Weightmans LLP
Lawyers
Alan is a partner in the Corporate department at RadcliffesLeBrasseur UK LLP, where he undertakes a full range of privacy, commercial and regulatory work in the general commercial, aviation and manufacturing sectors. The main focus of his practice is privacy and regulatory work, and commercial contract negotiations. Alan’s practice ranges from handling regulatory issues to the procurement of suppliers and responses to tenders, to data protection and privacy, information technology, intellectual property, and the drafting and negotiating of various commercial agreements, such as outsourcing, supply, service, and research and development. He has worked extensively on matters in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the United Kingdom. Alan is a regular contributor to publications and speaker at conferences in these sectors, and his articles and book reviews have been widely published.
Alex is a Partner in the Healthcare team. He has more than 30 years’ experience in health related law acting for NHS and private healthcare providers. Alex’s principal area of work is advising professionals working in the NHS on regulatory, disciplinary, employment and ethical issues. Alex has advised participants in major public inquiries and acted in many high profile cases, including: R(Squier) v General Medical Council (GMC), Chhabra v West London MH NHS Trust, Lewis v Secretary of State for Health, R(Bonhoeffer) v General Medical Council (GMC), and Re C. Alex publishes articles and gives seminars.
Andrew specialises in medical law and all areas of health and social care law. He acts for a large number of private sector healthcare providers, care home operators and the NHS. Andrew regularly advises on care home law, mental health law, public law and judicial review and all operational legal issues that affect health and social care providers. He has been involved in many important mental health cases in recent years and is seen as a leading practitioner in this field. Andrew has extensive advocacy experience, including attending inquests on behalf of healthcare clients, and has significant experience in the Court of Protection. Andrew acts as an adviser on regulatory matters involving the CQC and the HSE/police. Andrew is a regular lecturer and contributor of articles to the health and legal press. He provides an educational programme to clients and others in the healthcare sector, especially relating to mental health, care homes and human rights.
Andrew has over 25 years' experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution including High Court proceedings, injunctions, domestic and international arbitrations and mediation. He acts for UK and international clients on a broad range of commercial and contractual matters including shareholder and joint venture disputes, breaches of contract and warranty claims, the enforcement of contractual obligations, maintaining confidentiality and terminating commercial relationships. He has a particular expertise in partnership disputes and acts for Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and professional partnerships (solicitors, accountants, financial services businesses, doctors and dentists) as well as for outgoing partners on individual and team moves. He also specialises in enforcing and resisting restrictive covenants and advising partnership management on constitutional and management issues and procedures. Andrew has been ranked for over a decade as a leader in the field of partnership law in independent directories Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.
Basiru is an Associate in the Large Loss department, based in the London office. Basiru joined Weightmans in 2015 and initially worked successfully within the Disease department (handling claims including mesothelioma, HAVS/VWF, NIHL) before moving to Large Loss in May 2020. Basiru has extensive experience in defending motor, public and employers' liability claims on behalf of UK insurers and local authorities. Basiru is also adept at defending claims that involve fraud. Basiru specialises in catastrophic personal injury cases including severe brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and fatal accident claims. Basiru is also the Weightmans lead on BAME-related issues, supporting and promoting BAME agendas and initiatives firm wide.
Carina is a Partner in our Family team. She advises a broad range of clients on divorce, and all areas of matrimonial finance work including pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Carina also specialises in private law children matters including residence and contact disputes and applications for leave to remove a child from the jurisdiction. As a member of Resolution she is committed to resolving such matters in a constructive and non-confrontational manner.She has expertise and experience in all aspects of family law, including divorce, matrimonial finance, pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, civil partnerships, children matters, including residence and contact, domestic violence and emergency relief and enforcement of orders and agreements.
Catherine joined the Large Loss team in London in March 2019. She was admitted as a solicitor in Northern Ireland in 1999, Ireland in 2002 and England and Wales in 2005 and has practised in all three jurisdictions. Catherine is named as a key lawyer in the 2021 edition of the Legal 500 UK, for defendant personal injury work in London. She has over 20 years' experience in personal injury litigation and over 15 years' experience in defending motor, public and employers' liability claims for insurer clients and self-insured organisations. She specialises in defending large loss claims involving brain, spinal, amputation, complex and fatal injuries. Catherine has advised clients in relation to: catastrophic spinal injuries sustained by a motorcyclist who collided with a car at speed, securing a substantial reduction for contributory negligence following a High Court trial of liability where the defendant’s CCTV and accident-reconstruction evidence was preferred to that of the claimant (Hernandez v Acar & EUI Ltd [2019] EWHC 72); jurisdiction to determine a claim for personal injuries brought by a UK-domiciled claimant injured in a French adventure park who had sued the park’s French-domiciled insurers (Thwaites v Aviva Assurances [2010] Lloyd’s Rep. IR 667); the successful defence of a police misfeasance and assault claim following a seven-day jury trial and the successful section 33 Limitation Act application for strikeout of a related claim due to prejudice to the defendant; settlement of the claim of an equity partner in a national law firm who was cognitively impaired following a road traffic collision, involving the need to forecast likely loss of drawings; settlement of a claim involving brain injury in a young man where surveillance footage indicated that he was more independent than had been claimed; settlement on a PPO basis of the claim of a young man spinally injured in a road traffic accident; settlement on a PPO basis of the claim of a young man severely brain injured in a road traffic accident; a claim arising from the death of the claimant’s partner, proving that she had been untruthful as to the length of their cohabitation and thus her status as a dependant, resulting in the claim being discontinued and substantial costs recovered; the successful defence, after a five-day trial, of a lorry driver prosecuted for driving without due care and attention following the death of a cyclist, followed by settlement of the resulting civil claim on favourable terms numerous cases involving pain disorders.
