Clients single out Bevan Brittan LLP's use of technology, following the development of its Early Notification Scheme, which in the clinical negligence context 'facilitates new ways of dealing with potential claims based on poor outcomes to drive down costs and provide fair results for both patients and clinicians'. Dual-qualified solicitor and barrister Joanna Lloyd leads the defendant-focused clinical negligence team, which is on the NHS Resolution panel, where lawyers advise on indemnity schemes for hospital trusts. The group also represents a number of medical malpractice insurers and independent healthcare providers, with particular expertise in cases involving cosmetic and aesthetic malpractice, and complex neurological, orthopaedic and ophthalmic claims. Simon Lindsay is a specialist in mental health law and healthcare associated with infection. Senior associate Ceri Catton is developing a strength in defending group litigation. Paul Taverner heads the personal injury team, as well as the firm's broader insurance group, specialising in defending high-value head and spinal injury cases. Associate Adrian Neale is recommended for industrial disease claims, while fellow associate Claire Jones is an expert in coverage disputes for insurers, as well as assisting major clients with claims handling and defending complex and high-value personal injury claims.
Personal injury and clinical negligence; defendant in South West
Bevan Brittan LLP
Practice head(s):
Joanna Lloyd; Paul Taverner
Other key lawyers:
Adrian Neale; Claire Jones; Simon Lindsay; Ceri Catton; Alison Garrett
Testimonials
‘A great combination of the professional and personable. Pragmatic and reasonable.‘
‘Right at the top of the tree when it comes to defending the NHS in clinical negligence claims. They have introduced innovative paperless technology and the Collaborate platform is one of the best, if not the best, I have used. They have also facilitated new ways of dealing with potential claims based on poor outcomes to drive down costs and provide fair results for both patients and clinicians (the Early Notification Scheme). They are always on the lookout for new ideas and provide a first-class service.‘
‘Jo Lloyd brings huge experience of clinical negligence work at the coal face, both as a barrister and as a solicitor advocate. She has an instinctive grasp of the subtleties of trial tactics and negotiations, which she deploys to good effect.‘
‘The strengths and key capabilities revolve around the quality of the lawyers within the team. Support via the technology of the Collaborate system is highly efficient. Additionally, the team leaders understand the needs of the client, deploying real insight and direction in focusing the legal work towards identifying and achieving the optimal outcome.’
‘The team we utilise within Bevan Brittan have a very clear understanding of our business requirements for RTA defendant litigation work. Their knowledge of the relevant legal environment means that they are well placed to provide the solutions that we require when defending and resolving cases.‘
‘Paul Taverner has an excellent knowledge of our business requirements. He also has an extensive knowledge of the work where he is instructed and provides a personal and detailed service for our complex and catastrophic injury claims.’
‘The insurance team are close knit, highly skilled and competent, and committed to their insurer clients in a way that commands admiration, as well as being very approachable. They are a delight to work with, show superb attention to detail and are all exceptionally good lawyers. They are a small team but punch well above their weight. Paul Taverner is as good as any national partner in any firm, and stands head and shoulders above all other partners in this sector in the South West. A fantastic catastrophic injury lawyer.’
‘Paul Taverner is exceptional. The finest partner in Bristol. He is ably supported by proteges Claire Jones and Adrian Neale, who are cut from the same cloth. Claire is driven, sensible, commercially minded and a force to be reckoned with. Adrian has a keen eye for detail, a strong work ethic and excellent technical knowledge.’
Key clients
Covea Insurance
Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty
Nottinghamshire County Council
CNA Europe
Nottingham City Council
Allied World Assurance
Neon
Newham Learning Partnership
Renaissance Re
Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council
ISG
NHS Resolution
Somerset Foundation NHS Trust
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Royal United Hospitals Bath
States of Jersey
Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Birmingham
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
BLM
BLM's defendant-side large loss and catastrophic injury team in the Bristol region, which includes 'some of the best lawyers and support', has a varied practice, representing major insurers. It has developed additional niches in marine and abuse-related cases, as well as a strong local authority practice. Other areas of expertise are industrial disease, casualty and health and safety claims. The group also has experience defending foreign claims. Andrew Lawson specialises in claims involving brain injuries, upper and lower-limb amputations and paralysis, as well as representing insured defendants in regulatory prosecutions. The 'very bright' Rebecca Shafto handles a wide variety of catastrophic injury cases for the firm's insurer clients. 'Leaving no stone unturned', associate Emma Palmer is building a reputation for defending brain injury cases. The firm's Bristol office was closed during 2020, with all staff moving to remote working; the department is coordinated from Southampton by Joe Wakeford.
Practice head(s):
Joe Wakeford
Other key lawyers:
Andrew Lawson; Rebecca Shafto; Emma Palmer
Testimonials
‘Strong team. Adapted well to online working with good preparation of e-bundles. Excellent client care.’
