Hudgell Solicitors > Manchester, England > Firm Profile
Hudgell Solicitors Offices
1 St Peter’s Square
Third Floor
M2 3AE
England
Hudgell Solicitors > The Legal 500 Rankings
Insurance > Personal injury: claimant
Transport > Travel Tier 2
Hudgell Solicitors‘ ‘highly experienced and extremely competent’ travel PI team has strong capabilities acting for claimants on significant personal injury matters wherein incidents have occurred internationally. The practice is experienced in handling complex claims wherein an initial seemingly minor injury has led to a life-changing issue. ‘Exceptional practitioner’ Paul McClorry heads up the firm’s national travel litigation team and is noted as being ‘reassuring in the discussion of sensitive matters’. Associate Tracy Stansfield has experience handling matters ranging matters involving injuries ranging from minor to life-changing.Practice head(s):
Paul McClorry
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘A highly experienced and extremely competent team of sector specialists delivering efficient advice across the sector.’
‘Paul McClorry has excellent experience on both sides of the court and is adept at providing down-to-earth and well-judged advice to his clients. Paul has enormous experience at the highest levels within the sector.’
‘Paul McClorry is a very good partner with an outstanding knowledge of the area.’
‘Strong commercial approach to niche issues, with good breadth and depth of knowledge.’
‘Paul McClorry is an exceptional practitioner with many years experience in this area. He is focused, incisive and has excellent client-handling skills.’
‘Paul is reassuring in the discussion of sensitive matters – he puts clients at ease – he is so helpful, understanding and so approachable. I would most certainly recommend him and the team.’
‘At Hudgell you are treated as a person not a number; the team is very knowledgeable in this sector and firm but caring when explaining complex issues that arise, with empathy.’
‘Paul McClorry is very experienced and takes the time to explain complex concepts.’
Work highlights
- Acting for a claimant who sustained a significant head injury in a motorbike accident, which was exacerbated during his time in an English hospital; it was settled through mediation.
- Acting for an 18 year old girl who was catastrophically injured in a ski accident in Italy on a school ski trip; she is now fully wheelchair dependant.
- Acting for the claimant who was born with cerebral palsy in a hospital in Spain, considering whether there was any medical negligence on the part of the Spanish doctors.
Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant Tier 3
Operating from Hull, Hudgell Solicitors works across the full range of claim values, with capabilities in both complex, high-value litigation and an established track record in managing a high volume of smaller claims. Early rehabilitation and interim payments are key strengths of the team. Chris Moore and Vince Shore jointly head up the practice, and focus on brain injury at birth and surgical errors, respectively. The large team has a depth of experience in the field, such as Helena Wood bringing expertise in delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and Elizabeth Maliakal working on mistreatment of strokes.Practice head(s):
Chris Moore; Vince Shore
Other key lawyers:
Helena Wood; Elizabeth Maliakal
Testimonials
‘From the beginning, the Hudgell team were upfront about everything; they ensured we knew everything that would and possibly could happen. At no point did you feel forgotten; our case took years with many twist and turns. All things were discussed and costed. There was a plan that was in place and we all knew what it was. You felt in control at all times.’
‘Extremely helpful; they find all possible ways that help your case and don’t give up.’
‘They are very patient, polite, supportive and understanding.’
‘Well-established firm with a good reputation and experienced practitioners.’
‘Chris Moore is a very experienced clinical negligence solicitor with excellent judgment and a good, interesting, but difficult caseload which he handles with great skill. Chris is very efficient and focusses on the points that matter to great effect, securing excellent outcomes for his clients without fuss and drama, but nevertheless ensuring that they feel extremely well supported.’
‘Client care is at the forefront of claims handling. The fee earners evidently care about the clients they are acting for.’
‘Hudgell Solicitors are very much a national firm. They attract maximum severity and other work from all over the country. Vince Shore and Chris Moore are both about 30 years post-qualification and have great knowledge and judgment. I have recommended both to friends and other contacts over the years.’
‘Excellent communication and fast response to any questions. Very personal, you don’t just feel like another client, they get to know you as a person and you feel they want to do everything they can to get a resolution for you.’
Work highlights
- Secured a settlement of between £15-20m for a client who suffered a significant, life-long brain injury at birth.
Insurance > Personal injury: claimant Tier 3
Hudgell Solicitors is highly regarded by clients for its focus on both immediate and long-term arrangements and its wide-ranging capabilities, which span all manner of catastrophic injury claims. Samuel McFadyen leads the team from Hull, with a focus on severe injury claims, particularly those relating to brain and spinal injuries. Sarah Kidd, who specialises in public liability and road traffic accidents, is another key group member.Practice head(s):
Samuel McFadyen
Other key lawyers:
Work highlights
- Representing a claimant following a car accident in a claim with an estimated value of £10m.
- Secured a settlement of £850,420 for a claimant following multiple injuries incurred in a car crash.
- Representing a claimant following a spinal column injury suffered in a road traffic accident that left him paraplegic in a claim valued at £4-5m.