Charles has a wealth of experience in disputes relating to finance and insolvency and has represented financial institutions, corporate clients and insolvency practitioners. He has acted for an international property developer involving a high profile shareholder dispute regarding the ownership of a Premier League football club. Charles was instructed by the Insolvency Service in relation to progressing director disqualification proceedings and public interest winding up petitions and advised on the first compensation order application under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. He provides advice to insolvency practitioners helping them to recover and realise assets of the insolvent company or the bankrupt for their creditors. Charles acts for a number of banking institutions assisting them with enforcing security against corporates and individuals. Charles represents clients faced with the threat of insolvency and has experience in making applications to restrain the presentation of winding up petitions, setting aside statutory demands and preparing applications for injunctive relief.
Chris specialises in all forms of construction and engineering disputes, both international and domestic, and risk management advice, including final account disputes, claims for extensions of time, prolongation and LADs, defective design by both engineers and contractors, defective workmanship and negligent procurement and management of projects. Cases include: Acting on behalf of a acting on behalf of an Kuwaiti contractor in a US$80 million ICC Arbitration arising out of the construction of an airport and associated enforcement proceedings in Bulgaria; Acting on behalf of a design and build contractor in connection with a £200 million claim arising out of the design and construction of a major industrial production and warehouse facility; Acting against a contractor in connection with the defective design and commissioning of a power plant in Pakistan; Defending a project manager and QS against a £30 million claim arising of an office development project; acting on behalf of a housing association in connection with numerous disputes against contractors for defective design and construction of housing projects; Acting on behalf of a contractor in adjudication proceedings in connection with a rail project; defending an employer in connection with a claim for £30 million arising out of rail tunnelling works; Defending an M&E engineer in an €8 million claim arising out of the design of a major internationals sports stadium; Acting on behalf of NHS Trusts in connection with disputes arising out of hospital projects. Clients include contractors, construction professionals, developers, national health service trusts, housing associations and insurers of construction risks. Chris has been ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers (London, Construction – Suppliers) and previously named by Legal 500 in relation to construction disputes.
Christina is an Associate in the London Healthcare Team. She qualified in 2012 and joined Weightmans in 2015, having previously worked for NHS Resolution and a niche claimant clinical negligence firm. Christina assists with and manages her own case load of high value, complicated and sensitive claims on behalf of NHS Resolution including maximum severity birth injury claims, cases settled on a periodical payments basis and multi party and group actions. She has a particular expertise in spinal injury cases. Christina has handled cases attracting media attention, including a sensitive claim concerning a maternal death. Christina assists with mentoring and supervising junior colleagues and helps organise events for Healthcare clients.
Christopher is a Partner in our Property team and specialises in high value residential property work including sales, purchases, letting arrangements and secured lending, investment and development by on-shore or off shore clients. Christopher advises on a wide range of residential property matters including the sale and purchase of substantial residential properties (freehold and leasehold) with a transaction value of £3 million to £10 million for high net worth individuals, and the disposal of freehold buildings by private sale or at auction, for landlords, including the service of Landlord and Tenant Notices on residential tenants. He has also successfully assisted on the completion of mortgages over residential securities for on-shore and off-shore clients of banks and other mortgage lenders. Christopher has considerable experience of landlord and tenant matters, including lease extensions, leasehold reform, enfranchisement of freehold houses, assignment of claims, and collective enfranchisement. He has acted on many mixed use residential schemes for major residential developers. Drafting the lease, advising on the management structure and setting out schemes for the disposal of residential units. Christopher also provides effective estate management advice. Recently, advising on the first registration of two substantial rural estates and acting in connection with the purchase of woodlands and the freehold acquisition of a substantial agricultural property worth £5.8 million.
Daniel is a Principal Associate based in our London office and specialises in defending actions against the police. He is listed in the Chambers and Partners UK 2021 guide as an "Associate to watch". Interviewees reported to Chambers and Partners UK that he works "incredibly hard" and is a "trusted player". Daniel represents a number of police forces and is frequently instructed in high profile claims and inquests. Daniel represented Sussex Police in the litigation which arose following the drone incursions at Gatwick Airport in December 2018. He has represented the British Transport Police in a number of sensitive claims including the high profile acquittal of a male accused of sexually assaulting an actress from Game of Thrones at Waterloo station and a claim which resulted from the use of a spit hood at London Bridge station where footage of the incident went viral. Daniel represented Surrey Police at two of the three Deepcut inquests from 2018-2019. He represented the British Transport Police at the inquests into the terrorist attack at London Bridge and Borough Market. This included representation of PC Wayne Marques GM who was stabbed on multiple occasions whilst challenging the three terrorists. Daniel is currently instructed in the inquests into the terrorist attack at Fishmongers’ Hall, the inquests into the Guildford Pub Bombings in 1974 and the inquests into the Croydon Tram Crash. He has been involved in the two leading cases addressing the applicability of qualified one way costs shifting (QOCS) to actions against the police. He successfully advised the Metropolitan Police Service in Jeffreys v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2017] EWHC 1505 and in the Court of Appeal case of Brown v (1) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2) Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and the Equality and Human Rights Commissioner (Intervener) [2019] EWCA Civ 1724. Notable cases include: Countess of Caledon v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2016] EWHC 2214 (QB); Chergui and Stewart v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2017] EWHC 1307 (QB); Jeffreys v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2017] EWHC 1505 (QB); Dr Pal v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2018] EWHC 2988 (QB); Brown v (1) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2) Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and the Equality and Human Rights Commissioner (Intervener) [2019] EWCA Civ 1724. Notable inquests include: Inquest into the death of Private Sean Benton at Deepcut barracks (2018) Inquest into the death of Private Geoff Gray at Deepcut barracks (2019) Inquests into the terrorist attack at London Bridge and Borough Market (2019) Inquests into the five deaths arising from the Guildford pub bombings in 1974 (2019-2022) Inquests into the seven deaths arising from the Croydon tram disaster (2019-2021) Inquests into the deaths following the terrorist attack at Fishmongers' Hall (2020-2021)
Head of construction risk and an integral member of Weightmans’ specialty insurance and construction group. Expert on claims across all classes of insurance affecting construction operations and under the major forms of building and engineering contract (including JCT, GC works, FIDIC, ICE, NEC, IChemE and ACE). Professional liability, D&C and coverage accounts for a large proportion of his practice, in particular claims against engineers (all disciplines), architects and design and build contractors; insurance coverage disputes for syndicates at Lloyds and the company market, as well as the preparation and interpretation of policy wordings; arbitration and adjudication; all forms of alternative dispute resolution (including mediation); claims for loss/expense arising from project delays and prolongation; performance bonds and warranties; property damage/business interruption; specialist sub-contract operations (including diamond drilling, piling, telecoms, chemical process plant and demolition); product liability; PFI/PPP; and procurement. Prominent work recently undertaken includes a product liability class action in the Republic of Ireland, tiered adjudications in respect of no less than 28 disputes arising out of the government Building Schools for the Future programme, and matters of jurisdiction and international law in the context of a cross-border insurance dispute. Publications: various in trade press, including ‘Post’, ‘Building’ and ‘Construction News’.
