Personal injury: defendant
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.
Mark Burton
Hall of fameKennedysDavid Knapp
Hall of fameDAC Beachcroft LLPAndrew Parker
Hall of fameDAC Beachcroft LLPTania Sless
Hall of fameDAC Beachcroft LLPLeading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Weightmans
Elaine joined Weightmans in 1989, qualified in 1994, and was made a partner in 2001. She specialises in large loss and technical claims. She has been involved in severe brain injury cases, paraplegia and tetraplegia cases, amputations and other severe limb injury cases. Elaine has vast experience of dealing with all the issues that may arise in these cases, including care, statutory funding, rehabilitation and accommodation. She is Weightmans' nominated rehabilitation champion.
She has spoken at a number of conferences on the subject of rehabilitation and had several articles published. She has vast experience of dealing with both the medical and vocational aspects of rehabilitation.
Elaine has also been recognised for her contribution to the law after judges at the Law Society 'Highly Commended' her efforts in the AWS Legal Business Woman of the Year category. She has previously been crowned Best Woman Solicitor Managing a Medium-Sized Practice by the Association of Women Solicitors.
Claire Bowler
DWFPartner
Claire Collins
Clyde & Co I am a Partner at BLM based in the London catastrophic injury team. I joined BLM in March 2016. I deal with a wide range of catastrophic/ large loss defendant personal injury claims. I have over 20 years’ experience dealing with large and complex claims arising out of road traffic accidents in the UK and abroad. I have a strong technical background with many years’ experience dealing with high value, high profile personal injury claims for many leading insurers. I am regularly instructed to act on spinal cord, brain injury, amputation and other complex claims. I have a specific interest in brain injury claims and am a member of BLM's brain injury subject matter group. I acted on behalf of the defendant in the reported case of MacDonald V Burton 2019. I am an active member of FOIL and have spoken at a seminar to members on the recording of medical examinations. I have also mentored individual claims controllers at various insurers in their personal, technical and professional development.
Graham Dickinson
DWFPartner
Paula Jefferson
Clyde & CoPaula has extensive experience in advising on all issues resulting from non-recent sexual abuse allegations. Her advice extends to representation in the IICSA, establishment of voluntary compensation schemes (including on behalf of the BBC in connection with Jimmy Savile) and responding to civil claims, including with a cross-jurisdictional element. She represents many organisations including in the faith, youth, charity, education and healthcare sectors as well as insurers. Paula is head of the London office of BLM and is a member of the firm's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion steering committeeShe has been shortlisted for the Insurance Lawyer Award at the 2019 Women in Insurance Awards where she is described by the Judges as having "Great expertise and focused on supporting colleagues - must be one of the leading lawyers in her field."
Joe McManus
KennedysRhys Sanchez
DWFPartner
Philip Tracey
Plexus LawNext Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Ben Appleton
KennedysPhillip Bratt
Keoghs LLPStephen Foster
KennedysJoanne Kelly
KennedysMichelle Knapp
DWFMichelle is primarily instructed by large composite insurers and Lloyds syndicates in complex liability and quantum cases involving complex orthopaedic and psychiatric injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputee claims and fatal accident claims with reserves ranging from £100,000 to in excess of £25m. She also works on complex international claims and has worked extensively on cases in France, Malta, Spain, Cyprus and Africa.
Michelle regularly delivers training to insurer clients on calculating future heads of loss and inflationary pressures, contributory negligence and fatal claims with a focus on strategy, tactics and investigations.
She manages projects for insurer clients on reserves and Management Information to ensure that the quality of data coming through is accurate and correct. One of the recent projects undertaken resulted in an insurer client being able to secure one of the most competitive Re-insurance programmes in the market.
Michelle has been a guest speaker at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital and LexisNexis discussing Spinal Injuries and the Serious Injury Guide. She has worked on many high profile cases attracting media attention including the case of Kalma and Others v Tonkolili Iron Ore (SL) Limited (TIO).
Joanne Pizzala
Plexus LawLeading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.