Public sector > Civil liberties and human rights Tier 4
Hudgell Solicitors have ‘quickly established themselves as a go-to firm for large scale and complex inquests and inquiries’, representing bereaved families in Article 2 inquests where there is suspicion of death resulting from the state breaching its duty to protect the right to life. Executive chairman Neil Hudgell is one of those spearheading the offering, while head of civil liberties Vicky Richardson has significant experience handling cases concerning police assault, unlawful arrest, breaches of data protection laws, and other human rights-related issues.Practice head(s):
Neil Hudgell; Vicky Richardson
Other key lawyers:
Terry Wilcox
Testimonials
‘Hudgell Solicitors have quickly established themselves as a go-to firm for large scale and complex inquests and inquiries, representing bereaved families in both the inquests and civil claims against the state that may arise.’
‘I work closely with Terry Wilcox and Vicky Richardson. Clients and families love them as they focus on friendly and personal service and advice. They are a pleasure to work with as a team.’
‘They work very well together as a team and put client care first and foremost.’
‘Hudgell’s specialise in this area, and stand out from others who dabble. This is mainly due to their recruitment and ethos which is very much client-centric.’
‘They are unique for a litany of reasons, but, above all, they approach human rights cases with common sense and put the client’s interests above any broader attempt at vindication.’
‘They are resourceful and can quickly pull together a strong team to service the needs of a client.’
‘The client care they offer is second to none – the client is simply at the heart of everything they do. The firm’s ethos is righting wrongs.’
‘They are not afraid to take on a challenge, no matter what size.’
Key clients
Families at the Manchester Arena Inquiry
160+ Injured victims of the Manchester Arena bombing
Family of Lewis Skelton (deceased)
Groups seeking Core Participant status at Covid-19 Inquiry
Parents of Chelsea Blue Mooney (deceased)
Families of Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, Anthony Walgate and Jack Taylor – victims of convicted murderer Stephen Port
Victims of London terror attack
Family of Jessie Whitehead (deceased)
Family of Jack Barnes (deceased)
Family of Laura Winham (deceased)
Work highlights
- Representing former sub-postmasters across England and Wales who were victims of the Post Office Horizon Scandal.
- Represented families in the Manchester Arena Bombing public inquiry.
- Represents the family of Lewis Skelton, who died after being shot by police in Hull in November 2016.
Hudgell Solicitors > Firm Profile
Hudgell solicitors has established itself as one of the most progressive and ambitious law firms in the North of England and is now recognised as one of the Top 200 law firms in the UK.
The firm’s respected brand is characterised by its dedication to client care, to righting wrongs, fighting for justice and delivering the best possible outcome for every client.
About the firm: Established in 1997, Hudgell Solicitors has expanded through strategic growth and acquisitions in recent years. It now represents thousands of clients in claims for clinical negligence, personal and criminal injury, civil liberties and serious injury and illness abroad.
It is also one of only a small number of firms to have a legal aid franchise for representing families in traumatic cases when a child suffers a neurological injury up to eight weeks from birth.
Led by Executive Chairman Neil Hudgell and CEO Rachel Di Clemente, it has continually reacted and anticipated changes in the industry to grow as others have exited the market.
In the summer of 2018, an office was opened in Manchester and the firm is now building on three years of success in the north-west by increasing its team and office space in Manchester. This follows continued growth in client numbers in the civil liberties and travel litigation departments. The firm’s serious injury and clinical negligence departments will also now operate from the Manchester office as well as the firm’s head office in Hull.
The strategic plan of the firm now centres around its two main operational hubs in the north. The expansion in the north-west is to complement the excellent, long established team in Hull, providing seriously injured people with first rate legal support and access to the best rehabilitation.
In 2020, the firm also appointed Eve Carter to head up a Court of Protection team from Manchester and offering further specialist support to the growing serious injury team.
The expanding Manchester-based Civil Liberties team, led by experienced inquests and inquiries specialist solicitor Terry Wilcox, has represented the families of victims at the Manchester Arena Inquiry.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEO | Rachel Di Clemente | rdc@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Executive chairman | Neil Hudgell | nmh@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Joint National Head of Clinical Negligence | Vince Shore | vs@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Joint National Head of Clinical Negligence | Chris Moore | cjm@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Head of Clinical Negligence (Manchester) | Maria Repanos | mr@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Serious Injury Manager (Manchester) | Sarah Patten | sjp@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Serious Injury Manager (Hull) | Samuel McFadyen | ssm@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Head of Travel Litigation | Paul McClorry | pmc@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Head of Civil Liberties | Vicky Richardson | vr@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Public Inquiries Manager | Terry Wilcox | twi@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Criminal Injuries Manager | Nicola Bailey-Gibbs | nbg@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Personal Injury Fast Track Manager | Sarah Kidd | sak@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
| Head of Court of Protection | Eve Carter | exc@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | 0808 3014501 |
Solicitor Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rachel Di Clemente | Chief Executive Officer | View Profile |
|
Dr Neil Hudgell | Executive Chairman | View Profile |
|
Paul McClorry | Head of Travel Litigation | View Profile |
|
Caroline Murgatroyd | Associate Solicitor | View Profile |
|
Sarah Patten | Senior Solicitor and Serious Injury Manager (Manchester) | View Profile |
|
Maria Repanos | Head of Clinical Negligence (Manchester) | View Profile |
|
Tracy Stansfield | Associate Solicitor | View Profile |
|
Terry Wilcox | Associate Solicitor and Manager of Public Inquiries | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 1 Number of other UK fee-earners : 90+Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Jo Hamilton
COMPANY/FIRM: N/A
TESTIMONIAL: I have been represented by Hudgell Solicitors in what has been described as “The biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history” The Post Office/Horizon scandal. Despite the enormous task they had, their professionalism and utter dedication to their clients is second to none. Every step has been explained and every question answered. I know I am in the safest of hands for the rest of my battle and I can’t recommend Hudgell Solicitors more highly. They are quite simply the best and I thank Neil Hudgell and his amazing team for everything they have done for me.
