Andrew Harding > Hugh James > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Andrew Harding

033 3016 2222 andrew.harding@hughjames.com

Work Department

Catastrophic injury department/neurolaw unit.

Position

Andrew is head of the firm’s Neurolaw Department covering brain and spinal injuries and Court of Protection deputyship. Andrew established the firm’s dedicated Brain Injury Unit in 1998 and has over 30 years’ experience representing the survivors of catastrophic injury. He is responsible for the growth and development of the unit into a national multidisciplinary specialist department. He has been ranked as a leader in the field of personal injury and ranked in the top tiers in The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners legal guides. Andrew has also recently been named in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame; this recognises him as a leader in his field and consistently receiving praise from his clients. Andrew and those in his team place a heavy emphasis on rehabilitation and achieving best outcome working closely with clinicians and the third sector.

The department includes a unique specialist Court of Protection team providing professional deputy input to those who have recovered damages following brain injury. Andrew leads the team which represents the interests of those who have suffered acquired brain or spinal cord injury, and their families and carers, with continued support and input provided post settlement in the professional deputyship service provided. Andrew is currently personally appointed as deputy to more than 115 individuals who are unable to make financial decisions for themselves following acquired brain injury.

As a result of his involvement and the experience gained from representing those who have suffered acquired brain injury, Andrew has been invited to sit on NHS Steering groups and committees reviewing rehabilitation services in Wales and establishing community based rehabilitation teams.

Andrew has been instrumental in the establishment and development of Headway – The Brain Injury Association in South Wales and has been Chairman of Headway Cardiff and South East Wales since its incorporation. Andrew is also a member of the Board of Headway UK. He was also instrumental in establishing the Child Brain Injury Trust Cymru and the South Wales Acquired Brain Injury Forum.

Andrew was an invited member of the Court of Protection Receivers Forum prior to the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and is a member of the Court of Protection Court User Group. He has this year worked to establish the Court of Protection Practitioners Association Cymru where he is Vice Chair.

Andrew was appointed as Recorder sitting on the Wales and Chester Circuit in 2001 and is regularly instructed to provide expert witness evidence in relation to the Court of Protection and deputyship costs in litigated cases due to his national reputation in this field.

Career

Spent professional career at Hugh James, becoming a partner in 1987. Andrew initially specialised in criminal law and in particular fraud, as well as personal injury work. He later developed a significant strength and expertise in the niche areas of brain injury and court of protection. These areas of work took precedence and in 1998 he established the firm’s multidisciplinary brain injury unit. Appointed Recorder Wales and Chester Circuit in 2002. Current directorships: Director Headway UK, Headway Cardiff (chairman).

Memberships

Association of Personal Injury Lawyers; American Association for Justice; Australian Lawyers Alliance; British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers; Office of the Public Guardian Professional Deputy Panel; Court of Protection Court Users Group.

Education

St Illtyds College Cardiff; University College Cardiff (1981 LLB); Guildford College of Law (1982 solicitors Finals).

Leisure

Sport – football and rugby (now only as spectator), running, skiing, swimming etc. Member of Cardiff RFC, Cardiff Academicals FC, David Lloyd Club Cardiff. Family takes up great deal of time, as does involvement in charities working in the field of brain injury, serving on boards and attending events.