The ‘strong and approachable’ team at Hugh James has a ’real depth of experience’ on behalf of individuals, businesses, banks and public sector clients seeking recourse against professional services entities relating to a range of professional negligence claims. A considerable number of these are brought against the legal profession, including many relating to personal injury matters, either alleging an under settlement in claims or in the context of advice provided by lawyers in the original underlying claim. The firm also has a ‘particular expertise in group claims against large corporate defendants and insurance-funded professionals’, an area that ’outstanding’ commercial litigation head Richard Locke excels in. Kevin O’Brien is also a pivotal member of the team, particularly as to relates to claims against solicitors and valuers involving property transactions. ‘Cool and collected’ team head Abigail Flanagan is also recommended and is ’a reassuring presence capable of handling the most complex cases’, including those brought against solicitors, accountants, actuaries and surveyors.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'There is a consistency to the individuals who liaise with you in relation to your matter.'
- 'Very strong team covering a wide range of professional negligence areas and excellent litigation practice.'
- 'This is a strong and approachable team with real depth of experience.'
- 'They have been effective in taking instructions, gathering evidence and moving the claims forward. They have particular expertise in group claims against large corporate defendants and insurance-funded professionals.'
- 'The advice and care the team give to a matter is extremely thorough. The advice is always comprehensible and in a format that is deliverable to the client, without having to decipher unnecessary legalese.'
- 'Richard Locke is outstanding. He empathizes with claimant clients and his team is very effective in rebuilding trust which is a difficult first step when a client feels that they have been let down by other professionals.'
- 'Abigail Flanagan - cool and collected, she is a reassuring presence capable of handling the most complex cases.'
- 'Abigail Flanagan - just an excellent all-round litigator. Particular skill in relation to professional negligence as she is utterly tireless for her clients and not put off by the normal tactics of defendant professional negligence firms.'
Key clients
- Various Kenyan nationals
- Hannah Evans
- Transform Medical Group
- Ironbridge Finance Ltd
Work highlights
- Representing various Kenyan Nationals involved in the Mau Mau uprising against British rule in Kenya in the 1950’s. Their claim for professional negligence is based upon an alleged failure by their former solicitors to properly handle the original failed group action brought against the UK government.
- Acting for a private individual who lacks capacity (via her litigation friend) in a claim brought against her former legal representatives alleging that they negligently advised the client and allegedly under-valued her claim after she was severely injured following a car accident in 2009.
- Representing the assignees of Transform Medical Group in claims against solicitors and Counsel who had acted for Transform and its insurers in defending a substantial body of claims brought against Transform in the PIP Breast Implant group litigation, between 2011/12 and 2016.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Abigail Flanagan