Led by the ‘brilliant’ Sallie Booth, Irwin Mitchell specialises in personal injury group litigation. Noting a recent increase in medical negligence and travel-related illness claims, the team is also leading in claims related to environmental exposure, aviation disasters, workplace illness or disease and terrorist attacks. Specialising in medical claims, Tim Annett often handles medical negligence group actions. David Johnston-Keay leads the Sheffield workplace illness team, while Jatinder Paul heads the international group illness practice. Catherine Slattery is active in medical negligence claims, while Natalie Truman handles cases related to defective products, both medical and non-medical.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Standout practitioners who I work alongside are Philip Banks, Demetrius Danas and Jatinder Paul. Philip Banks has been the lead on many seminal decisions in the sector and is a first-rate litigator: strategic, bright and very approachable. Demetrius Danas has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things international and is top of the tree when it comes to unravelling complex issues of foreign law. Jatinder Paul is simply superb at managing group litigation and has built up a wealth of experience’

  • ‘This is the team with the most experience in group illness litigation in the country. It is well placed to undertake group litigation because it understands it inside out and is appropriately resourced, which is particularly important in this area.’

  • ‘Jatinder Paul and Sarita Sharma would be my go-to lawyers in this sector. They put the groundwork in to ensure that group claims are run in a way that is proportionate but gives the clients the best possible prospects of success.’

  • ‘Sallie Booth is a brilliant, shrewd practitioner with immense tactical acumen. Tim Annett is client-focused and compassionate with excellent judgment. Natalie Truman is a rising star with an unparalleled understanding of the mesh litigation.’

  • ‘Sallie Booth is a partner-level consultant in the team. She has a wealth of experience in group litigation matters. She knows the procedural landscape very well, and expertly leverages her knowledge and experience to get the best outcome for her clients. She is particularly adept at keeping a firm grasp of the big picture, never losing sight of the wood for the trees, or the overall litigation strategy. Natalie Trueman is an associate with a lot of potential, a real star in the making. She has a particularly impressive ability to get on top of vast amounts of details of individual claimants in a large group claim. Definitely one to watch!’

  • ‘The team are uniquely experienced in all aspects of group litigation. They are dedicated, professional and always strive to achieve the very best outcome.’

  • ‘Partner Tim Annett and associate solicitor Catherine Slattery are a genuine pleasure to work with. They are fiercely intelligent and know all there is to know of group litigation whilst at the same time being approachable, friendly and fearlessly committed to working as a team to achieve the right result for every client.’

  • ‘Jatinder Paul combines excellent industry relationships with legal nous to obtain best outcomes.’

Key clients

  • TUI UK Ltd v Griffiths
  • Boeing 737 Claims
  • Trans-Vaginal Mesh Litigation
  • Zimmer Biomet NexGen knee implants
  • Claims arising from abuse by David Fuller
  • Royal Papworth water contamination
  • Trafigura – Ivory Coast pollution
  • British Steel Coke Oven Workers Litigation
  • Dana Air Flight 0992
  • Claims arising from treatment received from Mr Williamson
  • Claims arising from alleged defective IVF culture medium

Work highlights

  • Acted for Mr Peter Griffiths in an appeal to the Supreme Court relating to controverted evidence and successfully appealed the CA decision to establish the client had not received a fair trial.
  • Resolved approximately 50 clinical negligence claims arising from mesh-related colorectal surgery.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Tim Annett, Sallie Booth, David Johnston-Keay, Jatinder Paul

Other key lawyers

Catherine Slattery, Natalie Truman, Sarita Sharma, Jennifer Hodgson