Edwina has worked in both the private and public sectors as a real estate and partnership solicitor. She is ranked in the Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 directories as a medical partnership expert and is widely recognised as a specialist NHS GP adviser. She also has significant experience in working with emergency services clients and local authorities. Edwina leads the Primary Care team at Weightmans and advises GP practices, individual partners, local medical committees and those who work with them. She has a broad experience in the way in which general practice and its finance operates and as such is able to bring a holistic approach to GP partnership business. Her work includes partnership formation, retirement, mergers and other contractual arrangements such as partnership contract variations as well as some practice disputes. She has been involved with the primary care move towards the provision of a wider array of certain health services and the working at scale agenda and a variety of collaboration projects. This includes advising Local Medical Committees and their members in relation to Primary Care Networks and their relationship and transaction activity within the wider health space. She has advised some CCGs on contracting matters where these are linked to partnership problems. Edwina is widely known for negotiating robust and 'GP friendly' property transactions especially in connection with landlord and tenant matters. This includes significant experience 54 Act renewals and in LIFT transactions for GPs together with new development work and section 106 contributions. She has a strong understanding of primary care service contracts and finance and the link to premises issues so that she is able to provide detailed advice and transactional support on a very wide range of issues and has supported many practices on premises matters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Edwina has written many articles in medical practitioner press in relation to service charge issues for GPs. She has assisted GPs and LMCs nationally in relation to demands for unsubstantiated claims and provides training sessions and seminars in respect of partnership premises and core business. She is known as an effective public speaker, encouraging practices to understand the law as it relates to their business. She is regularly invited by LMCs to present to their members She is described by clients as "approachable, supportive, knowledgeable and tenacious," and Chambers and Partners note that clients praise her ability to "provide timely responses and sensible advice in easy-to-understand language." Edwina leads on NHS Trusts' Estate matters representing these clients on a variety of complex property matters and estates strategy and rationalisation in keeping with the government agenda for collaboration and working at scale. She oversees and manages work in relation to large property portfolios and property management generally. Having spent 14 years in local authority property teams, she is familiar with public sector processes. In addition, she has worked on estates and joint venture projects for emergency services clients and supports the Weightmans emergency services team in this respect, undertaking a large level of landlord and tenant matters, as well as providing general property advice. Edwina also worked with the government of Malta to assist in delivering a refurbishment programme to enable health service delivery across 3 sites in Malta and Gozo. Listen to Edwina being interviewed on The General Practice Podcast As an expert GP lawyer, Edwina is regularly asked for her opinion on issues affecting General Practitioners and GP business law. Here, she discusses the evolving nature of GP leases.
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.
Emma Jeffries is an associate solicitor and costs lawyer within the niche costs team in Weightmans which is a specialist team dealing with high value, complex costs litigation. Emma has a vast experience of dealing with both claimant and defendant costs issues to include costs arising from catastrophic injury claims; clinical negligence, professional negligence (construction) and commercial litigation. As well as providing advice and assistance at the conclusion of claims, Emma engages with clients from the outset to ensure that appropriate costs estimates and reserves are set as well as dealing with costs management during the litigation as and when required. A regular provider of client training, Emma provides bespoke training sessions for Insurer Clients as to issues of costs and costs management and is a member of the Association of Costs Lawyers working party dealing with the responses of the Industry to fixed costs reforms proposed by the government.
Emma is an experienced insurance litigator specialising in property damage claims including subrogated recoveries and defending claims against construction professionals. Emma is also experienced in advising insurers on policy coverage with particular expertise in cover provided under property policies. Emma previously worked in house at Jones Lang LaSalle and prior to that was at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain for 9 years. Emma trained at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert.
Hannah Walsh heads the London police team. Clients describe Hannah as "offering incredible work and dedication which has a real impact on the community". Hannah has worked exclusively with police clients for a decade. She is especially noted for her work on sensitive matters that attract high-level media coverage and comment. Hannah was recently working with the Al Sweady Public Inquiry into the alleged killing and ill-treatment of Iraqi civilians. Hannah is currently advising several police clients with claims arising from high profile protester arrests.
Harvir is an Associate in the London Healthcare team who acts on behalf of NHS Resolution and NHS Trusts in a wide range of medical negligence cases. She manages a varied caseload of complex, high-value claims, seeking to secure the best possible outcome for her client. Harvir qualified as a Solicitor in 2009 and joined Weightmans in June 2021. She has significant experience in clinical negligence, including acting for claimants in the past, which enables her to bring valuable tactical knowledge and experience to her work.
Hei is a Partner in our Property team, specialising in residential and commercial property. Hei’s clients include high net worth individuals, investors, trust companies, with the majority based in offshore jurisdictions, the Far East and the Middle East. Hei understands and appreciates the demands and expectations of clients from different cultural backgrounds and he is trusted to provide an efficient and quality service and have the ability to explain complex legal concepts in English and Chinese.Hei's areas of expertise include: Conveyancing Property finance Lease extensions and collective enfranchisement New build developments and bulk purchases Assignment of contracts Leasing of office blocks, industrial units and high street shops Auction pack preparation and review Right to buy, shared ownership and staircasing
Helen was admitted as a solicitor in 1997 and joined Weightmans in 2000, becoming an associate in 2006. Helen specialises in personal injury litigation and has extensive experience in defending higher value multi track employers' liability claims for major insurers and their insureds, particularly in the logistics, construction and manufacturing sectors. She has conducted several cases of particular sensitivity due to the nature of the claim and the potential fraud concerns. Helen also handles disease claims including noise induced hearing loss and work related upper limb disorders.