‘Rebecca Shafto is very bright. Andrew Lawson demonstrates excellent preparation and is thorough. Emma Palmer leaves no stone unturned.’
‘The Bristol office of BLM has some of the best lawyers and support. I know I can rely on their skills, knowledge and experience to get the job done correctly first time. They are prepared to kick back when they don’t agree with me, which I like.’
‘Andrew Lawson and Rebecca Shafto stand out for me. They are both extremely reliable, efficient and knowledgeable.’
Key clients
DLG
LV=
QBE
Gallagher Bassett
North Somerset Council
NSL
First Port
Hastings Direct
Herefordshire Council
Browne Jacobson LLP
Browne Jacobson LLP focuses on defendant-side clinical negligence and personal injury work, with lawyers from the Exeter office working closely alongside colleagues nationally. The personal injury practice is led by Joanne Pruden and represents a range of insurers, local authorities and corporates in litigation. Pruden, who also leads the technical claims and social care team, has particular expertise in employers' and public liability issues. Director Angela Williams is noted for her expertise in claims arising from occupational stress, bullying and harassment. The 'effective' Michael Chambers leads the 'very strong' clinical negligence practice, which has a major focus on social care, with a client base that includes independent healthcare providers and medical malpractice insurers. Mark Barnett is noted for defending claims against mental health providers, sharing a reputation for expertise in the Human Rights Act with senior associate Becky Wyld.
Practice head(s):
Michael Chambers; Joanne Pruden
Other key lawyers:
Mark Barnett; Sian Brown; Becky Wyld; Luke Berry; Angela Williams
Testimonials
‘Browne Jacobson is a nationwide firm that has strength in the breadth and depth of its experienced teams throughout each region in England. Its nationwide ethos is to achieve high standards in a cost-effective manner for its NHS and other corporate clients. There is a teamwork approach, with partners supervising and overseeing the delivery of services to clients.’
‘Michael Chambers has extensive experience, having worked in this defence sector for decades. He has excellent judgement and astute powers of analysis. He is effective at guiding his team and giving it direction. He gives clear, no-nonsense advice to his clients and ensures they are in a position to give informed instructions on often difficult and challenging cases.‘
‘All those who undertake clinical negligence work have an impressive understanding of medical matters. Noteworthy is the firm’s ability to secure the services of the most suitable experts for each case.‘
‘Sian Brown’s case preparation is unusually thorough; she is particularly astute in establishing the factual matters likely to be in dispute. Michael Chambers’ judgement on the merits of a case, and what it’s likely to be worth, is very sound.’
‘Very strong team in clinical negligence including Human Rights Act claims.’
‘Becky Wyld is very knowledgeable about the interface between Human Rights Act claims and common law negligence, giving strong, pragmatic advice.’
‘The team has vast knowledge in many fields, is always accessible and supportive, and this has not changed throughout the pandemic.’
‘Angela Williams is an asset to the firm. It is always a pleasure to work with her.‘
Key clients
Medical Protection Society
Dorset County Hospital NHS FT
South Western Ambulance Service NHS FT
Torbay & South Devon NHS FT
Devon Partnership NHS FT
University Hospital of Dorset NHS FT
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Trust
NHS Devon CCG
Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Salisbury Hospital NHS Trust
Royal United Hospital Bath
Somerset NHS FT
University Hospitals Bristol NHS FT
Oxford University Hospitals NHS FT
Dental Protection Limited
Ageas Insurance
Cornwall Council/Cormac/Cornwall Housing
Arthur J Gallagher/Plymouth Community Homes
Dorset County Council
Bristol City Council
Plymouth City Council
Tesco
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service
RICS
Isle of Wight Council
East Devon District Council/Gallagher Bassett
Devon County Council
Somerset County Council
Torbay Council
Travelers
Municipal Mutual Insurance Company
NHS Resolution
Dorset County Hospital NHS FT
South Western Ambulance Service NHS FT
Torbay & South Devon NHS FT
Devon Partnership NHS FT
Gloucestershire NHS Trust
Somerset NHS FT
Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust
Salisbury Hospital NHS Trust
Royal United Hospital Bath
University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS FT
Maven
Broadspire
DAC Beachcroft LLP
The clinical risk group at DAC Beachcroft LLP is an NHS Resolution panel appointee, handling a wide range of work from NHS trusts. The 'intelligent and engaging' group is also instructed by insurers and insured parties in a variety of medical malpractice cases. The team is led by Rachel Roberts-Jenkins, a highly experienced specialist in catastrophic injury cases. Nigel Montgomery leads the broader national health sector practice group at the firm and is the key contact for a number of the firm's panel appointments. Simon Perkins is the name to note for medical malpractice insurer clients. Hannah Volpe is a catastrophic birth injury case specialist. Sally Yuill leads the personal injury group, which has a client base of insurers and defendants in cases involving brain and spinal injuries.
