mitchell. I have vast experience of alternative dispute resolution in family cases by way of round table meetings, private FDRs and am an experienced collaborative family law practitioner and Resolution member. I am also a tenacious litigator, when required, featuring in reported cases at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal such as Kingdon V Kingdon and Brack V Brack. I have a particular interest in the ongoing review and analysis of our existing law and sit on the Centre For Child and Family Law Reform Committee - The Centre is sponsored by The Law School of City University of London. The Centre’s purpose is to scrutinise existing family law and to facilitate reform where appropriate.

Donna Seferta

Irwin Mitchell

Senior associateExpertise: employment law; employees and employers, employer internal investigations, disciplinary advice.

Elaine Huttley

Irwin Mitchell

Senior associateLeads on contentious matters and experienced in the Employment Appeals Tribunal, including conducting her own advocacy, for a range of clients, primarily in the manufacturing and retail sectors.

Hannah Clifford

Irwin Mitchell

Senior associateSpecialisms: HR issues - reorganisations, disciplinary proceedings and dismissals. Employment contracts, policies and procedures.

Helen Dyke

Irwin Mitchell

Senior associateSpecialisms: Disciplinary investigations Disciplinary advice Education - Employment Related Matters Employer internal investigations Employment Law (Employee) Employment Law (Employees) Employment Law (Employers)

Hilary Wetherell

Hilary Wetherell

Irwin Mitchell

I joined Irwin Mitchell in 2000 and became a Partner in the Serious Injury team in Birmingham in 2011. In 2021 I was appointed Lead Partner for the Complex PI teams in Birmingham. I lead a team of seven lawyers and our specialisms include: -Brain injury -Polytrauma (multiple serious injuries) -Severe burns -Complex fatal accident work such as police liaison work and coronial law. We routinely secure settlements for more than £1 million – including an Irwin Mitchell record for the Serious Injury team of £22.7 million. We have an immediate focus from the day of instruction on our client’s rehabilitation needs and routinely refer to our superb Support and Rehabilitation team to make sure our clients and families are supported before we're able to secure interim payments. For road traffic accidents, including fatal accidents, our specialist investigation team works with the police to analyse the accident for our clients. Members of the team are themselves ex-police and draw on their police experience to support our clients' claim. We're extremely proud to be able to work with some truly inspirational clients and to provide the care that they and their families need during their long rehabilitation process. I'm a brain injury, fatal accident and senior litigator accredited member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). My team devised and designed the APIL Fatal Accidents Accreditation and I deliver annual training for APIL across the country. I'm passionate about ensuring that my clients receive comprehensive and realistic advice and that consideration is given in every case to alternative dispute resolution.

Jayne Campbell

Jayne Campbell

Irwin Mitchell

I have over 20 years’ experience of representing clients who have suffered life changing injury or loss. I specialize in claims involving brain injury, spinal injury, poly-trauma and serious orthopaedic injuries including those resulting in amputation. It is my job to guide clients through the claims process, which can be quite overwhelming after a life changing incident. I help my clients to access rehabilitation and financial support at the earliest opportunity and make sure they receive the best possible final settlement amount. Life may never be the same again for some clients. However, if we get them the maximum compensation award and we properly invest it to last a lifetime, this forges them a new path toward a brighter future.

Jennifer Mullins

Irwin Mitchell

Associate  Jennifer has a particular specialism in Legionnaires ’ disease, recently concluding a high value case concerning a Claimant who contracted Legionnaires’ disease from their hotel, whilst holidaying in Italy. The Claimant was placed into an induced coma for several months as a result of the severity of the illness. A six figure settlement was secured for the Claimant, who continues to suffer with respiratory issues.   Jennifer also acts in a large number of international group actions, currently acting as the lead Solicitor in the Pegasos Royal Hotel claim, where the firm acts for over 50 holidaymakers who fell ill whilst on holiday in Turkey. Jennifer has recently received instructions to act for over 50 holidaymakers in connection with the Riu Touareg Hotel, in the Cape Verde, following an outbreak of illness, with the group continuing to grow in numbers. Liability is primarily denied in international illness group actions, due to complex microbiological issues. This means Jennifer has extensive experience in dealing with complex issues of liability and causation liaising closely with a variety of experts and preparing matters for Trial.  

