Barcan+Kirby LLP > Bishopston, England > Firm Profile
Barcan+Kirby LLP Offices
60 Gloucester Road
BRISTOL
BS7 8BH
England
Barcan+Kirby LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant Tier 1
Barcan+Kirby LLP’s integrated personal and medical injuries department operates from across five offices in the Bristol area. The group approaches a diverse range of claims, including those relating to birth, head and spinal injuries, amputations, and fatal accidents, with ‘grit and camaraderie’. Richard Harries ‘steers the team with a high level of skill and experience’, regularly handling GP and A&E negligence cases. Jay Nathwani has extensive expertise in brain injury claims. Claire Hurrell and Helen Franklin are noted for their prowess in cases arising from negligent obstetric care, particularly cerebral and Erb’s palsy. Fiona Dabell rounds out the roster of recommended practitioners.Practice head(s):
Richard Harries
Other key lawyers:
Jay Nathwani; Helen Franklin; Claire Hurrell; Fiona Dabell
Testimonials
‘This firm has a team of specialist clinical negligence lawyers. They take a considered and humane approach to advising clients.’
‘Very closely-knit, friendly team with grit and camaraderie.’
‘Helen Franklin is simply brilliant. Super-clever but down to earth and approachable. I don’t think you will find a better claimant clinical negligence solicitor in the country. Full stop. She gets incredible results for her clients through grit, doggedness and enthusiasm.’
‘Richard Harries steers the team with a high level of skill and experience. He is an extremely safe pair of hands and would provide a lot of reassurance to any client.’
‘One particular lawyer, Claire Hurrell, was so personable, listened, supported and made everything very clear for me. Through something that was very difficult she provided the expertise to guide me and ease my stress. Claire is so well informed and professional and is a true asset to the law firm.’
‘This law firm is different and their clinical negligence team has been wonderful. The level of professionalism is beyond any law firm I have dealt with, their attention to detail, excellent communication, and above all their team’s ability to explain complex legal processes to a layman like me makes them stand out.’
‘Jay Nathwani is diligent and very competent.’
‘The Barcan+Kirby team are true specialists in their field. Their knowledge of the legal provisions and dedication to the personal needs of the clients in this emotive field is excellent and I would not hesitate to recommend them.’
Insurance > Personal injury: claimant Tier 3
Barcan+Kirby LLP offers clients a ‘personal and local touch with very committed and diligent practitioners’ who expertly handle the gamut of personal injury cases, ranging from fatalities, brain and spinal injuries, to amputation and psychiatric injuries. Practice head Samantha Castle has a particular focus on accidents at work and cycling accidents. Also noted are the ‘very experienced and compassionate’ Myfanwy Buckeridge and Emily Williamson, who ‘showcases exemplary dedication and innovation’.Practice head(s):
Samantha Castle
Other key lawyers:
Myfanwy Buckeridge; Emily Williamson
Testimonials
‘A personal and local touch with very committed and diligent practitioners who are always willing to go the extra mile.’
‘Emily Williamson is excellent and a pleasure to work with. She is always on top of her cases and clearly works very hard for her clients.’
‘Very impressive team of PI lawyers who take on a range of good quality work. I have been repeatedly impressed with the level of professionalism and the obvious intellectual ability of the team.’
‘Myfanwy Buckeridge, Samantha Castle and Emily Williamson all stand out as first rate lawyers. I have been repeatedly impressed with their client care, work ethic and organisation. First rate.’
‘Myfanwy Buckeridge stands out in particular, as a very experienced and compassionate solicitor.’
‘They retain traditional high street law firm values but have modernised and are forward thinking. They champion injured victims’ rights and have a strong clinical negligence team which compliments the PI arm. They benefit from a diverse team, who can draw from the experience of representing clients over many years from all walks of life and backgrounds.’
‘They are an extremely dedicated team who advocate very effectively for their clients.’
‘Emily Williamson showcases exemplary dedication and innovation that distinctly sets her apart. Her unique approach to legal practice, combining deep legal expertise with a genuine passion for securing justice and understanding for her clients, distinguishes her in the competitive field.’
