Transport
The ‘outstanding’ practice at JMW Solicitors LLP in Manchester has strong capabilities in assisting claimants with obtaining high-value settlements in PI cases of the utmost severity. Spinal cord, brain injury and complex claims form Catherine Leech’s workload. This catastrophic injury specialism is shared by Paul Breen and Joanne Brine, the former with a focuses on motorcycle accident-related cases, and the latter being adept at acting on such cases in cross-border circumstances. As a ‘national player in military work’, Clare Stevens’s workload includes representing families at inquests regarding fatal matters. Amanda Marsh further bolstered the military specialism of the team with her arrival in November 2024, bringing her expertise in complex and highly sensitive military claims. Further team changes include the arrival of head of the cycling sub-group Andrew Littlemore in October 2024, following the March 2024 departure of its former head Nadia Kerr. Paediatric brain injury claims are a particular focus area of Gordon Cartwright who heads up the team alongside catastrophic injury expert Andrew Lilley. Charlotte King is also a recommended member of the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Work Department
Personal Injury
Position
Partner and head of the Travel Litigation Team
Career
Joanne is a Partner in the Travel Litigation team specialising in helping clients who have sustained injuries following an accident abroad. Her expertise lies in dealing with complex and catastrophic injury claims, and she has achieved numerous multi-million pound settlements which have provided for her clients rehabilitation and future needs. Recent settlements since joining JMW include a £1m for a client who had a significant lower limb orthopaedic injury with a future risk of amputation and E1.22m for a Claimant in a case in which the applicable law was that of Greece. She regularly deals with fatal accidents, road traffic accidents abroad, clients who were working abroad, accidents on airplanes, and accidents on cruise ships. She is a member of the American Association of Justice, where she has presented at the annual conference for the International Practice Section, the Pan European Organisation of Personal Injury lawyers, and she is the Co-Ordinator of the APIL North West Group.
Joanne trained and qualified at Pannone LLP in Manchester specialising in catastrophic injury claims, moving to Slater and Gordon UK LLP upon their acquisition of Pannone and sub specialising in serious injury litigation with a cross border element. Joanne joined JMW to head up their Travel Litigation team in April 2018.
Joanne is noted as a Recognised Practitioner in Chambers and Partners
Memberships
Joanne is a member of the American Association of Justice, and has been invited to speak at their annual convention in summer 2019. She is also an active member of the Pan European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers as well as APIL and is a senior liigatior and Brain Injury accredited. Joanne has also written for legal journals and presented at conferences and training seminars.
Education
Joanne graduated from Liverpool University in 1999 and completed the Legal Practice Course in 2000 in Manchester.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘An outstanding law firm in Manchester which has taken a stronghold in serious personal injury claims.'
'A team of highly competent and experienced practitioners in the field who deliver a very caring and comprehensive service to their clients which, in my fairly lengthy and extensive experience of this firm, generates very satisfactory results in very difficult and complex cases.’
‘Gordon Cartwright, Andrew Lilley, Charlotte King and Jonathan Holling are capable of making complex and difficult decisions, providing an excellent and comprehensive legal service to their clients whilst the associates back-up that service with the most diligent collation of evidence and investigation into said evidence.'
‘Clare Stevens and her team were diligent and informative throughout - Clare helped me to understand the process.’
‘From the very first phone call I was treated with respect. Caroline Fox was great. She spoke to me with great kindness at a time when I was still in great shock with what had happened to my son. I look back and wonder where I would be if it were not for that very first phone call. Thank you.’
‘Everything that they do stands out. Caroline Fox is the best at everything, from legal technicalities to listening well to clients.’
‘Gordon Cartwright and Charlotte King embody the true values that I would expect in a solicitor - they are committed, effective, knowledgeable, caring and absolutely want to do the best by their clients. JMW and the legal sector should be proud to have representatives such as them.’
‘Clare Stevens is a national player in military work. She has a very good manner with clients and excellent judgement.’
'An excellent team with some standout individuals - one of the powerhouse firms in Manchester.'
'Cathy Leech - possibly the most experience PI lawyer in Manchester with enormous experience and an ability to get cases done.'