Helena joined Weightmans in 2018 and is a partner in the London commercial real estate team. Helena has extensive experience in all areas of commercial property investment and development work and deals with all asset types including retail, office, industrial and mixed-use schemes. Helena acts for a broad spectrum of clients ranging from quoted corporates, property companies, developers, retailers, banks and private investors. Helena is very experienced in landlord and tenant matters, particularly on significant pre-let agreements, and also acts for banks on a variety of property finance matters including development finance. Helena is a member of Women in Property and a panellist for Women Talk Real Estate.
Ian is a Partner in the Healthcare team advising and representing medical defence organisations (MDOs) and doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals with criminal, employment and regulatory matters. Ian’s practice includes: appearing regularly before Tribunals and disciplinary panels on behalf of clients, considerable experience of General Medical Council/Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Panels, and General Dental Council committees, appeals to the High Court from decisions of health regulatory bodies including those involving the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, Crown Court trials including appeals to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, NHS employee disciplinary proceedings and appeals, First Tier Tribunal Primary Health List hearings and subsequent appeals, and Employment Tribunal hearings and High Court claims for breach of contract and injunctive relief for healthcare professionals. Ian frequently receives plaudits from clients for the quality of his work and the commitment given to individual cases. He also advises on claims for judicial review arising out of the above and undertakes such proceedings on behalf of clients. One senior healthcare professional wrote in 2015: “I am very grateful for your help with my [...] problems and thankful that your expertise resulted in the successful outcome. I was impressed by your insightful opinions and clear thinking and mostly by your articulate delivery at the hearing.”
Since first qualifying as a solicitor in 1994, Isobel has acted for the NHS Trusts, as well as representing NHS Resolution (previously known as NHSLA) since its inception. Isobel also has extensive experience of defending individual healthcare practitioners and dentists acting for their MDOs and private insurers. Her caseload is very wide ranging defending and resolving all types of clinical negligence cases, including claims of the utmost severity (including birth and adult brain injury claims, spinal claims and other catastrophic high value injuries) involving complex causation issues. As well as dealing with the highest value cases, Isobel also deals with a large number of mental health and Human Rights Act public liability claims and works with insurers defending private practitioners including GPs, dentists and surgeons. Many of her cases involve novel or sensitive issues and can also involve dealing with the media. She has group action experience, as well as both extensive trial and mediation experience. Her advice is pragmatic, robust and commercial, achieving early evaluation and resolution as soon as possible. Isobel has particular interests in patient safety and learning and in cases that relate to informed consent. She speaks at sector specific events on these topics, as well as on the investigation and clinical negligence process and preparing for inquests. Her training aims to understand and identify risk profiles and trends, whilst minimising claims and complaints. In addition, Isobel has experience of judicial review of healthcare provision, particularly in the mental health sector. She has advised on best interest assessments and withdrawal of treatment cases and has represented NHS Trusts at inquests. Isobel is one of the key contacts for Remedy, our bespoke healthcare complaints handling solution. Isobel studied medicine at UCLH before converting to law. Her background makes her ideally suited to forging strong relationships to ensure delivery of a high quality service to all healthcare clients. As a result "Isobel is an extremely experienced case handler with a strong depth of knowledge and experience." Legal 500 2019. Rising star & Key lawyer Legal 500 2020 and 2021. High profile cases: RAGE (Breast radiotherapy group action) Janet Birch v UCLH Foundation NHS Trust 2008 EWHC 2237 (QB) R v Camden & Islington Health Authority ex-parte K 2001 EWCA CIV 240 (CA) Bostridge v Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (2015) EWCA CIV 79.
Jane is a Partner in the Property team, specialising in all forms of commercial and residential landlord and tenant property disputes, including insolvency. She acts for a wide variety of major institutional and landowning clients, property developers and charities as well as private individuals and smaller corporate entities. Jane has a broad range of expertise, encompassing breaches of covenant in commercial and residential leases, including unreasonably withholding consent, unauthorised alterations, disrepair, and contested dilapidations claims arising at the end of a tenancy. She advises on rent arrears and service charge disputes, including advice on the statutory control and management of residential service charges, and in particular, the implementation of major works programmes (and subsequent recovery), and where appropriate, forfeiture proceedings and the preparation and service of s.146 notices, and notices under s.17 of the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act, to include the subsequent grant of overriding leases. Jane deals with the recovery of commercial and residential property and all proceedings under the Rent Acts and Housing Acts including claims against trespasser/licensees/service occupancies. She also advises on rights of ownership to land and adverse possession, party wall, minor construction and boundary disputes, nuisance claims and injunctions for trespass.
Janet works predominantly on personal injury cases for defendant insurers such as Zurich and Gallagher Bassett, as well as a number of direct instructions from local authorities, the British Library and others. She handles a mixed caseload of small claims, fast and multi-track matters includes work on a variety of public and employer’s liability cases; motoring, credit hire, motoring cases; occasional disease/deafness claims, contractual arguments and property damage.
Jeremy specialises in acting on professional indemnity claims on behalf of insurers. As an experienced PI solicitor, he is able to understand the issues of a claim relating to liability and coverage and obtain the best outcome for the client. Jeremy has worked across the professional indemnity space, in a number of roles, which included: acting for defendant and claimant; in house for insurers and self insured large businesses; plus in private practice. He has a particular specialism in surveyor and construction PI claims.
