Hill Dickinson LLP

PI & Regulatory

Partner, Head of PI & Regulatory

I joined Hill Dickinson in 1988 as a trainee solicitor. Remained with Hill Taylor Dickinson when the firms split in 1989, became a partner and then rejoined Hill Dickinson when the forms remerged in 2006. I became the head of the PI, Travel & Regulatory team in 2017.

I am the head of the PI & Regulatory team. I am a travel, marine, offshore and disease specialist with expertise in fatalities, catastrophic injury claims, class actions, legionella and stress claims. The vast majority of these accidents occur overseas and so the relevant maritime conventions as well as correct law and jurisdiction have to be considered.

I have expertise in criminal investigations following accidents and regularly liaise with the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Health & Safety Executive and the Police, as well as dealing with the subsequent civil claim. I have successfully defended a cargo ship owner from an MCA prosecution arising out of the death of a member of the crew.

I regularly attend on board vessels to carry out immediate post-accident investigations, liaising with the relevant authorities and foreign lawyers. I was responsible for handling all the UK passenger personal injury and travel claims arising out of the Costa Concordia disaster, the Viking Sky engine failure, and the Spirit of Discovery pod failure.

I am the leading defendant lawyer for marine asbestos claims being responsible for a successful date of knowledge defence for ship-owners in the case of Smith –v- P&O Shipping Limited (1998) 2 Lloyds Rep 81.

• School name: Silcoates • Degree: LLB • From year (start year): 1984 • To year (graduation year): 1987

I am married with 2 grown up children. Apart from my family my interests are sport generally. I play tennis, ski and enjoy fitness activities.