Intellectual Property
United Kingdom
10 September 2025
Shoosmiths LLP runs a multidisciplinary practice, utilising the regulatory expertise of practice head Hayley Saunders to deal with product liability litigation and regulatory issues in a range of sectors, including more regulated sectors such as the chemicals, clothing, and automotive sectors. Saunders leads the team, which is spread across Birmingham, Thames Valley and London, alongside Paul Eccles, ‘a very safe pair of hands in complex litigation.’ Indeed, the group represents insurers in High Court, and is commended as ’very effective at putting together a team, at all levels, to deal with complex litigation’ for which Eccles stands out due to his background in the insurance sector and litigious expertise. Other key contributors in the team include Stephen Johnstone, whose practice places a particular emphasis on regulated product labelling and advertising.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Strong defendant team who give commercial advice and who put client's interests at the heart of what they do.’
‘Tremendous expertise in this area. Very capable and effective litigators, and commercially very astute. Very effective at putting together a team, at all levels, to deal with complex litigation.’
‘Paul Eccles has a very safe pair of hands in complex litigation. Excellent at motivating and coordinating large teams.'
‘Very progressive firm that stays at the cutting edge. Very good at finding solutions from across practice areas as required for any given client.’
‘Hayley Saunders is a star. She is a real team player but leads from the front.'
- 'Stephen Johnstone is bright as a button and backs that up with hard work.’
Key clients
- AmTrust Specialty Limited
- Haier Group and its insurers (Self Insured Excess)
- Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Limited
- HDI Global SE UK
- Liberty Global
- Husqvarna
- Electrolux
- Chubb Insurance
- Sompo
- Lancashire Insurance
Practice head
Hayley Saunders; Paul Eccles
Other key lawyers
Stephen Johnsone