Practice head(s):
Rachel Roberts-Jenkins; Sally Yuill
Other key lawyers:
Nigel Montgomery; Simon Perkins; Hannah Volpe; Paul Parke; Mark Ashley
Testimonials
‘The people are certainly the team’s strength. It’s very important for us to be kept closely informed of developments and we can always count on DAC to keep us in the loop. If there is ever a difficult issue at hand then you know it’s easy to pick up the phone and have a discussion with the team.’
‘DAC’s team is made up of intelligent and engaging individuals.’
Key clients
NHS Resolution
The Medical Defence Union
University Hospitals Bristol and Western NHS Foundation Trust
Gloucester Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
North Bristol NHS Trust
Zurich Global Corporate
RSA
WR Berkley
Bupa Dental
Enstar
Optegra UK
Priory
QBE
Beazley
Neon
Renaissance Re
Bermuda Hospital Board
Newline
Corvelia
DWF
The team at DWF acts for insurers, defending claims arising in the South West and South Wales, and working closely with the firm's regulatory and compliance group in relation to civil claims and criminal defence matters. Catastrophic injury cases are an area of expertise for practice head Claire Gribben, a solicitor-advocate, who is also an expert in neuroimaging and technological rehabilitation. Senior associate Adrian Southwood, who is highlighted for his 'pragmatic and timely advice', is another core team member, with a specialism in employers' and public liability matters, and expertise in accidents occurring on public and private rights of way.
Practice head(s):
Claire Gribben
Other key lawyers:
Adrian Southwood
Testimonials
‘Adrian Southwood provides an immediacy of service which I value but try not to abuse! He is terrier-like in his pursuit of the facts and will deploy them tactically to maximum advantage. There is also an innate understanding of the commercial realities which is essential to anyone acting for defendant insurers. He will give pragmatic and timely advice to enable cases to be fought or settled.’
‘I work with Adrian Southwood who is prepared to go that extra mile for me on my cases. He thinks outside the box and has some very intuitive ideas.‘
Key clients
Direct Line Group
Covea Insurance
Allianz Insurance
Halfords
Beaufort Underwriting
Aviva Insurance
Pritchards
NFU Mutual Insurance
Kennedys
The 'strong' Taunton-based team at Kennedys has a solid reputation for representing managing general agents, loss adjusters and non-composite insurers in a wide variety of personal injury claims, with a niche in leisure industry-related claims. The group, led by the 'highly experienced' and 'tactically astute' Mark Skinner, is predominantly called upon to defend catastrophic injury cases, in addition to advising on policy coverage issues.
Practice head(s):
Mark Skinner
Testimonials
‘A strong team in the defendant insurance market specialising in personal injury claims, particularly on behalf of the insurers of sports and activity centres.’
‘Mark Skinner leads the team by example. His analysis of the legal issues is always very strong and he runs a tight ship with his very reliable associates and maintains excellent relations with his key insurer clients.’
‘Mark Skinner is a highly experienced litigator on behalf of a wide range of defendant clients. He is tactically astute and has an eye for the detail.‘
‘This team are fully engaged on any matter where they receive instructions. They listen to the client’s needs and the advice that they give is practical with an eye on commerciality. They actively seek out solutions to resolve coverage and litigation matters.‘
‘The people in this team led by Mark Skinner are all knowledgeable, approachable and are more than happy to discuss matters. The advice that they give is always realistic, and enables us to pick our way through the issues arising from the complex matters they are instructed on.’
‘Mark Skinner in the Taunton office is (and has been for some time) an exceptional defendant PI lawyer who really knows his stuff and has a very large following.’
Key clients
Canopius
QIC Global
MS Amlin
Acromas Insurance
Pen Underwriting
Davies Group Ltd
Crawford & Company
Kelly Adjusters
GHG Chartered Loss Adjusters
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP's casualty litigation team specialises in handling claims for insurers, self-insured entities and private commercial organisations, in addition to assisting with coverage and risk management issues. The group is led by David Brown, who is experienced in defending large loss and catastrophic claims, with expertise in employers', public and product liability. David Armstrong is a specialist in large loss claims, focusing on matters arising from chronic pain, stress at work and industrial disease, as well as assisting with policy coverage and interpretation matters. Associate Sally Brock has significant expertise in employers' and public liability matters, as well as defending claims involving road traffic accidents, product liability and industrial disease.
Practice head(s):
David Brown
Other key lawyers:
David Armstrong; Sally Brock; Donna Hobbs
Testimonials
‘A stable team.’
‘David Brown and Donna Hobbs have worked with us for years on our account and are always there when you need them.’
Key clients
RATP Group (including London United Busways, London Sovereign, Epsom Coaches, Metrolink, Selwyns, and The Original London Sightseeing Tour)
AIG
Transdev
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company (Europe) Ltd
CNA Hardy