Lorna Webster > Hodge Jones & Allen > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Lorna Webster

0808 231 3139 lwebster@hja.net View profile View profile View profile View profile

Work Department

Industrial Disease

Position

Lorna, a Partner within the Industrial Disease Team has, for over 20 years, specialised in asbestos disease claims for claimants. As such, she is a recognised and proven expert in this specialist area.

Lorna regularly obtains six figure settlements for her clients, particularly those who are suffering from mesothelioma. Her settlements include claims for clients who not only have received their main damages but who have also been able to access medical treatment not available on the NHS as part of the settlement agreement. In one recent success, Lorna’s client received a six figure sum in settlement of his mesothelioma claim and in addition he went on to receive private medical treatment costing in excess of £200,000, which helped to prolong his life and give him a good quality of life.

Lorna enjoys a challenging case and was successful in securing a six figure settlement in a case in which she was instructed post death and the deceased’s family knew very little about the asbestos exposure suffered by the deceased. Lorna was able to identify witnesses and go on to obtain a number of supportive witness statements, leading to an admission of breach of duty from the defendant.

In another of Lorna’s recent cases, she secured a settlement for her client of £390,000 in a multi-defendant claim, together with the option to activate a private medical treatment agreement.

In a recent asbestosis case, Lorna secured a settlement in a complex multi-defendant matter in which the expert evidence was not particularly robust. Despite the evidential difficulties, Lorna was able to obtain a good settlement for her client.

Lorna was also successful in a recent case in which the deceased mesothelioma victim worked on a self-employed basis for the defendant company. It was argued by Lorna that his work was akin to an employee and although that assertion was vehemently defended, Lorna’s arguments led to her securing a six figure settlement for her client.

Lorna’s wealth of experience covers cases for both living clients and in fatal matters, across all asbestos diseases. She also assists clients in bringing claims in America for mesothelioma caused by contaminated talcum powder.

Lorna works closely with local asbestos support charities, most notably the London Asbestos Support Awareness Group which she was involved in establishing and continues to support and provide legal assistance to. Lorna is a campaigner and will fight for those who are unfairly treated by the law, including the setting up of a petition which attracted television coverage. Lorna has appeared on national live television, in national newspapers and on live radio to talk about asbestos disease matters.

Lorna is known to be a calm and proactive case handler and has an enviable skill of being able to find a practical solution in a difficult or unusual situation. Her clients comment that she is down to earth, friendly and explains legal matters in a clear and reassuring way.

Lorna’s expertise is recognised by those she works with and through independent accreditation by The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, of which she is an Asbestos and Occupational Disease specialist.

Career

Lorna trained and worked at Thompsons LLP in London and Dagenham. She has been a Partner at Hodge Jones & Allen in London since January 2020.

Memberships

APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers): Accredited Asbestos and Occupational Disease specialist.