As a part of the niche costs team, Jon advises the firm and its clients on all legal costs matters in high value and complex civil cases. He regularly attends CCMCs and detailed assessments. Cases of note include:Hosking v Smallshaw [2009] EWHC 90137 (Costs)Gandy v King [2010] EWHC 90177 (Costs)Cuthbert v Gair [2008] EWHC 90114 (Costs)Kris Motor Spares v Fox Williams [2010] EWHC 1008Currey v Currey [2006] EWCA Civ 1338Global Energy Horizons Corp v Gray [2012] EWHC 3703 (Ch) Jon is an Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator. Jon is a costs lawyer and member of the Association of Costs Lawyers and as a former Council Member was head of the Education Sub-Committee. He is also an accredited trainer and delivers both internal and external training. He writes regularly for various legal publications and is a Lexis Nexis costs expert.
Julia is a Partner in the Healthcare team and regularly advises many public and private sector healthcare providers on a wide range of medico legal, contentious and regulatory matters. She has a particular interest in mental health and aftercare and is instructed on behalf of providers in cases involving mental capacity and treatment issues in the Court of Protection. As an experienced advocate, Julia regularly undertakes advocacy at inquests on behalf of health and care providers and has also advised and represented clients in relation to CQC proceedings, HSE prosecutions, police investigations, Local Authority/CCG funding disputes and judicial review. Julia has experience of group action litigation.
Kathryn joined Weightmans in 2008 and is a Principal Associate in the Large Loss and Technical team in London. She has extensive experience in defending motor, public and employers' liability claims on behalf of UK insurers and local authorities. Kathryn specialises in catastrophic personal injury cases including severe brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and fatal accident claims.
Kulraj has over 20 years PQE all gained in leading City of London law firms. He specialises in construction and complex property damage, professional liability, product liability and commercial litigation. He regularly acts on behalf of insurers and companies in both defending and pursuing claims. In addition to court disputes, Kulraj has extensive experience in dealing with arbitrations, mediations and adjudications.
Ling joined Weightmans in 2008 and is a partner in the London market insurance & reinsurance team. Before that, she was a partner in the London (Re)insurance team of DLA Piper; and at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert. Ling specialises in insurance and reinsurance litigation with particular focus on coverage disputes and advice. Since qualifying in 1993, Ling has been involved in a wide range of insurance and facultative/treaty/retrocession reinsurance matters. Much of her work is complex and apart from the UK, she has been involved in claims from worldwide jurisdictions including the US, Canada, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Belize, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Italy, Romania, Zambia, Malawi, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia, Papua Indonesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. Ling's key clients include well known Lloyd's syndicates, international London Market insurance and reinsurance companies, major European reinsurers and run-off companies. She has been involved in a number of major disputes and high profile arbitrations, and is very experienced in mediations. Ling is a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute/Insurance Institute of London, Lloyd's Market Association, London Business Interruption Association, OPERA, British Insurance Law Association, Association Internationale de Droit des Assurances and the City of London Law Society. She is also a member of the International Bar Association and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. Ling is also certified as compliant with the Californian Fair Claims Settlement Practice Regulations. She is recommended for insurance and reinsurance litigation in Legal 500 and Chambers. Ling is currently the President of London FOIL.
Lottie trained as a solicitor at Manches LLP (Oxford) before joining the Weightmans’ family team. Based in our London office, Lottie has over twelve years’ experience advising on all aspects of family law and has also established a mediation practice. Lottie is an active member of Resolution. She historically founded the regional group YRes Manchester and currently sits on the Resolution Standards Committee. She is an accredited specialist in European and International family law, children law (disputes between parents or relatives) and complex financial and property matters (high-income households and substantial assets). Lottie finds all aspects of her work as a family solicitor engaging and rewarding. She is particularly keen to find practical solutions to disputes and minimise the impact of separation on children. She is a trained collaborative lawyer and happy to discuss resolving cases through a series of meetings rather than through the court process. As a mediator, Lottie works together with separating couples to facilitate them reaching their own understanding. She is a member of the Family Mediators Association (FMA) and the Family Mediation Council (FMC). Lottie has an MA in French and Italian which assists in international cases. She was runner up for the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) European Chapter Annual Award for young family lawyers in 2014. In 2018 Lottie was shortlisted for 'Family Lawyer of the year – Associate' in the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2018. Book your consultation We offer a free consultation on any family law matters. Book now
Luiza trained at Weightmans and qualified into the London litigation team, where she gained experience in a wide range of commercial litigation disputes and contentious insolvency. More recently, Luiza has taken an interest in and has been advising on construction and engineering disputes, including claims for extension of time, prolongation and LADS, and defective design by both engineers and contractors. Luiza is a diversity & inclusion champion and organises regular events promoting awareness of D&I issues. She is also a regular mentor for the University of Leicester of which she is an alumna.
Luke is a Principal Associate in the London Healthcare team who acts on behalf of NHS Resolution in a wide range of clinical negligence and personal injury cases. Luke is dual qualified, having qualified initially in Ireland in 2011 where he gained significant litigation experience dealing with personal injury and clinical negligence claims on behalf of the State Claims Agency (SCA), Irish Public Bodies (IPB) and AIG. Luke qualified in England & Wales in 2012 and since joining Weightmans in 2013, has acted exclusively on behalf of NHS Resolution, dealing with claims concerned with defendant clinical negligence, as well as employer and public liability claims. Luke handles a number of complex and high-value cases which include both clinical and non-clinical claims. Although he handles a wide variety of different claims, he has a particular interest in surgical claims and cases involving delayed diagnosis and orthopaedic injuries, psychiatric cases, bullying and stress at work claims. Luke robustly, but astutely, handles claims and has demonstrated this by taking and successfully defending five cases at trial in the last two years alone. Notable cases include: DMcD v West London Meath Health NHS Trust (2017) – arising out of an assault of a Health Care Assistant by an inmate at Broadmoor. The court had to identify the correct test to use in terms of breach of duty and the relevance of Bolam in light of the decision in Buck v. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust [2006] and whether the defendant exposed the claimant to needless risks or the risks which the exercise of reasonable care on the part of the defendant could avoid. An application was made to strike out the claim on the morning of the first of a scheduled five day trial and after two days the HHJ Saggerson struck out the claim in favour of the defendant. SS v Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (2017), alleged failure to diagnose and repair an anastomotic leak following surgery for bowel cancer. The claimant required to undergo emergency surgery as a result of developing sepsis. The claim was defended at trial where the judge found for the defendant and dismissed the claimant’s claim. The claimant was ordered to pay the defendants costs of the action. In addition to his caseload he is responsible for the internal management of the clinical negligence department in London.