Private client > Family Tier 3
Clients seek out Barcan+Kirby LLP‘s ‘dedicated, experienced, and caring‘ team for advice on issues ranging from family finance matters to public and private child care, child relocation, abduction, and domestic abuse cases. A consortium of lawyers lead the practice: Tom Powles is experienced with child and divorce proceedings, including ones involving allegations of abuse, and also advises on surrogacy matters as well as cases involving gender recognition questions. Kirsten Hale is regularly instructed to act on financial and cohabitation issues as well as child arrangements cases, Clare Cox spearheads the team’s care offering, and Charmaine Moger is well-versed in private law children matters.Practice head(s):
Tom Powles; Kirsten Hale; Clare Cox; Charmaine Moger
Other key lawyers:
Chris Miller; Sarah Marshall
Testimonials
‘I feel they take care of every detail and make things as easy and stress-free as they can. Everyone I’ve been involved with have been so helpful and absolutely fantastic at their jobs.’
‘The team are all deeply committed to their clients and achieving the best outcome for them whether it is through settlement or a contested proceedings. I have seen the team go above and beyond to ensure the clients feel supported and well represented. They are organised in providing bundles and briefs, and I am always pleased to accept instructions from them as I know it will be a good working relationship. ’
‘Kirsten Hale combines a real strength in financial remedies with a genuine concern for her client. She manages cases and expectations really well whilst always striving for the best outcome.’
‘The practice adopt an extremely client-friendly approach. The comprise a large team with specialist expertise across all facets of Family Law, all of whom are extremely responsive. In addition, they have state-of-the-art offices which technologically accommodate high level in-person, hybrid and/or virtual conferencing facilities.’
‘Sarah Marshall is an exceptional family lawyer. Her ability to gain the trust of clients from all backgrounds is outstanding, as is her ability to explain the law in simple terms and to present a variety of options in relation to ways forward. ’
‘Excellent for both public and private law. Robust, pragmatic advice.’
‘The team at Barcan and Kirby LLP are excellent. They are very professional and efficient whilst also being compassionate. ’
‘The Barcan+Kirby Family Team are a dedicated. experienced and caring cohort whose focus on providing good, pragmatic and helpful advice is consistent regardless of whether the client is private paying or publicly funded. The team collaborate and discuss cases at their weekly meetings, which means the client gets the benefit of not just one lawyer’s experience but that of the whole team, providing a much wider pool of knowledge and experience. ’
Work highlights
Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
Barcan+Kirby LLP > Firm Profile
Barcan+Kirby is one of the largest mid-sized law firms in Bristol, with a long-established reputation for providing legal advice to individuals and businesses across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. In addition, the Medical Negligence and Personal Injury departments act for clients on a national basis. The firm employs in excess of 190 people and has strengthened and broadened its depth of services to include the corporate services division.
The Partners are advocates for flexible working and proud of the high percentage of women in senior or managerial positions in comparison to other law firms. This was reflected in Barcan+Kirby winning the Inclusion and Diversity Award at the Business Leader South West Awards 2024 for our commitment to creating an environment that supports inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
Barcan+Kirby is committed to the development of staff and provides comprehensive and supportive training. Their Associates Academy was established to support ambitious staff to develop the skills required to become leaders of the business. In addition, they have invested in new premises in the City Centre of Bristol as well as North Street, Bedminster and Gloucester Road, Bishopston with an extension to the Thornbury office to provide a better working environment for staff.
The firm’s core values drive their culture. They combine a fresh, modern approach with traditional values. Their vision is to build on reputation for excellence, strive to build long-term relationships with clients, and retain their position as a major force in the South West legal sector.
Their HR team won the National People in Law Awards HR Team of the Year 2020 in recognition of their communication skills and HR initiatives, being described as ‘throwing down the gauntlet’ to the larger city firms.
Principal areas of work: The Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury departments are recognised both regionally and nationally for the quality of their work and the support they provide to claimants. The Clinical Negligence team has a wealth of experience across a range of injury types, including cerebral palsy, delayed or misdiagnosis, maximum severity birth injuries, amputations and fatal injuries. The Personal Injury team has particular experience in dealing with catastrophic injury cases, including claims arising from brain, back and spinal injuries, as well as road traffic accidents.
