Collins Solicitors > Watford, England > Firm Profile

Collins Solicitors
20 STATION ROAD
WATFORD
WD17 1AR
England

Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant Tier 1

Collins Solicitors' Watford handles a wide variety of clinical negligence and personal injury cases - the key names are founding and senior partner Des Collins and fellow civil litigation expert Danielle Holliday . The pair are currently representing 1500 participants on the high-profile Contaminated Blood statutory inquiry, established to investigate the NHS giving out inflected blood and blood products from the 1970s, and the duo can both draw on significant experience of working on other high-stakes matters. Senior associate Anna Murduck is another key contact within the team.

Practice head(s):

Des Collins; Danielle Holliday

Other key lawyers:

Anna Murduck; Julie Taberer

Testimonials

‘Having dealt with Collins Solicitors for the past 4-5 years , I have always found them to be professional and supportive. Their knowledge and expertise in the law in all its aspects is of the highest quality. They make the client feel respected and listened to.’

‘All of the team have been so supportive and informative. Throughout the past years whilst representing my husband and I in the Infected Blood Inquiry they have been more than solicitors , they have provided additional support and guidance when required. Following the death of my husband they reached out to offer their condolences not just with flowers but with words. The support and friendship which as been offered to me following his death has been exemplary.’

‘Approachable team, understanding. Always willing to explain any concerns or findings in full. Senior team and junior team very easy to approach.’

‘Danielle Holliday and Des Collins are always at the end of the phone, and if not they will always return your call. You are treated with respect and each step of the way they will meet with you put you at ease and explain plainly in your terms.’

‘Thoughtful and hardworking boutique firm who always put clients first.’

‘Des Collins – a genius who simply wins difficult cases. Julie Taberer – a hardworking and trusted solicitor with years of experience.’

‘The team at Collins make strong efforts to ensure clients have a personal touch and really feel heard. I have dealt with several other firms, including the big national firms, where that is totally missing.’

‘They are available pretty much 24/7. Dealing with Collins doesn’t feel like you’re dealing with someone just doing their job. It feels like you are dealing with a friend who is trying to help you. In particular, Danielle Holliday is one of the most dedicated people that I have come across, not just in the legal profession, but in life generally.’

Insurance > Personal injury: claimant Tier 1

Collins Solicitors is described as a 'thoughtful and hardworking boutique firm which always put clients first' and acts on complex, high-value and multi-party claims in the personal injury space. Des Collins heads up the department and has a demonstrably strong track record for complex claims alongside civil and group litigation. Danielle Holliday  is another key contact at partner level.

Practice head(s):

Des Collins

Other key lawyers:

Danielle Holliday; Anna Murduck; Julie Taberer

Private client > Family: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 3

Collins Solicitors’ ‘extremely knowledgeable‘ team assists both high and middle-net-worth individuals with pre-nuptial agreements and private child arrangements. ‘Complete starDanielle Messenger leads the practice and ‘leaves no stone unturned‘ when advising clients on contentious financial issues as a result of divorces and relationship breakdowns, in addition to cohabitation disputes. ‘First-class solicitorDonna Downes predominantly represents children in cases concerning non-accidental injury, honour-based violence, and parental death, while also advising clients on adoption orders.

Practice head(s):

Danielle Messenger

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Danielle Messenger is a breath of fresh air. Her sensible and conciliatory approach to matters has benefitted our respective clients and I look forward to working with her on future matters.’

‘Danielle Messenger has attention to detail and is a complete star. Danielle genuinely cares about her clients and always goes the extra mile. She is extremely experienced and has a no-nonsense, efficient approach with flair.’

‘Donna Downes is the star of the public law children team. She has a wealth of experience which she shares with her colleagues. The team provide constructive, non-confrontational advice to clients in a stressful area of law.’

‘Donna Downes operates at the highest level in children’s cases. She grapples with complex medical issues in non-accidental cases and her superb organisational skills are legendary. Donna brings calm and considered thought to fraught and difficult cases representing children who have been abused. She is the go to solicitor for CAFCASS Guardians in the area because her representation of children is exemplary.’

‘Donna Downes is an experienced, knowledgeable, competent and approachable solicitor. I have no hesitation in recommending her to people seeking representation in care proceedings. She is a joy, and a first-class solicitor.’

‘The family law team are extremely knowledgeable and always put the interests of their client first. Most notably, Danielle is extremely professional and compassionate when dealing with matrimonial matters.’

‘The team is professional and makes light work of very complex situations with regular updates. They will go the extra mile to help you.’

‘Danielle Messenger really makes things easy and leaves no stone unturned. She makes everything less stressful and is so thorough. Without her help I’d be lost.’

Collins Solicitors is primarily a niche civil litigation practice based in Watford, Hertfordshire.

Originating from particular strengths in personal injury matters deriving from all major rail disasters – including the Watford, Southall and Paddington disasters – the practice has become very well known and highly respected in the market since it started in 1995.

The firm is presently representing over 1,200 people in the UK-wide Infected Blood Public Inquiry and is the Lead Solicitor in the Contaminated Blood Group Action which is presently before the High Court.

The firm has been involved in a number of significant personal injury cases, including:

Successfully representing 18 victims and their families in the landmark personal injury class action against Corby Borough Council in an epic 11-year battle. The case was brought on behalf of children born with birth defects as a result of their pregnant mothers’ proximity to the contaminated former steelworks site in Corby, and the associated toxic materials.

Successfully representing over 270 people following the largest peace-time explosion in Western Europe since WWII at the Buncefield oil depot.

Lead solicitor representing victims of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in their group action against the airline industry which was eventually decided by the House of Lords.

Clarification of the law by the House of Lords in relation to ex turpi causa in the case of Kerrie Gray v Thames Trains.

Types of work undertaken: The firm has three departments: litigation (including personal injury and clinical negligence), family and conveyancing/private client. It is however most well known for its very successful niche litigation practice.

The litigation department is headed up by Des Collins and undertakes a variety of work including professional negligence, complex clinical negligence claims and multimillion-pound group claims. The department also undertakes a significant amount of work involving contaminated land ensuring that organisations, including housing associations and local authorities, comply with their obligations under the Environmental Protection Act.

The firm’s family law practice, headed up by Danielle Messenger, offers a breath of services to include all private family law issues and public childcare proceedings.  The department advises on all aspects of relationship breakdown including divorce/dissolution, cohabitee disputes and arrangements for children.  In particular, the firm has a strong reputation for dealing with financial remedy proceedings and has a wealth of experience in middle to high asset cases.  The public childcare team is highly regarded by other professionals representing parents and children and are regularly appointed by the children’s guardian. They have extensive experience in complex care proceedings including issues such as non-accidental injury, child deaths, sexual abuse and honour based violence. Two members of the team are accredited members of the Children Panel and are confident advocates.

The conveyancing and private client department undertakes residential sales and purchases, remortgages, transfer of equity, shared equity/ownership, equity release and leasehold enfranchisement. The department also drafts Wills, prepares lasting powers of attorney and deals with probate.

Department Name Email Telephone
Senior Partner William Desmond Collins collins@collinslaw.co.uk 01923 223 324
Photo Name Position Profile
Des Collins photo Mr Des Collins Senior Partner
Danielle Holliday photo Mrs Danielle Holliday Partner
Number of UK partners : 5
Number of other UK fee-earners : 24
English