Maria is a partner in the finance team and has many years' experience of advising clients across a variety of sectors. She has a broad range of expertise in negotiating and structuring all aspects of facilities for clients, and working for both lenders and borrowers has enabled Maria to develop a keen understanding of the commercial reasons behind structures and the drafting of finance documentation. Collaborating with other members of the firm from the corporate, commercial, real estate and construction teams, Maria provides advice on all aspects of secured lending, including acquisition finance, real estate finance and development finance. Maria has specialist expertise in the education and healthcare sectors, in particular, loans to fund working capital, acquisitions and developments and several student accommodation projects. She has been instructed on many loans in further and higher education in particular, including to Oxford and Cambridge Colleges. Maria has also advised on loans for numerous care home providers, dental practitioners and pharmacy owners growing their businesses. With an efficient and constructive approach to transactions, Maria advises her clients as to risks on matters as they arise and works together with her clients and other parties to find practical and commercial solutions to those issues.
Marianne is a Partner in our Healthcare Providers team, advising clients on clinical negligence, regulatory and disciplinary matters, inquests, mental health law, criminal investigations and prosecutions, and data protection issues. Marianne is a specialist in CQC issues, NHS Trust disciplinary hearings and HSE prosecutions. She is extremely experienced in defending healthcare professionals in complex, high value negligence claims and representing her clients in both the High Court and Crown Court. Marianne has a particular expertise in Mental Health Act matters and the treatment and detention of mentally ill individuals. She frequently advises on consent and confidentiality matters for mental health patients, vulnerable adults and children.
Mark joined Weightmans as an Associate in October 2018. He has over 10 years’ experience handling complex, high value policy coverage and related disputes on behalf of insurers in respect of property damage losses, product liability/recall claims, public liability claims and claims under contractors’ all risks matters. In addition, Mark specialises in reinsurance matters with particular focus on coverage disputes and advice. Mark also deals with the review and drafting/revision of insurance and reinsurance policies and documentation. Mark also sits on the London Foil SFT (Sector Focus Team).
Matthew is a Principal Associate based in Weightmans’ London office, having previously qualified as a barrister. Matthew deals with all aspects of planning law, having advised both public and private sector clients on policy support, planning applications including the preparation of environmental statements, section 106 agreements and judicial review. Matthew has particular expertise in compulsory purchase and compensation matters and, in 2016, was elected to the national committee of the Compulsory Purchase Association. He regularly lectures on a wide variety of planning and compulsory purchase subjects and is a former Committee Member of the Professional Advisory Board of the University of Salford's School of the Built Environment. He is recognised as an 'Associate to Watch' in Chambers and Partners 2017 with his "knowledge and awareness" being described as "first class". According to clients he is "really strong on compulsory purchase," with one client stating: "He'll sit and listen to debates and arguments on where we want to get to, detail and provide a number of options and point out our risks with each of those options, and then provide advice." He is ranked in Chambers and Partners 2019 and was recognised in Legal 500 2019 as “regularly handling high profile compulsory purchase mandates”.
Michael has spent 30 years based in the City of London, advising a wide range of clients on all aspects of employment law. He is recommended by the latest edition of Chambers UK Guide, which has described him as "excellent, with a great deal of experience". Michael has an extensive knowledge of the employment issues arising on business transfers. He acts both on the procurement side - for Government and for multinational companies - and for service providers, advising on the TUPE implications of outsourcing and major infrastructure projects. The second edition of his book "TUPE: Law & Practice" was published in April 2014. Michael gives strategic advice regularly across a range of employment law topics from boardroom disputes to labour relations issues, often with an international flavour. He advised Serco in the landmark discrimination case of Serco v Redfearn, which went to the Court of Appeal.
Michaela is a Partner in the Healthcare team. She brings a unique skill and expertise to her clients having trained and worked as an intensive care nurse before becoming a lawyer. She has more than 17 years of experience advising in healthcare law.She provides advice for a wide range of healthcare issues with particular experience of clinical negligence claims, disciplinary and regulatory proceedings, and advising on matters before the General Dental Council (GDC), Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Nick is a corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, commercial contracts, private equity, energy and infrastructure transactions and general company law matters. Nick's practice focuses on transactional and advisory work, and he has particular experience and expertise in the energy (both renewable and conventional power) and infrastructure sectors. He also has experience across a range of other industries and sectors, including financial services and transportation.
Nick joined Weightmans as a partner in 2014, having qualified as a solicitor in 1984. He specialises in cross border litigation acting for European and English insurers involved in cases in England and Wales involving accidents abroad. He has detailed experience of the issues that arise in such cases involving choice of jurisdiction, applicable law and the Rome II Treaty. In addition he has experience in severe brain injury and physical injury cases including tetraplegia. Nick has spoken at a number of conferences on the legal and practical aspects of cross border litigation and the assessment of damages under Rome II.
Nicola is an Associate in the London Healthcare team and acts on behalf of NHS Resolution and private insurer clients in a wide range of clinical negligence cases. She has particular expertise in dealing with sensitive and complex paediatric cases which have often attracted press attention. Nicola also has significant experience of both assisting with and managing her own caseload of high value claims including those related to maximum severity birth injuries, other types of neurological injuries, amputation and maternal death. She has experience of engaging in mediation and other forms of ADR at all stages of the litigation process, achieving positive results for her clients. Nicola organises Weightmans' healthcare seminar programme which covers a wide range of healthcare topics presented by external speakers and attracts a variety of NHS Resolution, NHS Trust and MDO clients. She also has experience of lecturing to medical experts on liability issues in clinical negligence cases.