CLIENT: Carol Pendlebury
COMPANY/FIRM: N/A
TESTIMONIAL: My husband was let down by the NHS and ended up with an amputation of part of his foot. I contacted Hudgells for advice, and they agreed to take my husband’s case on. I can’t praise Shauna enough as she has been so professional and helpful with everything concerning my case. I’ve felt at ease and had every confidence in her. She took me through the case step by step and went the extra mile to ensure I was ok with the way it was all being handled. Thank you all so much for working so hard on the case on our behalf and winning the case.
CLIENT: Katy Wilson
COMPANY/FIRM: N/A
TESTIMONIAL: My experience with Michelle Nurse, the solicitor who handled my case at Hudgell Solicitors, was so professional and helpful from start to finish. I am greatly appreciative for their very high standard of client care, which was maintained throughout my case, and communication was always well explained and prompt. I am happy with the result of my case. I would recommend this excellent law firm to anyone as this is the second time using them and both of these times I felt cared for as an individual. Thank you again, Michelle, for all your efforts.
CLIENT: Simon Cambridge
COMPANY/FIRM: N/A
TESTIMONIAL: I was assigned a lovely lady called Mobeena and from the outset she was brilliant. I found the whole procedure from start to finish extremely smooth. Mobeena was friendly, approachable, professional and courteous throughout, and nothing was ever too much trouble. She always kept me informed of updates to my claim, and even when she was on annual leave, other staff members kept me informed of any updates too. I am extremely happy with the outcome and I would definitely recommend Hudgell Solicitors to others. Thank you Mobeena and everyone in the team at Hudgell Solicitors.
CLIENT: Peter Taylor
COMPANY/FIRM: N/A
TESTIMONIAL: The service received was well structured and clear. Information was provided which allowed informed decisions to be made. Overall, I would rate the service highly both the way it was conducted, and the outcome achieved. The solicitor acting for me, Tracy Stansfield was clearly experienced and knowledgeable about both personal injury claims and the intricacies of dealing with a foreign organisation. Tracy’s advice and strategy during the final negotiations resulted in an excellent outcome with my settlement well in excess of that expected. This was particularly commendable given the intransigent and uncommunicative approach adopted by the defendant. Tracy used this to my advantage to increase the final payment.
CLIENT: Gail Ward
COMPANY/FIRM: N/A
TESTIMONIAL: I would highly recommend Hudgell Solicitors as a solicitor to anyone who is needing legal advice. All the staff that I have dealt with are totally professional. I have been kept informed with everything that is happening every step of the way throughout my claim. There is always someone willing to explain anything that you don’t quite understand, and they will answer any questions you have. You are treated at all times as a friend, not an unknown client. Whoever is dealing with your case really takes the time to get to know you.
Diversity
Hudgell Solicitors are committed to promoting diversity and avoiding discrimination in all of its dealings with personnel, clients and third parties. We are also committed to promoting diversity in all of our professional activities. In particular, as a business we:
- Promote equality and diversity in our policies, practices and procedures and in all areas of our work in which it has influence;
- We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.
Our leadership team take pride in their commitment to creating an environment where our staff are respected as individuals and everyone is treated fairly, equally and with respect. We recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and during our recruitment process, anyone who applies for a position with the company is treated equally and fairly. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for those with disabilities in relation to job opportunities, promotion and training. These same principles apply to our dealings with clients, suppliers and third parties.
Our equality and diversity statement and our latest SRA diversity survey key statistics are available on our website here.
We have also just relaunched our new community/CSR strategy which now includes a commitment to being ‘locally loyal’ and a programme of community support including:
- Local partnerships and investment;
- Benevolent fund and pro bono advice
- Annual charity of choice; and
- Departmental charity support.
We are also actively considering our Early Careers Programme and how an apprenticeship programme may help us recruit staff from more diverse backgrounds.
The legal profession is often seen as elitist and we are therefore proud to say that 63.6% of our staff who completed the 2021 SRA diversity survey at the firm attended a non-selective state run or funded school and a further 29.5% attended a selective state run or funded school.
It is of course a core regulatory principle that we act in a way that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion, however at Hudgell Solicitors we want our commitment to diversity to go beyond this and be an inherent strength of the business.