The Family department is one of the largest in Bristol and has expertise spanning separation and divorce, matrimonial finances, child arrangements, care proceedings, domestic abuse, child abduction and surrogacy and Parental Orders. Every member of the dedicated Matrimonial Finance team is a Resolution-accredited specialist and most solicitors across the department hold at least one Law Society panel membership. The department is unique in having its own specialised team dedicated to assisting clients with all aspects of child arrangements, including surrogacy and Parental Orders, as well as having developed its own Domestic Abuse team (DAT) who are able to provide support to vulnerable clients, often on an emergency basis. The Family team also includes a large and extremely experienced care team, acting for parents, children and other family matters throughout the community in difficult and challenging public law proceedings.
The Wills, Trust and Probate team provides comprehensive Wills, estate planning and probate services to clients across the South West. Their strong reputation for providing exceptional service is demonstrated by the fact that over 70% of business comes via referrals from existing clients. Many of the team are members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) or Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly), and several hold the STEP Advanced Certificate in advising vulnerable clients. In 2019, the team won Solicitor Firm of the Year (South) at The British Wills and Probate Awards. The department has recently adapted their Will writing process to accommodate the needs of those wanting to make a will during lockdown, including the launch of their online Wills service.
The highly experienced Residential Conveyancing department specialise in all aspects of the buying and selling process. As well as dealing with straightforward domestic property transactions, they provide advice on re-mortgaging, buy-to-let investments, leasehold flats, new builds and shared ownership homes. Much of the team’s business comes via client recommendations or repeat business. The department are members of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme, reflecting the high standards of service.
The Dispute Resolution department is praised for the professional and diligent service they provide. They are skilled in all forms of dispute work including commercial and contract disputes, property litigation and debt recovery. The expert team offers alternative services such as mediation and direct negotiation.
The Employment team provides advice for both employees and employers on a range of employment-related issues, including HR support, redundancy, disciplinary issues and contract advice. They also provide support for discrimination at work and wrongful, unfair or constructive dismissal.
The Commercial Property department works with a variety of businesses providing practical and clear advice on areas including sales and purchases of land, retail and industrial units as well as leases, financing and regulatory compliance work. The team’s experience spans a range of sectors including new build property, restaurants, leisure, retail and construction.
The Corporate and Commercial team has grown from the ground up over the last three years and have developed a credible reputation, priding themselves on links with the local business community as well as advising national businesses including nursery childcare providers. The team encompasses a strong mix of skills and experience and have a familiarity with a broad range of industries.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managing Partner | Anna Wilson | ||
| Residential Conveyancing | Gabrielle Artess | ||
| Family including Children | Tom Powles | ||
| Divorce and Ancillaries | Kirsten Hale | ||
| Senior Partner, Personal Injury and Medical Negligence | Richard Harries | ||
| Litigation | James Bell | ||
| Wills, Trusts and Probate | Tom Sharkey | ||
| Commercial Property | Rob Davenport | ||
| Corporate and Commercial | Georgina Bryant | ||
| Employment | Samantha Castle |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 20 Number of other UK fee-earners : 72Memberships
AvMa The Law Society of England & Wales Law Society Children PanelDiversity
At Barcan+Kirby there is a huge passion to make careers in law accessible to all. As such, the firm actively encourages flexible and part-time working for all employees and in 2020 set up an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee.
As of July 2022, 86% of employees at Barcan+Kirby were female. In 2018, the firm achieved a gender-balanced partnership (53%) and in 2022 the partnership stands at 60% female. In 2021, following the pandemic and a firm wide consultation, the firm put in place a new hybrid working policy to compliment its flexible and part-time offerings. Now 58% of employees chose to work in a flexible way.
All employees at Barcan+Kirby complete mandatory diversity and equality training on an annual basis. Senior employees with a management and recruitment responsibilities are given additional training on subjects such as unconscious bias, menopause and trans awareness.
In 2020 the firm set up an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee its purpose is to build a truly inclusive environment focusing on skills and attributes and providing a level playing field for all irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity.
The committee has been running for 18 months and has focused on recruitment, connecting with The Law Society and local Universities to promote the opportunities available for all in the legal sector. The EDI committee publishes a bi-monthly internal newsletter on EDI subjects specific to the firm and there is a project underway to ensure that drafting is undertaken in a gender neutral way.