Kate Featherstone

Kate Featherstone

Irwin Mitchell

Kate leads Irwin Mitchell’s transactional tax team, which comprises specialists across corporate tax, real estate tax, employment taxes and employee incentives. Kate has over twenty years of experience and acts for a diverse range of clients including banks, private equity houses, FTSE 100 national brands and foreign companies, as well as major local businesses and other professional services firms. She advises clients on all aspects of corporate and business tax and has significant experience of private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and reorganisations. Kate has been described by the Legal 500 directory as ‘technically excellent’ and is noted for her clear, straight talking advice, that is so important in helping clients understand what can often be a complex area of the law. Kate’s experience includes: Advising a national chain of supermarkets on complex VAT and stamp duty land tax issues associated with an internal reorganisation; Regularly advising purchasers (companies, trusts and individuals) of high value residential property on the SDLT consequences of their acquisitions considering the higher rates of SDLT, the 15% surcharge, non-residential surcharge and multiple dwellings relief; Advising a national residential development company on the tax consequences of securing a new site for development; Advising on the loan relationship and withholding tax implications of a divestment of shares in an international group into various trust arrangements and associated debt reconciliation exercise; Advising Lexon UK Holdings and Asurex Limited on the tax aspects of its sale to Bestway Group subsidiary Well Pharmacy for an undisclosed sum; Advising Diversity, Equity & Inclusion advisory organisation, Vercida Consulting, on the tax aspects of its sale to global recruitment specialist, Hays; Advising the shareholders of ThreeTwoFour, an award winning information security and technology risk specialist, on the tax aspects of its sale to Node4, a cloud-led digital transformation Managed Services Provider, which included complex employee tax analysis; Advising Phenna Group Holdings on the tax aspects of multiple acquisitions including bespoke tax advisory work in relation to employee share incentives and transaction structures; Advising Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited in relation to the tax aspects of the investment by Shelby Companies Limited in Birmingham City FC and Birmingham City Women’s Football Club.

Mandy Luckman

Irwin Mitchell

Mandy leads our national Cosmetic Law team and has experience of all forms of cosmetic interventions, including: surgical, non-surgical, cosmetic treatment abroad, product liability issues, and dental negligence.

Mark Hands

Mark Hands

Irwin Mitchell

I am a Partner and Head of the Birmingham family team. My clients are based up and down the country and I am regularly instructed to deal with cases in London. I have an established practice representing people across a wide range of complicated financial claims on divorce, including business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs. This also includes a niche area advising in the context of third-party intervenor claims and professional footballers and their partners. I am also sought after for my expertise in wealth protection, including pre-nuptial agreements. I have a particular specialism in complex financial cases, in the UK and internationally. I am one of only a small handful of family lawyers that deals with complicated tax structures, overseas trusts and assets. I have delivered training to other family lawyers on these issues, including STEP. I’ve represented many parents in disputes about their children, including relocation locally and abroad. I am regarded as a complete expert in all cases involving alienation of children and fact find hearings in the context of mentally or physically abusive relationships, whether that be representing a victim or defending false allegations. Almost all of my cases come from recommendations. I place a high value on client care, which is shown in the volume of 5* Trustpilot reviews. I have also won multiple awards (IAFL European Lawyer Award 2016, Law Society Solicitor of the Year 2015, Jordan’s Family Law Team of the Year 2017, Birmingham Law Society – Excellence in Client Service 2019, Finalist – Partner of the Year 2023). I am also a trained and accredited collaborative lawyer, which is an alternative to the traditional process and provides clients with a different option to resolving issues out of court.

Matt Smith

Irwin Mitchell

Matt is an Associate Solicitor in the corporate team in our Birmingham office. Matt specialises in all aspects of corporate law, including acquisitions and disposals, private equity and corporate governance and advisory. Matt’s clients range from individual private investors to owner-managed businesses and large corporates.