Peter is a Partner and Head of M&A. He advises on corporate and corporate finance transactions of all different types and sizes. He acts for clients from a wide variety of market sectors. Peter’s clear commercial advice has won him the trust and loyalty of his clients. Peter provides specialist advice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and shareholders’ agreements, venture capital, corporate finance and fundraising, lending arrangements, company formation, partnerships and commercial contracts. Peter acts for clients from various industry sectors including property, hotels and leisure, healthcare, marketing, IT, education and manufacturing. Some of his recent matters include advising on the $120m exit from an offshore family trust, advising on the £60m purchase of a Championship football club and acting on the $40m buyback of shares in a manufacturing company.
Philip is a Partner in our Property team. He specialises in both commercial and residential property and advises his clients on the purchase and sale, redevelopment and refurbishment and refinancing of properties. He has also advised lenders on property secured lending and financing. Philip advises on a full range of property matters and acts for a range of clients from investors, developers, banks, other finance providers and high net worth individuals. Philip's expertise includes: Auction sales and purchases The grant and surrender of commercial leases Landlord and tenant issues, including rent reviews, enforcement of lease covenants and dilapidations Stamp duty and other taxes affecting both residential and commercial properties Refinancing work for both borrowers and lenders Portfolio sales and purchases
Philip is a Partner in our Corporate team. He acts for clients in various sectors, including information technology and e-commerce, the NHS and the care home sector, charities, chemical manufacturing and serviced office accommodation. Philip advises on commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, IT (including software, hardware and other IT-related matters), healthcare law, data protection, e-commerce, private equity, management buy-outs and buy-ins, charity law, corporate structured property transactions and business start-ups. He has lectured on contracting, charity shared services, data protection, corporate mergers and acquisitions and management buy-outs.
Quentin is a Partner the professional risks team in the London office. He specialises in professional negligence and construction claims, almost always acting on behalf of insurers. With over 30 years’ practice in this field, he has particularly extensive experience in the following areas: claims against clients in the construction industry, architects, engineers, M&E consultants, quantity surveyors, project managers, asbestos consultants and design & build contractors (he is a qualified Adjudicator); complaints or claims against financial advisers and IFA networks; and insurance policy coverage disputes. He also regularly handles claims against other professions, such as estate agents, insurance brokers, solicitors, surveyors and accountants. He frequently deals with complaints made to the Financial Ombudsman Service against insurance brokers, insurers, IFAs and the like. He acts for a broad range of Lloyds’ syndicates and company market insurers, including AmTrust, Antares, Argenta, Argo, Aspen, AXA Insurance, CFC, Chaucer, Collegiate, Markel UK, Markel International, MMI (part of Zurich), Nexus, RiverStone, Tokio Marine HCC and Vibe. He has been involved in a number of high-profile and complex cases, including McLaughlin & Harvey v The Hospitals for Sick Children (for the Hospital), Target v Redferns (for the solicitors' excess layer insurers), The Corporation of Lloyds v DEGW & Others (for the architects), Dodson v Dodson (for the insurance brokers) and Panatown v Alfred McAlpine Construction Ltd (for the quantity surveyors). He has also acted for one of the defending parties in a very substantial dispute arising from the collapse of a tunnel at Gerrards Cross. Recently, he acted for Liberty Mutual in the successful defence at trial of a very substantial and complex claim arising from the collapse of the Honister IFA network. He advises frequently on cladding disputes and is currently representing one of the parties involved in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment project. Quentin is recognised by the principal legal directories. Recent comments include: "Quentin Fox has the rare combination of being technically good whilst at the same time being commercially and strategically sound"; "Quentin Fox 'quickly spots the practical difficulties in disputes, and takes a robust line with opponents"; "Quentin has a healthy reputation in the professional indemnity sphere and primarily acts for large insurers. He is admired by the market for his experience and strategic and practical approach to cases.
Rachel joined Weightmans in 2014 where she leads the healthcare team. She has acted for the NHS Resolution (previously the NHSLA) and NHS Trusts since 1997 and was previously at Trowers and Hamlins and Hempsons. Rachel is recognised as a leading figure in clinical negligence. Rachel specialises in the highest value clinical negligence claims including obstetric, neurological and other catastrophic injuries. She has particular expertise on quantum issues and has settled a large number of cases involving periodical payments. Rachel is a nominated partner for NHS Resolution and supervises both clinical and non clinical claims on their behalf. Rachel regularly advises and delivers lectures for clients on claims related topics.
Ricardo is a Partner in the Healthcare team and heads the firm’s medical defence organisation (MDO) claims department. He specialises in the defence of clinical negligence claims in general, hospital and dental practice. Ricardo’s casework often involves serious injuries, and he is particularly interested in and technically skilled at advising on head, neurological and sports-related clinical negligence actions. He is also experienced in handling clinical negligence actions in foreign jurisdictions. Ricardo is a highly proficient litigator, representing clinicians at professional conduct hearings and inquests including proceedings in the High Court, Crown Court and the Court of Appeal. He has represented practitioners against charges involving running a slimming clinic, causing death by rapid opiate detoxification, and the use of research funds to subsidise private practice. He regularly lectures and delivers training to clinicians and experts on medico-legal issues.
Richard is a Partner in the Healthcare team, specialising in criminal and disciplinary work, acting on behalf of medical defence organisations (MDOs), medical and dental practitioners and other health professionals. He has considerable experience defending cases before the Crown Court, and before panels or committees of the General Medical Council (GMC) and General Dental Council (GDC), and in disciplinary proceedings brought by NHS England. He has also assisted medical professionals under investigation by NHS Protect.
Sam is a Partner and Head of the Healthcare Professionals team, specialising in the representation of medical defence organisations (MDOs) and healthcare professionals in regulatory, disciplinary and criminal investigations and prosecutions. He is a skilled advocate, with extensive experience in the High Court, Crown Court, inquests, Performer's List hearings and General Medical Council (GMC) and General Dental Council (GDC) proceedings. He also undertakes judicial review applications. Two of his notable cases include Cheatle v The General Medical Council and Lim v Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust. Sam has recently defended a doctor accused of manslaughter and a surgeon facing serious allegations at the GMC.
