Collins Solicitors

Collins Solicitors is primarily a niche civil litigation practice based in Watford, Hertfordshire.

Originating from particular strengths in personal injury matters deriving from all major rail disasters – including the Watford, Southall and Paddington disasters – the practice has become very well known and highly respected in the market since it started in 1995.

The firm is presently representing over 1,200 people in the UK-wide Infected Blood Public Inquiry and is the Lead Solicitor in the Contaminated Blood Group Action which is presently before the High Court.

The firm has been involved in a number of significant personal injury cases, including:

Successfully representing 18 victims and their families in the landmark personal injury class action against Corby Borough Council in an epic 11-year battle. The case was brought on behalf of children born with birth defects as a result of their pregnant mothers’ proximity to the contaminated former steelworks site in Corby, and the associated toxic materials.

Successfully representing over 270 people following the largest peace-time explosion in Western Europe since WWII at the Buncefield oil depot.

Lead solicitor representing victims of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in their group action against the airline industry which was eventually decided by the House of Lords.

Clarification of the law by the House of Lords in relation to ex turpi causa in the case of Kerrie Gray v Thames Trains.

Types of work undertaken: The firm has three departments: litigation (including personal injury and clinical negligence), family and conveyancing/private client. It is however most well known for its very successful niche litigation practice.

The litigation department is headed up by Des Collins and undertakes a variety of work including professional negligence, complex clinical negligence claims and multimillion-pound group claims. The department also undertakes a significant amount of work involving contaminated land ensuring that organisations, including housing associations and local authorities, comply with their obligations under the Environmental Protection Act.

The firm’s family law practice, headed up by Danielle Messenger, offers a breath of services to include all private family law issues and public childcare proceedings.  The department advises on all aspects of relationship breakdown including divorce/dissolution, cohabitee disputes and arrangements for children.  In particular, the firm has a strong reputation for dealing with financial remedy proceedings and has a wealth of experience in middle to high asset cases.  The public childcare team is highly regarded by other professionals representing parents and children and are regularly appointed by the children’s guardian. They have extensive experience in complex care proceedings including issues such as non-accidental injury, child deaths, sexual abuse and honour based violence. Two members of the team are accredited members of the Children Panel and are confident advocates.

The conveyancing and private client department undertakes residential sales and purchases, remortgages, transfer of equity, shared equity/ownership, equity release and leasehold enfranchisement. The department also drafts Wills, prepares lasting powers of attorney and deals with probate.