Irwin Mitchell developed a stellar reputation supporting claimants in complex and high-value serious personal injury and clinical negligence claims. While regional head Francesca Mayes continues to lead the personal and serious injury teams in Newcastle, Sarah Coles handles the clinical negligence team together with new partner Samuel Hill who was promoted in May 2022 and has particular expertise in high value Cerebral Palsy claims alongside group action work. The medical negligence team is well-placed to support its clients’ birth injury claims and Article 2 inquest cases. Work place injuries are dealt with by regional lead Ian Toft, supported by senior associate Emma Bell. Newly promoted partner Laura Mcilduff specialises in adult and paediatric cases involving life changing injuries including brain, spinal cord and amputation injuries. Kate Nicklin joined the practice from Slater and Gordon in mid-2024, and Justina Molloy moved to the firm's Newcastle office from it's Cambridge base.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Samuel Hill has been a constant member of the team who has steered us moving forward to what we hope a successful outcome. He consistently gives his time helping my son understanding issues owing to him having a brain injury and complex orthopaedic surgery. Sam managed to get my son a Court of Protection order to help the family budgeting and expenses We have also been assisted completing complicated benefit forms to claim sickness entitlements for my son’.
‘The standout partner is Fran Mayes. I have been working with her for at least 15 years. She is hugely experienced and knows exactly how to approach a claim. She is very good at dealing with difficult defendants. She is empathetic with her clients. Understands their problems and ensures that their needs are met.’
‘Ian Toft, Helen Jones and Emma Bell combine a wealth of experience with enthusiasm and efficiency in pursuing claims for asbestos induced diseases. Their clients, who mostly have life threatening diseases, are handled sympathetically and are generally very satisfied with the service they receive.’
‘The Irwin Mitchell teams have been, and continue to be, exceptional in every dealing I have had with them over the past 16 years. The individuals to whom I would give special mention are Fran Mayes, Jane Pyrah and Rebecca Maddock from the personal Injury Team. They are dynamic lawyers who are beyond capable, straight talking, approachable, dependable and who ensure they develop quality human relationships with their clients’.
‘The Teams are dedicated to providing the very best outcomes for their clients in word and in practice. They provide support for their clients above and beyond what one could reasonably expect. They are undoubtedly a 'people firm', caring equally for their staff as well as clients. The specialist knowledge displayed by individuals is impressive and evident in every team. I can say that the majority of our beneficiaries with a legal claim have been represented and supported by Irwin Mitchell and what I have personally observed over the past 13 of leading the Charity is total satisfaction and praise, especially for Fran Mayes and Jane Pyrah.’
‘Irwin Mitchell Newcastle provide a one stop service for those who have suffered serious personal injury. They have expertise in all fields and a strong focus on rehabilitation. I have acted in several cases involving those with severe brain injury for IM Newcastle. They have managed to maximise each clients claim and turn their lives around. IM has the great advantage of being one of the largest providers of PI for claimants in the country. This gives them a level of expertise that is often not found in other firms.’
‘Sarah Coles, our main contact is always extremely professional, friendly, supportive, and patient in her approach.’
‘The team at Irwin Mitchell are not only very knowledgeable and experienced but they are all extremely client-centred. They strive to support rehabilitation to ensure that the client makes the best possible recovery in addition to accessing the finance that will support them for the rest of their life. They have a good working relationship with all the relevant providers who their clients can access selectively based on their specific needs.’

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Francesca Mayes

Hall of fameIrwin Mitchell

Lead Partner

Rising stars

Laura Mcilduff

Irwin Mitchell

Laura is a Partner in the Serious Injury department at Irwin Mitchell’s Newcastle office. She works with children and adults who have sustained life changing brain, spinal cord and amputation injuries. Since 2016 (and 3 years PQE) she has been responsible for the management of her own complex cases valued at over £500,000 and regularly handles multi million pound cases. In the past 3 years, she has secured £38.264 million in compensation for her clients with settlements ranging between £1.5 million and £21.5 million gross. She is totally committed to her clients, particularly the use of Special Measures in personal injury cases to support vulnerable Claimants through the Court process. She is a strong advocate of the Serious Injury Guide and works collaboratively with Defendant Insurers and Solicitors where possible to obtain early interim payments and meet rehabilitation needs before hospital discharge. Laura also founded NE Amputee, a support group for amputees and their families in the North East, after noting a lack of provision in the local area for her clients. Laura is an APIL Accredited Senior Litigator and Brain Injury Specialist as well as the Early Careers Regional Representative for the Newcastle office, supporting aspiring lawyers from all backgrounds with their legal careers. Laura was nominated as Insurance Rising Star of the Year in the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2023. Recent client feedback: "I cannot fault the service me and my family have received from Irwin Mitchell. I felt My solicitor Laura Mcilduff went above and beyond my expectations and became more than a solicitor but someone I could rely on. Laura took a great deal of time explaining everything to me throughout, to ensure I understood and could make informed choices. Overall, the key point for my experience was the personal touch I felt I received, that was so important. The amazing support she provided, down to the informal friendly chats that were needed of reassurance, understanding and patience was priceless and something I will always be grateful for." Another recent 5* TrustPilot review: “I couldn’t have got through the last 5 years without the team I was provided with by Irwin Mitchell, following a RTA in 2018. It has been a long lengthy process & still ongoing in some respects but the team always made me feel at ease took control of everything that was over whelming to be, easily staying in contact through phone calls and emails. I couldn’t recommend them more for a personal injury claim, my main point of contact was Laura Mcilduff who I could not fault at all she is the best of the best and has met every need I have endured along with Tom Dias who I have pestered at points along the way, but nothing was a bother. It can be very daunting in the beginning but these guys helped not only me but my family members too, and we powered on through, it was a pleasure to have them on my side, also using other departments now as things progress and have to mention the names, John Riley Dibb, Lara Tucker & Connie Smith for their continued support. They are an absolute credit to Irwin Mitchell and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.”