Tom Thurlow > Weightmans > Newcastle upon Tyne, England > Lawyer Profile

Weightmans
1 ST JAMES' GATE
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE1 4AD
England

Position

Tom is an established member of Weightmans’ professional negligence and insurance disputes team based in Newcastle. Although based in Newcastle, Tom acts for clients across the country.

In the last four publications of the Legal 500, Tom has been ranked as a Tier 1 “rising star” and described as an “up and coming rising star”: a “calm and methodical” solicitor with “excellent client care” and “wise beyond his years – a very good lawyer who is prepared to put in all the hours to get to the final article” and “very attuned to his clients’ needs”. As of this year, he is also listed in Tier 1 National for Professional Discipline work.

The mainstay of Tom’s current practice involves complex professional negligence construction disputes, with a particular focus on cladding and related façade claims arising in the wake of the Grenfell Tower Disaster. As well as being instructed on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry itself for one of the Core Participants, Tom has also assisted various professionals involved in disputes concerning allegedly defective cladding/façade products, as well as acting on associated recovery actions. In the Legal 500 2022, Tom is described as “the name to note for this type of work”.

Alongside this, Tom has a developing practice in disciplinary/regulatory and alternative forums work, and is currently acting on various matters before disciplinary bodies, public inquiries, appeal panels and the Bullock Independent Fire Review. Tom has also recently taken a regulatory prosecution to trial on a previously untested point of law, obtaining a favourable result for the client, and has been instructed on a number of novel, construction-based Judicial Reviews.

Tom also continues to be instructed on a broader range of disputes spanning the traditional and emerging professions and is regularly instructed by a wide range of insurers, and other clients.

Lawyer Rankings

North > Insurance > Professional negligence

(Rising stars)

Tom ThurlowWeightmans

Weightmans‘ Newcastle-based team ‘is thorough, prompt and reliable and provides sensible advice’, clients feel that they are ‘in very capable hands.’ Led by mediator Richard Palmer, the team provides advice to a diverse client base, including the UK’s largest insurers, handling a myriad of complex high-volume multi-party claims, including post-Grenfell cladding matters. Amy Nesbitt is ‘a shining star’, specialising in insurance coverage, professional liability and cyber. With great experience in advising traditional and emerging professionals in indemnity claims, Anne-Marie Knight has recently been instructed to defend a multi-party claim concerning defective foundations at a printing press, involving novel remedial schemes. She is supported by principal associate Tom Thurlow who is the go-to name for construction disputes.

London > Dispute resolution > Professional discipline

Recently merged with RadcliffesLeBrasseur LLP, Weightmans LLP is ‘without a doubt the leader in this field‘. The practice is highly experienced in representing healthcare professionals, and has enviable expertise in solicitor and legal services-related regulation. The team additionally acts in matters concerning architects and accountants. Richard Jolly is national health sector lead, while William Childs, Sam Flew, Anne Green and Simon Gomersall are also health sector specialists. Likewise highly rated, Susanna Heleyrepresents clients before the Solicitors Tribunal methodologically and effectively‘; Ian Sadler acts for medical defence organisations and healthcare professionals; Nigel West‘s ‘success rate is excellent‘; Alistair Hewitt is experienced in a range of disciplinary investigations; and Michaela Nicholas defends doctors, dentists, nurses and podiatrists before their regulatory bodies. Healthcare expert Stewart Duffy is an active legal director, while Alex Leslie and Richard Privett are experienced consultants. The ‘very competentTom Thurlow is a partner since May 2023.