Sarah is an experienced defendant clinical negligence Principal Associate acting on behalf of NHS Resolution and NHS Trusts in complex claims, typically involving catastrophic injury. Her expertise is in the management of predominantly high value cases (£1 million plus/PPO) and those which present complex and/or novel legal issues. Sarah has specific expertise in obstetric/ENS claims, wrongful birth claims and neurological and spinal injury claims. She regularly acts as an advocate at contested hearings and represent clients at mediations, consultations and settlement meetings. Sarah has successfully defended the following cases at Trial: Parker v London North West Healthcare NHS Trust [2016] EWHC 1662 (QB) Rupasinghe v West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust [2016] EWHC 2848 (QB); [2017] P.I.Q.R. Q1
Seray is a Principal Associate in the firm’s corporate department, based in the London office. Seray specialises in advising on corporate transactions including share and asset acquisitions and disposals, equity investment, group reorganisations, shareholders’ agreements, joint ventures, articles of association and general company law advice. Seray also acts for a number of commercial lenders providing advice on all aspects of secured lending, including real estate finance, development finance and acquisition finance matters.
Sian qualified as a solicitor in 1990 and joined Weightmans as a partner in 2007. Sian is sector lead for housing and she is also a partner in the property litigation team. She specialises in all aspects of property litigation, both commercial and residential, in the High Court, the County Court, the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and Upper Tribunal. Sian also acts for a wide range of housing associations, stock transfer organisations and fully mutual housing co-operatives. Sian has specialist knowledge of housing management issues including possession cases based on convictions, breach of tenancy terms and anti-social behaviour, anti-social behaviour injunctions (with and without notice), general estate management issues including exchange, abandoned properties, squatters and disrepair. Sian appears regularly as an advocate in the county court. Sian also has a wealth of experience in commercial property litigation. She is also skilled in all forms of alternative dispute resolution and has had noted success in mediations. Sian is recommended in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as a leader in her field. She is also a contributor to the Which Guide to Renting and Letting and is a current member of the Law Society’s Housing Committee, having been the Chair between 2011-2014. She is an accomplished external speaker on housing and landlord and tenant issues.
Simon is a Partner in the Healthcare department. He represents doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals in disciplinary proceedings before their regulators arising from conduct, performance and health issues. Simon also advises and represents practitioners in respect of inquests, NHS Performers List investigations and hospital disciplinary investigations. He is instructed both by medical defence organisations (MDOs) and individual healthcare professionals. Simon is an experienced advocate and appears regularly before professional regulators, coroners and NHS panels.
Stephen is a Partner and Solicitor and head of both the Corporate Department and the Corporate Restructuring and Recovery Department. With a wide ranging corporate and commercial practice, Stephen acts for wide variety of clients in many sectors including private equity and venture capital funds, sports manufacturers and retailers, property companies, marketing and management consultants, IT companies and businesses in the leisure and entertainment sectors with many clients having an entrepreneurial bias.Stephen’s work ranges from start-ups to long established companies, management buyouts and joint ventures, to advice on constitutional documents and contractual terms and conditions. Stephen has more than 20 years’ restructuring experience, advising on both solvent and insolvent restructuring. Work areas include corporate rescue and turnaround in addition to solvent restructuring, corporate finance.
Stuart is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation team. Since qualifying in 2002, he has specialised exclusively in insolvency litigation and is renowned for his work in both personal and corporate insolvency. He has experience of advising and representing solicitors and other professionals facing insolvency issues.Stuart's areas of expertise include: Advising officeholders, directors and other individuals in all aspects of contentious insolvency A particular expertise in personal insolvency, with a number of reported cases Training a number of organisations on insolvency issues, including R3
Sumaira is a Partner and Solicitor working within both the Corporate and the Corporate Restructuring departments. Sumaira’s general corporate work includes advising on mergers and acquisitions and company formation and structuring work business start-ups and commercial contracts.Within the scope of her restructuring practice, Sumaira advises on general corporate restructuring, business turnaround, corporate recovery, solvent and insolvent rescue, corporate finance, management buyouts, and joint ventures. Sumaira’s clients include private equity houses, venture capital businesses, entrepreneurs and management teams. Sector experience includes acting for clients within recruitment, training, manufacturing, telecommunications, hotels, leisure and entertainment, fashion, property and business advisory and marketing sectors.
Susanna is a Partner in the Solicitors Regulation department, specialising in regulatory law and professional disciplinary work for legal professionals. She is an experienced litigator, acting for solicitors, partners and employees of legal practices in all professional disciplinary matters including SRA investigations, applications and appeals relating to Practising Certificate conditions, disciplinary proceedings before SRA adjudicators, LeO complaints, referrals to the SDT, statutory appeals to the High Court, (challenging intervention decisions, appeals against sanctions and judicial review proceedings). Susanna advises on compliance and reporting obligations and has assisted COLPs and COFAs in relation to compliance investigations and applications for approval as role holders. She advises on the Separate Business Rule, applications for recognition and approval and Alternative Business Structures. Susanna's litigation experience includes contractual disputes, challenging the refusal of professional indemnity cover, partnership issues, insolvency and general commercial disputes. She has a column in the Solicitors’ Journal as a regulatory lawyer and is a contributor for LexisNexis.
Will is a Partner in the Healthcare department, specialising in advising medical and dental defence organisations, healthcare professionals and other professionals in regulatory, disciplinary and criminal matters. Will is a skilled advocate, frequently appearing before statutory regulators, disciplinary panels and coroners with challenging cases involving complex clinical and legal issues. He has particularly strong experience in cases of alleged sexual misconduct and impropriety.Some of his notable cases include Kulkarni v Milton Keynes Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which established the contractual right for medical staff to be legally represented in disciplinary proceedings, Chauhan v General Medical Council guiding professional and disciplinary panels that they must restrict themselves to the ambit of the charges faced by the practitioner, and Abdullah v General Medical Council regarding the nature and duration of interim restrictions placed upon a practitioner by a regulatory body.