Noted for its ability to ensure ‘clients feel informed and supported through the process’, Irwin Mitchell's core streams of work are comprised of birth and neonatal juries, neurological injuries and delays in diagnosis. Justine Spencer spearheads the practice with her arsenal of skills that encompass complex, high value obstetric and neonatal neurological injuries, and Julie Lewis bolsters the practice with her diverse range of strengths that include delays in diagnosing meningitis and high value fatal claims, notably those involving complex quantum. Rebecca Brown is recommended for being a ’thorough and very capable lawyer who has a strong client focus’, while Kate Easy possesses particular strengths in obstetric cases.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Irwin Mitchell make sure at every turn that clients feel informed and supported through the process. Even prior to Covid almost all interaction was virtual, which suits us and our busy lives. They have a seamless link into other areas of their business and understand how to ensure any transfer of business or priority is handled transparently.’
  • ‘I can say that Rebecca Brown in the Southampton office is first rate. We have worked with Rebecca for the last seven years and she has been thorough, kind, diligent, personable, knowledgeable, good humoured, understanding and respectful throughout the process which, at times, was challenging for me and my family.’

  • ‘IM is an excellent firm which appropriately resources its cases. It is able to offer clients help in many areas while their claim is progressing.'

  • ‘I only really know Rebecca Brown. She is a thorough and very capable lawyer who has a strong client focus.’

  • ‘The team has a strong supportive approach. The team has both medical and legal experience and extensive contacts with experts and counsel. There is usually “hands on” partner involvement in all cases. From my perspective, the team provides an excellent and highly personal service. Instructions are always well prepared, and the documentation carefully collated, sorted and presented. The team has good experience and expertise of the underlying medical issues.'

  • 'Without exception, those with whom I have regular contact have outstanding people skills and are very conscientiousness. Hand in hand with this is an insistence on high standards from me as counsel and from all the experts instructed on the client’s behalf. Clients also get early sensible advice. If the claim has no merit or the prospects of success are remote the client is told that at the outset. Again this is not always the case with other firms.’

  • ‘Justine Spencer sets the tone for the team. She is an excellent solicitor and is totally committed to her clients. Clients routinely comment to me on her warmth and dedication. I sense that they feel she understands and supports them. She works incredibly hard and I have been very impressed by her attention to detail in a number of cases. She is firm in negotiations but her excellent client care skills do not prevent her giving difficult advice when it is necessary.'

  • 'I was extremely impressed by Justine Spencer's handling of one particularly difficult client who, although very disappointed, nevertheless respected the advice she was given by JS. She is intelligent, enthusiastic and able. Despite her responsibilities as head of the team, she has a large and loyal client following. This is reflected in the sources of her new work which include recommendations from counsel, other solicitors, AvMA and former clients.'

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Justine Spencer

Other key lawyers

Julia Lewis, Rebecca Brown, Kate Easy