Following its merger with RadcliffesLeBrasseur LLP in June 2022, Weightmans entered the North East with a strong Newcastle-based partner-led team handling highly sensitive, complex and high-value claims, including catastrophic injuries, fatalities, brain injury, chronic pain and psychiatric injuries. Angela Kirtley, who has particular expertise in high value birth injuries, Robert Rushton, both joining from Ward Hadaway LLP in May 2022, Jasmine Armstrong and Paul Hughes now jointly head the team which is currently acting as the NHS Resolution legal panel. The group is involved in myriad inquiries and the infected blood investigation, as well as medical malpractice claims for insurers.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Experienced, good relations with both barristers and clients. Good choices of experts and always instructed well. Unlike some Defendant firms they are always on top of the papers and considering them themselves rather than simply acting as a post box.’
'Rob Rushton is dedicated, and works very hard. Really gets into the detail of cases.’
‘The Trust's relationship with Weightman's is relatively new and still developing. However, the team have taken on quality solicitors from other panel firms to build a strong, experienced team who can efficiently deal with inquests, claims and court of protection matters.’
‘The firm have held some very useful and relevant training sessions and webinars, specifically a well organised and insightful Court of Protection session.’
‘A determined, well resourced and highly experienced team of dedicated professionals.’
‘Angela Kirtley is a supremely able practitioner in this field. She unites profound technical expertise and determination to get the best results with an innate capacity to see things for what they are and to get to the heart of an issue. She succeeds in being both humane and tough at the same time.’
Key clients
- NHS Resolution
- Newcastle upon Tyne NHS FT
- County Durham and Darlington NHS FT
- Gateshead Health NHS FT
- Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS F
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Wye Valley NHS Trust
- University Hospitals of Birmingham NHS FT
- University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS FT
- Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHST
- Weight to Go Ltd
Work highlights
- Resolution of liability in a complex case concerning factual and expert disputes as to the nature of the claimant’s heart attack and whether he could have survived without hypoxic brain injury if he had stayed in hospital after his first heart attack.
- Representing a patient in a claim relating to delay in treating meningitis and the consequences of post operative problems following brain surgery to remove a tumour.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Angela Kirtley, Jasmine Armstrong, Robert Rushton, Paul Hughes