Sarah Balfour

Sarah Balfour

Irwin Mitchell

I am a partner at Irwin Mitchell, specialising in divorce and related financial matters, and private law issues relating to children. I act for a range of clients and offer practical, commercially focused advice. I have a particular interest in litigation involving family Trusts. I’m a vocal advocate of pre- and post-nuptial agreements and I’m regularly instructed to prepare these. I’m also instructed by clients who have separated and wish to hold their spouses to nuptial agreements they’ve signed, as well as those seeking to challenge them. My clients range from those with inherited family wealth to others who have built up assets during their lifetime. I also sit on Irwin Mitchell’s Later Life Group and act for older and elderly clients. I understand the issues faced by those marrying or separating in later life and was key in developing the firm’s Later Life Relationships proposition. I’ve written extensively on family law issues and have delivered training seminars to other professional advisors. In relation to children matters I take a sensitive and child-focused approach. I work on cases involving the National Youth Advocacy Service and children’s guardians, and regularly instruct independent social workers and other experts. I act in cases of internal and international relocation and those involving parental alienation. Whatever a client’s circumstances, my focus is on getting the best result I can.

Satinder Bains

Irwin Mitchell

PartnerSatinder began her career at Irwin Mitchell specialising exclusively in mesothelioma and other asbestos related disease claims, before developing an expertise in the field of other industrial diseases, including occupational asthma, upper limb disorders, hand arm vibration syndrome and work related cancers. She regularly lectures on behalf of the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Birmingham University and has been a Trustee of the West Midlands Hazards Trust since 2006.

Simon O'Loughlin

Irwin Mitchell

Associate Solicitor Simon heads a sub-team within the International Serious Injury teams in Birmingham. He specialises in complex and catastrophic injury claims, fatal claims and serious injury claims.  Simon has particular expertise in cases with high value complex liability and causation issues and claims involving multiple parties. Simon has a great deal of experience dealing with cases which have an international element and has acted for many clients who have suffered injuries in a wide range of accidents abroad including accidents at work, road traffic accidents, package holiday cases and medical negligence. Some of Simon’s cases have been reported in national and local media.

Steven Baylis

Irwin Mitchell

Associate solicitor Steven specialises in education and community care law and cases in the Court of Protection involving mental capacity, best interests and deprivation of liberty. Steven represents families in Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability Tribunals, in challenges against local authority decisions including refusals to conduct education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments, challenges against the content of statements of special educational needs in EHC plans and challenging decisions to cease to maintain statements.He also has experience dealing with claims for disability discrimination against schools and colleges, as well as admissions and exclusions cases. 

Stuart Henderson

Irwin Mitchell

Managing partner for the personal injury division and executive board member on the personal legal services division. Personal injury lawyer and has been acting for clients who have suffered major injury for over 30 years. Has acted for many clients who have suffered brain and spinal cord injury. Now works with a large team of lawyers, specialising in major injury, who work as a team on all cases and are highly skilled in helping clients to access the very best rehabilitation and support, to rebuild their lives and achieve the best outcome for any damages claim. Also the regional managing partner in the Birmingham office and lead partner for the personal injury teams who are regularly acclaimed in independent guides as some of the best personal injury lawyers in the Midlands. Acted in a number of cases involving some of the highest awards of damages in personal injury in the UK including the Leung case (a record award of £3.4m in 1994) and the Luhar case (a record award of £5.1m in 2000). Acting in numerous major group actions for illness suffered by holiday makers against tour operators; has extensive media experience; and lectures in-house and externally.

Suki Chhokar

Irwin Mitchell

Partner Suki primarily deals with group actions against UK based tour operators, or single party actions against defendants in foreign countries (often working with foreign agent lawyers).His team currently handles in excess of 2000 clients and handle a range of different cases against major U.K. tour operators. Some of the cases where large numbers of people have fallen ill on holiday are the largest of their kind ever pursued in the U.K. and have resulted in multi-million pound settlements. 

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