Mark Harvey > Hugh James > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

With ‘a firm grip on the facts, the science, and the law’ Hugh James provides a ‘truly stellar service’ to claimants across a myriad personal injury claims. Indeed, the strength-in-depth of the team, which is headed by the ‘outstanding’ Mark Harvey (who himself excels at product liability and cross-border litigation) ensures that it is able to provide a degree of specialisation across work types that it is lacking in many of its peer firms. Asbestos work has been a well-established strength, and under the guidance of Richard Green , who is ‘willing to take on difficult, cutting-edge cases because of the depth of his knowledge’, continues to gain superb results for claimants throughout the UK, as well as abroad (particularly in South Africa). Kathryn Singh also handles asbestos-related lung cancer claims in her role as industrial disease head, as well as other respiratory illnesses and hand arm vibration syndrome, many of which have been initiated through large consolidated group claims. Noted for his ‘sure judgement, lightning intellect and down-to-earth nature’, Simon Ellis has been pivotal to the firm’s success in the military arena, with one barrister observing that he has ‘completely re-shaped the market for military claimants’ as a result of his string of successes for ex-servicemen, including as it relates to hearing loss and cold injuries. ‘Highly experienced, committed and hard working’ partners Cari Sowden-Taylor  and Ciaran McCabe  lead the firm’s serious injury group which excels in helping those who have suffered life-changing brain injuries, spinal injuries and amputations, often achieving early funding which can be vital to help many of these claimants gain early access to rehabilitation and care. Of the more junior partners, Lucy Strong provides ‘amazing’ assistance to clients on complex asbestos-related disease claims, while James Gibson  is a ‘good tactical litigator’ who excels at handling industrial disease claims, many of which take the form of group actions. At an associate level, Ruth Davies  is ‘an absolute star’ who shows a ‘fearless approach to litigation’ in relation to military claims, and Sandeep Gill  is ‘hardworking and has a keen eye for detail’, including on fatal accident claims.

The practice at Hugh James is headed up by Katherine Allen, who has a strong reputation for her capabilities in acting for claimants across the entire gamut of travel PI matters, particularly those wherein serious brain and spinal injuries have occurred as a result of RTAs and aviation and cruise ship accidents. Allen is ‘very highly regarded’ by clients and is supported at the team’s helm by Mark Harvey, who has expertise in foreign product liability and foreign employers’ liability claims in particular. Rebecca Gilmore shows clients ‘deep empathy and compassion’ in the sensitive and complex matters she frequently handles.

Successful in group action cases, Hugh James specialises in environmental nuisance and industrial disease claims. Product liability is another area of expertise; the team is particularly active in the medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs space. Neil Stockdale leads the firm’s group actions department from Cardiff, while Kathryn Singh leads the industrial disease team, specialising in multi-party group litigation. Also in Cardiff, Stephanie Eedy specialises in environmental matters and James Gibson is experienced in multi-party actions, representing claimants with respiratory disease and cancer. In London, Mark Harvey has a strong track record in product liability claims. Rebecca Andrews and James Coleman are further key names to note in Cardiff.

The ‘well-resourced and outstandingly efficient‘ team at Hugh James is experienced in handling several of the largest product liability claims in the UK in recent history, with particularly strong expertise in the medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs space. Mark Harvey oversees the group; he is described as ‘a partner with masses of experience, including as lead solicitor in large GLOs‘, and is praised for his work on product regulatory reform. Further evidence of the group’s wider product liability experience lies in the work of Pauline Roberts, which includes high-profile recent multi-party litigation.

Led by Mark Harvey, the London-based serious injury department of Hugh James is distinguished for its ‘strength and depth in military claims and international travel claims’, as well as for its capabilities in litigation pertaining to sexual abuse, including institutional child abuse.  Described as a ‘a standout star in his field of cross-jurisdictional claims’, Harvey maintains a leading role in the specialist claims team, which includes overseas travel injuries, along with sports accidents and injuries sustained from defective consumer products. Alan Collins is praised for his ‘enormous experience’, over 30 years, in sexual abuse litigation. Kevin Grealis‘ workload typically includes catastrophic injuries sustained from traffic collisions, while Mary Mulhall is noted for her work concerning asbestos and mesothelioma claims. Other key figures include Phoebe Osborne, praised for ‘(going) the extra mile for her clients’ during mesothelioma disputes.