Hodge Jones & Allen

The Firm

Hodge Jones & Allen (HJA) is recognised as one of the UK’s most progressive law firms. Its experienced lawyers provide expert advice across a broad range of practice areas, including personal injury, medical negligence (clinical), industrial disease (asbestos and workplace illness), family law, wills, trusts & probate, dispute resolution, property disputes, criminal defence, housing law, civil liberties & human rights, and environmental justice.

Since its formation in 1977, HJA has remained committed to advancing equality, human rights, and social justice, often taking a leading role in national, justice-driven campaigns. The firm has been instrumental in many of the UK’s most significant legal milestones, including those relating to Stephen Lawrence, Grenfell Tower, Hillsborough, the Battle of Orgreave, the Colston Four, the Kings Cross Fire, Just Stop Oil, Black Lives Matter, and the COVID-19 Inquiry.

Continuing its tradition of public interest advocacy, HJA is currently representing sub-postmasters seeking compensation following the quashing of wrongful convictions under the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024 and is playing a key role in The Lampard Inquiry into over 2,000 deaths within Essex Mental Health Services, supporting 126 families in their pursuit of accountability and systemic NHS reform.

In 2025, the firm expanded through the incorporation of Birds Solicitors, creating one of London’s largest criminal defence teams, with enhanced expertise in financial crime, complex cases, prison law, and appeals.

Types of work undertaken

Personal Injury
HJA’s large claimant-only personal injury team specialises in serious and complex injuries, including brain, spinal and amputation cases. The team also handles workplace, public liability and road traffic claims, with extensive experience in fatal accident cases. Accredited by APIL, the department is known for its compassionate client care and active involvement with charities such as Brake, the Limbless Association and the Child Brain Injury Trust.

Medical Negligence (Clinical)
The medical negligence team acts for clients in complex clinical claims, including birth injury, brain and spinal damage, sepsis, and fatal cases. The team includes solicitors with healthcare backgrounds and is recognised for its sensitivity and thorough approach. HJA has been instrumental in representing families affected by failures within NHS mental health services, including those involved in The Lampard Inquiry.

Criminal Defence
HJA’s leading criminal defence practice represents clients in serious and high-profile cases, including murder, terrorism, fraud, and protest-related offences. Following its merger with Birds Solicitors, the firm now has one of London’s largest defence teams, offering expertise in financial crime, prison law and appeals. The team provides 24/7 support and is known for its strategic, client-centred approach.

Family Law
The firm’s family law department provides pragmatic and sensitive advice across all aspects of family law, including divorce, financial arrangements, child custody and mediation. Drawing on almost 50 years of experience, the team regularly advises high-net-worth clients and families with complex needs. HJA is known for its holistic approach and focus on constructive solutions.

Civil Liberties & Human Rights
HJA has a national reputation for its work in civil liberties and human rights, representing clients in cases of state wrongdoing and injustice. The firm has acted in landmark matters, including those for the Stephen Lawrence family, Grenfell Tower residents and the family of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah. Its lawyers continue to challenge discrimination, unlawful detention and deaths in custody through strategic litigation.

Housing Law
The housing law team advises tenants, leaseholders, landlords and homeowners on matters including eviction, disrepair, homelessness, and housing discrimination. They also handle boundary and leasehold disputes, restrictive covenants and planning appeals. The team has extensive experience in judicial review and has brought notable challenges against major public bodies.

Property Disputes
HJA’s property litigation team handles a broad range of residential and commercial property disputes. The team advises on boundary issues, joint ownership, nuisance, restrictive covenants and complex development-related claims. It is recognised for offering practical, cost-effective solutions to clients across London and beyond.

Wills, Trusts & Probate
The private client team provides bespoke advice on wills, probate, trusts, inheritance tax and powers of attorney. Known for its approachable and clear communication, the team ensures clients remain informed and in control throughout the process. It advises on both straightforward and high-value, complex estates.

Court of Protection & Deputyship
HJA’s specialist Court of Protection team assists clients in appointing or acting as deputies, and in managing financial affairs for vulnerable individuals. The team is also experienced in creating lasting powers of attorney and statutory wills. They are known for their empathetic approach and expertise in supporting families through sensitive situations.

Dispute Resolution
The dispute resolution team represents individuals and businesses in professional negligence, contentious probate, contract, commercial and data protection disputes. The team is known for its strategic, pragmatic and expert advice.

Financial Crime & Regulatory
HJA’s financial crime team advises individuals and corporates facing allegations of fraud, bribery, insider trading and regulatory breaches. The team has acted in major SFO, FCA, NCA and HMRC investigations, often involving multi-jurisdictional elements. Clients value the firm’s discretion, technical skill and robust defence strategies.

Industrial Disease (Asbestos & Workplace Illness)
The asbestos & workplace illness team specialises in complex claims arising from asbestos exposure and for other work–related illnesses. The APIL-accredited solicitors have secured millions in compensation and costs of private treatment for clients and in complex, historic cases. They are also active in awareness campaigns and in working with charities supporting asbestos victims across the UK.

Administrative & Public Law
The firm’s public law team challenges unlawful decisions by public authorities, particularly in policing, environmental and human rights contexts. Recent work includes judicial reviews involving unlawful arrests and government failures to protect against air pollution. The team is experienced in high-profile inquiries and civil actions against public bodies.

Extradition
HJA’s extradition lawyers provide expert advice in resisting extradition requests from both European and non-European countries. The team has secured victories at all stages, including a landmark Supreme Court case strengthening safeguards for absent convictions. They are also specialists in Interpol Red Notices and cross-border legal issues.

Protest Law
Renowned for its longstanding commitment to social justice, HJA represents activists and protestors in politically charged and public interest cases. The firm has acted in matters involving Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, Heathrow 13, and the Stansted 15. The team’s expertise spans free speech, direct action, and public order defences.

Inquests & Public Inquiries
HJA represents core participants and bereaved families in major public inquiries and inquests, including Grenfell Tower, Post Office Horizon IT, and Contaminated Blood. The team is known for its compassionate advocacy and deep procedural expertise. They work to ensure accountability and systemic change through the inquiry process.

Police Law
The police actions team holds law enforcement to account for abuses of power, misconduct and human rights breaches. The firm handles claims involving false imprisonment, assault, data misuse, and malicious prosecution. As active members of the Police Action Lawyers Group, HJA’s lawyers have secured apologies, compensation and policy reforms for clients.

RECRUITMENT Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors aims to provide employees with the best possible working support and environment. Previous Lex100 Winners recognised for job satisfaction, quality of work and client contact and signatory to the Race at Work Charter. Each year up to ten candidates are selected to enter the firm’s highly regarded trainee programme.

Number of partners: 51
Number of associates: 27
Number of solicitors: 43
Number of other fee-earners: 58
Total: 179
Total staff: 281

Contacts
Medical negligence: Agata Usewicz
Criminal defence: Raj Chada
Family and children: Vanessa Friend
Industrial disease: Isobel Lovett
Housing litigation: Jayesh Kunwardia
Multi-party (PI/med neg): Leticia Williams
Personal injury: Leticia Williams
Dispute resolution: Chun Wong
Financial crime and regulatory: Ruth Harris
Civil liberties and human rights: Susie Labinjoh
Wills, trusts and probate: Nicola Waldman
Deputyship services: Christine Dyson
Protest law: Raj Chada, Mike Schwarz
Environmental law and human rights: Jocelyn Cockburn