Throughout the year the firm celebrates different cultural events and religious celebrations and invites employees to talk about their experiences. So far individuals have shared their stories on what its like to be part of the LGBT community, the challenges faced from being a parent of a child with autism, the celebration of Holi and also an insight into Thai New Year.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Clinical Negligence client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: While dealing with Barcan+Kirby Solicitors I found them to be polite, prompt, they also explained all the Legal matters in a way I understood. When given timescales I was kept informed of progress, any delays that arose for any reason & kept in touch. I was also impressed with the way they handled the Covid situation & continued to work whilst in lockdown. I am totally happy & satisfied with their work to resolve my case.
CLIENT: Clinical Negligence client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: I chose Barcan + Kirby due to their presence in my local area of Bristol. I’m very glad that I did, as from the initial phone call, an appointment / consultation was made very quickly. I immediately felt safe and confident that I’d made the right choice. I’d never made a claim in my life before, so I was nervous and apprehensive at first, but I was briefed quite thoroughly in an easy-to-understand way about what going forth with the case would entail. Personally, I appreciate this kind of thorough approach as, if one is going to go ahead with this kind of action, then no stone should be left unturned. I would thoroughly recommend them.
CLIENT: Real Estate – Property Litigation client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: Sharlie Sollars calmly managed a land dispute which became protracted and at times, awkward. Sharlie stuck to the objectives in the interests of the bigger picture and demonstrated a very good balance of carrot and stick, where necessary. The outcome was ultimately successful with satisfactory ‘wins’ for both parties. We were very pleased with Sharlie’s tenacity and professionalism and on a personal note, her manner and approachability.
CLIENT: Real Estate – Property Litigation client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: I can’t fault any of the work carried out by James Bell and his team. I gave James very little time to prepare for anything let alone actually take my case on as i had left it to the last minute (2 days to prepare) I actually believe had I gone to another solicitor they would not have taken me on. A friend had dealings with Barcan + Kirby a couple of years ago so I am glad I went with her advice.
CLIENT: Real Estate – Commercial Property client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: We used Barcan & Kirby for a complex Commercial Property purchase. Fantastic proactive team working from everyone we met. We got the job done slightly ahead of schedule and on budget. No transaction is ever straight forward but the support we had was amazing, practical and pragmatic. Highly recommend.
CLIENT: Real Estate – Commercial Property client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: Barcan + Kirby provided commercial legal advice which clarified the issues quickly on a potential property purchase. I will use them again in the future.
CLIENT: Personal Injury client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: I was extremely impressed and satisfied with the service I received; I was kept well informed and completely in the loop at all junctures – I cannot highly recommend this firm of lawyers enough – their friendly professionalism was a real beacon of light and I was guided expertly and informatively throughout – thank you!
CLIENT: Personal Injury client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: I advise anyone to use this firm of solicitors. They are highly competent, professional & knowledgeable solicitors with a vast experience of the claims they handle. Trust them. Trust what they do. Trust they will do their best for you. My solicitor was excellent.
CLIENT: Contentious Trusts & Probate client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: I was very happy with the service provided to me at Barcan+Kirby Solicitors, the Solicitor provided the answers to all my questions and proceeded to help me along the probate questions I had at the time to be put forward to the Executor and Administrators, there was a positive outcome and all went well. Very grateful to my Solicitor Mark Scanlon and team, if needed again I will approach them for more services.
CLIENT: Contentious Trusts & Probate client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: I have had an emotionally difficult situation to resolve and found Mark Scanlan to be both professional and understanding at all times. He offers clear, concise and helpful guidance and where needed support. His no nonsense and systematic approach has been a great comfort and much appreciated. Having had previous negative experience with lawyers I would add that Mark and his firm have gone a good way towards re-educating me as to their excellent counsel and advice. Many thanks to Mark and his team.
CLIENT: Private Client – Family client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: I used Barcan and Kirby throughout the separation and then subsequent divorce. They provided a great service from the outset and their actions and advice allowed me to plan for the future from an early stage. I would highly recommend their services from straight forward to complicated cases. I have already recommended several friends on their service.
CLIENT: Private Client – Family client
COMPANY/FIRM: Barcan + Kirby Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: I can highly recommend Barcan and Kirby. Friendly helpful and very knowledgeable staff, always ready to help when needed. I had a solicitor that was knowledgeable, helpful and I consider myself to be very fortunate to have had them. Thank you to everyone.
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Insurance > Personal injury: claimant
- Private client > Family