Hugh James‘ practice is particularly strong in representing claimants in disputes arising from medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs, but has a broad scope of expertise and a history of acting in some of the UK’s largest product liability claims stemming from harmful products, representing large cohorts of claimants. The harmful products team, and overall practice, is led by Mark Harvey, an expert in group litigation orders who embodies the group’s experience in high-profile, high-value product liability claims, acting in cases in front of the High Court in the UK and internationally. Elsewhere, Pauline Roberts in Cardiff is a key support, especially in metal-on-metal hip cases, adding to proficiency in multi-party litigation, and has an established practice in multi-party product liability cases as a whole. Aidan Lloyd offers key support at associate level, representing clients in High Court.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Mark Harvey and Pauline Roberts are both true leaders in their field of complex multi-jurisdictional product claims. Nothing phases them. They understand the issues and drive their cases forward.’
  • 'Very experienced product liability firm working for claimants. Can handle matters of any size from individual claim to large group litigation. Huge bank of experience and knowledge resides in the team.'
  • 'Mark Harvey - leader of PL team. A real expert in this area who has decades of experience. Very commercial and practical and great tactician.'
  • 'Pauline Roberts - becoming now very experienced in this type of litigation and exploring cost effective ways to pursue cases to success.'
  • 'Pauline Roberts was very polite, efficient and professional. Pauline kept me updated throughout the process and went above and beyond to obtain the best settlement for me. I would not hesitate in recommending her.'

Key clients

  • Cohort of Oculentis Intraocular lens claimants
  • Cohort of vaginal mesh claimants
  • Cohort of Calea claimants
  • Cohort of NexGen knee claimants

Work highlights

Advised a cohort of Oculentis Intraocular lens claimants on pursuing the suppliers of these lenses which opacified and caused compromised vision.
Advised a cohort of vaginal mesh claimants on a case relating to severe injuries as a result of having mesh implanted for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.
Advised a cohort of Calea claimants, a group of 50 NHS patients who require life sustaining medication/foodstuffs fed through a tube, on claims against Calea and NHS England and Wales.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

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Mark Harvey

Practice head

Mark Harvey

Other key lawyers

Pauline Roberts; Aidan Lloyd